The Dark and Hollow Places - Carrie Ryan [106]
With her other hand she grabs the fence and shakes it, the sound echoing around the empty auditorium. “They were good men,” she shouts. “You have to remember that, Annah. They were decent and loving.”
“I will,” I tell her, my voice seeming so small against her tempest. “I’ll remember them.” There are so many people to remember, I think.
She says nothing else. Just continues to kneel there, letting the cage hold her up as she stares at what used to be the man she loved.
I’m not really sure how one should spend the final moments of one’s life. I don’t know if I should pray or reflect back, if I should weep or catalog my various failures and accomplishments. Should I be sad that I never got to tell my sister, Elias or Catcher good-bye? Should I be relieved that I no longer have to worry about surviving?
I lie on my side in the kennel, knees tucked to my chest, and I stare up at Dove in her own cage. She sits in the middle, legs crossed, her lips moving but not with any sound or words that I can hear. Every now and again she’ll crawl toward Noell and grasp his limp hand in hers.
Eventually, she lies down with her back against his chest, tucking her head under his chin and pulling his arm across her.
I have to look away. I can’t watch that, the way his broken neck hangs crooked. I wonder how long she survived in there with the Unconsecrated. I wonder how long I’ll survive. How much fight I have left in me.
I’d like to think that I won’t beg, but I’m worried that in the end I’ll scream for mercy just like everyone else.
There’s no ceremony to the whole thing. Conall strolls into the auditorium, the side of his face creased as if he’s just woken up from a nap. He stands at the edge of the large cage in the center of the room and stares at Dove for a while.
“She still alive?” he asks, and I guess he’s directing the question at me.
I don’t answer. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
Another Recruiter comes walking down the steps. “Looks like she killed the plague rats,” he says, standing next to Conall.
“You were supposed to leave someone here to make sure that didn’t happen,” Conall growls.
The other one shrugs. “If she isn’t turned yet, she will be soon enough. Might be interesting to see the two girls duking it out.” The hint of leering suggestion in his voice disgusts me.
Even from here I can tell that Conall’s angry and then finally he just throws up a hand. “Whatever,” he says. “We still have those other three from before. We can bring them out when we get tired of watching these two run around each other.”
I’m shocked at how calmly they’re discussing my fate. And the inconvenience they face because Dove defended herself.
Conall comes over to my kennel and kneels. “How’s it going in there?” he asks.
I glare at him. “My sister—have you gone to make sure she’s okay?”
“I’ll take care of it,” he says, but of course I can’t trust him.
“Catcher won’t come back if they’re dead,” I remind him. “If you want to survive, you have to make sure they’re okay.”
He stops fiddling with the lock on my cage and stares at me for a moment. “I’m not sure it’s their survival you should be worried about,” he says. “And if you’re not going to put up a decent fight up there, then I’ll find someone who will. Even if I have to go get your friends.”
“You stupid arrogant bas—”
Before I can finish the insult he slams against my little cage, shoving it over and tossing me around inside. He spits on the floor by the door before stalking off.
I laugh, which causes him to trip, which only makes me laugh harder. He doesn’t have to know about the tears burning my throat. That if I don’t laugh I’ll break down into terrified sobs.
A few more Recruiters stumble into the room, rubbing eyes, some carrying plates of food. The ripe smell of their bodies