Kirt's mouth dropped as Nova dashed forward. His gaze flicked between Brett and Nova, colour draining from his face. He stepped towards her, hands held out like grasping claws. The other prisoners followed his lead and moved to surround her.
Nova darted left, ignoring the tearing pain in her side, and pushed past two prisoners. Three more stood behind them; she'd never get there in time.
"Behind you! Carter!" she bellowed but her voice faded amongst the buzz of the crowd, washed away by the oncoming thugs.
Brett stepped forward, only a meter from Carter. One big step and he'd be there.
Nova shouldered past another prisoner, adrenalin pouring strength into her muscles. She wrenched her arm back and lunged forward, hurling her knife as hard as she could.
The knife whirled through the air, spinning end over end. Metal flashed in the morning sunlight, the serrated edge cutting through cool air.
All of the prisoners, including Carter and Kirt, stopped to watch the knife. It sailed through the air with perfect precision towards Carter, too fast for him to dodge.
It shot past, inches from Carter's right cheek, and slammed into Brett's neck. The blade sunk into his flesh and lodged in his throat amongst a spurt of blood.
Brett stopped dead and the knife in his hand dropped, clattering to the ground. His hands flew to his throat, trying to stem the flow. Blood poured out around his fingers as he choked and gasped, eyes widening. His legs wobbled and he collapsed to his knees. He reached a clawed hand towards Nova and then fell forward onto his face. Dead.
Silence fell over the courtyard. Every pair of eyes flicked between Brett's dead body and Nova, mouths hanging open.
Nova stood hunched over, breathing hard and clutching her wounded side. She kept her gaze fixed on Brett, fighting the dizziness that threatened to knock her over.
Kirt shook his head and lunged forward with his knife out. He slashed at Nova, fury and desperation filling his eyes. Before he reached her, two other prisoners stepped forward and grabbed his arms, pinning them behind his back. They wrenched him around to face Carter, who stared down at them from the table.
"Ringer. Nail. Bring the Hunter and Kirt here," Carter said, voice low.
The taller guard shoved Kirt forward towards Carter while the other waved his hand at Nova. She stepped around him and strode to Carter's table, holding her head high despite the pain wracking her side.
The rest of Carter's goons took up uneasy positions in a rough circle. Some of them chose to face inwards, keeping an eye on Carter.
"What the hell just happened?" Carter said, vaulting to the ground. He looked between Nova and Kirt, ignoring Brett's body at his feet.
"This bitch can't be trusted," Kirt said. "She obviously was working with Brett. They just tried to kill you."
Nova rolled her eyes but her stomach clenched tight. This was it; the one and only chance she had of getting on Carter's good side. She had to make it count.
"Sir," she said. "I overheard Kirt and Brett plotting to kill you in the medical wing. I was ready for them and stopped them as best I could. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you sooner, but I didn't want to risk letting them know that I knew. I saw an opportunity and I took it."
She kept her voice steady. It was vital that she show respect but not weakness. She hid her shaking hands behind her back.
Carter looked between them. Ringer and Nail stood on either side, their shoulders hunched and jagged pieces of metal in hand.
"Do you have any proof?" Carter asked Nova.
"You can't believe her!" Kirt interrupted, two red spots blooming on his cheeks.
Carter turned furious eyes on Kirt. "And I suppose I should trust you? Even though it would make no sense for her to kill her partner if she wanted me dead."
Kirt's mouth worked but he said nothing.
"Well?" Carter said. "Do you have proof, Hunter?"
Nova spread her hands. "I'm afraid no one else heard it. The only proof I can give you is that Kirt was distracting some of the guards at the time Brett made his advance."
Carter frowned. He looked down at Brett's body, staring at it for some time as if looking for answers in his mutilated neck.
"Kirt," Carter said. "I'm going to ask you a very simple question and I want you to answer truthfully."
"Of course," Kirt said. His voice shook and his eyes darted from side to side like a trapped animal.
