by Tracey Ward
When Marlow steps into the early morning light with his arms spread wide, I want to sprint to him. I want to leap into his arms and drive my knife so deep into his back it passes through his body and pierces me on the other side. I will gladly bleed with him if it means I can watch the light drain from his eyes up close and extremely personal. I will suck his last breath from his lungs and hold it in my mine until his life is burned out in the angry ash of my heart.
I don’t like murder, I’m not a killer at heart, but this man is a now a threat to the only thing in the world I can even vaguely call mine, and if killing him with my bare hands keeps that safe, I’ll gladly live with his ghost for the rest of my life.
Vin approaches Marlow without hesitation. They hug each other warmly, and that right there speaks volumes. There are no searches, no patting down to look for weapons. There’s so much trust here, so much tried-and-true history that they don’t consider each other the least bit of a threat. Not an immediate one anyway. It makes me more and more convinced that Vin plans to use Ryan. Even if he’s given an “opening,” I wonder if Ryan will be allowed to kill Marlow.
“Here they come,” Ryan mumbles.
Marlow is walking with Vin across the gardens, happily surveying the area with a grin on his face. He points to plants as they pass them, gestures to the roof, asking Vin questions as they go. Vin looks like he’s answering, a similar grin on his face, but as they get closer I can see a tightness around his eyes. Maybe it’s the glare from the sun, but more than likely it’s Marlow. It’s too many cooks in the kitchen. His kitchen.
“It’s impressive,” Marlow says as they step inside, the doors being yanked open by a mix of Hive and Guard.
All six of Vin’s men are with him, the only followers he has left in the building, while Marlow has brought eight of his army. The rest are outside in the gardens milling around, checking out the grounds. I can see a few wandering toward the water, some others looking at the animals. Slowly but surely they’re circling the building. It’s a not-so-subtle message to Vin that Daddy is here and he’d better not forget it.
“They did a great job setting it up, but that’s what they do,” Vin agrees.
“And where are they now? How many workers are there?”
“They’re locked safely away,” Vin lies. “I didn’t want itchy trigger fingers to kick off a war. They’re not a strong group, not when it comes to fighting.”
“More farmers and bakers, eh? That was to be expected. We’ll split them down the middle. Send half to The Hive, leave half here. We could use skilled farmers at home. Could cut our dependence on other resources.”
I bristle at the vague reference to his deal with the Colonies.
“So what else is here? Are there many women? Have you started training?”
Vin shrugs carelessly. “Haven’t had the time. We only just took control of the building.”
“Good, good. We’ll want to get on that quickly. A lot of our inventory is aging, looking tired. You could start fresh here. Get all new girls. Speaking of…” Marlow turns to face me, a wicked smile on his ugly face. “Hello, my dear.”
“Fuck you,” I tell him coolly.
Marlow throws his head back, laughing full from the gut. My knife hand itches.
“Oh, I do like you,” he finally says, crossing the room slowly. Ryan moves closer as well. “I’m so glad you’re still alive. I was worried about you.”
“You sent me to die.”
“I sent you on an errand. If you had died on that errand you would have showed me you’re weak, but here you stand—alive and well and beautiful as ever. Vincent, what are your plans for this one?”
I glare at Vin over Marlow’s shoulder, just waiting for one of them to give me a reason.
“I hadn’t decided yet,” he says simply.
Marlow nods thoughtfully, turning to head back toward Vin. “I think we’ll keep her as a bargaining chip. She still a Benjy?”
“Far as I know.”
“Good. If we’re going to keep this place we’ll either have to fight for it or pay for it. I’d rather not lose any men right now, not with things as tense as they are, and Westbrook has expensive tastes. She could be just what we need.”
And there’s my reason.
I take several quick steps toward Marlow’s turned back, my lips curling up over my teeth in disgust. I’m almost to him, Vin shooting me a horrified look over his shoulder. I’m reaching out to take hold of him with one hand and unsheathe my knife with another. I’m going to kill him. I’m going to end this for everyone.
