Edge of Mercy (Young Adult Dystopian)(Volume 1) (The Mercy Series)

by Marks, C. C.

  I paced the floor, knowing just when to turn to avoid hitting the wall. My stomach rumbled with hunger again, and I felt myself growing weaker. No doubt, it was all part of their plan. Determined to conserve the energy I had left, I settled on the floor with my back against the hard concrete of the wall.

  Finally, I heard the squeak of the door as it opened at the end of the hallway. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed one of the mattresses. My heart pounded as I saw lantern light growing brighter as whoever it was made his way down the corridor. With a deep breath, I braced my puny muscles for the impact to come and waited, my chest tight with the air trapped inside.

  I released my pent-up breath as I heard the visitor sliding metal on metal. This was it. He was putting the key in the door and would open it any moment. I bit my lip to keep from crying out with my anticipation.

  Yet, just when the door should have swung open, a small metal flap lifted at my knees instead. I moved the mattress to the side to get a closer look. In the low lantern light, I saw it was a tray of food.

  “Well? You hungry or what? Take it already.”

  I nearly cried out in frustration. He wouldn’t be opening the door. I wouldn’t be getting out.

  “Hurry up before those monsters wake up and start their screeching.”

  I dropped the mattress and it fell to the concrete with a loud thump.

  “What the…? Fine, if you don’t want it…”

  I grabbed the tray with shaking hands just as he began to pull it back to his side. With a forceful yank, I managed to get him to drop it, but he laughed cruelly as he took the lantern and walked away.

  Not wanting to show my fear, I tried to hold in my request, but as he reached the end of the hall, I couldn’t help calling out, “Could you leave the light?” I closed my eyes and cursed myself for being so weak.

  “Nope. Jonas’s orders. Complete darkness.”

  The slam of the metal vibrated down the hallway, and I heard stirring in the other cells. Sundown must be close.

  My heart sunk with my lost opportunity, but I knew the chance would come again. I just needed to be ready. One way I could do that was to eat. Regardless of how much I wanted to protest their treatment of me. I would continue to lose strength if I didn’t fill up when they gave me food.

  Though it was no worse than the usual fare we received in the dining hall, the mushy glop tasted bitter in my mouth, but I swallowed every bite, feeding my stomach, as well as my desire to forever break free of this place and of their unfair dictates and laws. I would get free, and I’d find a way to make Jonas pay for treating me this way. He would be surprised. Rather than breaking me down, his treatment stoked my anger and fed my building hatred. I wouldn’t give him the broken down, agreeable girl he expected.

  After I’d filled my tummy, I lay down on the mattress on the floor. I still had the other one by the door, and I planned to use it the first opportunity I got, but for now, I needed to rest, just for a little while.

  Just as I drifted to sleep, the first shriek sounded, bringing me back to consciousness. Up and down the corridor, the other creatures joined in, but as the sounds continued, I began to distinguish my mother’s from the others. In the slightest way, it sounded like her. Though in my mind, I was sane enough to know it was a warped sense of comfort, the sound of my mother’s voice eased my panic, and I slid into a deep sleep once again.

  Chapter 17

  I woke to silence again, shivered as the icy air cooled my exposed skin, and knew it was early morning. Yet, something was very different. My eyes adjusted to the dim view of the little cell around me. It was similar to the way I’d pictured in the darkness of my mind, but more than that, I realized why I could see the room. Light shone outside my cell. Someone brought a lantern in the night. The question was, was he still here? Would he open that door?

  Fully awake in a second, I pushed myself up and to the other mattress, ready to inflict even a small amount of harm on any fool who walked through that door. Yet, after waiting a full minute, I chanced a glance out the window and saw an empty hallway with the lantern burning alone on the ground. Someone had placed it there and left. But who and why didn’t the noise wake me? The Draghoul’s shrieks probably masked any noise made, but it still felt a little invasive that someone had been here without my knowing.

