Severed Ties

by Jo Schneider

  “After she assaulted six of our people and then left,” Gwen reminded them. “Thank you for your testimony. That’s all.”

  Giraffe-woman spoke before Matt moved. “If, as you say, she was provoked, who did the provoking?”

  Matt looked directly at her. “Who got hurt?”

  The woman nodded.

  Matt stood and smiled. “I’m going to help Doc. Come by and see the babies later this week.” With that he waved and ran up the stairs. A moment later, the door clanged shut.

  Gwen cleared her throat. Her fingers fidgeted with the handle of the mallet as she spoke. “The next witness is Kevin Oduya.” Gwen indicated the chair with the mallet. “Please, take a seat.”

  Kev rose and strolled across the front of the room. He took the stairs two at a time, and turned to face the audience as if he’d been doing this his whole life.

  Gwen eyed him for a moment before she said, “In your own words, please tell us what happened on the night in question.”

  Kev settled in. “Cal, Ari and I had dropped Wendy off at her room after an upstairs exercise. She’d had a bad reaction to a small space, so we wanted to make sure she was okay. Cal and I left Arie at her room, then went to our room.” He looked at each of them in turn. “Maybe thirty minutes later, Arie knocked on our door. She’d gone back to talk to Wendy and had found her room empty. Arie was worried, so we went out to help look for her.”

  Wendy hadn’t known that was why the boys had been out. Or that Arie had come to talk to her. It had never come up until now. Guilt began to gnaw at her stomach.

  “Where did you presume she had gone?” Gwen asked.

  “Our first thought was medical, so that’s where Cal and I headed. Arie went toward the combat rooms. Wendy had expressed interest in using them and we thought maybe she was getting a workout.

  “Cal and I went to medical and talked to Elle, who said she hadn’t seen Wendy. We backtracked and started toward the path we had taken that morning for the exercise, thinking she might have wanted to go outside up top.”

  His eyes met Wendy’s. “That’s when she jumped us.”

  “She assaulted you?” Gwen asked.

  “What was her mental state?” Arie asked from the front row.

  Gwen shot her a withering look.

  Kev considered. “She was covered in sweat and looked like she’d seen a ghost. Worse than during the exercise. She had some blood on her hands and was shaking like crazy.”

  A shiver ran down Wendy’s spine. She barely remembered any of this. She did remember not wanting to hurt Kev, but she also recalled that she was willing to do so if he and Cal didn’t cooperate.

  “Shaking?” Gwen asked.

  “Well, she put me in a hold I couldn’t get out of. Pretty hard to miss the shaking. I’ve never seen her react like that, so something pretty bad must have happened. I thought she was maybe having one of those flashes.”

  “What did she say?”

  Kev went through everything that Wendy had done that night. Grabbing him. Forcing him and Cal to get supplies, then getting her outside the compound, then knocking them out.

  “When I woke up there were two guards besides us. One of them was missing a pair of rocket boots.”

  “That’s it?” Gwen asked.

  “That’s it.” Kev shrugged with one shoulder. “She didn’t hurt me, and she easily could have.”

  “But you felt threatened?”

  “Not if I did as she asked.”

  Gwen waved a hand. “Thank you. Calvin, you’re next.”

  Kev and Cal bumped fists as they passed.

  Cal’s testimony began with the exercise.

  “I’m afraid of the dark, and when Wendy stopped in the vent, I knew that she was having either a flash or a panic attack. Or both. I know, because I’ve been there. Dennis was supposed to help her out, but instead he took the flag and left her there. She eventually got out, but it took some time. We all got punished because of the decision Dennis made.”

  He looked hard at Gwen.

  “When we saw Wendy that night, she looked the same, only about a hundred times worse. I know what it’s like to face down a crippling fear, and that’s what she’d just done. I knew from the moment I saw her eyes that someone had stuffed her into a dark place. There were scratches on her arm, and she was drenched. I’ve seen her fight; she barely breaks a sweat. This was something different.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Gwen asked.

