Page 59 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

Thethreegoonsdon’tspeak as the van speeds through the streets. I have no idea where we are, and as I try to assess if there is an escape, the van takes a sharp left, making me topple over.

Thank God it wasn’t to my right. My right arm feels like it’s hanging off. The pain is so bad, but I can’t let them see weakness.

I look at their eyes through their masks. They don’t give anything away. They’re like those three monkeys; see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The thought makes me giggle, and as I do, they all look at each other.

Hmm, interesting. Maybe I can use my charms to get them to let me go.

“So, which one of you big men is the boss?”

Nothing.

“Oh, come on, one of you must be Billy Big Bollocks.”

Nothing, but it does get them to look at each other again, and one of the masks move. I think I just made one of them smile.

“Okay then, I’ll decide who is in charge.” I point my finger at the one on the left and start the childish rhyme, “Ip dip, dog shit, out goes smelly,” and the middle one rolls his eyes.

“Oh, sorry, you’re out.” I point to the one on the right. I can see the middle goon chuckling to himself. His shoulders are jiggling until the guy on the right deadeyes him.

I don’t get a chance to go any further. There is a change of road sound. The noise is so loud—it sounds like gravel—which can only mean one thing: we are near our destination.

I take another look around. Maybe I can find something to use as a weapon. There is no way I can take these three, especially with my broken arm, but I am not going down without a fight.

I feel the brakes go on, and we come to a stop. Someone in the front gets out and slams the door.

I wait for the back door to open. The goons continue to stare at me. The middle one has softer eyes than the other two, but they still don’t move or speak.

The silence in the van is deafening. I never understood that phrase until now. I just want one of them to speak, make a noise. Even if one of them farted, it would just stop this awful, scary silence.

My bag is between the legs of the one on the right, so there is no chance of getting that. Plus, there is nothing in there I could use other than my phone.

I can just hear South: “And this is why we had Chelsea spy on you. You are not safe out on your own.”I’m half inclined to agree with the voice in my head right now. I just wish he had told me about it. I wish I had the chance to tell him that what he did was wrong, but I understand why. This, right here, right now, is the reason why. I don’t feel as angry with him as I did. I just hope that one day North and West will forgive me for running off and getting myself killed.

And then there is Zed. My little heart pounds at the thought of him. Do they even know where I am?

I hear footsteps, but there is more than one set. I look at the goons who still don’t move.

The door to the van slides open, and I’m blinded by the sun. I can just about make out three huge bodies.

Oh crap.

Chapter 24

Zed

Theplanetouchesdown,and I still haven’t spoken to the crazy old hag. I can’t even look at her. I just can’t. Why did I not see it? What the hell is her endgame? Surely, she made us suffer enough as kids. I’m torn. I want answers, but I don’t want to know. I am happy with the story I have. I don’t need it getting fucked up with more lies or truths or whatever she wants to spill. I shake my head and look out of the window as the jet taxis to the hangar.

Mac stands with his hands in his pockets, waiting. As soon as we stop, I pop the door seal and engage the steps. They’re not even down fully before I’m on the tarmac.

“Where is she?”

He nods his head to the right, gesturing for me to follow. Mac speaks less than I do. Words are only necessary when actions don’t work.

North is quick on my heels, and I can only imagine that Kara has been told to keep an eye on the old hag. I don’t give a fuck right now.

I just want to know where East is. The hangar is full of vehicles. Mac approaches one of the vans.

He slides open the door, and I’m just about to jump in when I see her.

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