  Hesitant to let my guard down, I waited a while longer before placing the mattress on the wall again and stepping away. That’s when I noticed something on the floor, wadded up in a ball of cloth. Where had that come from? From my mysterious night visitor?

  I glanced at the door once more, expecting someone’s face to appear at the window any moment, to catch me giving in, even just a little. But no one showed up, so I bent down and picked up the package. It didn’t weigh much and had no definite shape. Soft to the touch, the bundle could be food. My stomach protested the minimal food offerings I’d had so far, and I hoped the contents were edible.

  Another piece of cloth was tied in a knot around the top. I made quick work of that and opened the pack with a rush of relief. It was filled with bite-sized pieces of bread cut into cubes. I popped a piece in my mouth, and though it was slightly stale, it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.

  I chewed slowly to savor this small meal, ate a couple more pieces, then started to wrap the rest back up to save for later when I noticed a piece of folded paper underneath the bread. Carefully, not wanting to lose any of the precious food, I pulled the paper free. I wrapped the package back up and placed it on the sink. The ease of movement thanks to the light filled me with a little hope. I was far from safe, but at least now I could see the danger coming at me before I had to act.

  I glided to the door and opened the folded paper. For a moment, I just stared at the messy scrawl. The handwriting wasn’t the easiest to read. Clearly, it had been written by a boy. Well, duh. I rolled my eyes at myself. Who else would it be? I was surrounded by males.

  I began to make out the words:

  You were right. At first I didn’t want to believe it. After all, how could I believe Cassie, this random person I barely knew, was actually my sister? In a way, though, I guess I’d always known something wasn’t right. Maybe it was how my dad…I guess I should just call him Jonas now. He’s not my father. But looking back at the way he treated me when no one was looking, like I’d never be good enough to be his son, I always knew he didn’t like me, matter alone love me. Now it all makes sense.

  So what now? I learned I have a younger brother, and I had a younger sister. My brother Victor is totally messed up. Who can blame him? His father…our father…was basically murdered right in front of our eyes. We’d all been in shock, not quite believing Jonas would order a member of the community shot, but knowing what I know now, I see it for what it was—cold-blooded murder. Victor is still carrying that around with him. Maybe I can help him. For some reason I can’t even understand, I want to help him. Maybe I’m not such a bad guy after all.

  As we agreed, I left the lantern in exchange for the information. Sorry I left the way I did, leaving you in the dark again. To make up for it, there’s a little extra for you in the bundle, too. I’ll try to get food to you when I can, but there’s unrest in the community. So much suspicion in everyone’s eyes and the guards are jumpy lately. People are questioning Jonas’s decisions about the community, about Zeke, about you. Believe it or not, there are men up here who don’t want to see you harmed. I just don’t know if they’re willing to go against Jonas and the Council for you.

  I have to go for now, but I wanted to say thank you. At first, all I felt was anger, toward Jonas, toward my real father, toward you. I have a lot to work through, but I’m grateful to know the truth now. Knowing what I know now, I’m free from Jonas’s shadow. My mother taught me right from wrong before he sent her away. I don’t think she’d be proud of my behavior since she left. So much of what I did was to please him. Thank you for freeing me from that. I can’t commit to anything, but I want you to know, I’m doing what
I can to free you as well. Not for any exchanges of favors, not so you’ll choose me, but just because it’s the right thing to do. It’s what my mother would have wanted me to do.

  The note ended without a signature, but I knew who’d written it. I wanted to believe him, but I was still leery of his true motives. For his sake and mine, I hoped he meant every word, but I wasn’t ready to take down the mattress just yet.

  As the day inched by, I worked to stay at attention, but the light put me at ease for the first time since I’d been locked in here. To drop my guard could be a lost opportunity for escape, but whether the lack of food was the problem or what, lethargy was overtaking me.

  On the floor, the mattress under me, I heard a key in the door at the end of the hallway. Faster than the water that came out when I twisted the knobs on the sink, I rose and got into position beside the door, ready with my makeshift weapon.

