Page 95 of Famine

“C’mon, just one little bedtime story—and a head scratch. You know, as a peace offering for me not stealing your virginity.”

“What makes you think I’m a virgin?” he says.

I gasp and sit up. “You’re not a virgin?” How scandalous!

Famine pushes me back down on his lap. “Fine, I will tell you a story—”

“Tell me about your first time,” I command.

“No.”

“Fine. First times are always messy anyway. Tell me about your second time.”

“Ana.”

I grin in the darkness. It was worth a shot.

“I’mkidding,” I say. “Tell me a story you enjoy—with a head scratch,” I add.

The Reaper stares down at me. “I don’t even know what a head scratch is.”

I take his hand and move it to my hair. “Here’s my head, now, you scratch. Really, Famine, it’s quite obvious.”

His fingers freeze in my hair. Then, ever so slowly, they comb through my dark locks, quickly catching on kinks.

“Ow,” I say.

That’s the trouble with curly hair.

Ignoring me, the Reaper begins to play with my hair a little. It’s definitely not a head scratch, but I’m distracted by it all the same.

“That story?” I prompt him.

“Impertinent girl,” he says softly, not looking away from my hair.“Would you like me to tell you the tale of Ma’at?”

“What’s Ma’at?” I ask.

“She’s the ancient Egyptian goddess of harmony and justice.”

“Ancient Egyptian?” I echo. I’ve heard of Egypt before, butancientEgypt … it sounds too far away in time and space to hold any value or meaning for me.

“Is she real?” I ask. If the four horsemen really exist, maybe other deities do too.

“The concept of her is real.”

“Hmph.” What a cop-out answer.

“Don’t give me that noise,” Famine says. “I was a concept just like Ma’at until I was given form.”

“So sheisreal,” I say.

“She, like me, is one of many human constructs. If God wanted her to represent divinity, He would’ve made her exist. It just so happens that me and my three brothers better fit His plan.”

His plan to kill us all.

“Your explanation hurts my head,” I say.

“You’re not really supposed to understand these things.”Because you’re a pathetic human.

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