I’m swung off the ground and spun around in a circle. Shouting in anger, I thrash and claw at the arm around me. I know it’s Ryan but my frustration is so deep I dig into his skin, drawing blood and snarling like an animal. The room spins in front of my eyes in a blur, and just before my feet are put back on solid ground I catch a familiar face in Marlow’s guard.
Andy.
“Slow down,” Ryan whispers brusquely in my ear, his arm still around my waist as he holds my back against his front. “Not yet.”
“Tie her up,” Marlow commands, sounding oddly disinterested. “Be careful not to mark her skin, but keep her contained. I’ll take her with me when I leave. Now, Vincent, show me the rest of the building. I want to see what I’m buying.”
Marlow and Vin leave without a look back, followed by four of each of their guards. Ryan and I are left alone with the remaining crew: two of Vin’s men, four of Marlow’s. I’m both relieved and annoyed when Andy steps toward me with a length of rope.
“Put her down by the door,” Andy tells Ryan sternly.
He does as he’s told, leading me to a vacant chair by the door and gently pushing me down until I’m glaring up at Andy.
“Tie it loosely,” Ryan warns under his breath.
Andy shifts his eyes to the other men in the room. They’re all watching us.
“So I don’t mark her skin. Yeah, I heard him.”
“So I can get loose and snap your neck,” I tell him, leaning forward to get in his face as he leans down to tie my ankles. “I’ve missed you, Andy. Did you miss me?”
“Shut your stupid mouth,” he whispers bitterly. “If they hear you—”
“They’ll know all about you. That’s the point.”
He tugs harshly on the rope wrapping around my ankles. I fight the urge to wince as the rough fibers scrape across my skin.
“Go ahead, tell them. They’ll kill me right here and you’ll be next.”
“You heard Marlow. I’m expensive. You guys aren’t allowed to touch me.”
“Not you. Him.”
I sit back hard in the chair, my eyes going to Ryan. He’s watching Andy’s hands as they secure knots, each movement making me more and more Marlow’s prisoner.
Andy cuts the rope with a small knife before sitting up on his knees to tie my wrists.
“If they hurt Ryan—” I begin, my teeth clenched tight.
Andy looks at me sharply. “They won’t. Not if you keep it together. You’re too emotional. Sit back, shut up, and let me do my job.”
I lean my head back until it rests against the chair, my eyes open and vacant.
Emotional.
Not as bad a word as hope, but definitely not good. It’s deadly. More deadly than Risen, zombie, Colonist, or gang. I’ve run from it for years—hidden in the dark, scurrying like an animal—and now here it is, the thing that will get me killed: I’ve gotten emotional and it’s made me stupid.
“Fine,” I spit out. “I’ll be quiet.”
“Good. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. Be patient. Be smart. Wait for the right moment.”
I lower my eyes to his face, ready to ask him what he’s talking about, when I feel the cold steel of a blade sliding against my wrist. He’s finished tying my hands down, but he’s done it loosely. There’s just enough play for me to lift them slightly. Just enough room between my skin and the wood for the thin blade of his knife to hide.
&nbs
p; Chapter Twelve
Ryan goes to stand with the other men in the room, siding with the two guys from Vin’s Guard. I think he’s a little relieved. I’m still here, where he doesn’t want me to be, but I’m contained. Me being tied to a chair doesn’t exactly bother him because he has no intention of Marlow leaving with me. He has no intention of Marlow leaving at all.
That worries me.
In my gut I know Ryan shouldn’t do this. For one, Vin wants it. He pushed him toward it, practically putting the idea in his head. Vin’s joy is a huge red flag for me. Secondly, it’s an emotional decision, something I can say from experience is a bad idea. I’m regretting a lot right now as my butt goes numb in this uncomfortable chair and my fingers cramp from slowly working Andy’s knife back and forth over the ropes holding me down. I don’t know if he meant for me to cut myself loose with it or hold onto it to defend myself when things get ugly, but I’m not interested in being caged so I’m putting it to use immediately. SOB could have sharpened it for me, though.
