“It would be fun,” he states.
“No.”
“Oh come on, you just don’t know how. I’ll demonstrate the technique. Throw something to me.”
I stare at him, wondering what this is all about. Wreck motions for me to go ahead. He now seems like a completely different person, not the same ruthless guy who captured me last night.
I toss a chunk of bread and Wreck easily catches it with his mouth. I’ve never seen anybody do that before.
“How did you manage that?” I ask, impressed.
“Years of practice,” he answers. “Like me to show you another little trick? Come closer.”
I move a couple feet toward him.
“Closer,” he grins. “I promise I won’t bite.”
I scoot in closer to him, wondering to myself why I’m following his silly requests.
“What’s this?” He points at my bracelet. “Can I see?”
Before I have time to answer, he takes my hand, leaning in to have a closer look at the bracelet. His touch makes me tense, but I’m too hesitant to pull my hand away.
“It’s a gift from my friend,” I explain.
“The one you killed Gabriel over?” he glances at me, and I nod.
For a few moments our eyes lock, but he doesn’t say anything, just smiling and holding my hand.
“What?” I ask, becoming more nervous.
“Nothing,” he chuckles.
I look down at my wrist and there’s no bracelet.
“Hey! Where is it?!” I exclaim, pulling my hand away from him. “How did you take it off?
“Took off… what?”
“My bracelet! Give it back to me!”
“What bracelet?”
I lose my ability to speak, panicking, because it’s the only thing I have left from Amy. Wreck stares at me innocently.
“Please return the bracelet,” I say, almost pleading.
“What bracelet?” he repeats, pretending confused. “Oh, you mean the one you’re wearing on top of your head?”
I realize that there’s something lying on top of my head. I move a little and the bracelet falls to the floor in front of me. Wreck grins.
“Wow,” I breathe out, putting it back on my wrist. “I mean… It’s just incredible! How did you do that?”
“Pure magic. I could do the same thing with your clothes.”
“No! Please don’t!” I exclaim.
“Relax!” Wreck laughs at my reaction. “I’m not quite that good. At least not yet.”
I look at him angrily, but smile in spite of myself. I have to admit it was amusing.
“Well, you stay here and I’ll bring Tanya over.” He rises to his feet. “Just know I’ll have to lock her back up again soon. Tartis actually prohibits taking captives outside.”
Once he is gone, I lie back on the blanket, thinking about him. I can’t figure out this guy. Is he good or evil? Kind or merciless? Is he really my friend or not?
I don’t have the answer. There are too many things I still don’t understand.
Why did he become so excited upon seeing Gabriel’s knife? Why does he want me to join his gang? What does he really need from me?
No clue.
***
The door opening breaks my thought and I sit up. I see a tall thick girl standing in the doorway. She's in her mid-twenties, with long dark hair and oriental eyes. Black war paint covers her lips and eye-lids, giving her an exotic appearance. She’s dressed in tight camo pants, a sleeveless gray top and heavy platform boots. Her outfit obviously serves to compliment her curvy body, and I have to admit there’s a lot to compliment. One glance at her is enough to understand she’s one of such type of girls born to be large but at the same time gorgeous. Ones who may lose some of their effect should they become thinner.
“So you’re the girl Kris found in the woods,” she states.
“I suppose so,” I mutter, suddenly becoming very self-aware of my unattractiveness.
“You’re planning to join his gang?”
I shrug, gazing at her. She commands the same feelings of admiration as Amy, because this girl is also stunningly beautiful, only in a different way.
“Let me give you some free advice, girl.” She takes a few graceful steps toward me, swaying her hips. “Get the hell out of here and go wherever you were going. Don’t let Kris manipulate you.”
“It’s my own decision,” I lie.
“Sure it is,” she rolls her eyes. “Just don’t get too attached to him, all right?”
I’m not planning to get attached to Wreck, but ask out of curiosity, “Why not?”
“Because he isn’t the type of guy a good girl would want to be associated with. He’s a mess.”
“I’m not exactly what you would call a good girl,” I smile.
“Well, I guess you’ll be all right then.”
She returns my smile and leaves just as abruptly as she arrived.
I stare at the door, feeling troubled. I didn’t even have a chance to ask her name.
Wreck returns along with Tanya, and my little friend hugs me tightly. I mimic her gesture, although I don’t feel the need for all that. I’m more reserved and unskilled at expressing my feelings. Wreck steps outside, giving us some privacy. I begin telling Tanya about joining the roamers, but she already knows everything.
“I wish I could become a roamer too,” she says.
“I don’t really think joining these guys is such a good idea,” I confess.
“We might use them to help rescue your friends from Samuel and avenge our families.”
I ponder her words, feeling something churn inside my chest.
“I doubt the roamers would help us,” I sigh. “They don’t want to have a conflict with Central Settlement.”
Several minutes later Wreck reenters the cabin, approaches Tanya and says softly, “I’m very sorry but I have to take you back. If Tartis learns you are here, we’ll both be in really big trouble.”
“I understand,” Tanya nods.
I watch in astonishment as she eagerly takes his hand