  But no one opened the door to my cell. Only the metal flap raised and a tray of food was pushed through. I set the mattress against the wall again and grabbed the food. I couldn’t allow myself to grow any weaker.

  As I glanced at the window, instead of Nick, the nasty guard from last night, Peter appeared. A step toward the door and I was face to face with him, but even more surprising, Thomas stood a few feet behind Peter. I met his gaze, and he nodded at me.

  “It’s about time you showed up. Where have you been?”

  A smile spread across his face at my cranky words. But I’d meant every word and the sentiment behind them.

  “Good to see you too, Charlie.” He crossed his arms and took a deep breath before explaining, “I’ve been trying to convince my father to plea for you with the other council members, but trouble’s brewing up there. There’s talk of rebellion. Dad’s afraid to feed it by showing a divide in the Council. I’m still working on him though.”

  Peter spoke up, his voice sounding earnest as he said, “And just in case that doesn’t work out, I’m planning to take the guard’s keys tonight. When he sleeps, I’ll take them from his room. You’ll be free one way or the other by tomorrow.”

  My first reaction was overwhelming doubt. I doubted they could pull it off. I doubted their intentions were pure. What was the angle? Everyone here wanted something in exchange. Yet, if there was one person here I trusted, it was Thomas. True, he hadn’t stood up for me in the trial, but at least he wasn’t the one who’d put me in front of the Council. He’d kept my secret, even when it jeopardized his future to do so.

  Peter was another story though. He could easily be playing the middle, promising both sides what they wanted in order to get what he wanted. That would be the Peter I knew so well.

  Doubt pushed me to clarify. “You seem so certain. Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

  “No. Not anymore. Thomas and I plan to take over the leadership of the community. The consequences will be a better run group of people and decisions that are the right things to do, not what benefits the body of leadership.”

  Understanding dawned in my mind. Once again, he saw this as an opportunity to take power. He was more like the father that raised him than he realized, but I certainly wasn’t going to tell him that. Even if his motivation was a little skewed, I could use that key, so I’d play along for now.

  “Why are you here instead of Nick?”

  Thomas stepped forward this time, and Peter moved aside to let him answer. He looked reluctant but finally admitted, “I traded a duty with him.”

  “Nightwatch?”

  He nodded and touched the window. I raised my hand and traced my fingers over the spot where his rested. The glass was cold to the touch, but it warmed me in a way I was just beginning to understand.

  Zeke had always held a certain fascination for me. On the outside, he was every bit the hero he wanted to be. He was a braggart whose confidence never faltered. And why should it? To me, he was larger than life and could do anything he put his mind to, even outrun and outwit a vicious pack of Draghoul if he really wanted to.

  But Thomas was different. He’d never brag about his skills, just quietly save a helpless person from a horrific end. He’d care for a baby with an unexpected gentleness. He’d watch over and protect someone weaker than him, even when she didn’t know he was there. God save him, he’d take a nightwatch just to make sure that same person was okay. Without a doubt, I saw his greatness, but he’d probably argue against it. He was my hero, and where I didn’t really know how to feel about Zeke, I knew I cared for Thomas in a way I’d never cared for anyone before. If ever I could say I loved someone, it was surely Thomas.

  Suddenly uncomfortable with the turn of my thoughts, I lowered my hand and changed the subject. “Where’s Star.”

  He turned around and showed me a sleeping bundle of baby strapped to his back before facing me again. “I haven’t let her leave my side. She’s doing well, but I can tell she misses you.”

  A panicky thought struck, and I squished closer to the window. “Get her out of here. Don’t let her see our mother like that.”

  Thomas looked at the door across the hallway. He knew. An icky feeling of too many secrets kept from me washed down my spine. He must have known she was here all the time. Maybe he could tell me why.

  “She wouldn’t recognize her anyway.”

