Page 101 of Fallen Thorns
“I’m sure there are humans out there whoareaware of our existence as it would be dumb to believe otherwise,” they straightened their back, “but imagine what would happen if they released that information. Imagine the chaos that would ensue. The mass panic. It would be like the witch trials all over again, but with the internet and science and powerful, ignorant men with big red buttons. We’ve gotta fight for ourselves a bit.”
“Now, you’ve got a point there,” Rani jabbed her finger in Mars’ direction. “Conspiracy theories are terrifying as it is.”
“I don’t particularly want to become a science experiment. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but that’s why The Thorns exist, and its why I guarantee you there will be internal organisations across the globe doing the same thing. The right thing. Keeping humanity safe without making a big deal about it.”
The tone of the room shifted.
“Carmen thinks it’s going to happen again, you know. She thinks one of you will turn and go behind Marianne’s back — behindallyour backs — and do something much worse than Isiah.”
I looked at Rani,Arlo’s friend,and said plainly, “she thinks it’s me.”
“Don’t say that, Arlo,” they both said in sync.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Rani’s arms dropped to her side and sat up straight, glancing to Mars for reassurance; they didn’t oblige.
“She wants us to find this Lucy person, and whoever else is behind the murders. And then, obviously, that will lead us to whatever is after Arlo. It’s those people we need to worry about, I believe.” It was an attempt to shift the topic away from the elephant in the room, backtracking as best she could.
“You believe the two are connected, too?” Mars piped up, ears pricking.
“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? You’re all part of a pack, she’s part of a pack. Good and evil, if it were."
“It’s not that clear cut though, is it?” I suggested.
Rani’s head snapped towards me, Mars instead taking their time to slowly look up, but both of their faces read the same.
“What?” I asked.Was that out of character?
“Good and evil. Yes, it is clear cut. We protect people; she, or whoever is in charge,doesn’t.I don’t see how that’s hard to understand.”
Come on Arlo. Fix it.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I just wish itwasthat simple, and that we could be the heroes in this, but it feels like we’re always walking towards a dead end. She’s strong, a difficult match for even Marianne. So, even if we do find her and we are able to prove she is behind everything, what sort of opponents will we be? What is her motive? How big is her army? Will our training be enough?”
I’m sitting in a dark room. No lights, I can’t see my own hands. Do I have hands?
Enough.
My mind slams shut.
“We’ll have to be ready.” Mars stepped over to the window and pressed their palms to the sill, staring out in deep thought. “We have no choice.”
“You really think there’s going to be abattle?”Rani’s voice trembled.
“Maybe. It’s not as if it hasn’t happened before. Marianne has fought many battles over her lifetime, and she is yet to lose. I don’t see what makes this time any different.” They looked to me. “You saw what she did to Jade. She’spowerful— frighteningly so. I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her.”
My mind wandered back to her threat to me after what I did to Rani.Poor Rani.
“We’ll win, you’ll win. And then everything can go back to the way it should be.” Rani clapped her hands together and half smiled.
I admire your optimism, human.
“And Arlo will help us succeed.” Mars nodded in my direction —is that pride I sense?
“And me and Carmen will shake our pom poms from the sidelines.” Sourness laced Rani’s voice.
Mars’ eyes turned to her with pity. “You do understand itisno place for humans, right? The Thorns won’t harm you, but it is in our nature to hunt. The sheer resistance it takes tonotattack humans is a lot harder than it seems. In a violent setting, everything will be out of our control. It’s hunt or be hunted.”
