Chapter 15
The light that shone as the guard opened Scarlen’s cell door temporarily blinded her, and she covered her eyes with her arm, the weakness in her disallowing her arm to stay up for longer than a few seconds.
She’d only just woken, the sound of the key in the lock stirring her, bringing her from sleep to a daze.
‘Time’s up,’ said the guard, no emotion in her voice. ‘Steady now.’
‘I’m not sure I can walk.’
‘You don’t have a choice. You either walk out of here or Binnow comes in with her baton, and I take it by now you know how much she loves to use hers.’
Scarlen knew Binnow was deranged, and not wanting her company, she wobbled forward, her muscles uncooperative. She looked towards Bear’s door, expecting him to be released but hoping he wouldn’t be at the same time, as she didn’t want him to see the state she was in.
‘He’s already gone.’ The guard nudged her forward, clearly wanting Scarlen to get moving.
‘What happens now?’
‘Miss Harnish is outside waiting for you. You’ll have a shower, then go to bed. It’s late, so keep the noise down, else you’ll be punished.’
Was that supposed to be some sort of joke? What noise could she possibly make except a crashing sound when her body hit the floor, as that was likely the way she was feeling.
A sympathetic smile was offered by Miss Harnish as soon as the other guard walked away. ‘How are you?’
It was a stupid question, and they both knew it, but all the same, Scarlen responded. ‘Everything hurts, and I might faint any moment.’
The guard lightly touched Scarlen’s forehead, and immediately, everything seemed a little clearer.
‘Thank you.’
‘I didn’t do anything.’
And Scarlen knew to be quiet. At least she wouldn’t pass out now, but her body still hurt, and she wasn’t sure the shower would be as helpful as bed.
As they entered the shower chamber, Miss Harnish pointed out a towel and green nightwear. ‘Your pyjamas for when you’re done. Then bed. I’ve assigned you to work only in the library tomorrow, so no walking for you.’
Scarlen struggled to free herself of the damp shift so gave up and walked into the shower clothed, slumping to the floor as soon as the warm water flowed.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the wall for a moment while the heat took its time entering her bones.
A groan rumbled up through her chest, and she didn’t know if it was a complaint or happiness.
‘Come now, Smithson. Let’s get you out of that shift and washed properly.’ Harnish handed over some soap, and Scarlen remained seated while she stripped and washed the dark cell and the War Zone from her flesh, her hair, the core of her soul.
How she made it to bed, she would never know, and Dionne’s whisper went in one ear and out the other as exhaustion took control, sending her into a deep sleep, where she dreamed of waterfalls and pretty flowers.
Two weeks had passed with no family time permitted for Scarlen and Bear, and Bear had hardly acknowledged her existence anyway, so it didn’t matter.
Although she was curious why he was keeping his distance.
The atmosphere had changed since the War Zone.
Tension was high, and people were quieter.
Dionne told her fear of the unscheduled War Zone had rattled everyone.
At least one person was happy. Elbar was due for release the following week, and Scarlen had never been so jealous of anyone before, but at the same time she was pleased for her friend, and she would miss her.
As Scarlen was talking to Dionne over dinner about how they could buy something from Temple as a parting gift for Elbar, Binnow entered, bringing her usual icy chill to the room.
‘Gallows,’ she announced, and silence fell at once as everyone started to make their way to the door.
‘What’s going on?’ Scarlen asked Dionne as they stood.
‘It’s someone’s twenty-third birthday.’
Scarlen widened her eyes in horror. ‘We’re going to watch someone hang?’
Dionne nodded, then told her to shush.
Light rain fell in the dark courtyard where the gallows was set up, but no one complained about the dampness, the cold. Amber was gathered to one side, Green to the other, making a circle around the platform, with only one narrow pathway between them.
The clang of a barred door opening echoed, followed by heavy footsteps and a sniffle.
Scarlen watched Frieda being led to the gallows by two female guards. The inmate’s face was ashen, her eyes glossy, her chin tipped up as though not wanting to show the fear that had to be running through her.
Not all spectators were watching, heads dipped, eyes closed, but Scarlen took it all in, including Bear’s hardened expression opposite her.
