Chapter 5
Chapter Five
DAVEY
T he days bleed into weeks, and I can’t tell if I’ve died and gone to hell, or if Lenora just hates me. My first night was the last time she touched me. Once the sun wasn’t too harsh in the sky, she introduced me to members of the compound and found space for me away from her bed. I still haven’t met everyone, but the ones I have are nothing but kind.
My new position as head doctor is something I never expected. I’ll be seeing all the women in the compound at least once so I can get a feel for what they will need medically. Most people forget that an OBGYN does more than deliver babies. We are also there to care for all aspects of reproductive health. I can’t do testing, and there aren’t any labs available, but just talking to people about what’s going on in their bodies is helpful in a small community like this one. Flexing this part of my personality again is a little painful, but it feels good, like scratching a muscle that has gone sore with disuse.
But the one woman I want to see has done everything in her power to avoid me. It has been about three weeks since I’ve arrived, and she has been “busy” since. I know she is the leader here and everyone depends on her, but can’t she make time for me? Am I being needy? Maybe it was just a one night thing. That’s fine, totally fine. It’s not like she was my literal wet dream come true. It’s not like she was the first person I’ve been intimate with in the last three years. I think I’m going to throw up. Or maybe scream? Nope. Brooding. I’m definitely brooding.
“Wow, Doc. You look cute pouting over there,” a soft voice calls from the other side of the room. Penelope was once a paramedic. I’ve gotten to know her over the last few weeks, and not only is her voice very soothing, but so is her presence. I like to think of her as human Prozac.
“Is it that obvious?” I sigh.
“She’s right, Doc. What’s got your panties in a twist?” Tina chimes in, our resident mortician. She’s hysterical and less morbid than I thought a mortician would be.
“Nothing, really. Have you seen Lenora lately? I feel like I haven’t seen her since I got here.” I’m aiming for nonchalant, but I don’t think it’s working, because they share a look before meeting my eyes.
“The hunting party has been busy lately,” Penelope says.
“Oh, she told me they had pretty much kept everything safe around here in the last year.” Why would they be so busy if there were no more Beasts in the area?
“Well, since they found you Doc, they’ve had to increase patrol. Lenora is vigilant. She won’t risk anyone getting hurt or letting any Beasts nearby.” Tina’s eyes shift left and right, as if we’re not the only ones in this small cabin full of medical supplies that were no doubt scavenged during their hunting parties. “You didn’t hear it from me, but Lenora had me patch up a nasty gash on her arm the other day after she came in covered in blood. At first, I freaked out, but I realized, as she held her hand out, the majority was not her blood. So she definitely took one out recently.”
“That’s our girl,” Penelope says in her light voice. They talk about killing another human being in this detached way that borders on callous.
My stomach turns as I remember her hands on me, bloodstained hands. I question whether she listened to anyone’s story, but it’s obvious she’s just a cold-blooded killer. A sharp tug behind my breastbone has my hand rubbing the spot idly. How can she be so passionate, so warm, yet so cold and calculating? Should I even seek her out again?
“You look green, Doc. You alright?” Tina’s eyes shine with concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I wave away her concern. “I’m a doctor. I’m used to helping people and doing what’s in their best interests to keep them safe. The idea of just killing any person who comes near is really cruel, isn’t it?” I can’t stop my mouth from running.
“I mean, obviously, she didn’t kill me, and my brother was already gone.” I stop to clear my throat. “But would she have just killed him? How do we know they’re all Beasts? What if it’s one of the good ones who are just on their own, looking for others like us? I can’t help but think we could help them.”
“Lenora has been keeping us all safe since she found this place. She doesn’t need to give them the benefit of the doubt. Why does she owe it to someone to give them the upper hand? She’s quick and deadly, and with Jones and Antonia at her side, we’re lucky. For every Beast she kills, she keeps us safer for another day,” Tina responds, incredulous at my questions.
“Look, I know the Beasts are just that. But how can she not worry if she’s making a mistake?” I respond, trying to explain all the thoughts warring in my mind.
“She’s made that mistake once, Doc,” Penelope says before bringing a hand to her mouth.
“That’s not our story to tell. If you have so many questions, you should ask her yourself.” I can tell that the conversation is over, and I don’t want them to think I’m being unreasonable so we go on, counting inventory and chatting about the compound they all call home.