The third most obvious reason to me why Ryan shouldn’t kill Marlow is that Ryan isn’t a killer. It’s not in him. Zombies are one thing; a man is another. Ryan’s a diplomat, not a mercenary. He’s done it before and I know it’s still with him. I don’t want more blood on his hands that he’ll never be able to wash off.
“That’s it.”
Vin’s voice drifts down from the rafters where he and Marlow are walking around the upper level. They make their way slowly down the large open staircase toward the main floor where we all wait patiently. Or anxiously. Or murderously.
“It’s not as big as the aquarium,” Marlow says critically. “But the grounds are bigger. There’s more space for gardening. Farming. Could be worth it. It could definitely be worth it.”
“It being me,” I shout before remembering I’m supposed to shut up.
My hand on the knife freezes as all eyes shift to me.
Marlow chuckles as he and Vin clear the stairs and cross the room. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’ll definitely grease the wheels, but you won’t cover the entire cost. We’ll have to check the other inventory we get from this place. Where are they, by the way?”
“Where are who?” Vin asks innocently.
“The other people. The hundreds of people you claimed you have hidden away here. Did we not see the entire property? Where are they?”
“Basement.”
“We saw the basement.”
“Sub-basement.”
“Vincent.”
“They’re around, don’t worry, Marlow,” Vin sings easily. He slowly paces around the room, subtly putting distance between himself and Marlow. “I said they were being kept safe. I didn’t say they were being kept safe here.”
“Don’t double speak with me,” Marlow warns.
“It was a misunderstanding.”
Marlow watches Vin closely, his eyes narrowing to sharp slits. “Maybe we need to be more clear with each other. Bring me the girl!”
Two of Marlow’s men take hold of my chair and drag me backwards to the center of the room. Vin’s eyes follow me with interest, but he never stops moving. Never stops circling Marlow so very slowly.
I’m parked beside Marlow, the chair slammed forward so hard I worry for a second it will tip over and my face will meet the beaten hardwood floors. I also worry I’ll lose hold of my knife. I grip it so hard it turns slightly, the blade digging into my skin.
“Take it easy, Marlow,” Vin warns casually. “Westbrook won’t want her with a broken face.”
“What good is she as payment for an empty building?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I want the people, Vincent. This place is useless to me without the people to run it.”
“Bodies,” Vin says thoughtfully, still turning. Still pacing. He drags every eye in the room with him, Marlow’s men tensing as he steps behind them, between them, swoops in slowly near Marlow before gliding away again. “Hands, legs, feet, arms, backs to break. This world is worthless without people, isn’t it? No one to work the fields. No one to cook and clean. No one to create the law, to break the law, enforce the law. No one for the zombies to eat. No one to watch over you while you sleep. No one to warm your bed.”
“Get to it,” Marlow snaps.
Vin suddenly stops moving and I’m almost dizzy because of it. It feels like the entire room jolts. He’s standing to Marlow’s left, the same side I’m sitting on. Ryan, I notice, is standing to Marlow’s right, just outside his peripheral.
“I want the building,” Vin tells him firmly, no longer whimsical. “I want the building and half the people in it. Men or women, I don’t care.”
“And what will you do with it?”
“I’ll run it, same way you run The Hive. We’ll do business, same as you do business with the Colonies, but I don’t like the terms. Both those and the building will be entirely mine.”
“Why would I ever allow that?”
“Because if you don’t, you’ll never see a single one of the people from this place. You can have half or nothing. Run the numbers on that and get back to me.”
“You’re an idiot. What’s happened to you?”
Vin smirks at him. “Same thing that happens to every man who tastes power. I’ve grown hungry.”
“You’ve gotten greedy.”
“I’ve become wise,” Vin counters in an eerie whisper. “I know you can’t man this place. You wouldn’t know how even if you did have the bodies to fill it—which you don’t, by the way. Do you know how I know that? It’s because I know everything about you.”
