Nigel dug at the far side of the plot. Colden was at the edge not far from me, thrusting his shovel with an intense anger. I passed two men, who ignored me, as I made my way to Nigel. I wanted to know what they were doing. Stray dirt showered me as I walked by, but I ignored it.
“What are you doing here?” Colden demanded when I passed him.
“What are you guys doing?”
“Working,” he answered curtly.
“I see, but what are these holes for?”
Colden stopped digging, threw me a sharp look, then laughed. “Of course. Why would you know what they were for?” He dropped his shovel. “Come with me.”
I followed him to the gate.
“Zayne, I'm taking a break,” Colden called to the man sitting in the chair.
“You already had a break,” Zayne said, not even looking in our direction.
“Thanks,” Colden said as we continued out of the gate. His attitude reminded me of Bram.
“Where are we going?”
“Just be quiet and walk.”
I wondered if there was a feeling worse than hate as I followed him silently. Maybe if I said nothing else to him, he'd stop being so rude and pissing me off. I didn’t know how much more of him I could take.
He led me away from the empty field, and I realized there was more to the place than I'd thought. After walking for a few minutes, we came to a large stone building. It was like a modern-looking building in the Human world. The closer we came to it, the more I noticed an awful odor coming from it.
There were two glass doors on the outside. Colden pulled them both open, and I followed him in. Immediately my arm went to cover my nose. Inside the building were rows and rows of cots filled with people—people who were wrinkled, gray, and bald. I gagged.
Colden watched me for a moment. “Yeah, you're not used to that. That's the smell of death. You've never seen this because this doesn't happen to your people. These poor people are rotting from the inside out.”
He was right. I had never seen anything like it before. I'd seen old people die all the time in the Human world. I'd collected countless lives from hospitals and nursing homes, but I'd never seen anything like this.
Three men and two women in white lab coats wandered around the room, touching people and adjusting things. A woman laid open-mouthed, gray eyes staring at nothing. I felt sorry for her and wished someone would put her out of her misery.
“Can we leave now?” I asked Colden as I turned for the door.
He grabbed my elbow. “No, you need to experience this. Have you ever watched one of your family members just wither away like this?”
I shook my head.
“Well, I have. My father, five years ago. He ran out of years. We tried desperately to raid the Mill. To get some lifestones to save the people who were almost expired, but the men we sent were captured. My father died, Naomi. He was a Grim, and he died. That's not supposed to happen.”
My heart went out to him, and I understood his coldness. Losing my parents to life-expiration was something I never worried about. As long as Dunningham sent them on assignments, they would live forever. Death in the Human world never stopped. There would always be lifestones to collect. There was plenty for everyone. There was no reason for what I was witnessing. “So, those holes are—”
“To bury our dead. Yes. Every day the younger men have to go out there and dig holes just to bury our families. It's a job that's never complete. There's always someone to put in the ground.”
A man moaned from somewhere. One of the white coats moved in his direction.
I backed away and leaned against the wall. “I get it.”
Colden turned to me. “You get what?”
“Why you hate me. Why you hate us.”
He turned back around.
“Colden, I know this doesn't mean much to you, but from birth, we're raised to believe that you guys are the enemy, that you steal lifestones to hurt us. We never get to see this. I mean, we know that you guys die, but until you actually see it—”
“We really needed the lifestones from the high school, Naomi. They would have saved all these people.”
I looked down at the ground and remembered the girl in the bathroom—the one who was dead now. She’d said they needed those lives to survive and we only needed them for money, when we already had more than enough.
“I'm sorry,” I muttered.
“Tell that to them,” Colden said, but his tone was softer.
I thought about Roxy and Hunter, then I thought about my now upside-down life and these Grims on the verge of expiration. Was it worth it? “If I could go back and do it differently, I would.”
Colden stepped closer to me, looking me dead in the eye. His eyes seemed bluer than they had the other day. “If you're really sorry, there's a way you can fix this. There's still a way all these people can be saved.”
”H-how?”
“Dunstan will tell you about that when he feels the time is right.”
Thankfully, Colden walked out the door.
I followed him. “Doyle was here earlier, talking to Dunstan. He's Dunningham's top assistant. What was he doing here?”
“I can't tell you.”
I was tired of the secrets. “He's a liar.”
“Hey!” Colden yelled. “Whenever he can, that man slips us a few lifestones here and there. If it weren't for him, we would be in a lot worse shape.”
“Doyle steals our lifestones and gives them to you? Why would he do that? What's in it for him?”
Colden shook his head. “I shouldn't have even told you that. Don't repeat it. I have to get back to work.”
Colden went back to the graveyard, and I stood there, letting all the new information sink in. Doyle was up to something. He wasn't the type who would risk his life for Foragers out of the goodness of his heart.
Soon it would be time for me to go to Farrington again. I intended to come back with some answers this time.
* * *
Nigel, Colden, and I waited until it was dark to climb the wall into Litropolis. The walk from there was a lonely one. I was relieved to see the place I called home.
