Page 38
Story: Deceptively Dead
“She was an excellent nurse.” I murmur, not sure what else to say.
“Yes, yes.” Isabella cuts me off, forcing my attention over to her. “That’s very lovely, but let me introduce myself to you formally.” She says and I have to wonder what wasn’t formal about our earlier introductions. “I’m Isabella, head counsellor for the refugee’s side.”
Annie rubs the bridge of her nose like she’s getting a headache. “For god’s sake Isabella, give it a rest. For the last time there is no ‘us’ or ‘them’, we work for the same team! And we don’t have a leader, that’s the point. Everyone equal.”
I can practically hear the hiss in the stare Isabella sends Annie’s way but the other woman just rolls her eyes.
“As I was saying,” Isabella continues boldly “this is Damien and Ethan.” She gestures dismissively at the other two council members, who nod politely at me but seem a little ticked off and I wonder if it’s at me or Isabella. I wave at them both anyway and earn a tiny smile from Ethan at the end of the table. “Now, we are here to discuss your position here. What makes you think you have the right to stay here?” Isabella questions aggressively and Annie scoffs, but says nothing.
“I-” I actually don’t know the answer to this question and I flounder, looking to Hunter for guidance. He moves to stand close to me, pushing Nate behind me as he takes his spot.
“Angie is an asset to any community, especially this one. She is brave and talented with weapons. She has proven herself to us over and over again in the short time we have known her.” He states to the room with full confidence. My eyes prick as I listen to him and I can’t help the starry-eyed quality to my stare as I gaze up at him. It has been such a long time that anyone stood up for me so openly. “Besides all that though, your question is obviously moot, Isabella. Angie told you yesterday. We have aclaim. That means she belongs.” He concludes, staring Isabella down as her face scrunches in anger.
‘What?!” exclaims Web in a happy voice. “No one bothered to tell me about a claim! Why are we even here then? Let the poor child go home and rest!” he demands and all the others at the table agree. They move to rise and I suddenly realise I have to tell them, that maybe I’ve put this entire town in jeopardy by coming here. They deserve to know about Jacob if they are so willing to accept me into their fold.
“Wait.” I say and every set of eyes turn to me, even as they all settle back into their chairs. “There’s something you should all know before you welcome me.” Hunter’s hand tightens on my shoulder and Chase whispers in my ear that I don’t have to do this, but I know I do. “There might be someone… someone coming after me.” I state and that seals their attention as I tell them about Jacob and his compound.
When I am finished the silence stretches long and thick, until Isabella crows with triumph.
“I told you all she was trouble. Knew it the second I laid eyes on her. We can’t possibly offer her safe harbor now, it’s far too dangerous for our people.” To my dismay Damian and Annie both nod in agreement, though Annie looks particularly pained to do so.
“Nonsense.” Web snaps, cutting through the murmur of hushed conversations that started up as soon as Isabella started talking. “You heard Hunter; these boys have a claim. That makes her one of us, no matter the trouble that brings with it.” He says with a frown.
“I agree with Web.” Rick pipes up and Isabella mutters something that sounds like ‘what’s new’ as she rolls her eyes. “And besides all that, we can’t just let some deranged psycho gallivant about the place, destroying people’s lives. God knows there’s not enough life left on this earth to allow a scourge likethat to take root.” He declares fiercely, thumping his big hand down on the bench.
His speech sends the table into a tail spin, each member of the council talking over the other until they are nearly shouting to be heard. I shrink into my chair and grope blindly for Hunter and Chase’s hands, Nates fingers soothing through my short hair a moment later. The squabbling council don’t hear the door bang open a second time, but we do, and we turn to look at the dishevelled young guard stood in the doorway, blood and dirt smeared across his leather vest liberally. I make a sound of surprise but Hunter…
“SHUT IT!” he bellows into the room, silencing the council immediately. “Report.” He barks at the young man, who snaps to attention, though he’s far too young to have been in the real military.
“Sir! Council. We need you in the cells, we captured an intruder.” The boy snaps the words off in a clipped tone, but his hand shakes as he holds it out to indicate we follow him. Everyone gathers themselves and follows him out the door, their argument clearly forgotten for the moment. Me and my guys take the lead as they drag me along between them.I have a bad feeling about this.
We descend a level and come to a barred door that is opened from the inside by another guard, this one wearing a similar outfit to the one who led us here, but distinctly lacking the blood and dirt of the other man. A short corridor houses four cells, dimly lit by flickering fluorescent lights, but it is the first one that captures and holds my attention. I feel my body sway as the prisoner inside looks up and meets my eyes in a hate fuelled stare. The blood drains from my face and both Hunter and Chase reach to steady me, concern in their eyes, but I can’t remove my gaze from the bloodied body sitting propped in the corner of his cage.
