Page 244 of Shadowman
He brushes his sweaty hair away from his face. “We were wondering where you were…”
The other guy finally gives up aiming his gun out into the woods, turning it on me again. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Now that I’m up close, I recognize the voice. That, and his being with Hancock, I’m sure I know who this is…
“Yo, Jasper, how about you get that thing outta my face?” I hiss, shoving the barrel aside.
He lowers it stubbornly, removing his mask. “I’m serious, Kang. Why are you here?”
“Chill, man.” Hancock jabs him. “Maybe he was stuck out there. Give people the benefit of the doubt…”
“Right,” Jasper huffs, glaring at me. “He’s freshly showered and those are Velle’s.” He points at my shoes.
I mean,Velle’sshoes.
Sue me. I needed some clean sneakers.
“Okay, fine. You win, detective,” Hancock mutters, rolling his eyes.
“You’ve been in the mansion,” Jasper rumbles in obvious suspicion. The relief I was feeling when I first saw them is definitely drying up quickly.
“Listen, man, shit’s been crazy out there. I don’t have to tell you that.” I rub my eyes. “Just… where’s Velle? I need to see him and Joy.”
Jasper continues to glower at me. “Why?”
Resentment is boiling for this goddamn situation I don’t want to be in, and the distrust they’ve all been throwing at me, since even before the fall.
I push up to him, getting in his face. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“Myproblemis that we’re under attack while you’re over there, tucked in and cozy with the enemy!” he hisses. “Now you wanna stroll over here, demanding things??”
My jaw clenches with my fists.I’m gonna lay this dude out.
“Alright, enough,” Hancock sighs, getting between us. “We should move anyway. It’s not safe over here.”
Jasper is still mean-mugging me, looking at me likeI’mresponsible for what’s going on out here… Like he hasn’t known me for three fucking years.
This is some bullshit.
“Fine,” he eventually growls. “Follow me. And stay close…” He shoots Hancock a look before stomping off, pulling his walkie off of his holster and rumbling into it, “Heads up. We’ve got a visitor.”
“Home sweet home,” Hancock says on a tired breath, shining his flashlight into the darkness.
Keeping up with Jasper is difficult. Not because he’s moving too fast or anything, but because he’s familiar withtheupdated layout… And I’m fuckingreeling. The place is completely demolished. You’d have no idea this was once the East Wing. It’s nothing but rubble now, wide-open and exposed to the elements. There are remains of some ceiling, but it’s all cracked and smashed through, broken pipes hanging down with water leaking. Only dimmed red light—and their flashlights—illuminating what’s left of the halls.
“No power?” I ask, taking in the destruction while trying not to trip over the large heaps of concrete and rebar.
Hancock grunts in lieu of an actual answer. “The main power supply was damaged by the fall. The generators are technically working, but it’s not doing much…” He gives me a hand, helping me climb over a huge pile of debris. “No lights, or hot water…”
“Nothing like sleeping in a king-sized bed in a mansion stocked with food, huh?” Jasper sneers over his shoulder, oozing hostility. “Chef been making that roast pork stir fry, or what?”
“Fuck off,” I snarl.
He shakes his head, continuing to lead the way through corridors that run around solitary. I’m guessing because solitary doesn’t exist anymore…
It’s been days since the fall, but dust still hangs in the air. Now I understand the need for masks. Breathing this shit in has me coughing, attempting to cover my face with the collar of my shirt.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined Alabaster Pen being any shabbier, but this is next level. It’s a shell.
