Page 11 of The Merciless

“I’m afraid I have a bit of practice.”

“Ah,” the man said, a bit solemnly for her taste, “That’s not good. You must not let anything cut you off from this world.”

“And if this world isn’t good enough to be in?”

The man’s eyes widened, and he rubbed his beard in thought, “Well, that’s a big question for a young lady,” he said,

“I think my wife would have a good answer for it.” Ray saw him look at the photo again and took a closer look. There were two women in the picture, one slightly older with darker skin. One that mirrored her daughters. Their smiles were wide and happy. Were the exact same. Ray couldn’t help her own quirk of lips.

God, she missed her mom.

“She would’ve said something like how this world can’t really survive without good.” He continued and Ray looked at him with a small smile, “The balance thing you know.”

“And what would you say?”

The man hummed again, “I’ve been in this world for what forty years now– don’t look at me like that! I’m notthatold.” He said in mock offense, but Ray kept her brow arched, not believing him for a second.

The man sighed and amended, “Fine. Fifty years now.”

Ray laughed then, a small sound that ran with the wind. When she looked back up, she saw the man’s small eyes crinkled at the edges, and a small grin lifted his lips,

“And I would say, if you can still laugh despite everything,” he said in a gentle tone that settled deep within Ray’s heart, “Then the world’s doing a fine a job after all.”

Ray laughed again and was about to respond when he pulled into the familiar neighborhood and stopped before a house, she hadn’t been able to visit inyears.He must’ve seen the longing and despair in her eyes, because just as he parked the vehicle in front of the large building, he turned over his shoulder and shot her a knowing smile,

“Make room for the world thatunderstandsyou, Miss,” he said, and Ray turned to look back at him, unable to hide the sheen in her gaze as he

nodded his head and tipped an invisible hat, “The ones who don’t aren’t worth it.”

She grinned softly at that and returned his gesture before reaching into her bag to remove her wallet, “How much?” she asked, maintaining her fake pitch after all. She’d almost lost it before but had managed to disguise it as a lower tone. She removed the two bills when he clicked his tongue and crossed his arms,

“You can do better than that Miss,” he said, and Ray scoffed before looking up to find his eyes twinkling with mischief, “I did provide therapy as well.”

Ray shook her head but pulled out two more bills and handed them to him firmly, keeping her façade up as she removed the sunglass off her head and placed it in the bag, “Thank you, sir,” she teased and laughed as he dipped his chin.

“Your name?” she asked, and the man grinned as if no one had asked him the question before,

“Zahir miss.” He said and Ray nodded, “And yours?”

Ray subdued a grin as she opened the doors to the taxi and stepped out, “You’re better off not knowing my name Mr. Zahir.” She said faintly and closed the door. She didn’t see the man tip his head but did hear his faint laughter as he reversed the taxi and disappeared onto the street once again. Ray breathed out. Waited for two seconds.

Three. Four.

And started walking to her right. The building she actually had to go into was the one they’d passed already. She knew she was being paranoid, but couldn’t risk it. Not when everyone was assembledhere. Not when this wastheirsanctuary. She wasn’t going to put any of them at risk.

When she finally walked into the large building, her shoes barely hissed as she walked carefully on the marble floor. Her gaze strayed to the guard standing erect on one end, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She fought to keep the grin off her face when she saw the woman rush forward to stop her. Ray only hid a grin and said in a low voice without looking up,

“There’s an afterlife too you know, Ciera.”

The woman stilled, her hand stopping midair. Ciera Wilson, their guard foragesnow, was quick to school her expressions back to nonchalance but couldn’t hide the relieved gleam in her eyes.Good enough,Ray thought but didn’t stop to talk, just strode ahead with a hand in the air until she reached the elevator and stepped in.

Ray only let her smile drop when the doors shut and pressed the top floor button. She let out a breath and removed the lens holder from her bag before sliding the blue contacts out from her eyes and placing them in the container.

The building dinged just as she placed her sunglassesback on her eyes and watched the doors whoosh open. Ray breathed out, unable to conceal her excitement at the thought of being backhereagain. At the thought ofwinning.

Just like everything though, the thought was short-lived.

“…you ass–”

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