I knocked on the back door. This time there was no wait. I was expected. Although it was late, and the family had already eaten, Mother had a spread prepared for me. All my favorites—candied yams, broccoli with cheese, pepper steak, mashed potatoes, and apple pie. She must have spent all day cooking.
I gorged myself as my brothers sat in their pajamas, staring at me, and Mother asked me countless questions.
I answered her as succinctly as possible. I didn't want her to be worried about me, but I would tell Bram what I had learned earlier.
“Is it true about Naomi?” Dorian asked Mother.
Mother fiddled with her fingers. “Is what true?”
“You know, that Father's not her real father.”
Mother looked at Bram, who shrugged. I wondered if my brothers thought any less of me because of this lie Mother was telling. I wished Father was there to set the record straight.
“No, it's not,” I answered firmly.
Bram raised one eyebrow. “That's not what you said last night, Mother.”
“We are not having this discussion,” Mother replied.
Bram hit the table with his fist, and Mother jumped. “Like hell we're not. This is our family, too. You don't think we have the right to know? Answer Dorian's question. Have we been living with a Forager or not?”
I threw my fork down, causing candied yams to splatter across the table. “I'm not a Forager, and don't you ever call me that again!”
Mother banged on the table. “Calm down, both of you!” She looked at my brothers. “You're correct. You have a right to know. Families shouldn’t keep secrets. A long, long time ago I made a stupid mistake, but that doesn't make Naomi any less your sister. It's not always about flesh and bone.”
Bram stood, shaking the table like always. “That's where you're wrong, Mother. It is about flesh
and bone.” Then he looked at me. “I'm sorry, Naomi. I love you, but you don't belong here.”
He left the room, and a lump formed in my throat. Bram had said plenty of mean things to me, but that was by far the cruelest.
Mother's eyes welled with tears. She patted my hand. “Darkness, I'm so sorry. Really I am.” She left the table, leaving me to stare at my half-eaten plate of food.
“Don't worry, Nay,” Dorian said. “You'll always be my sister, no matter what.”
* * *
I gave Bram a half hour to settle down, then I tiptoed up to his room. I knocked, but there was no answer. I let myself in. Bram lay on his bed, bouncing a ball off his wall, catching it, and then bouncing it again. He only did that when he was upset.
He didn't acknowledge me as I perched myself on the edge of his bed. “Bram, listen. I know you’re mad, or you hate me, or whatever, but I need to tell you something.” The ball continued to bounce off the wall, but I kept talking anyway. “They're planning something. The Grims in Litropolis and the Outskirts. They're planning a revolt.”
The ball stopped. “Is that what they say?” Bram asked. “Well, good luck to you guys.”
“Bram, this is serious. I don't think they're just talking about sneaking in to raid the Mill; they're planning an attack.”
Bram laughed. “If they're foolish enough to plan an attack on us, then they deserve what they get in return. That's like a kitten trying to fight a lion. I don't think it's anything we need to worry about.”
“But now I understand why they would do what they're planning.”
Bram rolled his eyes. “Of course, because you're one of them.” He sat up and stared in my face. “That's why you've always felt sorry for them. You're one of them. Who knew all this time the enemy was living right under my nose?”
“I'm not the enemy. They're not the enemy. They're only trying to stay alive, Bram. What if you had to watch your family and the people you love wither away? Wouldn't you fight for the lifestones that were rightfully yours to save them? There's no reason for any Grim to ever die.”
“They're not Grims, so stop saying that. You're not a Grim. As a matter of fact, if you weren't my half-sister, I'd kill you right now for trespassing in Grim territory.”
I clearly wasn't going to get through to him, at least not then, so I left him, went downstairs to collect my cloak, and slipped out of the house.
I needed to speak to someone who wouldn't judge me, a person who would just listen as I talked. I took a brisk walk to Chase's house. I enjoyed the chilliness of the Farrington air while I could. Soon, I would be back in the hot, muggy atmosphere of the Outskirts.
I knocked on Chase's backdoor, praying he wasn't away on assignment. I waited for someone to answer as the sting from my brother's words taunted me. Chase's mother, Ariel, opened the door. She looked around confused. As she stepped out for a better look, I slipped in and made my way to Chase's bedroom.
I opened and closed his bedroom door gently behind me. By the steady rise and fall of his chest, I could see that Chase was in the midst of good sleep. I hated to wake him up. I removed my cloak and sat next to him, shaking him gently.
He shot up, and we almost bumped heads. “Wuh!”
“Chase, it's me,” I whispered.
“Naomi?”
“Yeah?”
“How'd you get in here?” Chase asked.
“Your mom let me in,” I answered.
“She did?”
“Yeah, but she didn't know.”
“What?” Chase crawled out of bed and turned on the lamp on his nightstand. He stared at me with his coal-black eyes and ran his fingers through his tussled hair. I had the urge to smooth it out, but I resisted. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, even though I really wasn't. Chase stared at me for a few seconds. Then he held me tightly, knowing I wasn't okay at all. I'd missed his scent.
We pulled apart. “I've been so worried about you,” he said. “Where've you been?”
“In the Outskirts.”
His eyes widened. “The Outskirts? With the Foragers?”
I nodded.
