by Jamie Wang
Bolt gave her a hard stare. “That’s crazy,” He said.
“Not as crazy as starving.”
Bolt shook his head. “I can always just swipe some food from—”
“No.” Her answer was adamant. She matched Bolt’s stare.
“It’s safer!” Bolt protested.
“Bolt!” She sounded like a stern mother. “I refuse to let you steal.”
“Why does it even matter?” Bolt asked in an exasperated voice. “Tons of people do it and it’s not like the people I’m stealing from are all that great either.”
“Because we’re human. We weren’t designed to hurt each other, but it feels like that’s all we do. I won’t let you, you’re stronger than that. Look, I’ll heal up by next week and be ready for the drop, I swear. Just hold out until then. Promise me!”
When Bolt didn’t respond, Sasha gave him a pleading look. “Promise!” she repeated.
“Fine,” Bolt said through grit teeth.
Even though he didn’t understand Sasha, he owed her his life. He would’ve rather stolen all the food in the city than do nothing, but she didn’t ask him to steal food.
“Thanks, Bolt. I’m feeling pretty tired, I’m going to go to bed now. Sweet dreams.” She closed her eyes with a smile.
“Night Sasha,” Bolt said and walked out of her tent.
When he stepped out of her tent, three pairs of eyes locked onto him.
“Well, how was she?” Prince asked.
“What did she want?” Maverick followed.
“Is she alright?” Flower finished.
Bolt looked from Flower to Maverick to Prince and sighed.
That’s a cheap trick Sasha.
With a thin smile, Bolt said, “She’s fine. She wanted me to tell you guys that starting next week, I’ll be doing her leg of the drop.”
LISSANDRA
“Sounds like she tricked you,” Lissandra said after Bolt had finished with his story.
Bolt smiled. “Not at all. That’s just how Sasha is. If I wouldn’t have volunteered, I’d bet anything that she would’ve forced herself to do another drop.”
Lissandra took his smile as a good sign. “No way. Nobody’s that stubborn.”
“Sasha is.” Bolt smiled even wider.
Lissandra spent the next hour listening to stories of Sasha. This girl once starved for days just to prove a point to a Mouse named Prince. She once nearly lost her eye to save the same Mouse. Every story made her sound even more unbelievable. By the time Bolt had finished with his stories, Sasha sounded like some sort of cartoon hero.
“She just found you and took you in?” Lissandra asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Bolt nodded. “You would understand if you met her, that’s just the type of person she is.”
With a small chuckle, Lissandra said, “I’d like to meet her then, see for myself.”
Bolt’s smile vanished. His gaze returned to the floor and his head between his knees.
Did I say something wrong?
“You can’t,” Bolt muttered. “She’s dead.”
“Oh.” Lissandra couldn’t think of anything to say. Her response drew out until it faded into silence and then they both sat, looking away from each other in that silence. Finally, she worked up the courage to speak. “When did she die?”
“Today.”
“Oh.”
Silence. Even the scuttle of insects could be heard.
Bolt let out a sharp whine, the sound of a dog that had lost its liter. He buried his face into the shoes and groaned into its laces. His body shuddered violently through each groan with aftershocks in between. He opened his mouth to wail but instead choked on his cries. Slowly, he fell to his side and curled into a fetal position, hugging the shoes tightly to his chest.
Lissandra scooted over to Bolt. She didn’t know what to do, but she didn’t want to do nothing. However, now being within arm’s reach of him, nothing she could do felt right.
At last, she put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, just to let him know she was there. They stayed like that until Bolt’s chocking cries reduced itself to fits of trembling, until there was only silence.
“Hey,” Lissandra said. “I think you should get some rest.”
Bolt’s head bobbed up and down. It was probably a nod, though it was hard to tell with his back to her.
“You can stay here however long you need to,” Lissandra continued. “My mom’s feeling guilty about something, so she’d agree to most anything I ask right now. You’re just lucky my brother’s gone for a job right now, he’d throw a huge fit about another boy staying over. Just be ready when he gets back, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Okay.” Bolt sniffed loudly and wiped the tears from his face. “You don’t have to stay here to babysit me.”
“Babysit you? I’m just making sure you don’t steal all my shit,” Lissandra said with a giggle.
Bolt let out a small snort. “Well, I promise you I won’t. You can go to bed.”
“You know, Bolt? Sometimes the words that come out of your mouth mean the exact opposite of what you want to say.” Lissandra squeezed his shoulder. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He smiled. She couldn’t actually see it, but she knew for sure.
“Fine, but could you do me a favor in the morning?”
“What is it?”
“Remind me to go to the marketplace.”
“I can do that,” Lissandra said. “What do you need to buy?”
“An apple.”
“An apple?”
“To repay a debt,” Bolt responded. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight Bolt.” She closed her eyes, her hand still resting on Bolt’s shoulder. “And my friend’s call me Liss.”
MAVERICK
God…
Maverick stumbled into the shadows of the alley. Usually, these shadows brought him comfort, but not tonight. They crept toward him with malice, promising to swallow him whole and fade him from existence.