Frieda was taken up some steps, her hands bound behind her back, the noose of a thick rope placed around her neck, then tightened. No cloth covered her face, no last words were offered, no family was allowed entrance for a final farewell.
The meal Scarlen had consumed swirled in her gut, and she could only imagine how the woman about to die was feeling.
She glanced at Bear, and everything hurt at the thought of him standing at the gallows one day.
That rope around his throat. Something made her shift forward, part of her wanting to stop the execution.
To stop them all. But Dionne subtly tugged her arm, pulling her back in line, and Bear looked over, deep lines in his brow.
Binnow stood at the steps of the gallows. ‘Another lesson for some of you to take with you when you leave Horstal Island. You must reform so this isn’t you in the future.’ She turned as the executioner made their way along the pathway, broad and strong, a black mask hiding their identity.
Scarlen swallowed hard, holding Dionne’s hand as Frieda was hanged by the neck until dead.
An eerie silence fell as the rain stopped its pitter patter and no one moved until the hanging body stopped moving. Someone on Amber side threw up, and someone else burst into tears, then Wynter fainted, and Binnow told everyone to go back to their blocks at once.
Scarlen and Dionne rushed to Wynter’s aid, as no guard offered assistance, and Amber was ushered away, Raven’s eyes on his fiancée at all times as Oxley gripped his arm, making sure he didn’t get into trouble by going over to Green.
‘Wake up, Wyn,’ said Dionne, tapping her face.
Wynter stirred, groaning, then tears met her eyes. ‘Rav,’ she muttered.
‘It’s all right,’ said Scarlen, knowing Wynter would see all of her family hang. ‘Let’s get you settled in bed.’ Wynter’s trembling went straight into Scarlen as she helped her to stand, Dionne on the other side.
They made it to their block and put Wynter straight to bed, Dionne tucking her in while Scarlen went to her own cell to bury her head in her pillow.
There wasn’t a lot of noise coming from outside, as most were inside their cells, dealing with the hanging their own way.
Scarlen had no idea there would be one today.
No one had said a word, and she wondered if they didn’t speak of such matters.
No doubt too much for them. It had been too much for her to bear, and she wished she were home so she could find a way to put an end to execution altogether, especially Bear’s.
The thought of him dying filled her with unexpected pain.
Part of her didn’t want to leave prison because she wouldn’t see him again.
What was happening to her? She shouldn’t have such feelings towards her enemy. But it wouldn’t go away. Like it or not, right or wrong, something strong stirred for him.
She remained in her cell, crying on and off into her pillow until the second headcount, where she had little choice but to stand in her doorway, eyes sore, heart numb.
Just as they were to be locked in for the night, Miss Goolan passed Scarlen’s cell, her attention more on the communal area than inmates.
‘Miss, would I be able to see Bear for a moment?’ Scarlen held out all the money she had saved, which Goolan greedily snatched.
‘I can give you ten minutes.’
Some of the cells were already locked as Scarlen was led to the corridor. Goolan handed her over into the capable hands of Mr Kane, giving him some of the money for his part, and Scarlen was thankful he didn’t ask for more.
‘This way,’ he told Scarlen, not even looking at her. ‘Make sure you keep the noise down.’
She nodded her agreement, still unsure what she was going to say to Bear, anyway. All she wanted was to see him, because seeing him made things easier for some reason, and she needed something to feel easy.
‘Wait there.’ Kane gestured at a shaded alcove along the corridor, the cold, chipped stone reminding her of the alleyway where she had been arrested with the bread yet to meet her hunger pangs. That time seemed so long ago now; so did life at the palace.
A waft of sweat floated her way from the male cells of Amber Block Two, along with hushed conversations fading out as more went to sleep early, not bothered by the low light of cell time.
It would be lights out soon, and Scarlen was risking more than Kane being out of her cell then, but all she could think about was Bear, so it was worth the punishment if anyone told on Kane or Goolan, which was unlikely, but still, trust and loyalty weren’t exactly easy to come by.
‘Five minutes,’ said Kane, startling Scarlen, as she hadn’t seen him appear.
Bear came into view and met her in the nook, a mixture of surprise and concern in his gaze.
‘Everything’s all right,’ she assured him straight away, stepping further into the shaded area, finding it hard to muster words while his body was so close to hers. ‘I wanted to let you know Wynter is okay.’
