Page 39 of Bones
I wasn’t sure, but I nodded anyway. He grinned and Marigold started out, Violet following along behind. Fluffy clouds filled the sky and the breeze was pleasantly chilly, carrying the sharp scent of pine trees with it. Birds sang in the trees and chickens clucked on the ground. Drops of dew coated the grass and made the ground sparkle in the sunlight. We took a left toward the main gate, and hope fluttered in my stomach for a moment. Were we going outside the hold?
“This is the main gate,” Trey said, stopping in front of it. “There’s only two. This one and a smaller one on the other side of the Vault.”
A dozen armed guards watched us. Trey waved, greeted a few by name, and quickly got pulled into a conversation. My hope of going outside the wall died. I stayed quiet, eying the massive gate made from a giant sheet of dull grey metal like the walls. One person wouldn't be able to open that thing. There had to be some sort of pulley system or something. I wanted to look closer, but a few of the guards noted me studying the gate so I quickly glanced away toward the middle of the hold where the horrible watchtower loomed.
The watchtower was an enormous structure, looming over the entire hold from a small hill. It was made of concrete, and while weathered, it showed no signs of disrepair like some of the other buildings. I wondered what this place had been. The watchtower, the wall, and some of the other bigger buildings had clearly been built in the Before.
“What’s a pretty girl like you doin’ in a place like this?”
I startled and Violet startled with me, sidestepping. One of the guards had approached.
“Whoa, sorry.” The man raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, chuckling.
He looked to be in his thirties, and while his expression was pleasant enough, his energy made me nervous. Something about his thin face reminded me of a weasel.
“Bones, right?” he finally asked when I didn’t say anything. “I’m Lem.”
I gave him a short nod, hoping that would satisfy him. He grinned, stepping forward and grabbing Violet’s reins in a move that made me tense.
"How are you doin' this morning?" He rested his free hand on my knee.
I wanted him away from me, but I forced myself to unclench my jaw and speak as civilly as I could manage. “Fine.”
“You ever want a fun night, you should join us at Hydro.”
“No.”
“I haven’t even told you what it is yet!” he still spoke lightly, but his eyes darkened.
I pulled the reins to the side, hoping he would release Violet, but he didn’t.
“I’m not interested,” I said a little louder.
“I bet we could change your mind if?—”
He cut off as Trey rode Marigold almost directly into him, forcing him to let go of Violet and jump backward, cursing.
“Oh sorry, Lem,” Trey called out, but his expression was dark. “Didn’t see you there.”
Lem glared at him, straightening his jacket. “Watch where you’re fuckin’ goin’, Trey.”
“You meet Bones? You hear she officially belongs to Mac’s crew?” Trey leaned forward on the saddle horn, and I couldn’t see his face, but something like fear flashed through Lem’s eyes as he glanced between me and Trey. “She’s one of ours now, and we’re keepin’ a real close eye on her.”
That sounded like a threat, but as Lem glowered and took a step back, I guessed it wasn’t for me.
Trey reached out and tugged on Violet’s reins. “Have a good one, Lem.” He didn’t let go of Violet, keeping her close beside Marigold as we moved away.
I didn’t look back, but I could feel Lem’s eyes on me and it made my skin crawl. I rubbed my knee, trying to erase the sensation of Lem’s hand touching me.
“Sorry ’bout that.”
I glanced up at him to see that muscle ticking in his jaw as he scanned me.
“Lem’s a creep, but he shouldn’t bother you again.”
“Is everybody scared of Mac?” I asked before I could think better of it.
“Mac’s given people a good reason to fear him if they cross him,” Trey replied.