He had long since given up the battle to restrain his tears. The only thing he wanted now was for his heart to stop hammering against his chest. But it was a bucking bronco that nothing could tame.
“Like I can accept this!” Maverick screamed toward the heavens. Every single one of muscles twitched as if being strained to its limits. “Like any of this is right! You cruel God, how dare you play such tricks on me?”
His voice echoed into the air, so deep it was nearly a growl. His teeth clenched shut and his chest heaved. Every breath came deeper than the last. The veins in his neck bulged as if on the verge of popping.
“God, answer me!” Maverick demanded. “Answer me before I drag you down from your great throne and beat it out of you!” It didn’t matter what the words meant, or even if they made sense. He didn’t care. “Do not cower from me! God!”
The sky offered no response or reprieve. The crescent moon taunted him with its brightness. Every star was an angel twinkling with laughter. Even the night, shrouded in darkness, was just a cloak of deception to hide the true nature of the heavens.
Maverick clutched his knife and jabbed its wicked edge into the air. He squeezed it as if he could break the bronze handle in half. His knuckles drained of blood and turned snow white while his entire arm quivered.
“God!” His voice did not waver. “I will have you suffer! You will feel the pain only humans can feel! I will have you on your knees begging me for mercy. You will know the cost of your cruelty!”
Maverick stared into the dark heavens refusing to blink. He wouldn’t give God a single inch. “You twisted puppeteer. I will burn down your perverted paradise and from atop the fucking ashes of your throne…” he took a mighty breath. “I will have you scream!”
Maverick snapped his eyes open wider than ever and thrust the knife into his chest. The knife sliced through his wall of muscle with ease but stopped at the bone. With an animalistic yell, he shoved his free hand into the knife and carved a diagonal lin
e where his heart resided.
“Are you scared?” he grunted while yanking the knife out of his body. “Do you see my resolve?” With that, he plunged the knife back into his chest drawing another diagonal so that he created an x-shaped gash across his heart.
A torrent of blood seeped out of the wound. The bloody tide cascaded down his shirt, staining his pants. The corners of his mouth lifted to the very edges of his cheek in a disturbed smile.
Maverick delighted in the pain. His head ached and his body burned. It was as if he was being engulfed by flames. But the hammering in his chest had ceased. He thrust out his chest, stretching his wound toward God so that it might unzip and spill his organs. Then, as if by spell, he began to laugh.
Do you see my determination?
Tears fell into his open mouth, coming back out as drool.
Do you understand my sorrow?
The drool climbed down his neck into his bloody shirt for a concoction of human liquids.
Do you feel my pain?
His mouth ached from smiling so forcefully. But compared to the pain he felt inside, none it mattered. His stomach lurched forward and while still staring at the sky, he retched out whatever was in his stomach. It came out in small splutters, like he was coughing it out. Maverick kept his stare directed toward God.
“I will show you—” The words could barely leave his mouth. With each word, he spat chunks of bile into the air. “—the depths of my pain.”
Maverick couldn’t breathe. His nose was filled with snot and his mouth with vomit. But if it meant breaking his glare at God, he wouldn’t do it. What did breath matter in the face of such an enemy? His entire body trembled, his muscles hard as iron.
I cross my heart…
Even his laughter came out like he was gagging. His eyes felt like someone had stabbed a hot poker through them, yet he refused them the relief of a blink. He would never submit to such a cruel God.
And hope to die.
VLAD
Chunks of dissolved bread dripped off Vlad’s face. He clutched the wall to stagger through a few more lopsided steps. His breath came out in uneven gasps, each one providing less air than the previous. In his free hand, he held his bloodied knife. Dry blood snaked down his legs like cobras coiled around his ankles.
The slightest hint of orange glimmered over the horizon. Although the moon was still out, it had already lost its brilliant glow. Vlad looked toward the rising sun with contempt.
You shouldn’t rise anymore.
It was still too early for the city to wake, but some pedestrians were out. They all kept their distance.
Vlad reached Jynx’s shop and stumbled into the door. “Open up!” It was the only place he could think of that held medicine in stock. Of course, there was also Flower, but he had made Sasha a promise. “Jynx, open the door!”
The door swung open and Vlad fell through. He landed hard on the clay, but was too tired to register the impact. His blurry world slowly darkened until nothing remained.
A torrent of water spilled onto his head. Vlad jolted his eyes open and gasped for air.
“If you don’t have a good reason for being here, then leave. You can sleep in your own home.” Jynx’s voice held no remorse.
The water tasted like a salty brine of sewage and gasoline. Vlad chocked on it, spluttering out whatever he could. The liquid came out muddled and dark.
“Help,” He croaked.
“Why should I let you stay?”
Vlad pushed himself over to see Jynx holding an empty bucket over her head. Beside her was a mop, still wet with use. Laying on his back brought Vlad a new agony. Pain scorched his bleeding chest as the salty water seeped into his wound. Vlad opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a small whine. He clenched his entire body trying to fight the pain. It was a losing battle.
“Help me.” He could only mouth the words.
With a small sigh, Jynx left. When she returned, she held a syringe in her hand.
“Hold still,” Jynx ordered. “I’m going to give you something for the pain.”
