Page 80 of When Monsters Rise
Needlesof ice pricked at my scalp.
Hadhe known?
Chapter35
BASTIAN
Rue’ssobs filter through the thick wooden door, and it takes every ounce of my willpower not to hammer on it and ask her to let me in.Butshe needs this moment alone, andIhave to respect that, no matter how impotent it makes me feel.
Beejoins me at the door. “She’sgonna be okay.Wejust need to give her time and support.”
“Iknow,Ijust…Iwas banking onShembeing here to pick up the pieces whenI’mgone, and now…Fuck.Ican’t do this to her again.”
Beesqueezes my arm. “Rue’sstrong, and there’s time to save you.Iknow we can.”
Iwant to believe that, but my gut tells me different.Mybody is shot, andI’mhanging on by a thread, but now withShemgoneIneed to fight harder.Iwon’t leave her yet.Ican’t.Sheneeds me.
“Weshould go back into the main room.Giveher some space,”Beesays. “Rightnow, these people need a leader, and withShemgone, they’ll be looking toRueand the watchers.Theydon’t knowGabrielorErelim.”Hermouth lifted in half a smile. “EventhoughGabrielis doing his best to organize everyone right now.”
“WhataboutTumieland the others?”
“They’ve, uh…they’ve retreated.”
“They’regrieving too.Theyjust lost their leader.”
“Weshould help.”Shelooks back at the door, clearly as torn asIam.Imean, she came here for the same reason as me—to check onRue.Allwe are doing is trying to talk ourselves out of taking the action that we want to take.
Rue’ssobs have died down, andIimagine her in the room alone, bereft and heartbroken. “Fuckit.Ifshe wants us gone, she’ll tell us to fuck off.”
Beelifts her chin. “Doit.”
Iknock. “Rue?Rue, it’sBastian.”
“AndBee.”
Silencegreets us.
Irest my forehead to the wood. “Rue, we just…Wewant to be with you through this.”
“Pleaseopen the door,”Beeadds.
Asoft click, and the door swings open to revealRue, red-eyed and puffy-faced.Hermouth trembles, and her eyes well up.
BeeandIcross the threshold, and she steps into our arms.
* * *
GABRIEL
Rue’spain, acute and sharp, cuts into me over and over.Theshield thatI’veput up between us feels flimsy.I’llneed to work on strengthening it, otherwiseI’llbe encroaching on her privacy.
Thebond created between us through the choosing is stronger than expected.Probablybecause a piece ofShem’ssoul lives inside of her, the part that is most connected to theMorningstar.Whateverit is,Ifeel her, and if not for the shield thatI’veerected, she’d feel me too.
Thechurch has several rooms, and the humanMirais attempting to organize everyone, but arguments have broken out over who should take which spot because this is meant to be their permanent home now, and as far as they’re aware, all hope of saving this world died withShem.
Themood is low.Angerand despondency taint the air.Thesepeople are exhausted, both physically and mentally, and if someone doesn’t step intoShem’sshoes, then this small community will fall apart.
ButShem’swatchers have retreated onto the upper floor, andBaraqeland his scouts are nowhere to be seen.I’mcertain thatShem’stroop knows ofRue’sability, butIdoubt that the rest of the watchers do.Theyprobably think that hope is dead.