"Why did you lunge at the Hunter when it was clear she'd saved my life?"
Carter stared straight into Kirt's eyes. He stood completely still like a solid stone statue, or a predator ready to pounce.
Kirt trembled, arms and legs vibrating. He shifted from one foot to the other and his hands twisted in his shirt "I—" He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Yes?" Carter said. He wrapped his hands together, intertwining his fingers.
"I thought she was throwing the knife at you," Kirt said in a rush.
"Really?" Carter said. "Because the time between her throwing the knife, and you jumping was quite large. By then it was clear that Brett had been behind me, ready to attack."
"I—" Kirt said. His face glowed brighter and his breathing came out as uneven gasps. "It took me a while to process what had happened."
"Clearly," Carter said. He sighed and returned his eyes to Brett's body. "Nail. Ringer. String Kirt up. He's a traitor. Make sure everyone knows what happens to traitors."
"Yes sir," said Ringer.
"No! No. You can't do this!" Kirt said. His voice cracked, like rough gravel going through a blender.
"You knew the punishment for treason before you did it," Carter said. "Your mistake was getting caught. I suggest you be quiet, or I'll make sure it lasts twice as long."
Kirt's words died in his throat. Tears poured down his cheeks as he shook his head and a low wailing echoed from the back of his throat.
"What about the Hunter?" said Nail.
"I want to talk with her some more," Carter said, waving them away.
Ringer and Nail dragged Kirt away. He sobbed and stumbled beside them. The rest of the prisoners watched him go with expressions of shock, pity, and loathing.
Carter placed his boot on Brett's neck, bent down, and ripped Nova's knife free. He wiped it clean on Brett's shirt and handed it to her, hilt first, before sitting at the table. "Better hold onto that. Please have a seat."
Nova's heart flew to her mouth as she tucked the knife into her belt and sat. This was it. Step one complete. She'd gotten an audience with Carter. She just had to make sure she didn't blow it.
"That was a brave thing you did," said Carter. He waved his hand at Brett's body.
Nova shrugged. "I had my reasons."
"Oh?" Carter said with a sly smile.
"I came to this prison to talk to you," Nova said. She'd studied Carter's files extensively. From everything she'd learned she knew it was best to be honest with him. He appreciated straight shooters more than almost anything.
Carter raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you intentionally got thrown into Ankar for a life sentence, just to talk to me?"
Nova glanced up at Carter's companions. "Maybe we should talk alone?"
Carter raised an eyebrow but flicked his wrist and his guards stepped back, narrowing their eyes at Nova.
Nova nodded. "I don't intend to stay here for life. But yes, I came here to talk to you."
"I must say I'm flattered," Carter said. "You're obviously delusional because no one gets out of Ankar. But I'm flattered all the same."
Nova gave a tight smile.
Carter leant back in his chair, locking his hands behind his head. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I want to know the secret to crossing the border."
"What?" Carter roared with laughter. A few of the prisoners jumped forward but he waved them back with more chuckles. "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"Firstly, what would a Hunter want with the border?" he said. "And secondly, that is the single most valuable sec
ret I have. I wouldn't give it up for anything."
Nova stared hard at him. This was the part she couldn't have predicted. As far as she could tell, no one had tried to get the border secret off Carter and survived to tell the tale. Of course they'd all tried violence and coercion. She had something far more effective in mind.
"I'm having problems with the Confederacy," Nova said slowly.
"Clearly," Carter said, waving his hand to indicate the prison.
Nova shook her head. "Bigger than that. They're planning to wipe me and my guild out. They won't stop until we're all dead."
"Surely it's enough that you're here," Carter said.
"No. I offended some very important people. They want me gone. My only chance is to get beyond the border."
"You're planning to stay out there?" Carter said.
"Yes."
"Have you ever seen it?"
"Barely. I've heard stories though."
