“Several someones, actually. I’m very talented at making enemies.”
“What kind of enemies?”
“The kind that run places like this.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “You were investigating them?”
“Something like that.” I hesitate, then decide to give her a little more. “I was looking for someone. Someone who didn’t deserve what happened to her.”
“Her?”
“A kid. Well, not exactly a kid, but young. Innocent.” The familiar weight of guilt settles on my chest. “I found her. Just not in time to help.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“Is that why you’re here? Because you found her?”
“Because I found this place. And because I was too stupid to call for backup before trying to get her out.” I close my eyes, remembering the moment everything had gone wrong. “Should have known it was a trap.”
“You tried to save someone. That’s not stupid.”
“It is when you fail.”
“At least you tried. Most people wouldn’t have bothered.”
I open my eyes, staring at the dark ceiling. “How do you know?”
“Know what?”
“That most people wouldn’t have bothered. Maybe you just have shitty taste in people.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’ve learned not to expect much from people.”
There’s a carefully controlled pain simmering under her words that makes me want to ask more questions. But I’ve already pushed enough for one conversation.
“Well,” I say instead, “for what it’s worth, you’re better company than the guards.”
“That’s a low bar.”
“True. But you cleared it easily.”
Another small sound that might have been laughter. “Thanks, I think.”
“You’re welcome, Lithia.”
We fall into a comfortable silence after that. Not the crushing, suffocating quiet I’ve been living with, but a shared stillness that feels almost peaceful.
“Are you still there?” I ask after a while.
“Yes.”
“Good. I was starting to wonder if I’d imagined the whole thing.” I run my thumb over my finger once again, determined to hold on to the feel of her skin against mine.
“You didn’t imagine me.”
“You sure? Because this wouldn’t be the weirdest conversation I’ve had with a hallucination.”