Vlad felt a prick in his arm and then a soothing calmness. His body loosened and his jaw opened.
“Hello Maverick.” It was Sasha’s voice.
Jynx continued. “I gave you a lot, so there’ll be side effects. You may experience some –”
“Did you miss me?”
Vlad swung his body up and darted his eyes across the room. “Sasha,” he muttered. “Where are you?”
“Hey!” Jynx screamed and shoved him back to the ground. She gripped his shoulders and held him down. “You opened up your wound again. Stay still and –”
“Good. Because you let me die. You killed me.”
“That’s not true!” Vlad screamed. He fought Jynx’s arms, struggling to get back up. “I tried to protect you.”
“You didn’t give it your all. You never even tried to protect me.”
“No!” Vlad shook his head, crashing it against the floor.
“You’re going to get yourself killed!” Jynx shrieked.
Vlad felt a sharp jab and the soothing calmness he previously felt overtook his body. His eyes rolled up and he went limp.
“If you really wanted to protect me, you should’ve destroyed everything…”
JYNX
Jynx washed the blood from her hands. As the daughter of The Dragon, she was required to learn basic medicine. Still, she couldn’t help but feel queasy at the sight of Maverick’s wound. For now, Maverick was safe. His wounds cut deep, but luckily, no organs had been damaged. The only thing she had to worry about were the drugs coursing through his system. They had a tendency to be addictive. But maybe that was a good thing.
At least I can finally get some rest.
She fell into a chair and closed her eyes.
“Wake up, Jynx.” The voice came in a soft whisper.
Jynx grumbled and turned over.
“Wake up!” screamed Maverick.
Jynx jolted awake. She stared into the dark eyes of Maverick, the steel of his blade right under her neck. It hovered mere centimeters away.
“I can’t hear her anymore,” Maverick growled. “Why can’t I hear her anymore?”
“You shouldn’t be up,” Jynx said in a trembling breath. “Your wounds might open.”
“What did you give me?” His eyes remained unblinking.
“Heroin.” Jynx sank her head into the back of the chair. But for every inch she edged away from the knife, it came that much closer.
“Where do I get more?”
Jynx motioned with her eyes to her supply closet. “I keep everything in there. But it’s locked.”
“So unlock it,” Maverick said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“I can’t get up.”
Maverick removed the knife from her neck. “Don’t try anything stupid.”
Jynx nodded and unlocked the supply closet. Maverick stood guard at the entrance, watching her like a hawk. She went to the back where she kept all the things she had hidden from her father. Inside a large wooden crate were the needles. Right beside it was another crate, filled to the brim with pistols. She grabbed one.
“You know, this isn’t the first time you’ve held me a knifepoint, Slasher.” Jynx drew the gun from the crate and turned.
Maverick stared at the blunt end of her gun with an empty expression.
“You think I wouldn’t recognize the knife I sold you? I knew it was you at Hawk’s Lair.”
Maverick’s mouth contorted into a grin. He dropped the knife onto the floor and held his hands up. “I’m assuming there’s a reason you didn’t rat me out.”
“Every girl’s got her secrets. So, Slasher, what are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to kill your father,” Maverick responded in a flat tone.
“And how are you going to do that?”
“I’ll find a way. Stop me if you can.”
Jynx lowered her gun. “I won’t.”
Fo
r the first time, Maverick seemed surprised. He tilted his head in a questioning look.
Jynx grinned at the sight. “I’ll do you one better. I can help you.”
PRINCE
It hurt to open his mouth. Prince didn’t know how long he was out for but it was long enough for all the moisture to drain from his lips. Whenever he tried moving them, their cracks would split open and bleed.
He coughed out a raspy breath and shook his head. A rope rubbed against his neck. Prince tried moving his limbs, but all he managed to do was to wiggle his toes. They were held in place, his arms behind him, his feet to the floor. A heavy black bag covered his head.
“Flower?” Prince shouted through the bag.
His voice echoed.
Prince struggled against his restraints, grunting and screaming, but to no avail. Sweat cascaded down his body, costing him what little water he had left.
He heard the click of a door unlocking, then the creak of one opening. Then footsteps, light and steady as they approached him.
“Hello.” The Dragon said.
The bag disappeared.
Prince squinted at the single lightbulb in the room. He looked around. It was all cement. Above him, the cement was stained with dark splotches.
“Where’s Flower?” he asked with hoarse words.
The Dragon reached into his jacket and produced a silver flask. “I’ll be asking the questions.”
“Tell me where I am.”
The Dragon shook his head and walked behind Prince. Prince tried following him with his gaze but he could only turn his head so far.
“Where were you yesterday morning during the storm?” The Dragon asked.
Though it burned his lips, Prince smiled. “I was in church all day. Praying for your safety.”
“Funny.” The Dragon did not sound amused.
Prince felt a foot on his back and then he was shoved forward. The rope around his neck jerked backwards and tightened around his neck until he was gagging.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” The Dragon said. “I have on camera The Slasher comforting Sasha in her final moments. Two days ago, he burst into Hawk’s Lair with a gun to save her. I’d ask her about it but she got herself killed.”
