{Enki | Medical Bay}
Bethany relived Echo’s memories of being born repeatedly. It wasn’t intentional. The little girl was trying to sort out how she came to be cold and facing a bald, frowning man when she only recently was so warm, fed, and safe.
It happened when the brown-eyed man pulled her free of the warmth and cut away her source of nourishment. Then came the yellow-eyed, crying woman. She smelled familiar, and her smile made Echo feel safe. The baby tried to squeeze the woman’s finger extra hard to tell her so. Then they placed her in this box with blankets, never quite warm enough, and a man peeked in from time-to-time with a different frown.
One eyebrow up. Both. Sometimes he upturned his nose with his thumb and stuck out his tongue.
That one made Echo laugh.
But still… cold and hungry. Mommy. Echo wanted her mommy—
“She’s through here, Tameka. Xelan.”
Sagan’s voice startled Bethany out of her memory walk with Echo. She entered the bay soon after and smiled brightly in Bethany’s direction, leaving her feeling guilty for intruding. Xelan with his fancy coat and Tameka in her pretty clothes followed, both of them walking in quiet steps as if afraid to wake the fully conscious child.
Bethany should excuse herself, but an abomination stepped through the doors.
Razor in Korac’s body.
The Pain Curator. “It’s okay to cry. But you’re old enough now to know it won’t do any good except to upset you further. Do you understand?”
King of Broken Promises. “A little more then we can stop for the day. Does that sound good?”
The Last Aegis. “Tonight, you feast on your rescuer, and all outside communication privileges are permanently revoked. A lesson for those so eager to leave. Don’t endanger your families.”
Razor, himself, had stood in Bethany’s cell until she ate all three servings of ground Mon3 drone.
When he emerged in the Medical Bay wearing the only man in all the Vast Collective who understood her trauma, Bethany laughed. The entire party stopped their trek to Echo and stared at her. Xelan’s eyes filled with empathy. Tameka glanced between Bethany and Razor with contempt. And Sagan took a step toward the teenage girl, reaching out.
“It’s okay, Bethany. Korac will return soon. Have you been looking after Echo?”
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But Bethany couldn’t stop laughing. Should she kill his baby? Would that be retribution enough?
No.
No.
Those weren’t her real thoughts or feelings.
Bethany went quiet and gripped her head, rocking.
She loved Echo. Loved the story of her birth, and Bethany was actually happy to salvage enough Aegis blood for Echo to experience her mother’s arms.
But why was Razor here?!
Bethany slammed her fists against the wall on either side of her. He didn’t deserve to breathe near Echo, let alone touch her. He deserved for someone to feed her heart to him—
No.
No.
Bethany sank down the wall, covered her head, and screamed into her arms.
Meanwhile, commotion erupted around her, but she couldn’t hear or see it. Hands touched her gently, and she jerked away—Singed. Oh, Elden, she was sure that was Xelan’s voice trying to soothe her, but for all the world it might as well have been gasoline thrown on a fire.
Stay away!
Dark. Bethany needed the dark. Where was her hood? Why was there so much light—
“324.”
That name out of that voice.
Bethany stopped breathing. The Nice Man. He was back.
“Bethany, it’s Matt. Everyone else left the bay. We’re alone.” His voice was a pleasant tenor, empty of everything—Pretense, coaxing, ulterior motives. Everything about Matt was safely empty.
She lay in a ball on the floor, unaware of how she had contorted this way. Slowly, she unfurled her arms and legs, stretching out to her petite size. Bethany wasn’t ready to open her eyes yet, so she kept one arm thrown over them. It was too bright.
Matt groaned as he sank down to the floor and stretched one leg out, leaving one bent for his arm to rest upon. She peeked through her arm to watch him play with his overgrown fringe in that nice auburn shade which complimented his freckles. After another heartbeat, he said, “You’re doing a great job guarding Echo.”
Pride suffused Bethany.
Matt filled her in on some of the commotion she’d checked out of earlier. “The Shadow are gathering Rayne’s blood for the battle currently on pause. I’m glad I didn’t miss it.” He grinned, and it was cute. It faded when he glanced down at her as if he knew she was looking. “Are you joining in this time? I think you ought to.”
Bethany? In a fight?
Matt shrugged like he sensed her doubts. “I’m sure I can convince your brother and sister it’s a good idea. Everyone should get a chance to say they fought in the great battle for the Vast Collective.” Again, that grin. “Me and Lucy have a celebration planned for after, but you don’t need to know about that. Do you wanna see Lucy? She and Puk are here along with some new friends.”
Yes. Bethany liked Lucy and Puk. She nodded.
Matt whistled, and the blond girl accompanied by the Mon3 drone stepped into the bay. Both of them smiled affectionately at Bethany. She liked it.
Puk beamed at her. “So, what do you say, Bethany? Do you wanna drink some of Rayne’s blood and kill some bad guys with us?”
Lucy’s eyes weren’t dead like Matt’s. The deep blue sheltered mysteries beneath the purity. Those mysteries liked the sound of Puk’s plan because her eyes sparkled. “We’ll look after you,” Lucy promised.
Bethany dropped her arm and sat up, peering at them. Such a strange group of people, but they’d survived Gait together, and that was some bond.
Dry.
Sore.
Bethany’s voice was untried, even so, she tried to ask, “Can… I… eat them?”
The group exchanged looks, not one of them in shock or judgment. More like they were intrigued and entertained. They settled their gazes on Matt, who turned to Bethany and shrugged. “Sure. I don’t see why not.”
Puk extended a hand, and Bethany took it to stand.
“Just be sure to floss after, okay, kid?”
Bethany nodded.