  “I know, but she might be scared…scared of her own mother.”

  “She’s not your mother anymore. The sooner you understand that, the safer you’ll be.”

  I looked at my feet. Why couldn’t I seem to learn that lesson? “Why is she here? Why keep her?”

  “Quillen had an idea he could cure her. He kept her to test his theory. Obviously, he was wrong. There is no cure.”

  I shivered. Quillen might have misrepresented himself to me, but no one could doubt his determination to help us all, whether we wanted his help or not.

  “And the others?” I thought of the shrieks up and down the corridor each night.

  Peter spoke up again, “I’m not sure who’s in the first cell, but the other is my real father.”

  No words came to mind that might shape some sense of what he’d just admitted. “I thought he was shot and died.”

  Thomas spoke up, “He turned when he died.”

  My confusion wasn’t easing with these short explanations. “How? Was he scratched or bitten, too?”

  Peter emitted a frustrated growl and turned away. He knew I wouldn’t want to hear the truth. “Well?”

  Thomas sighed heavily. “We’re all infected already, Charlie. Once our body ceases to live and our immune system is completely repressed, the infection takes over and we become monsters.”

  “If it’s already inside us, why aren’t we turning now?”

  “I don’t quite understand it myself, but Quillen said once you’re exposed to the virus through the environment, it lies dormant until a second introduction through a scratch or bite or until all body functions stop due to death. Quillen could explain it better.”

  “Oh, no. This can’t be.”

  “I know. But Quillen says there’s hope for a cure. A few people are completely immune to the virus.”

  Like my sister. No wonder Quillen was so determined to find a cure. If the boys in front of me turned into Draghouls at this moment, I couldn’t have been more stunned. Like a parasite eating away at my insides, the infection was a ticking time bomb with nothing to diffuse it. Hopelessness washed over me. Why even bother eking out an existence if the disease was going to win in the end?

  I turned away and fell to my knees on the mattress. Dazed, I lay down and covered my face with my hands. It was too much to take in, and my mind simply shut down.

  After some time, they said goodbye, but I didn’t make the effort to turn as they walked away. A small part of me registered the light still glowing from the hallway, and I noticed tears rolling down my cheeks, but I didn’t bother to wipe them away. My food sat uneaten, but I couldn’t motivate myself to reach for it. Eventually, I drifted into sleep, my nightmares no
worse than this reality.

  Chapter 18

  I awoke briefly sometime in the night with a fire building deep inside me. Something had to happen and soon.

  I didn’t know how long I’d slept, but the shrieks around me made it apparent the sun was still down. For a long time, I lay still, distinguishing my mother’s voice from the others. I reminded myself the creature across the hall was no longer my mother. She hadn’t recognized me through the window and would attack me on sight, but she had meant everything to me once, and those feelings tended to stick around.

  I wondered if any part of her was still my mom. If deep inside, on some tiny level, part of her would recognize me as her own. I guess I wanted her to be more than a monster, wanted all of us to become more than monsters.

  No more tears filled my eyes. I was done crying and feeling sorry for myself. Things couldn’t get much worse, and I couldn’t change a thing about my inevitable future from in here. First order of business was to get out of here. Thomas and Peter would work on that part, and I would rely on them as much as I could. Otherwise, I’d try to use the mattress to gain some leverage whenever someone actually did open the cell door.

  The next thing I wanted to do was talk to Quillen. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but if anyone knew whether a cure was possible or not, he did. I might even allow him to take a limited amount of Star’s blood. And, with that, he could cure us all.

  Yeah, and geese were going to start falling from the sky every day too. No! I had to stay positive. We would be okay. He’d cure us all. It was the only option.

  The screeches continued, and I figured the creatures would go on as long as I was here with them. According to Thomas, I secreted a pheromone, or scent, that drove them into a frenzy, so they’d go on until dawn. I didn’t pretend to know the science behind it although I’d had the sex ed classes in school long ago.