"I can guarantee those stories don't tell the half of it. Those planets haven't been in contact with the main human population since their colonisation ships left Earth centuries ago. They're worse than the worst outer planet."
Nova shrugged. "It's better than death."
"You say that now. But you don't know, you haven't been there. You won't be able to communicate with them, you won't be able to understand their customs, and the chances are pretty good that they'll kill you straight off."
"And you don't understand how serious I am," said Nova. "I don't have any other choice."
Carter shook his head. "Just assuming that's all true, which it isn't; and assuming that the Confederacy would bother coming here to kill you, which they won't; that still leaves you with the impossible task of leaving Ankar. It can't be done."
"I can do it."
"No one can."
Nova shrugged. "I can. So what will it take for you to tell me the secret?"
Carter laughed again and shook his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that much. But I told you. I'm not giving away that secret. It's too valuable."
"Everything has a price," she said. "What's your price for the border secret?"
"More than you've got, I can guarantee," said Carter. "But let me save you the trouble anyway. Even if I was to give you the secret, which I won't, you still need a special crystal to get past the border. Without one of those crystals you won't be able to break the frequency."
"I've got one," said Nova.
Carter's grin froze in place. He leaned forward on the table and stared hard at Nova.
"What do you mean?"
"I've already got one," she said.
"How can you possibly have one?" Carter said. "Only myself and the Confederacy have them."
"Not anymore."
"That's impossible."
Nova shrugged. "I have one. Taive. Mutant ear slugs. It's a long story."
"You're the strangest bounty Hunter I've ever met."
"I have everything I need to get past the border except what you know."
"I can't tell you that. Smuggling is the single-most lucrative business I have. If I gave out the border secrets to every prisoner who asked for them, I'd lose everything."
"Name your price," Nova said.
Carter sighed, staring at her with piercing eyes. His mouth turned down and he tapped the table with one finger.
"Freedom," he said finally.
"How so?"
"You break me free of this prison and I'll tell you."
Nova's mouth twitched. "You said it was impossible to break free."
"Yes, but you said you could do it. So, you do it and take me with you, and I'll tell you the secret."
Nova stared straight back at him. She'd expected this. There wasn't much else she could offer the mob boss which he didn't already have. Freedom was the only thing eluding him and she was the only one who could give it to him.
She smiled. "We have a deal."
She held out her hand and Carter grasped it, pulling her closer across the table.
"I wouldn't go telling everyone you're planning to break free," he said in a low whisper.
"I hadn't planned to."
"Good."
Carter leaned back but Nova used their linked hands to pull him close again. "It would be best if I wasn't harassed by your people."
Carter grinned and shook his head. "You've got spirit. They won't bother you anymore."
"Good," Nova said with a smile, releasing his hand.
They studied each other across the table.
"I think I'm going to enjoy working with you," said Carter.
Nova smiled. "Me too."
"So when can I expect this miracle of yours?"
"When the guards change in a couple of months' time."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "That's not very long."
Nova nodded. "I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to. Do you?"
"You're right about that. Later you can tell me more, but for now; do you play cards?"
"I've played my share."
"Then let's do it," Carter said, pulling a deck from his pocket.
"I should warn you," Nova said. "I grew up on Tabryn."
"Ah, the gambling capital," Carter said. "Don't worry. I think I've spent enough time there to be able to hold my own against a Hunter."
He dealt the cards into two piles and the game began. They talked as they played and Nova couldn't help laughing. Carter had a wicked sense of humour and if you looked past his mob boss ways, he was likable enough.
The other prisoners stared on in confusion, sharing puzzled glances across the tables. They shook their heads and turned away.
Nova smiled as she played. Phase two complete; she had a way to get the secret. That only left phase three... she had to break them both out of prison.
CHAPTER NINE
Two and a half months until guard change.
Cheers drew Nova's attention away from her cards. A crowd was gathered in the middle of the courtyard, jeering at something. Shouts and yells echoed about the compound.
