“I know you have a tattoo! Show me!”
He removes my fingers from his shirt and shoves me away. I stumble a few steps backward, sneering, infuriated that he won’t do as I ask.
“Dang, Kora,” he chuckles. “I realize I’m a hot-looking guy, but that’s not a good enough reason for tearing off my clothes. You should learn to control your impulses.”
I lower my eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. You could be right. I’m still a little disoriented from the drug.”
Wreck watches me suspiciously.
“That’s all right,” he finally says, snatching up his hoodie from the grass.
I charge into him again. Wreck curses and pushes me aside. I slip on the mud, falling into the river, still tightly clutching his shirt. Wreck loses his balance as well, falling, and we both wind up in the water. I wrap my legs around him, holding my breath, trying to tear off his shirt. Pushing me away, Wreck attempts to raise his head above the surface. I pull him in closer to me. We grapple for a few moments, splashing in the water and slipping in the river bottom mud. He finally throws me away from him. I collapse again, holding what’s left of his shirt in my hands. Coughing and spitting water, a now shirtless Wreck crawls out of the river. As he turns his back toward me, I get another good look at the tattoo. I was not mistaken.
“Liar!” I shout. “You’re the son of a high master!”
“Stay the hell away from me!”
I climb out of the water and glare at him, breathing heavily. I don’t know why I’m getting so mad. What do I really care if he lied to me or not? Why am I so obsessed about his past?
Wreck stands motionless in front of me, his hands rolled into fists. I feel a little shaky yet determined. I must learn the truth.
“Damn it, Kora,” he says calmly. “You almost drowned me. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I recognized your tattoo. It’s the symbol of the high master’s family.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s not a real tattoo, all right? It’s fake.”
“Stop lying! Nobody wears fake tattoos like that. You’re some kind of prince.”
He begins laughing. “Do you even hear what kinda crap you’re saying? Look at me, Kora. Just take a good long look at me. Do I really look like some damn prince to you?”
“No. But somehow you are one.” I take a step closer to him. “Who are you, Wreck? What’s your real name?” He remains silent. “Answer me! I have to know!”
“Why?”
“Because I’m sick and tired of not knowing who you are or what you’re plotting.”
“I’m not plotting anything.”
“How can I trust you? I feel like a fool after believing your lies. I want to hear your real story.”
He smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “It’s none of your damn business, Kora.”
“Oh yes, it is my business. I’ve done everything you asked me to. I joined your gang. I killed the chimera. I even allowed you to drug me during your stupid ritual.”
“Hey! It’s an important tradition.”
“Screw your traditions. And screw you, Wreck! I deserve to hear the truth after everything you’ve put me through!” I pause, out of breath, wondering why I’m getting so worked up. “Are you the high master’s son or not?”
“What the hell do you care? Why can’t you just be happy with who I am now? Dang it, Kora! I’m your friend. How can you doubt me? I rescued you. I’ve helped you all I could. I was ready to die for you. I still am. Isn’t that enough for you to trust me?”
“No!”
“Well,” he snorts. “That’s just too bad.”
“Who are you, Kris?”
He remains speechless, his lips pressed tightly together, and his reluctance to give me an answer is driving me crazy. I lunge forward, grab hold of his shoulders and shake him violently.
“Are you Samuel’s son?!” I yell. “Did I kill your brother!? Answer me!”
“Get the hell away from me!”
He shoves me away so hard that I almost fall into the river again.
“Stay away from me, Kora, or I’ll make you sorry you didn’t,” he says harshly, and I realize I won’t be able to get the truth out of him.
He stares me down for a moment, then turns and leaves.
Alone, I pull Gabriel’s knife, approaching the nearest tree, and start stabbing the trunk. I hate you, hate you, hate you!
***
It’s warm outside so my clothes soon become dry. Walking through the village, I run into three tired-looking rangers and ask where I can get some food. They lead me inside a large cabin, where several women stand cooking in a kitchen. I sit alone at a table with a bowl of hot stew and bread. Several guys are dining in the other end of the room, but nobody bothers me.
My thoughts are racing. Is Wreck really Samuel’s son? Could it be possible? What’s real and what’s not? How can I use this information?
I finish my stew and head back toward his shack. I find him outside, throwing knives into a tree. He’s wearing his ranger outfit, so I can’t get another look at his tattoo. He pretends not to notice me.
I take a deep breath. “Wreck.”
“I don’t feel like company at the moment,” he says coldly.
“I just need to know who you really are… Please tell me, whatever it is.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve spent years trying to forget.”
He walks back inside his shack and I follow. I suppose I’m like a bulldog. Once I get my teeth into something, I won’t let go. Wreck plops onto the floor, still holding a knife and staring off blankly into space.
I kneel down
