Earth(65)

The crazy man stepped out, warming his hands at the fire. "Don't like dogs, don't like dogs."

We completed the short journey back to the mall in an awkward silence.

"You're going to need to walk this in from here. I shouldn't go any further without some sort of disguise." Micah lifted the dog up, and settled it around my shoulders. "Keep your wrist above your heart." He pushed it in the air, pausing to kiss my fingers.

I pulled them away, stumbling under the weight of the dog. "I know about basic first aid." I was starting to feel lightheaded.

He narrowed his eyes. "Maybe I better go with, I just need—"

"No," I interrupted him. "You would be too hard to explain. I, at least, have a place in the camp. Let me go back, get this stitched up, find out where Shawn is exactly – and then we can come up with a plan."

He blinked, then nodded. "Okay, I'll find you. Don't come back out here. It's not safe. Take care of yourself, Kaitlyn."

"It's Lu—" I tried shifting the weight of the dog and it caused me to lurch to the right. Micah steadied me. I got my footing, and took a deep breath. "It's Lucy, thank you."

I turned and walked away. All this time, chasing after him. Years trying to catch up. And here I was, walking away.

No, I told myself. Lucy is walking away. And if I could walk away from Bee, this should be a piece of cake.

I made my way the length of the mall, refusing to turn around. If I did, I'd probably tip over. I walked through Writer Square and down the alley to which One Less disappeared. They weren't hard to find, once I got past the skyscrapers. A ring of smoke signaled the cooking fires. I pulled the carcass around my neck even tighter. The chunk of meat was hiding my face better than the tattoos ever would.

I walked up to the sentry, pressing my bicep out to display the red and blue ties.

"I thought everyone was accounted for," he said, pushing aside fur to look at my face.

"Apparently not."

"No unauthorized entry; you'll have to wait until morning when we get the new rosters."

My wrist wouldn't wait until morning. "Fine. I don't mind sharing my catch with someone else." I turned.

"Wait!" he called.

I paused, smiling, and turned back around. Meat was not easy to pass up, roster or no. I walked past him straight to the fires. I heaved the dog off my shoulders, right at the feet of one of the cooks. "Meet Fido. Tell everyone Lucy sent him." I turned around and stopped, but the world around me did not. It was still spinning. My head felt so heavy.

Oh, right. Keep my hand above my heart.

I thrust my fist in the air and shouted, "Did you hear that everyone? I am Lucy!"

I hit the ground.

Faces appeared above me. "Get her a doctor!"

"No, no," I mumbled. If only the faces would stop spinning. "Erika. Get Erika."

Erika always knew what to do.



* * *





"Easy there, princess."

I stepped forward with purpose, then dropped down on my knees in front of Shawn, running my hand through the mist there. It dispersed for a moment, but gathered back in the same spot. I turned around, still on my knees, and backed into the mist. It swirled around me as I occupied its space. I backed up a little further until I felt Shawn's pistol aimed directly at the back of my head.

My blood pounded, roaring in my ears. In response, the dark, red liquid oozed down the wall of flame around us. Akasha had already risen, too far from my grasp.

"The baby is mine."

I heard the click of the gun behind me, and a red haze descended.





Chapter 42





Morning Mullets





I cracked open my eyes. The first thing to come into view was a mullet. "Morning, Erika."

She turned and nodded. "Hello again, sunshine."

I was afraid to look at my wrist. "What's the damage?"

She touched my shoulder, her eyes pinned to the floor. "I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but we had to amputate."

"You…what?!" I held up my arm. My wrist was wrapped, but my palm and all five fingers were there.

I glared at Erika.

She snorted she was laughing so hard. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

I checked my other hand, just to be sure.

She started laughing all over again.

I growled and pushed myself up with my good hand. Nothing went spinning out of control.

"We put some stitches in, is all. There was no tendon or bone damage. You were lucky." She looked at me, one eyebrow raised. "I told you not to leave the mall."

I shrugged. "My catch was worth it." I stretched, yawning.

Wonder if they’re still serving breakfast.

"Am I clear to go back to work?" I asked as I stood up.

"Not to admin you aren't."