by Kit Tunstall
“What about you?” asked Emme, sounding sympathetic.
Yu gave her a tight smile. “About the same.” She cast a teasing glance at Coop, who sat beside Mina, trying to coax her to eat. “Maybe if I had a handsome soldier to cling to, instead of Valeria, I wouldn’t have so many bad dreams.”
Coop’s eyes crinkled. “He’s not a soldier, but I imagine Finn would volunteer.” He knew his teasing tone didn’t do a good job of covering the ever-present note of concern and exhaustion underlying his every word.
Yu screwed up her rounded face. “He’s a kid.”
Emme smiled. “He’s the same age as you.”
Yu’s eyes looked haunted. “Only in years,” she said with a touch of melancholy. Then she reached for the doorknob. “Okay, I’m gonna bounce. See y’all at dinner. Bye, Mina.”
Coop’s heart lifted slightly when Mina’s hand fluttered, as though she wanted to wave to the younger woman. He appreciated how Yu spoke to Mina as though she could hear every statement. He hoped she could, and in case she did, he tried to maintain an upbeat flow of words around her.
Emme gave him a slight grin. “I’m gonna bounce too. See you in a bit, Coop.”
He nodded. “I’ll be down as soon as she’s finished.”
Her sister came over to squeeze Mina’s hand. “I can’t blame you for not eating that stuff, sis. Kelly’s stew is nowhere close to Mom’s.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she turned away abruptly, obviously incapable of keeping up a lighthearted pretense right then. She slipped away without further comment.
Coop managed to coax her to eat another bite, noting her grimace as she chewed and swallowed. “Oh, honey, I wish you’d say something.” Putting aside the bowl, he leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers. “I wish I knew if you were still in there, and how I could reach you.” After a moment of no further response, he resumed feeding her, feeling defeated. How could he reach her? Was there even anyone left to reach, or had Shane broken her completely with his final acts of violence and killing her mother?
*****
Mina could sort of hear them. She was aware enough to realize they were afraid she had slipped out of reach. She wanted to reassure them, but didn’t know how. With what little function she could devote to thinking, she had already concluded she didn’t know if she wanted to be found. It was safe in her comfortable haze. She was numb and didn’t have to deal with unwanted emotions.
“You have such pretty hair.” Yu’s chatter while she brushed her hair slipped into her mind, a soothing stream of words that she sometimes understood. Other times, the meanings were too hard to decipher and would require leaving the self-imposed cloud of mental anesthesia helping her get through each day. If she had to focus too hard, she might slip back to reality, and she didn’t want that. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
*****
At some point, Mina had started following Coop most everywhere. She was his silent shadow, but he found her presence soothing, not intrusive. It reassured him to know he could look over at her and instantly reassure himself she was still there. She seemed to do better in his presence, except for the nightmares, and he thought maybe there was a bit more peace in her expression as the days passed. He hadn’t heard her utter a word in almost four weeks, and she seemed no closer to a breakthrough in that area, unfortunately. Still, she had made some progress. She would sit at the table and eat with everyone, lifting the silverware of her own accord, chewing and swallowing mechanically. Her food had to be cut for her, but that was a small concession.
Mostly, she was vacant-eyed, but as the days slipped away, he was reasonably sure there were more and more moments of returning clarity, which seemed to last longer. Her gaze was sharper for a greater length of time, and her brain seemed to be working furiously sometimes. As the cold of January slipped into an even more frigid February, he found a spark of hope that she might recover, if given sufficient time.
That evening, the adults, including Mina, sat at the table, minus Hector and Valeria, who had made her position known when she’d tried to shoot the missing man. He was now in the bunkhouse, confined with zip ties, as they discussed what to do about the current situation.
“We have to banish him,” said Emme. “He’s a pedophile and can’t stay here.”
“If he’s a pedophile, we need to shoot his miserable ass,” said Winn, his hard tone brooking no argument. “You can’t let a sicko like that loose out there with so many victims readily available these days.”
