“I’m not hungry for food...”
Elodie shook her head and crawled forward, and she heard him lift up to watch her as she positioned her shoulder into gap closest to the food. She dropped the jacket, snaked her fingers through, twisting her wrist, pushing her limb between the small space. It was slow going and for once she found her emaciated body helpful. The cold metal rubbed the skin of her arms uncomfortably as she strained and reached, spreading her fingers out, managing to roll both water gels in her direction.
She wiggled the ration closer until she was able to grip it between the tips of her fingers. Pulling out was just as difficult.
With her conquest complete, and the food in her hands, she went back to Gunner, who hadn’t moved during the entire demonstration. He hadn’t shot up to grab a hold of her, but simply looked at her with a tired fascination. Elodie pushed back her bangs and offered him the nourishment. “You need to eat. The first days are the worst.”
“Why don’t you keep it?” His eyes flashed red, startling her, but returned to their milky dead sheen soon after.
“I’m not hungry.” She pushed the food back into his cell. A peace offering. “And because I don’t want to know what happens to those that steal from you.”
“They die.”
“There you go.” Elodie pushed the food a little farther in and jerked her fingers back out. “Good enough reason not to eat your food.”
“I’m not hungry for food,” he whispered.
“What are you hungry for?”
His crimson irises staked her to the spot. It was all the answer she needed, as damning as the moment she decided to speak to him in the first place. His stare spoke more than any amount of words uttered ever could.
Her fate was sealed.
She turned away slowly and curled up on her side. Squeezing her eyelids shut, she pressed her hand hard over her heart, and wished for the sanctuary of her grey place. How she longed to go there and never return.
He knows.
Chapter Nine
***
GUNNER CURSED.
And cursed.
A long stream of angry profanity went through his head without stopping. Ely had shut him out.