Marlow examines Vin for a long time, neither of them moving. “So this is what it’s come to? After all these years, after all I’ve done for you, you’re going to turn on me? You’re no better than your dad was.”
“Oh I’m much better than my dad was, because I have his mistakes to learn from. I won’t live under your thumb forever and I definitely won’t let you put me in the bottom of the Sound.”
“You’re on the same course. He tried to shake me on, just like you’re doing now.”
Vin’s responding grin is cold. “He wasn’t holding all the cards.”
Marlow grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head to the side violently. I bite my lip to keep from crying out in pain.
“Not all the cards,” he sneers.
“Take her,” Vin replies flippantly, waving his hand like he’s brushing off the loss of a sock. “I’d hate for you to have made the trip for nothing.”
Marlow shakes his head, his face contorted in anger. “I could take everything from you right now.”
“And lose one hundred head. This building too. What would be the point of paying Westbrook for it if you can’t manage it? Give the building to me, half the people will be yours, we’ll work as partners, and you’ll never have to do business with the Colonies again.”
“I have a better idea,” Marlow snarls. “You and your pathetic Guard will die here and now, but not until you watch me drain every last cent out of this girl. Then I’ll burn this building with your bodies inside it and leave its charred remains as a reminder to anyone who ever thinks they can take what’s mine!”
Vin pinches his lips together briefly, appearing to think it over. “Well, I mean, it’s less appealing than my solution, but it’s something to think about. Let me sleep on it?”
“You’re not seeing another sunset.”
“I’ll bet you anything I see one more than you.”
The room explodes into action around me. Marlow releases my hair as I frantically saw at the rope holding my left arm down. I feel like weeping at the end, my weak and sore muscles in my still-healing arm aching and crying out against the abusively odd angles I’m asking my hand to work at. I cut my skin again, deeply. Blood oozes over the ropes down onto the seat, seeping hot and sticky into the fabric of my jeans. Finally I cut the rope hard enough to get my arm free.
I look up to find Vin and his Guard fighting the men
that came in with Marlow, Andy included. Andy has jumped in to fight Ryan, a fact I’m almost happy about because I think it’s less likely he’ll actually kill him. Andy might hurt him for show, and that pisses me off something awful—I’m not even promising I won’t seek revenge for it—but at least I don’t feel like he’s going to die right this second.
It’s when I feel Marlow’s hand on my chin, forcing my head back roughly, that I realize I’m the one in real danger.
He doesn’t say a word to me. He stares down at me gasping for breath and fighting to free myself, a cold glint in his eyes and a stone’s grasp on my face. I only have a second to think about it, a moment to react, and even as I do I know it won’t be enough.
I spin the knife in my hand, pointing the blade out and down. I want to go for his neck or his eye, do him like a zombie on the streets, but I don’t have the time or the reach. His arms are blocking me and I have to make do with what I’ve got.
I slash my small blade across his stomach, sinking it as deep as I can. He gasps, his hand falling away from my face as he doubles over in pain and surprise. Both will wear off too soon.
He’s stumbled back too far for me to be able to make another stab at him so I don’t bother. I can’t reach my bigger, sharper knife I strapped to my ankle, so I do the only thing I can: I start hacking at the other rope on my right hand and hope I can get free before he recovers.
I never stood a chance. Maybe not ever. Maybe not since the day my parents died and I ran and ran and ran. I’ve been running for years. Hiding from the monsters that want to destroy me, that won’t quit until I’m lying on the ground in a pool of my own blood and the stars are going black in the night sky for the last time. Maybe I was never meant to be more than a memory in the mind of a bright, beautiful boy. Just some words on a wall. Hidden music echoing in the darkness.
As Marlow lifts his head, his eyes landing on mine and promising me the end I’ve always known was coming, I’m surprised to find myself calm. I’m not ready to die, not by a long shot, but if it has to happen at least I got to live—even if it was just for a little while, a brief flash of lightning in the eye of a terrible storm. It was still brilliant and it was mine.