“It’s not your fault, Painter,” Wren said. “Whatever happened, I don’t think you could’ve stopped it.”
Painter shook his head. “Luck smiled tuh-tuh… he smiled too much. Always trying to g-g-get people to like him. He p-p-p… probably didn’t even fight back.”
“I’m glad you were here, anyway. I’m glad you’re here now.”
Painter nodded, but he didn’t look at Wren. He was staring out through the flexiglass door that led to the balcony, out at the night sky. The moon had been up for a couple of hours. Wren hadn’t seen Mama since that morning.
“I just don’t understand,” Wren continued. “I don’t understand how anyone could do that to a person.”
“Because we’re not puh-people, Wren.”
Wren wanted to tell Painter he was wrong – tell him that he shouldn’t think of himself as anything other than a person. But whether it was because Wren was so tired, or maybe because he wasn’t sure he believed it himself, Wren found he couldn’t argue. If he had known this was how things were going to happen… it took so much effort, so much energy. It hurt him to wake them. If all it caused in the end was more pain, was it even worth it?
“Can I ask you something, Painter?” Wren asked.
Painter looked over to him. “Of course.”
“Are you sorry that I brought you back?”
Painter seemed to think about it for a moment, but Wren couldn’t read his expression. “Are you?”
“No.”
“Then me nnn-neither.”
“It’s just… it’s like when I made them let everyone inside the city. I thought it was the right thing to do. I didn’t know it was going to cause so much trouble.”
“That was the ruh-ruh-right thing, Wren. Trouble’s got nnnn…” Painter struggled with the word. He snapped his head to the side in frustration. “Nothing to do with it.”
“It’s harder for you, though.”
Painter shrugged and went back to looking outside. “They’re affff-fraid of us.”
“They shouldn’t be.”
“Yes, they should.” He said it quietly, almost to himself. The door clicked and whirred, and Painter stood up quickly to face it. Wren got to his feet as it was opening.
“Mama!”
Wren didn’t wait for her to get any further into the room before he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek into her stomach. Cass kissed him on the top of the head and placed her hands on his back, squeezing him against her legs in an awkward kind of hug.
“Hey, baby,” she said. She sounded exhausted. “Can I get in the door?”
Wren let go and backed up so she could enter the room. She closed the door behind her and then knelt down and held out her arms. “There, now let me get a proper hug.” Wren stepped into her embrace and hugged her neck. She squeezed him so tight it was almost hard for him to breathe.
“Painter,” Cass said. “Thanks so much for staying with him. Sorry it was so long.”
“It was no problem, Miss Cass. Anyt-t-t-, any time. Any news?”
Cass gave Wren a final squeeze and then stood up. She took off her veil and tossed it in the chair next to the door, then unbuckled her jacket. “Curfew’s in place, we’ve got a lot of extra enforcement on patrol.”
“What about…” Wren couldn’t bring himself to say the names. “…the bodies?”
“Turns out it was only two Awakened. Mez was the other.”
Mez had been among the first few of the Awakened, an older man who’d spent most of his time outside the wall. He’d never really settled into Morningside, and hadn’t kept much contact with Wren or Cass. Wren was still sorry for his death.
Cass said, “The others – we’re not sure about yet. It’s hard to get any information out of people after last night. What about you guys?”
Wren replied, “We’ve mostly been here. Just trying to stay out of the way.”
Cass nodded. “Probably the best idea right now. Painter, anything I can do for you?”
Painter shook his head. “Pretty tired. Think I’m just guh-guh-going to go to b-bed.”
“You’re up with the team?” she asked him.
Painter nodded.
“They treating you well?”
Painter nodded again. “When they’re around.”
“Yeah,” Cass said. “Been a busy few. Not sure when they’ll be back tonight.”
“Finn gave me his rrr-room.”
“Oh, good. Won’t wake you then. Well, thanks again, Painter. You’ve been a huge help.”