“Does it bother you?” she asked, stepping closer to Razor like she was asking him about the weather. “Knowing the only part of you that will exist in this world is already beyond your reach?”
Razor’s head snapped toward her, his glacial blue eye’s red rimmed.
Angel shifted immediately so he was between them, so did I.
Mara didn’t stop though, she placed a hand on her still flat stomach but didn’t take her eyes off of Razor.
“She’ll grow up in a world where you never existed,” she continued. “No name. No story. No memory.”
Razor’s jaw flexed hard enough I heard his teeth grind.
Her voice was almost sickly sweet, “And we’ll make sure of it.”
Silence stretched across the shed, the tension electric between Mara and her abuser.
She smiled at him and then looked down at her hand, “I bet you she’ll make an incredible President some day.”
Razor's eyes went wide at the implication, he took a step forward and Angel didn’t hesitate. He kicked him in the knee, dropping Razor to the ground.
Then without saying another word, Mara turned her back on him, her hand still resting gently on her stomach and walked out of the shed. I watched her leave, and noticed Cypher standing at the side of the door. I had never seen him come in here before, I just didn’t know if he was here for Meg or Lacey.
Razor was on his knees breathing heavily, his eyes locked on the space Mara had occupied. Like he was picturing her there, like he was envisioning a life he will never get to witness.
Meg walked up beside me, saying, “Bring her here.”
At the back of the room Carmen flinched but Lacey didn’t react.
Torch walked past Angel and Razor grabbing the back of Lacey’s chair and dragged it so she was in the middle of the room. Her skin was pale and her breathing was laboured. Torch stayed behind Lacey and Razor as Meg approached her.
She stopped right in front of Lacey like she’d been waiting for this moment. She knelt down beside her, looking up in her face.
“Tell me how to find them.” She demanded, her voice steady andcalm. The Meg we had all gotten to know was long gone and she was replaced by someone I didn’t recognize.
I looked back at Cypher, his eyes were locked on Meg. So many emotions were warring over his features. Lacey didn’t answer, but her eyes shifted and locked onto Meg’s.
“You know how to reach them.” She continued.
Lacey shrugged, slightly, barely noticeable. But Meg nodded in response.
“It’s not too late for you Lacey.” She coaxed.
“Yes it is,” She whispered.
Meg adjusted, leaning in closer, softening her voice, “If you tell us what you know, we can still help you.” Meg lowered her voice like she was sharing a secret with Lacey, but we all heard her when she said, “He is here. Did you know that?”
Lacey lifted her head at that, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Cypher. A glazed look taking over her eyes, and a watery smile cracking her lips.
She looked fucking crazy.
Cypher sucked in a breath, but didn’t move.
“I helped them.” She whispered, not taking her eyes off of Cypher.
“I know.” Meg urged.
No one else said a word.
“I knew what they were,” she said, her voice growing stronger. “From the beginning.”