  Cal leveled her gaze at her and said, “Wendy is the only person in our group to beat Dennis in a fight. He’s not keen on losing. I’m suggesting that Dennis and Jordy may not be as innocent as they claim.”

  Mike raised an eyebrow. The two men closest to Wendy leaned over and had another hurried, whispered conversation. Jeff, Arie and Kev started talking to each other.

  Gwen hit the mallet on the piece of wood. “Order.”

  The room quieted.

  She looked at Cal. “You are not here to make accusations. You are here to provide testimony.”

  “My mistake.” Cal nodded once, but didn’t wipe the smirk off of his face.

  “What happened that night?”

  Cal’s version of the events matched up with Kev’s. They weren’t exactly the same, but close enough to sound plausible. Unlike Jordy and Dennis.

  “Thank you,” Gwen said when Cal had finished. “You may sit. The two guards’ testimonies have been filed. They are both out on patrol, and their accounting matches Kevin and Calvin’s.”

  When Cal was back next to Kev, Gwen turned her steely gaze on Wendy. “You’re next.”

  Wendy let her eyes slip to Mike, who gave her an almost imperceptible nod.

  Could she hold it together? Kenzie, her sister, had always said she was a better fighter than a talker. Her dad had always kept her out of the political stuff. He said it was because she was so young, but really it was because she hated it so much.

  “Do I need to move over there?” Wendy pointed.

  “No, you stay where you are,” Gwen said.

  The man closest to her, the one with the loud shirt, turned to her and spoke first. “Why did you attack Dennis?”

  Wendy weighed her options. She could tell the truth, or she could tell Mike’s version of the truth. Mike would keep her out of that cell and give her a chance to go after Pelton.

  But it would give Dennis power. He would know she was lying. Her friends would know she was lying.

  She thought about what Arie had said, and had an idea. She sat up a little straighter and spoke.

  “Dennis and Jordy stopped me as I was making my way through the marketplace to go to medical. They used the shocking machine on me and dragged me to a room where they stuffed me into a small cupboard.” She kept her voice even. She had only told this to Arie, Kev, Cal, Matt and Jeff.

  “There was a small hole in one side, where there was a Skinny. Or maybe a person pretending to be a Skinny. I don’t really remember. He clawed at my arm.” She held up her arm and pointed. The scars were still red. “While I was in there, I started having flashes of what happened when the Skinnies destroyed my home. By the time Dennis let me out, I could barely think, and all I saw were enemies.”

  Wendy looked across at Mike. “I thought Mike had put Dennis up to it. I thought he had sent the Skinnies to my home.”

  It seemed everyone gasped at once. But Gwen didn’t pound her mallet. She narrowed her eyes at Wendy. “Why would you think that? He brought you here.”

  Wendy nodded. “He did, but I found corn here, and I found out that you let Skinnies live until they die of natural causes. What was I supposed to think? Then Dennis comes and tosses me in a closet right after he figures out that I have a fear of the dark? Look at it from my point of view.”

  Giraffe-woman asked the next question. “Why did you run?”

  “I thought Mike knew that I had discovered his Skinny army. My only option was to be killed or to get out.”

  “Why didn’t you simply kill
Dennis and Jordy?”

  Wendy looked hard at the woman. “My parents instilled in me the precious nature of human life. The fight in the woods a few weeks ago was the first time I’d taken a life that wasn’t a Skinny.”

  The last man leaned forward to talk. “I’ve heard what happened in the woods. It turns out your mentor betrayed you?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” Wendy focused on keeping her voice even. “He’s working with a man called the Primate. He sent the Skinnies to the Den.”

  “And you found him after you left here?”

  “Yes, his people were watching one of our prearranged rendezvous spots. His guys grabbed me and took me to him.”

  “Why did he bring the Skinnies down on your compound?” Mike asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  Gwen asked one final question. “You say you didn’t trust Mike. Do you trust him now?”

  “Do you?” Wendy watched surprise spread across Gwen’s face.

