Page 70 of Marked for Execution

“Fell off the damn bed today, butSilifixed my mood. Didn’t fall on my face coming down the porch steps so I say that’s progress.”

“That’s fucking great, man. You down to do some hand-to-hand this morning?”

“Maybe.”

“Yo!” Reed ran up beside us with a wave. “I just saw the girls. Well, I mean I just saw Hannah pull Fitri away like there’s free food offered somewhere.”

“Baby lambs,” I told him.

“Ah, okay. That makes sense. We training today?”

“Yeah, I gotta get use to this prosthetic and bearing the right amount of weight.”

“We got you, Eliseo. We’ll make sure to kick your ass.”

I threw a fist and Reed dodged it. Gunner and Samuel cackled with mirth, not helping my sour mood one bit. Sparring used to invigorate me, knowing I could beat 'em all and teach them a thing or two. Seems like they were teaching more times than not these days.

“You boys are still at it, huh? I haven’t seen any of you take a break since you got back,” Margaret smiled at us, pushing another wheelbarrow of manure in the street.

“No rest for the weary, Marge. You know this,” I told her with a smile.

Her face crinkled up as she chuckled, lowering the wheelbarrow. “I was hoping to run by Fitri to let her know the new harvest was taken down to the shop in the town center. I know how much she loves those vegetable sandwiches of hers.”

“Hannah took her that way about a few minutes ago,” Gunner supplied.

“Ah, okay. Well, don’t overdo it today Eliseo. I wouldn’t want poor Fitri to be sad over something as stupid as not controlling yourself.”

The men snickered behind me as I promised her, I would do my best. Walking to our usual location, we got into position and started with moves that required weight shifting and changing center of gravity. My body sweat profusely as it tried to reacclimate to putting pressure on the stump and compensatory strategies in order to perform moves I would have done with my eyes closed in the past.

Time flew by. Gunner’s stomach rumbled as he leaned to dodge one of my hits, and we laughed. Looking around, I realized the sun had started to set, andSilihadn't come by to check up on me.

I patted the guys on the back and told them I would see them tomorrow as I walked towards the center of the town. Entering the shop, I called out Oscar’s name.

“Hey, Eliseo! What’s happening? Looking good on that new leg. What can I do for ya?”

“Oscar, have you seen Fitri or Hannah?”

He leaned his forearm on the counter and frowned. “I don’t think so. Were they supposed to come by for something? There isn’t much left.”

My heart rate picked up and I turned to leave, on a mission to find her. I almost ran into a man standing around looking at some of the fresh vegetables in the crate when someone called my name.

“Eliseo!”

“Not now Margaret, I’m busy.”

With quick strides, my stump started to throb with how hard my steps were hitting the pavement. Margaret left her wheelbarrow, lifted her skirt, and caught up with me, wrapping her frail hand around my arm.

“I saw her,” she blurted out, out of breath. My panic increased.

“Saw who?”

“Hannah. That girl that hangs around Samuel. She was pulling Fitri towards the back of the west side of town. I saw her go down a doorway, but I didn't see them come out. I’m worried about her.”

My anger rose. I still hated that old fucker for sending us out on that mission and then chopping my damn leg off. “Go find Samuel and tell him exactly what you told me. Go!”

She nodded frantically and jogged away.

I made a detour to my house and grabbed extra weapons before heading towards the one location I disliked about this place.