The August humidity soaked Matt’s auburn hair to his face. Sweat poured from every freckle. His biceps and shoulders bunched in the sunlight with the burden he dragged through the sopping wet rice paddy. Bare feet fixed in the mud, he heaved one final haul and let the body float into the Arkansas river.
How did this keep happening? Same as the last two, each a week apart, he woke up covered in blood and other things, exhausted yet satisfied. Not a defensive mark on his skin.
He stumbled upon the first body before starting his morning field shift. It was one of the Enforcers who smacked a kid around during a collection. He was missing his skin. After that, Matt found the second—and now the third—in the same spot. Convenient enough for him to dispose in the rushing waters beyond, but the scale escalated out of hand.
This last one was a visiting Promoter from one of the many CoN compounds that arrived for the super awesome totally fun cool Propagation Cycle in celebration of Rayne’s capture. The guy liked to hurt the Pleasers. Matt took offense to that and, apparently, cut his vocal chords, spooned out his eyes, and fed them to him. Grim but effective.
An Enforcer disappearing in an apocalypse? Okay, that’s a pass. But a Promoter? Naw. Someone would start asking questions soon. Too bad Lucy switched sides. He could use an alibi.
Matt stopped by an outbuilding to hose himself off. The cold water helped stimulate otherwise apathetic nerves. The last few weeks gnawed at him. The natural blond-haired, blue-eyed young woman never ceased to praise the CoN philosophers day and night. She went on and on about how excited she was to participate in her first Propagation Cycle. Justice Lee followed her around like a fucking dog. Matt wouldn’t be surprised if he caught the man sniffing at her crotch by the way he clung to whatever angle gave him the best view of her cleavage in that scandalous Promoter’s robe.
Matt gave the pass code to the gate guard, and he opened up. There she was, and she was in that outfit again. He shouldn’t care. Women can wear what they want, it’s just when they were in school she never wore stuff like that. She looked comfy but cute. Not like she wanted to put Elvira out of work.
“This is where Renee comes in. Mendax taught us to appreciate the patience behind the Master’s cunning and grace. We should all plan with the future in mind.” Lucy posed with her hands clasped behind her back. She glanced at Matt, shirtless, and some confused part of him took pleasure in the blush that graced her cheeks. He wanted her. Bad. But she wasn’t just cozying up to these freaks for a show. She was lost to him. After how she reacted to what Nox did to Rayne… how could he possibly be with her?
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He posed the question physically, as well, considering she was practically under twenty-four hour supervision by Justice Lee. The only time that man stepped away from her side was when a fresh batch of incoming recruits came in with an underage girl. Usually one Matt collected.
He ground his teeth under the stress. This place got to both of them. If he lost control of himself at night, averaging about once a week, one day Justice Lee might end up in that paddy. Then Matt would find himself in some real trouble.
“I can’t sing your praises enough,” Lee crooned.
Lucy ducked her eyes and smiled.
“You know we’ve passed your name onto the Master?” the visiting Justice, a woman in her mid-twenties, announced.
“Oh, yes. We have to flaunt our most talented Promoter.” The second visitor agreed.
Matt rolled his eyes while he made a show of setting up some tables and chairs for the event.
“Well, what did he say?!” Lucy bounced in excitement. Yes, Lee noticed everything that bounced, making Matt gag.
“The numbers are most impressive, and he would like you to consider taking over the radio communications. Isn’t that exciting?”
Lucy’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. She gasped. “Really?! What an honor!”
The three Justices nodded, solemnly.
Lee pointed out, “The good news is he didn’t claim you, so you still get to participate in the Cycle as you wanted.” He practically salivated on her.
As Matt glanced at Lucy, Justice Lee caught him looking over. “Matthew, why don’t you join us?”
He tried to relax the tension in his shoulders and calm his teeth grinding habit before crossing the open space. He bowed his head to both of the new-coming elites.
Lee put his whole ass arm around him and brought him in for a side hug. “This is our top Collector, Matthew! Funny how both our best recruits came in together, but they’re obviously from great stock.”
“Indeed,” the female Justice purred with a smirk. Her lifeless eyes roved over him. “Will you be participating in the Cycle?”
Matt squeezed a narrow glance at Lee. The other man’s eyes hardened to stone. No groaning or teeth grinding allowed, he replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Lee finally let go of him to pat him hard on the back. “Good. This one will set records.” Gross, he winked at Lucy.
This was a fucking nightmare of a morning.
Then the woman about ten years his senior sidled up to him. “Save me a go.”
It could be worse, but he really couldn’t imagine how at that exact moment. Then he glanced at Lucy who for one brief second appeared just as lost in this wilderness as Matt felt. What the hell did they get themselves into?