“I agree with Mr. Marsden,” said Chelle, her expression cold.
“He may not be a pedophile,” said Kelly, who then looked defensive at the cold gazes shot at her. Coop felt a stirring of pity for her, though he didn’t agree with her assertions. “The world is different now.”
“Not different enough that it’s okay for a twenty-two-year-old man to be sleeping with a fifteen-year-old girl,” asserted Winn. “That’s rape.”
“It didn’t sound like rape,” said Kelly. “Valeria told us she walked in on them together, and it appeared consensual.”
“Appearances can be deceiving,” said Coop grimly, shooting a glance at Mina.
Kelly winced, but continued to argue her position. “Adolescence is a relatively new concept. A hundred years ago, Yu would have been an adult.”
“I think we’re more advanced than that now,” said Tony.
Kelly scoffed. “Are we? Look at how quickly society has deteriorated. It’s easy to be civilized when life is easy, but without technology, our polite veneers have slipped in favor of survival.”
“You’re saying she’s fucking him out of a sense of survival?” asked Owen, sounding skeptical.
Kelly issued a long sigh. “No, I’m saying we’re headed back to our truer natures. Fifteen can still be relatively naïve at this point, like Finn, or it can be an adult. Yu has gone through things none of us have experienced. I imagine it has a way of making you grow up quickly. You shouldn’t discount her ability to consent based on a contrary number that has nothing to do with our new reality.”
“That’s bullshit,” said Tony. “By that reasoning, you’d be okay with a twelve-year-old and an adult having sex.”
Kelly sighed. “No, I wouldn’t. Twelve is still clearly a child. Fifteen is different. It will probably be the new age of adulthood within a generation or two.”
“Well, it isn’t yet, young lady. Right now, he’s still considered a pedophile rapist, and we need to stop him. Let’s castrate the bastard.” Winn’s voice thundered through the dining room.
“And brand him with the word rapist on his forehead,” added Chelle. “If he lives.”
“We can’t just kill someone,” said Emme.
“You were ready to kill Shane,” said Dana. Coop winced when Emme’s eyes darkened, and Dana held up her hand. “I don’t disagree with you, Emme. I’m just pointing out you knew when someone had to die, and you were ready to do it.”
“Are you really planning to kill someone who was sleeping with a willing girl seven years younger than he is?” Kelly sent a disgusted look around the table.
Coop frowned. When she put it like that, the situation didn’t sound as wrong.
“If Yu was twenty, and he was twenty-seven, it would be different. Since she’s a child, we have to protect her.” Emme shot a look at Mina. “We’ve failed to protect enough people, don’t you think? He has to be sent away.”
“Killed,” said Tony.
“Let’s take a vote,” said Coop. “If you’re in favor of banishment, raise your hand.” Half the people present lifted their hands. “Death?” He narrowed his eyes. “And make sure you’re prepared to act as executioner before you vote for that option, because I’m sure as fuck not shooting him, or worse.”
“I’ll do it,” said Tony.
“No.”
Coop blinked, turning to look at Mina. The sound had been so soft that he wasn’t sure she’d actually spoken. Maybe he’d imagined it among the din of raised voices.
&nb
sp; “No,” she said again, more firmly, uttering her first word in weeks.
*****
Mina had wanted to keep to her safe cocoon, but the uproar had crashed in, the dilemma beating at her fragile walls until she had cracked. Gradually, she’d been forced to tune into the argument going on around her, and as she finally realized what they were arguing about, her mouth had opened of its own accord. “No,” she said again, though the others ignored her.
“Shut up,” roared Coop, immediately eliciting silence. He pointed to Mina. “She has something to say.”
Mina was aware of the looks of shock on the faces around her. It was almost impossible to find words, and she was tempted to let herself drift away again. Only knowing how important this was for Yu kept her tethered to reality. “You can’t just make the decision for Yu.” Her voice sounded rusty from disuse. Mina took the glass of water Coop held out for her, drinking deeply before trying to speak again. “You have to ask her.”