‘You could have asked to see Raven.’
Was he annoyed that she had got him out of bed?
‘Erm, I guess. I just thought to tell you.’ She didn’t know where to look or what to think.
Her stupid heart was fluttering all over the place, and a flush was climbing her neck.
Frustration at the need to see him, wanting to be so close, raged her emotions, boiling them over, and it was for the best to slip past him and head back to her cell, but his hand moved to her waist as though reading her mind, perhaps silently asking her to stay.
Bear glanced at Kane’s back. ‘You paid him for this?’
Scarlen nodded, forcing a smile, avoiding his lips, the desire to taste them strong. ‘Who needs another sweatshirt, anyway?’ She tried for a laugh but stopped when his other hand lightly brushed hers, money entering her palm.
‘You. You’re always cold.’
Looking at the money, all words left her, but not much else disappeared, as her heart was pounding far too loudly for such a quiet, enclosed space, and she was sure he could hear the hammering.
‘Thanks for letting me know, Scars.’
She cleared whatever was lodged in her throat, making swallowing difficult as the warmth from his breath licked her skin. ‘I …’ Nope, words failed to come together as he stepped closer into the shadow. Closer to her.
Bear lifted her chin, his silver eyes seeming extra bright in the darkness. His other hand still on her waist, his mouth inches from hers.
‘Three minutes,’ said Kane.
‘Did I say thanks, Scars?’
‘You did.’ She could barely breathe while locked in his gaze. What little air between them was charged more than a lightning rod, and anticipation was causing her emotions to skitter all over her body, reaching nerve endings and her soul. Her soul? Could he touch that?
‘It’s been a tough day.’
That was one word for seeing someone hang. ‘It has.’ She told herself not to cry as she met his gaze once more to find warmth and kindness. A show of gentleness. Everything she needed.
‘What do you need?’ he whispered, his thumb slowly stroking her top, the intensity in his gaze stealing her air.
You. She daren’t say the word, but he seemed to see right through her.
Bear dipped his head, his lips lightly brushing hers for a second before pressing his mouth down fully, and a small gasp gave a hint to the feelings he was suppressing, but she hid nothing, already lost in him.
Lost to everything as the warmth of his tongue slowly slid across hers, wordlessly whispering wants and needs.
‘Two minutes,’ said Kane, and Bear heated the kiss at once.
Lightheaded from dancing on the highest clouds, Scarlen raked her hand into his hair, pulling him closer, holding him tighter as his strangled groan vibrated through to her core, inviting her legs to wrap around his waist, her desire for his skin to be on hers.
Bear left her lips to trail kisses down her neck as he pressed her against the wall, one arm holding her up, the other cupping her cheek while his erection pushed into her pyjama bottoms, showing her his need.
‘One minute.’
Scarlen grabbed his face, forcing his mouth back upon hers, tasting his tongue once more while arching into him so he knew she wanted more too. The alcove wasn’t private enough, Kane’s countdown too fast, her head in a whirl. ‘Bear,’ she breathed, and he kissed her harder.
‘Time.’
But they ignored Kane, Scarlen reaching her hand low to stroke Bear’s thick length, releasing a promise from her and a fierce gasp of need from him.
‘Pay him more,’ she whispered close to his ear, her body alive, all sensations hitting her at once, taking control, all else non-existent.
But Bear gently lowered her to her feet, and the prison was visible once more. ‘Tempting, but you deserve better than this alcove.’ He ran his hand up the side of her thigh, exploring her shape with a heated gaze. ‘Family time,’ he whispered. ‘Then I’ll kiss every part of you.’
‘Including my soul?’
A small smile hit the side of his mouth. ‘Why not? You just tasted mine.’ He pulled her back for one more fiery kiss, his breathing hard, his body pressing, and Scarlen was glad he had the willpower to finally let go, because she certainly had none.
‘Let’s go,’ said Kane.
The last part of Scarlen to touch Bear was her fingertip slowly sliding from his as they parted, the daze of their kiss keeping her in a state of euphoria.
‘Sweet dreams, Scars,’ Bear’s voice echoed down the corridor, setting up home for the night in her heart, claiming her whole, and she couldn’t explain to herself why she needed his touch so badly.