“I’m ssss-sorry, I’m cuh-cuh-cuh… I’m coming out. But don’t freak out, I’m A-a-awakened.”
“Come out here real slow, with your hands up where I can see ’em!” the guard called.
Painter nodded to Cass and patted Wren on the shoulder gently, and then stretched his hands out and eased towards the corner. He showed his hands first, and then followed them out very slowly.
“Get down on your knees,” the guard said, the light still blazing like a miniature sun with Painter’s shadow stark in its middle.
“Yeah, sssss-sure,” Painter said. But he didn’t. He made a risky move and advanced a few steps down the alley, towards the guard – and away from Cass and Wren.
“Hold it, hold it!” the guard said, raising her voice. Not shouting, but heading that way. Cass was sure that coilgun was going to sing any second. “I said get on your knees!”
“Yeah, yeah, look, please, d-d-don’t take me in,” Painter said. Cass couldn’t see him anymore, but judging from the shadow and the sounds, he was getting down on the ground. “Please, listen–”
“You’re in violation of a hard curfew, as ordered by the governor–”
“I nuh-nuh, I know, please, ma’am,” Painter pleaded. Female guard then. “Let me explain.”
It was a dangerous game. The guard hadn’t called for backup yet, but that was always a possibility. Maybe even a likelihood. With the noise they were making, calling for it might not even be necessary.
She said, “Talking won’t matter, kid, I’ve got orders.”
“Please, I’ll luh-luh, I’ll lose my job, ma’am, please.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you violated the curfew. Lie flat, face down, hands stretched out above your head.”
“I didn’t mmm-mmean to, I lost tr-track of tuh-tuh-tuh, of time.”
“It’s not my problem, kid.”
“Please, there’s this guh-guh, there’s a girl,” Painter said. There was a pause after that.
“A girl?” the guard said. Her voice had lost the slightest bit of its edge.
“Yes, mmm-ma’am.”
“She with you now?” the guard asked.
“No, ma’am, I was on my way b-b-back from her place. I’m sss-sorry.”
Another pause.
“You’re that one from Mister Sun’s place, ain’t ya?” She said that one with just a hint of emphasis. “Hunter or something.”
“Yes, ma’am. Painter.”
She replied, “Painter, that’s right. And this girl. She worth getting shot over, Painter?”
Painter was quiet for a second. “Yes, ma’am.”
“What about getting jumped and strung up by a bunch of thugs?”
“I rrrrr-, I reckon she’s wuh-wuh-worth just about any kind of hell Mmmmorningside’s got, ma’am.”
The guard chuckled at that. “Just about, huh?” she said, with a hint of amusement.
“Just about. May-may-may… maybe not losing my job.”
Cass heard the click of the coilgun, and it quit humming.
“Alright, kid. You got me. I might be just enough of a romantic to let you off once. Once, you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m gonna swing by Mister Sun’s in ten minutes. If you aren’t there, I’m gonna bring my boys down on you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Get outta here.”
There was scuffling in the alleyway as Painter got back to his feet. “Th-th-thank you.”
“Don’t thank me for something that never happened, kid. Get.”
“Yes, mmma’am.”
Painter’s shadow gradually shrank on the wall and then he was in the intersection. Cass held her breath. But he did the right thing, and turned the opposite direction without the slightest hitch or glance their way. A few moments later the light switched off, and she could hear the guard muttering something to herself. Footsteps receded down the alley, and the unusual silence of Morningside returned. Cass felt Wren relax behind her, but still she waited a full minute before crossing the intersection, just to be sure.
Together she and Wren edged their way to the street, slow and steady. Cass surveyed the area. All clear. She checked with Wren anyway. He gave a quick nod, and they skittered down the street, keeping close to the buildings along the side, slipping into the shadows whenever they could.
Painter was nowhere in sight. Cass had intended to make one more loop before approaching their destination, both to scout the path and to make doubly sure they weren’t followed. But after the close call it seemed like any extra time they spent on the street was the greater risk. They reached a storefront alcove, and Cass pulled Wren into its shadows and knelt in front of him, so close their noses nearly touched.