16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Charon
The sun burns dully behind a veil of ash-stained clouds as the soldiers stomp onto the dock. Their boots hit the planks with a practiced rhythm, and I force myself to stay still beside Hector’s barrel with Nyx on my shoulder.
Jonas steps onto the boat first, rifle already pointed straight at me. His mutilated face twists as he spits out a wad of something dark onto my deck before grinning.
“Morning, freak,” he sneers, squinting around the boat. “That rotter of yours still hangin’ round?”
I don’t react as I stare him down. My muscles tense when I remember him shooting at Hector the night we’d tried to get the ration bag, and a violent urge to rip his head from his body almost consumes me .
He turns to the others, jerking his chin toward the cabin. “Search it.”
They move at once, four soldiers storming aboard without hesitation, guns drawn. My pulse roars in my ears as I stay rooted to the deck, pretending I’m unbothered, even as my rage builds with every footfall.
They tear through the galley first, slamming cupboards and rattling dishes. Then the crew quarters, my cot. The closet where I kept Hector’s old, bloodied clothes. One of them lingers a little too long at his bench, and I almost step forward before Rita’s voice rings out sharply from the dock.
“Jonas! You wanna explain why we’re wasting time ransacking our hauler when we’ve got deliveries?”
He scowls at me, chewing on something rancid. “This fucker’s hiding something.”
She just snorts in response. “You say that every time we come down here.”
A moment later, the soldiers reappear, shoving past each other as they pile out. One of them shrugs. “Nothing, boss. Just a lot of dust and a jar of eyeballs. Sick fuck.”
Nyx clicks her beak, feathers ruffled, and I clench my jaw as Jonas narrows his eyes but says nothing.
Rita waves a clipboard around impatiently. “Load ’em up, and be quick.”
One by one, the soldiers hoist the barrels off the boat and toss them carelessly into the back of a truck. Each impact jars my spine, but I keep my face impassive, at least until they reach the last barrel .
Jonas is the one who assists in lifting it, of course. He grunts, muscles straining a little harder than usual under the weight. “Shit, this one’s heavy. What the hell did you put in here, freak? Rocks?”
He doesn’t wait for an answer, though, just helps drag it down the dock and shoves it into the truck with a curse before jumping into the passenger seat.
I blow out a breath, trying not to fall apart as the tailgate slams shut with a metallic clang .
The sound reverberates through my bones.
When the truck pulls away, I almost run after it, fear constricting my chest. As soon as the vehicle disappears beyond the curve of the hill, taking the most precious thing I’ve ever known with it, I sag against the railing in defeat.
He’s gone. I’m once again alone.
But then the dock creaks behind me, and I jerk around as another group of soldiers begins bringing bags onto the boat… ration bags. Bulging canvas sacks of food and medicine marked with red tape.
No.
Rita leads the team. “Alright, let’s get this shit on board.
We got a double load today, the Judge wants a show of generosity.
Aster’s Hollow first, then maybe Iron Gate if we’ve got enough.
” She pauses, tossing me a wink as the morning sun sets her silver-plated skull ablaze.
“Don’t worry, Ferryman. We’ll top off your supplies, too. ”
All of the blood drains from my body as realization slams into me.
Fuck .
Every few weeks or so, Zone T trades with the surrounding outposts via my boat. It’s always sporadic, whenever the Judge sees fit. They won’t even look at the water barrels until they finish—if Hector makes it that long. If he survives the ride, the heat, the sealed lid.
He’s strong, I know he is, but that water was cold. The air was thin. What if they leave the barrels sitting in the sun too long? What if they unload everything except his and forget it on the truck bed? What if he suffocates?
Nyx gives me a disgruntled squawk, nipping my jaw before eyeing the horizon.
“ Gone ,” she croaks. “ Gone, gone .”
I clench my fist and press it to my mouth, teeth digging into skin to keep from screaming when my eyes fall to his cane still on the ground.
He trusted me. He trusted me. It was all for nothing.
Once again, I’m left helpless while someone I love is hauled off to die
And just like last time… there’s no one to blame but myself.