Chapter 21

Sevina

Corrin wakes me near the grounds of the Safety blocks. I touch the back of my palm to my forehead, dizzy. Most of what I’ve seen is still present in a heavy, compressed load, like overeating.

“They’ll be waiting for us,” Corrin says as he drives, his words hushed.

“How long—” I notice his neck. Bandaged and red. “What happened?”

Will appears from behind the holo. “We chatted.”

“What? Will—” I reach for Corrin’s neck, but he stops me with one hand.

“It’s all right.” His lip corners tilt. “We came to an understanding.”

“A temporary one,” Will adds.

I look over them both. As hurtful as this chat must’ve been, they do seem placid. On the same side at least. For now.

“We’re going back, aren’t we? To your gang. Do we have to?” Will asks.

“Yes.” I face the front. “Terrel will crack the tracking system sooner or later. We have to explain ourselves or they won’t leave us be.” I address Corrin. “They’ll be waiting for us and you have to get me to Terrel as close as you can.” Corrin nods and swallows, baring his teeth. I should be happy I didn’t wake with his corpse in the van. “I just need to have enough time before Terrel shoots me.” I don’t know how I’ll stop him.

Will squats between our seats. “You know you gangers work for the mafia and I’m mafia. The lowest rank but I’m still in the family.”

“So?” Corrin glances at her slantwise.

“I’m your hostage, you buffoon—“ Will explodes, but I overtake.

“Hurting her, the member of a mafia family is the last thing they’d want to do. But we can bluff.”

When we approach the hangar, its bay doors slide open without our command, meaning we must’ve been tracked for some time now. The gangers gather inside, weapons on display, waiting to unleash themselves on us. I catch a glimpse of Terrel before I climb to the back where Will sits on the bench.

The car speeds up and swerves, throwing me to the wall. I grab the holding beam.

“You better sell it,” Will grunts. My heart thumping, I nod. For the upcoming minutes I have to give it all to make Terrel listen and not put a bullet into me instantly. “Look me in the eyes?” I hope I’ll be able to use Will’s confidence and experience.

Will, not quite sure for what, agrees.

She’s composed when I barge into her mind, satisfied with a slice of revenge she’s achieved and lost between everything else, but oddly ridden of anger.

I strain, focusing on her speaking mannerisms and on all the people she delivered the packages to. Their behavior. Their confidence, superiority… the violence, pain…no, I don’t need the latter.

I gotta be direct, and loud. I have to be scary…Just like Will was when she attacked Corrin.

Corrin, choking under her grip.

I have to focus on the confidence, the actions…The anger… No! I don’t need anger!

My focus strays, but I have no choice. Despite the pain shooting through my head like electricity I set my thoughts straight and pull my pistol, then grab another, spare one from the arms box. The car engine dies off and the back doors fling open.

“She’s the thug from one of the families we work for!” I shout at Terrel, ramming one pistol into Will’s head and pointing another at Terrel and his men. None of my guns have safety off. I’d never risk it like that. But I force as much fearlessness as I can muster to keep everyone’s attention on my face. “I have to talk to you, Terrel.” I deepen my tone so it carries more weight.

“You kidnapped one of their people?” Aida seethes. “Mob will destroy us if it learns you did that!”

“We have ties with the mob!” In my peripheral vision I see Corrin, holding a gun, right by my side.

Terrel and Aida keep their barrels pointed at us, together with three other workers. Quint stands further away, holding his hurt side.

“Let us talk and this will make sense.” My head splits with pain, but my guns stay level.

“We have leverage…” Corrin hesitates.

I need to hook them. I need to give them hope. “There’s another group forming. It’ll save this gang. But none of it will matter if you won’t listen to me!” Terrel frowns and I keep my eyes glued on his, letting his life surge in. I don’t avert my gaze as I talk. “I’ll say it only to you, Aida and Quint. Terrel trust me, please. If I were a rat and wanted to destroy you all I would’ve killed her already.” Slantwise, I glance at Will.

Slowly, Terrel lowers his gun.

With an exhale I drop my guns and raise my arms. Corrin does the same.

I release my focus and my head turns into a mush. I sway in place, flashes of Terrel’s life crossing my vision. I definitely overate on lives… Distant shots reach my ears. A Slug enters a terrified face. A body rolls into a ditch. Cries and screams…

The van around me dissolves into visions, shifting. It’s as if I’m in ten different situations at once, reliving them all. Life mercilessly scarred everyone; some wounds big and ugly, some minor, but there are no exceptions.

Family dinner… Steaming pot of delicious stew— there is good too.

I gain my bearings and realize I’m being dragged away by my armpits. Sevina! — Corrin’s call echoes through my ears.

Light dwindles into dark as I’m led below into the room by the medicinal ward. Strong hands shove me inside and I slam against the wall with my shoulder.

“Fucking rat.” A man who led me spits at the floor. I recognize him as Moira’s brother. His sister stands by the door, revulsion edged into her face.

