Kallan, on the other hand, was her dad’s age, maybe a bit younger. He sported scars, old facial wounds of a laced booster user, and his pallor was sickly and wet. His hair was long and stringy, a dark brown that easily showed off his dandruff. She shivered again at the thought, thankful, always thankful, that there were thick metal bars between her and everyone else.
“—so there’s no reason for a dead man to keep all the goods. But I’ve been here the longest and I may be able to keep you alive long enough to make the fuckers outside stop giving a damn.” Kallan preened.
“For my jacket?”
“Bright! You’re bright,” Kallan tittered mockingly and she felt his spittle land on her. Elodie wiped it off with disgust. “Hey guys, we got a genius in our midst!”
“I’ll think about it,” the new prisoner said, unamused.
“Don’t think long. Those guards could be back at any time, and from what I’ve gathered, they’re out for your blood.”
“Hmm...” The sound slithered right into her ear again.
Elodie’s heart skipped a much-needed beat and her eyes snapped open.Maybe he is an idiot.She looked at the tops of her knees but really focused on him in her periphery.He needs to pretend he’s still out cold. That’s what I would do.
The stranger was feet away, pressed up against the bars they shared. Her bars.My safe place.No one cared about getting within her reach and a sudden anger sparked within her, hot and fast.
The men around her argued and Kallan’s laughter grew louder. Her periphery blurred. The stranger hovered at her side, large like a wave poised to crash at any moment, casting her in his shadow even though the light came from directly overhead.
“What’re we going to do about...him?” he said. Ely closed her eyes again.
They’re talking about me.
“Ely here?” Kallan asked. “Nothing. Boy-o knows what’s best for him.”
She heard the rustle of clothes and the shift of the stranger’s body moving beside her.
“Ely? Do you know what’s best for you?” he asked, low enough for only her to hear. She sucked on her tongue and kept quiet.
“Don’t you want my jacket, Ely?” His voice lowered still, sounding deeper, softer, and the noisy sounds of the other inmates faded into the background.
I do.
“You do, don’t you?”
She leaned her head back against the wall and rolled it to the side, feigning irritation as she looked at him. As soon as she did, she wished she’d hadn’t.
Elodie searched his face, tracing each harsh contour, but she kept coming back to those glazed eyes that seemed to look straight through her. Her understanding of anatomy screamed at her that the man was blind, except she knew he wasn’t.
He just appeared blind.
His head mirrored her own against the wall and she knew exactly what the man was doing.He’s trying to gain my trust.
Her eyes narrowed as his mouth twitching into a sideways smirk. One of the guns ballooned at his cheek while the other straightened. His smile widened. Elodie drew back before she could stop herself.
“Hello, Ely,” he said.
Elodie wanted to turn back time.I’ve made too many mistakes today.
“My name’s Gunner. I think we’re going to be fast friends.”