  Gwen’s eyes darted to Mike, then back to Wendy. She studied Wendy for a moment, before she glanced at the other members of the Council. “Any other questions?”

  No one had any.

  “Good. We will dismiss for a quarter of an hour while we discuss punishment.” Gwen hit the disc with the mallet.

  Chapter 5

  Jeff stood and jogged to where Wendy was sitting. “Come with me.”

  “Why?”

  “They have a room for you.”

  “Another cell?” Wendy asked as she started down the stairs.

  “No, just a waiting room.”

  Kev and Cal appeared behind Jeff.

  “Come on, Shrimp, we brought some snacks.”

  Cal held up a bundle.

  Wendy caught Jeff and Mike exchanging a meaningful glance before she was swept along the front row and out a side door. The room beyond held a couple of chairs and a table. Wendy looked over her shoulder for Arie, and found the other girl deep in conversation with Maudie, the old woman. Arie saw her looking and held up one finger. She’d follow in a minute.

  “Have a seat,” Jeff said as he shut the door.

  Wendy took him up on the offer. Her knees were shaking and her stomach was twitching.

  “Didn’t we tell you Arie was mouthy?” Kev asked.

  “Don’t get on her bad side,” Cal said.

  “Yeah, I can see how that would be a bad idea,” Wendy said.

  The door burst open. Wendy was expecting Arie. Instead, Dennis and Jordy walked in.

  Kev and Cal moved between the door and Wendy. Jeff took a step to the side, keeping his eyes on Dennis.

  “This is the waiting room. Only the accused and the accusing are supposed to be in here,” Dennis said.

  “Why don’t you go back to crying on your mommy’s shoulder?” Kev said.

  “You need to leave. You’re not supposed to be here,” Dennis said.

  Wendy stood and walked around Kev. She had felt vulnerable in the dress and shoes, but now she realized that the clothes didn’t make a difference. She could still beat him in a fight, or worse.

  Jordy took a step back toward the door. Dennis held his ground.

  Wendy walked in front of Cal and stopped. She turned her gaze on Dennis. He didn’t shy away or avert his eyes. Instead, he thrust hate at her so hard she could feel it in the air.

  “You need to leave,” Jeff said.

  “No, you need to leave,” Dennis said.

  Wendy took a step forward. She’d imagined killing Dennis a thousand times in the past few weeks. With a weapon, with her hands. It didn’t matter. He’d caused her more pain than anyone but Pelton.

  Electricity shot between them. Dennis’ muscles were tense. She could see him prepare to fight—the slight shifting of his weight, the flaring of his nostrils, the fire in his eyes. Wendy waited. He would come, and she would finish him.

  The world around her disappeared. Dennis was the only thing she could see or hear. The only thing worthy of her attention.

  The others were talking around them, but Wendy and Dennis stood in a bubble. He smiled. His hand twitched.

  Wendy waited. Ready. Weeks of fear and lack of sleep had all culminated into this moment. This moment when she would begin her revenge.

  Dennis sneered. He started moving forward. To Wendy it looked like the clumsy step of a toddler. Wendy thought through her plan. She would dodge to the side and use one leg to sweep him to the ground, catching the side of his head on the table as he went down.

  It would take less than a second. She silently begged him to take another step.

  A loud slam popped the bubble. Wendy’s feet faltered as Dennis retreated.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” Arie demanded.

  Kev and Cal each grabbed one of Wendy’s arms. Jeff moved between her and Dennis.

  If Arie noticed the tension, she ignored it. “This isn’t your room,” she said to Jordy as she poked him in the chest. “Your room is on the other side.” Again with no regard for the icy atmosphere in the room, she smacked Dennis on the shoulder. “Out. Now.”

  Wendy let Kev and Cal hold her. Reality set in, and her breathing started to come in gasps. She began to shake, then sweat.

  “Whoa, sit down,” Kev said.

  The two boys guided her to a chair and plopped her onto it.

  Dennis watched Wendy until Arie literally pushed him out the door with her good arm.

  Arie shut the door and turned back. The rage on her face made the others hold their breath. “Who let him in here?”

