HetrustsDanya despite what Sorrenko said.
Lachlan simply being near to the twins exposes him to all kinds of information that’s unworthy of processing.He learns much of what he already knew about theirrelationship, their beliefs, corruption and disloyalty.It would be satisfying in any other context to see them reduced to sobbing children, snot and tears and piss in the corner.
From what Lachlan has gleaned, the people holding them are definitely a private contract team, but their main objective is murky.
They’ve gone rogue at least in part due to Fenwick.
And he knows they’re working with Wake, the photographer.
It’s Wake who pointed everyone out by name, the one who spoke through the safe door to the morons inside and convinced them to come out, told them there was water and that the people holding them were reasonable.
One side believed it and the other didn’t.
‘That one,’ Wake told them, pointing to Lachlan yesterday(day before?),‘is smart.Keep your eyes on him.’
So they do.
There’s always someone nearby with a gun.
But it’s not only humans nearby now.
In the absence of staff to maintain the place, wildlife slowly moves in.
The crabs come first, heedless of how many times they’re kicked away, they can’t be discouraged.Land crabs and a few ghost crabs at night, Lachlan knows them by the light clip-clop of their claws on the destroyed marble.
The snakes come next, their bright eyes darting around with interest.They are opportunistic little heat seekers and Lachlan likes the way their scales catch the light, prettier than the manufactured rainbows of this now ruined menagerie.They keep to the sidelines, tracing baseboards and broken marble seams.Most are small and Lachlan doesn’t really know much about snakes, but he knows pit vipers when he sees them.
Lizards draw attention running along what remains of the walls, their green and brown bodies exploring confidently until they sense danger and then freeze as if stillness makes them invisible.
Lines of ants appear after scouts report back.
Cockroaches reclaim where they were forced out.
Beetles investigate with open curiosity.
Flies swarm around the pool even without the bodies.
The rats only come at night.
Lachlan finds it oddly beautiful, especially the snakes.
Balance.Nature.It all reminds him of his little girl.
Does she think he’s hurt?
Does she worry?
Is he even overdue?
Lachlan can’t remember.
The sun is overwhelming, the lack of water disorienting.
Jules is safely underground where it’s cooler.Roman did as Lachlan asked, he filled what he could with water, but it won’t last forever.
In death, Thomas Whitlock brings the wildlife of Sable Key into the area, and the Delacroix twins watch with shocked revulsion as the body of a once powerful man is reclaimed by nature.
Lachlan’s arms are bound behind his back, no chair, he’s just on the floor atop broken glass scattered around like thick, raw chunks of manmade crystal, prettier broken than it ever was whole.