"Ah," Carter said. "The festivities are about to begin. Come on, Hunter."
Carter stood, put his cards on the table, and strode towards the milling crowd. His bodyguards formed a close-packed shield around him and cleared a path through the crowd so that Carter and Nova could see what was going on.
Kirt. Two prisoners wielding hammers held him down against the dirt ground while others propped massive nails against his palms.
Kirt writhed, his muscles bulging as he tried to rip free. "Let me go you bastards. Let me go!" His gaze flicked from one bloodthirsty face to another.
Nova's stomach churned. She didn't care for Kirt but whatever was in store for him was sure to be worse than anything he'd done.
She wanted to turn away, to pull her eyes free, but she didn't have a choice. It was crucial that she put on a strong face. Any sign of weakness now, and she'd lose any respect she'd gained, and on Ankar, that and fear were all that really mattered. So she bit her tongue and watched, expressionless.
The men with hammers drew back over their shoulders and slammed down. The metal heads collided with the nails and sent them pounding through Kirt's fleshy palms. Blood spurted out around the wounds.
Kirt shrieked, specs of blood flying out of his raw throat. His head twisted and slammed down onto the hard floor, skull making a dull thud.
The men with hammers drew back, the nails spread at least the length of Nova's hand, and they kept hammering until they went all the way through Kirt's hands and came out the other side. Then they went deeper still.
The nails sunk in until their heads were level with Kirt's palms. At that point the falling hammers hit his hand as well as the nails. The bones in his hand crunched, turned to fine powder.
Kirt wailed as loose pieces of bone shot through his skin, joining the puddles of blood like tiny white boats. His hands turned purple and blue beneath smears of blood while his broken fingers twisted like stunted trees.
Kirt'
s screams died and his eyes went glassy. He stared up at the sky, not seeing it.
"He's fainted," Carter said. "I've got to hand it to him. He lasted longer than most of them do."
Nova didn't reply, couldn't reply.
Only when the nails were solidly embedded into the dirt beneath Kirt's hands did they stop pounding. Prisoners stood looking down at Kirt, faces stony. His hands lay in pools of blood, looking like deformed nubs.
"What happens now?" Nova said. It took all of her effort to keep her voice flat, emotionless.
"Now he stays there until he dies," Carter said.
"Dehydration?"
"Sometimes," Carter replied. "Sometimes their screaming gets so annoying that one of the prisoners will kill him just for the silence. Other times you get the real sick bastards who will give him water just so he lives and suffers longer."
Nova nodded but didn't reply. Some of the prisoners took the chance to lash out at Kirt with their boots, but they got bored quickly. It seemed the game just wasn't as fun if the victim had passed out and couldn't scream.
The crowd dispersed, leaving Carter and Nova alone.
"I guess the least I can do is give you a room in exchange for saving my life," Carter said.
"If you've got a spare," she said.
"As it happens we've just had a couple of vacancies come up," Carter said.
Nova grimaced and turned away from Kirt. She didn't want to be around when he woke up.
"Ringer! Show the Hunter to a room," Carter yelled.
Ringer appeared at his side.
"Right this way, Ma'am," he said, pretending to bow.
Nova couldn't help smiling. There was something about Ringer; he didn't give off the same thuggish vibe she got from a lot of the other prisoners. She had a feeling that she could get to like him.
"I'll see you later," Carter said with a nod.
Nova nodded back and turned to follow Ringer. He led her into a cement building and then up a flight of stairs. Grey walls met grey floor and grey ceiling. The only colour came from rusty splatters of dried blood, mixed with fresh red patches.
Nova gritted her teeth and kept walking.
Ringer took her up a corridor with rooms leading off to either side. Prisoners sat inside some of them and watched her walk by with darkened eyes and twisted mouths. Some of the rooms were decorated with hunks of metal, others were bare.
Prisoner Page 6