  “He busted in,” Cal said.

  Arie balled her fist. “I’m going to strangle Gwen.”

  “I think you might have just saved Dennis’ life,” Kev said. He nudged Wendy. “The Shrimp here was about to take him out.” He was joking, but it sounded forced.

  It was only then that Arie focused on Wendy. “What happened?”

  Wendy gulped down air like she’d been trapped underwater.

  “Dennis set her off,” Jeff said. “But she didn’t do anything.”

  Kev snorted. “I’m telling you, Arie, you just saved that little weasel’s life.”

  Jeff moved to the table and poured a glass of water. He handed it to Wendy. “Here, drink this.”

  Wendy reached out to take it, but her hands shook too much. Jeff set it down on the table. Wendy’s fingers latched onto the glass and wrapped around it.

  Pelton’s words from her nightmare came back to her.

  “You’re a monster. Listen to your own thoughts. You’ll see it soon enough.”

  A shiver made its way from Wendy’s gut up her spine.

  Her mother had said she felt like she was becoming a monster. What if the same thing was happening to Wendy? What if she never shook off the flashes and the nightmares? What if she couldn’t ever be normal again?

  “Wendy!” Arie’s sharp voice cut through Wendy’s musings. “Are you even listening to me?”

  “No.”

  Arie opened her mouth, then closed it. “Hey, you need to be okay. The Council won’t debate for long. You get a closing statement. We need to figure out what that’s going to be. Because you just tossed Mike in the dirt. He might not vote on your side now.”

  “You’re the one who said to turn him and the Council against one another.” Wendy’s voice sounded hollow.

  “I didn’t expect you to actually do it.” Arie sat in the other chair. “What’s your plan? I assume you have one.”

  “Sort of.” The weight of her friends’ gazes felt heavy.

  “Oh, do go on,” Arie said.

  “Relax, Arie,” Kev said. “Don’t get sarcastic now.”

  “I have a plan,” Wendy said. “I think it’ll work.” She went through it again in her mind. Because she really didn’t trust Mike, and now she knew Gwen didn’t either. “I can use them against each other.”

  “All this so you won’t be locked up?” Jeff asked. He had his arms folded across his chest.

  “No, so that I can get Pelton.
Mike wants to go after the Primate.”

  Cal let out a low whistle.

  Wendy looked hard at Arie. “What I need is a way to keep Dennis the hell away from me, because Kev is right. He won’t survive another fight with me.”

  That dropped a heavy silence on the room.

  Cal spoke first. “Can she suggest that Dennis be punished for what he did?”

  Arie shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not after the fuss I made about Jordy.” She turned to Jeff. “Can you talk to Mike?”

  “Not after Wendy threw him at the Council. I doubt he’s going to be happy.”

  “Can I take Dennis to trial?” Wendy asked.

  This time Arie paused to think. “Maybe. You could say that in your closing statement. It probably won’t hurt, unless you’re trying to get on Gwen’s good side.”

  “I’m not trying to get on anyone’s good side. Mike asked me to lie out there. I still don’t trust him.”

  A knock sounded at the door.

  Wendy jumped. Water sloshed out the top of the glass.

  “We’re ready for you,” a voice said.

  “Go,” Arie told the others. “Give us a minute.”

  They complied, leaving Arie and Wendy alone.

  “What are you going to do?” Arie asked.

  “Follow my gut, just like when I fight.”

  “Well, you’re still alive, so your gut has to be pretty good.”

  “Usually.” Wendy stood. She wiped the cool sweat off of her face. She led the way through the door and took her place on the bench.

  The others had all returned to their seats.

  Gwen pounded her mallet, and the low murmur in the room went silent.

  “The Council has come to its decision,” Gwen said.

  Wendy’s heart pounded in her chest. She rubbed her fingers against her palm and stood. “I’d like to make a final statement.”

  Gwen took a long breath.

  “It’s within her rights,” Maudie said helpfully.

  “Then do so,” Gwen said to Wendy.