Her dad frowned. “But she’s too young to have a say.”
“That’s nonsense,” said Mina, not able to maintain eye contact with her father. “She’s old enough to decide what happens to her body, and who she shares it with. If she’s been denied that right, I’ll support whatever actions you want to take against Hector, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
“What makes you think that?” asked Lia, her expression difficult to identify. Annoyance, perhaps?
Mina closed her eyes for a second, recalling the words Yu had been speaking to her over the past few weeks. “Because she speaks softly of him, with a hint of excitement in her voice. She tells me of the ways he makes her feel special. Yu loves him. I’m sure of it.”
“She’s been manipulated,” said Tony.
“She’s too immature to know if she loves him,” said Lia.
Mina clenched her teeth. “How old were you when you decided you were going to marry Tony, Lia?”
Lia frowned. “I was fourteen, but—”
“And when did you get engaged?”
“Sixteen,” said Lia, with a hint of sullenness.
Mina managed a small smile. “And how old were you when you found the courage to confess that to Dad?”
“Almost eighteen.”
The laugh felt strange in her mouth, as though her body was trying to reject the happy sound. “But you never changed your mind about marrying him, did you? You knew when you were younger than Yu that he was the one for you, and you kept that determination. You never second-guessed your decision.” Mina didn’t introduce the subject of Shane, having decided she would keep Lia’s secret for Ty’s sake.
Lia nodded, her expression softening a bit. “But Tony was the same age as me.”
Mina arched a brow. “Do you think you’d have felt differently about him if he’d been seven years older?”
After a long pause, Lia shook her head. “No.”
Mina nodded with satisfaction.
Tony obviously wasn’t convinced so easily. “You’re saying you’re okay with a pedophile carrying on a relationship with his victim, and none of us should do anything about it?”
Mina shook her head. “I’m saying that you should ask Yu. Make sure it’s consensual. Sometimes, things aren’t what they appear. If she doesn’t want Hector, she’ll appreciate the help and a way out. If she does, and you banish him, she’ll likely run off after him, and who knows what could happen to her out there?”
She saw Coop nod from the corner of her eye and knew she’d won another ally in her argument.
“I’ll go get her,” said Kelly.
“You can’t mean to grill her in front of all of us?” protested Owen. He looked troubled. “She’ll be embarrassed.”
“If she’s adult enough to make a decision like this, then she’s adult enough to handle the pressure of facing our questions,” said Winn in a decisive manner that left no room for dissention.
They waited in near silence for Kelly to return with Yu. Mina leaned back in her seat, having to consciously fight the urge to cast off the anchor of reality and slip back to the comforting haze where she had existed the past few weeks. Coop’s warm hand on hers was a solid reminder of why she couldn’t do that. Although she didn’t think she was really ready to deal with all the emotions she was going to have to process, she knew she couldn’t keep hiding from everything and everyone. If she slipped away again, she might not have the strength to come back.
Yu had tear tracks on her cheeks when she and Kelly came into the kitchen. She was vibrating, at first glance with fear. Her words dispelled that. “You have no right to keep Hector like some prisoner, and if you try to harm a hair on his head, I’ll kill you all.”
Mina held out her other hand, drawing Yu closer to her. “Can we ask you a few questions?” She patted her friend’s hand. “I’m on your side, but I want to make sure I’m fighting for the right outcome,” she said softly.
Yu looked doubtful, but nodded. “What do you want to know?” Her posture remained strong and proud as she disdained the unoccupied chair Winn indicated.
“Did he hurt you?” asked Lia.
Yu shook her head. “Of course not. Hector loves me, and I love him.”
“Did he coerce you into a relationship?” demanded Tony.
She shook her head again. “No way.”
“Who made the first move?” asked Kelly.
A blush tinged the younger girl’s cheeks, but she didn’t sound ashamed. “I did. It took me a couple of weeks to persuade him that I was serious and old enough to know my own mind.” Her expression hardened. “I won’t waste two weeks on all of you. I’m an adult. After the shǐ I’ve been through since The End, I’m probably older than most of you, except maybe Mina. I went through hell, but now I have a bit of heaven, and I won’t lose it.”