“Caleb.” I whisper.
To Be Continued.
“Yes, yes.” Isabella cuts me off, forcing my attention over to her. “That’s very lovely, but let me introduce myself to you formally.” She says and I have to wonder what wasn’t formal about our earlier introductions. “I’m Isabella, head counsellor for the refugee’s side.”
Annie rubs the bridge of her nose like she’s getting a headache. “For god’s sake Isabella, give it a rest. For the last time there is no ‘us’ or ‘them’, we work for the same team! And we don’t have a leader, that’s the point. Everyone equal.”
I can practically hear the hiss in the stare Isabella sends Annie’s way but the other woman just rolls her eyes.
“As I was saying,” Isabella continues boldly “this is Damien and Ethan.” She gestures dismissively at the other two council members, who nod politely at me but seem a little ticked off and I wonder if it’s at me or Isabella. I wave at them both anyway and earn a tiny smile from Ethan at the end of the table. “Now, we are here to discuss your position here. What makes you think you have the right to stay here?” Isabella questions aggressively and Annie scoffs, but says nothing.
“I-” I actually don’t know the answer to this question and I flounder, looking to Hunter for guidance. He moves to stand close to me, pushing Nate behind me as he takes his spot.
“Angie is an asset to any community, especially this one. She is brave and talented with weapons. She has proven herself to us over and over again in the short time we have known her.” He states to the room with full confidence. My eyes prick as I listen to him and I can’t help the starry-eyed quality to my stare as I gaze up at him. It has been such a long time that anyone stood up for me so openly. “Besides all that though, your question is obviously moot, Isabella. Angie told you yesterday. We have aclaim. That means she belongs.” He concludes, staring Isabella down as her face scrunches in anger.
‘What?!” exclaims Web in a happy voice. “No one bothered to tell me about a claim! Why are we even here then? Let the poor child go home and rest!” he demands and all the others at the table agree. They move to rise and I suddenly realise I have to tell them, that maybe I’ve put this entire town in jeopardy by coming here. They deserve to know about Jacob if they are so willing to accept me into their fold.
“Wait.” I say and every set of eyes turn to me, even as they all settle back into their chairs. “There’s something you should all know before you welcome me.” Hunter’s hand tightens on my shoulder and Chase whispers in my ear that I don’t have to do this, but I know I do. “There might be someone… someone coming after me.” I state and that seals their attention as I tell them about Jacob and his compound.
When I am finished the silence stretches long and thick, until Isabella crows with triumph.
“I told you all she was trouble. Knew it the second I laid eyes on her. We can’t possibly offer her safe harbor now, it’s far too dangerous for our people.” To my dismay Damian and Annie both nod in agreement, though Annie looks particularly pained to do so.
“Nonsense.” Web snaps, cutting through the murmur of hushed conversations that started up as soon as Isabella started talking. “You heard Hunter; these boys have a claim. That makes her one of us, no matter the trouble that brings with it.” He says with a frown.
“I agree with Web.” Rick pipes up and Isabella mutters something that sounds like ‘what’s new’ as she rolls her eyes. “And besides all that, we can’t just let some deranged psycho gallivant about the place, destroying people’s lives. God knows there’s not enough life left on this earth to allow a scourge likethat to take root.” He declares fiercely, thumping his big hand down on the bench.
His speech sends the table into a tail spin, each member of the council talking over the other until they are nearly shouting to be heard. I shrink into my chair and grope blindly for Hunter and Chase’s hands, Nates fingers soothing through my short hair a moment later. The squabbling council don’t hear the door bang open a second time, but we do, and we turn to look at the dishevelled young guard stood in the doorway, blood and dirt smeared across his leather vest liberally. I make a sound of surprise but Hunter…
“SHUT IT!” he bellows into the room, silencing the council immediately. “Report.” He barks at the young man, who snaps to attention, though he’s far too young to have been in the real military.
“Sir! Council. We need you in the cells, we captured an intruder.” The boy snaps the words off in a clipped tone, but his hand shakes as he holds it out to indicate we follow him. Everyone gathers themselves and follows him out the door, their argument clearly forgotten for the moment. Me and my guys take the lead as they drag me along between them.I have a bad feeling about this.
We descend a level and come to a barred door that is opened from the inside by another guard, this one wearing a similar outfit to the one who led us here, but distinctly lacking the blood and dirt of the other man. A short corridor houses four cells, dimly lit by flickering fluorescent lights, but it is the first one that captures and holds my attention. I feel my body sway as the prisoner inside looks up and meets my eyes in a hate fuelled stare. The blood drains from my face and both Hunter and Chase reach to steady me, concern in their eyes, but I can’t remove my gaze from the bloodied body sitting propped in the corner of his cage.
“Caleb.” I whisper.
To Be Continued.