Chase frowned. “Wow. What's it like?”
I shrugged. “Different. Chase, are you mad at me?”
“Why would I be?”
“I went against Grim Covenant. I cost our colony a lot of lifestones.”
Chase shook his head. “I'm not mad. I don't understand why you did what you did, but I'm not mad. At first, I was kind of relieved that you and Keira would be staying in Farrington, but that was before I realized they were going to kick you out. So what are you going to do? Live in the Outskirts forever?”
“I don't know, Chase.”
“But really, tell me. What's it like there? Living with the Foragers?”
“It's terrible. For one, they all hate me, but I can't blame them for that. There's a lack of food and water. I miss taking warm showers and my big, warm bed. I miss my family and you and Keira.”
“Take me there.”
I looked at him, trying to determine whether or not he was joking. “You can't go there.”
“Why not?”
“They don't take kindly to strangers.”
“Come on, just for a little while. If there's a problem, I'll leave.”
I contemplated telling him my awful secret. “No, Chase. You can't come there. Promise me you won't.”
He stood and wandered over to his bedroom window. “Fine.”
I felt bad. I knew Chase loved me. He had since we were kids. He wanted to come with me, but he'd die in the Outskirts.
“Chase?”
“Yeah?”
“What if I wasn't who you thought I was?”
“What do you mean?”
I had to tell him. If he really loved me, the possibility of me not being a full-blooded Grim wouldn't matter. “Chase, I'm only half Grim. My father's not my real father.”
Chase laughed. “Get out of here.”
I looked him dead in the eyes so he would know I was telling the truth. “I'm serious.” I showed him my dirty bandage. “Dunstan cut me, and I bled.”
Chase exhaled, searching for the right words. “Damn. How did that happen?”
I told him what my mother had told me. “I know you're not going to look at me the same way anymore.”
“That's not true. I mean, it's a lot to take in, but it doesn't change the way I feel about you.”
I believed him, but there was no use in Chase holding onto his feelings for me. I could never live in Farrington again.
”I should get back.” I stood to leave. It pained me to leave Chase alone with the load I'd just dropped on him. I wanted to give him another hug, but that would probably make things worse. “I'll try to come and see you again.”
“Sure,” Chase answered, staring out into the moonlight.
Chapter 32
The next morning, back in the Outskirts, I woke up to something that smelled like pancakes. I rolled over in the uncomfortable cot Dunstan had given me to sleep on. I crawled from underneath the covers and made my way to the kitchen. At the stove, Dunstan stood flipping fully-cooked pancakes onto a plate. It was a strange sight, like watching Dunningham cook for himself when I knew his assistants practically chewed his food for him.
Two settings were laid on the table. “Sit,” Dunstan said without turning around.
“I didn't know you guys had pancakes here.”
Dunstan poured more batter into the pan. “We don't have much, but I save my flour for special occasions.”
“This is a special occasion?”
“Yes, it is. Tonight we begin our operation.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked skeptically.
“Nothing tonight. We're just sending some scouts in to check things out. Then we'll take it from there.”
“You aren't going to hurt people, are you? I mean there are innocent Grims there—it's not their fault things are the way they are.”
“What about my people?
It's not their fault I made a mistake a long time ago, yet they’re being punished for it. I owe them a way out.”
“I understand that, but you can raid the Mill and get what you need without anyone getting hurt.”
“Naomi, we will do what we have to do, by any means necessary. The men of Farrington and the Upper Estates are not going to let those lifestones go easily. We've been training for a long time. We're prepared to do whatever we have to.”
“Mr. Dunstan, what are we talking about here?”
“Not to worry, dear. I'm simply going to have a discussion with my brother, that's all. I want to see if we can come to some sort of understanding.” He must have caught the concern in my voice.
“You actually think you're going to be able to reason with him?”
Dunstan brought a plate of pancakes to the table. “Sure. He's my brother.”
“Yes, the brother who disowned you.”
“Nevertheless, he'll hear me out. He doesn't have a choice.”
* * *
That night, Dunstan gave me his cloak once more so I could visit Farrington. I wasn’t sure why he was so gung-ho about me going to visit my family, but I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Before I left, Dunstan placed his hand on my shoulder and looked as if he wanted to say something, but then he changed his mind. I left his cottage without a word from either of us.
When I reached the house, I was both relieved and nervous to see that Father was home. It would be the first time I’d seen him since he had thrown me out. I found him in his study, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and then opened his eyes. The man I'd known as my father stared at me.
I shuddered. I’d known it was true, that I wasn't really his, when I’d heard the words from my mother’s mouth, but the look in my father’s eyes added an extra confirmation. I could no longer be delusional. “Father—”
He stood and pulled me toward him, squeezing me tight. “Darkness, none of this matters. You have always been and will always be my daughter.”
I looked into the dark eyes of the man who had never wronged me or made me feel like I wasn’t his. I’d always known Bram was his favorite, but Father had never made me feel unloved or inferior. I wondered what it was that would make a man take another man’s child as his own and love her despite her mother’s sin.
Naomi Grim: The Final Breath Chronicles Book One Page 20