“You’re too young to really know what you want,” countered Winn.
Yu frowned. “I grew up pretty damned fast under the weight of five chī dòu fus who used me in whatever capacity they could dream up. I wouldn’t tolerate Hector forcing me, or coercing me. He is gentle and kind, and you won’t take him from me. If you care so much about the age difference, we will leave tonight. We’d been talking about it anyway, since he figured you would all drive him out with pitchforks when you found out.”
“How can you expect us to overlook this?” asked Lia.
“The same way you overlooked what was happening with Shane,” snapped Mina, pushed to the breaking point. “You ignored that, and someone was actually being hurt. In their case, they aren’t hurting anyone. They’ve found someone to love, and while they don’t need our permission or blessing, they deserve our respect.”
Tony scowled. “You can’t believe Lia would have turned a blind eye if she’d known what you said Shane did.”
The way he phrased that made her narrow her eyes, but she didn’t respond to him. Mina clamped her lips shut, turning her gaze back to her father and Chelle, who seemed the most ardent protestors. “It comes down to this. Their relationship isn’t our business. Yu isn’t asking for help and doesn’t need it. Who cares about the age difference? None of that matters anymore. She’s not a child, and he’s not a predator. I say let them stay and leave them alone.”
The fight had left her as abruptly as it came, and she sagged in her chair for a second before getting slowly to her feet. Squeezing Yu’s hand once more, she didn’t release Coop’s as he helped her stand. “You all know my vote.”
Coop curved his arm around her waist. “I agree with Mina. Let it be Yu’s decision, not yours.”
“I can’t believe you don’t want us to protect Yu,” hissed Tony. “If you were the victim you claimed, how could you let another girl be victimized?”
Mina froze, slowly turning back to face her brother-in-law. He looked angry, and his eyes were skeptical. “Did you really just call me a liar, Tony?”
His gaze narrowed, and his mouth clicked shut. After a moment, he said, “Well, Shane’s not here to offer his side of the story,
is he?”
Coop growled, and only Mina placing herself in front of him seemed to be what stopped him from jumping across the table to confront Tony. “No, he’s gone. He left after he beat the hell out of me and raped me again. After he killed my mother, as he promised he’d do if I tried to refuse him. He isn’t here to give you his side, but if you care so damned much to hear it, why don’t you go find him?”
“I’m sorry about Janie.” Tony looked genuinely pained. “But that doesn’t automatically support your version of events.”
Mina shot a glance at Lia, who seemed extremely uncomfortable, but was making no move to back Tony or defend Mina. She shook her head, disgust welling in her. “I’m not expecting any support, Tony. I’m not on trial, and my actions aren’t under scrutiny. You can believe whatever the hell you want about me, or Shane, or our association. Unless someone sets you straight, nothing will change your mind.” As Lia sank lower in the chair, she made a scoffing sound. “That’s never happening, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what you think. What I care about is making sure Yu gets a chance to be happy. That’s what matters here, not whether you believe Shane forced me into a relationship.”
She turned away from him, not pausing when he said to the table, “I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe her. I know Shane, and he wouldn’t do that sort of thing. Hell, he watched over Lia for me when I was deployed before him. He loved Mina, and she destroyed him.” She kept walking, tightening her hold on Coop’s hand to keep him from whirling around to defend her.
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks,” she said softly as they walked up the stairs to her room. Mina didn’t speak again until he had closed her bedroom door behind them. Moistening her dry lips, she turned to face him, finding the courage to look into his eyes. “All that matters to me is you believe me, Coop. If you don’t, I understand. It’s unbelievable.”
He scowled. “Of course I believe you. I saw the state he left you in that last day…and the first.” His shoulders sagged. “I could have protected you.” His green eyes burned fiercely. “Why didn’t you tell me, Mina?”