He comes closer and grabs my nape, his face close to mine.

Son of a bitch… I could kill him. So many people I’ve seen lives of have killed. Why can’t I?

His fingers lift my face by my chin and he looks at me. It’s too much… I can’t look!

In my half-catatonic state I’m helpless to avert my eyes.

Oh, I can kill him… If I want—

My stomach explodes in pain before I notice his fist.

I slump to my fours, gasping. The thugs foot lands into my ribs. Again. And again, but I barely feel it. The door shuts, but I’m not alone as hundreds of voices scrape my brain. Cold sweat runs down my burning forehead and all I can do is lie on the frigid floor.

I have to think of something, a memory. Corrin’s kite— too dull, too distant compared to all those new and old memories. Rovy… Rovy and his mother—killed by my fear.

Anything…

I find nothing to cling to but to the pain that’s already there.

I’m murdering my wife with a knife…I’m drinking my pain away… I’m a woman… a man… I’m burying my own child… I’m raping a girl in an alley… I’m cutting myself… I’m tying my own noose... I’m torturing a guy…

It showers me endlessly, engulfing me in waves and waves of terror. I just wish I had something to pull me out of this state…something strong enough to see the bright side. Please!

“Sevina?” Quint’s face forms from the endless pictures, more vivid and real. A shiver runs up my fingers to my arms and chest. His hand steadies me when I realize I’m grasping for my sides and curling into a ball in the corner. “Sevina! Damn, what’s wrong with you?”

I reevaluate my surroundings, void of all the horrors. Only now do my ribs flare up, yet my body relaxes. At least Quint is here…

Quint shakes my shoulder. “Sevina!”

“What?” I blink at him.

“You passed out.”

I gape, realizing I’m lying on the ground in the same cell. “I-I’m okay.”

Quint helps me sit. “You sure? I can get you some water.”

I shake my head. “How long was I out?”

“Five minutes?” Quint shrugs. “You’re weird, Oddhot.”

I chuckle morbidly. “You have no idea.”

The door opens, shedding a rectangle of white light. Corrin’s roughly forced inside. Will follows him. No one touches her.

“Did they hurt you?” Corrin’s question takes me aback as I too want to ask the same thing.

“No.” I prop on the wall, standing, but my stomach cramps. Corrin catches me, wrapping his arm around my bicep.

“Who did it?” His hoarse words hide a vibe of anger.

“I can take a punch, Corrin.” Holding his upper arms, I grind my teeth.

Terrel enters, his posture rigid, and Aida, who follows him, looks like a ball of raw energy about to explode. She clocks her gun and Terrel says. “One chance.”

I scrape myself for bits and pieces of remaining resilience. A girl with a mop can do better… In fact, no. A girl with a mop couldn’t do shit. I can. I have to hold out a little more. And then my reward will be my cot and dreamless sleep.

“I can see people’s lives,” I state. Corrin next to me freezes and Aida steps forward, raising her gun, but Terrel stops her.

“Meaning?”

“She just told you,” Will says, bored. “She can see lives.”

I pivot to Corrin. “Can I?” He nods and I address people in the little room. “This is Corrin Kaynes. Son of the boss of the Kaynes family. He… his father took away people dear to me and her.” I point to Will. “His father’s killing people meaninglessly. Corrin wants to stop it.”

Quint snarls. “The hero game, really? Great. But can I clarify something? You can see people’s lives?”

With nothing left I reveal the contrived explanation of my powers, conveniently leaving out the details that it fades and that I feel sick afterward. No need for them to think I’m even weaker than I appear.

Faces vary. Quint giggles and whistles, understanding now how I knew that he smoked. Terrel stares and Aida scoffs like a sea lion. Their snickers peter out when for the proof I begin listing their private details, things I remember only Aida and Terrel know. “Aida killed people, protecting Terrel.” I describe the way he got the scar on his neck and things he did in his life he’s not proud of. How he met Aida and how they came to own this place.

Terrel stands like a statue. His life on display doesn’t bother him like it does Corrin. “I need more proof.”

“Think of something and I’ll tell you what it is.” I lean against the wall, holding my stomach and ribs. It hurts. I think I might have a cracked rib.

“No.” Corrin stands in front of Terrel, shielding me. “You’ll have to do with this much proof.”

“It’s a trick!” Aida spikes up. “You’re just punks from another gang and Kaynes got nothing to do with this.” She swivels to Terrel. “You told her our private details, didn’t you? So we’d get more jobs, so she’d convince me to back you up and leave those kids without training?”

“Terrel didn’t do it,” I say.

“Sevina’s right. I’d never do it.” Terrel raises his meaty arms in defense. Aida stretches up, intently reading his face, then spits a curse and storms out. With a groan Terrel leaves after her.

“Well, she’s a pain in the ass,” Will murmurs. “Can I have my gun back now? And where is the bloody restroom?”