The Partisan Chronicles [Dystopia | Supernatural | Mystery]

Rhian

A lot happened in a few days. We learned there was a species even older and more powerful than us Partisans. We found Vincent Delestade's old pal Gregory Keller, but then he died. We found the missing boy, Ivan, although Strauss said he was going to die. A bunch of old man decoys also died, and then we burnt down a house. Which apparently was fine on account of it was going to burn down soon anyhow.

Back in Oskari, Michael was busy at the Widow's Peak getting down and dirty with That Varis, and Strauss was handling the business of returning Ivan to his aunt Rose. I'd been feeling poorly, which might have been the fact I hadn't been sleeping all that well, or eating all that well, or doing my job all that well. 'Course, it might have also had something to do with the fact I'd spent half a day running around soaking wet thanks to Michael.

It was dusk by the time I woke up from my nap, and I was bored enough to go to church. Strauss was always so busy writing those sermons and it all seemed so bloody dire. It had to be exciting when it was all said and done, right? Wrong. About the only thing fun about church was how charming he was up there, commanding the room like a champion. It was nice, but it wasn't enough to keep me there for long.

West of the Widow's Peak, there was a pond. It was a stinky, grimy pond, but I liked sitting around skipping rocks. As far as I could tell, nobody lived in the house behind the pond. I'd have snooped inside, but it was smack next to the shack the village called a garrison. That night, Captain Lobodin was asleep on his desk, so I could've used the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity. But like I said, I felt terrible.

It was about an hour before I saw her—the lass straight out of my actual dream. I remembered the way she stood with a face like thunder, looking out the window with the butter-yellow drapes. She walked up to the pond, looking at me the same way, but there was something not right about her this time. Something missing from those big amber eyes. She smiled bright like she knew me.

"Hi, Rhian."

"Hello."

"I have a gift for you," she said. "It's your birthday soon, isn't it?"

"Right." I had no idea how she knew that. "You really shouldn't have."

The pretty lass smiled again, and if the whole affair weren't so bloody strange, I might have smiled back. The gift was a map it seemed she'd drawn herself. Squiggly line here, squiggly line there. Big arrows pointing one way or another. There weren't any words, as if she knew I couldn't read them. It was thoughtful of her.

"Ivan is going to die," she said. "But he doesn't have to."

The lass pointed where the "X" marked the spot. It was the house with the potato garden where it all started. The house where Ivan grew up and was now living with his aunt Rose. It wasn't long after that, I realized I was speaking to Ivan's aunt Rose. It wouldn't be much longer after that I'd realize Ivan probably didn't even have an aunt Rose.

I knew where I'd seen that non-look in her eyes before. She was one of Those Things.

"I could make him better, Rhian, and all I ask in return is that you come over for a visit. We could make it a girls night."

"Uh—"

"But wait—before you agree to anything, it's important you know your options."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The lass tap, tapped on the map. Another "X" marked the spot, leading us to a house on the outskirts of the village.

"You killed four already, but there are five. You'll find him here tonight, and he's a very bad man, Rhian. They all were." The Crazy Bitch wound her finger around her temple a few times. "That's why I had to neuter them. But here's where it gets interesting. You can only choose one. I'm not giving you enough time for both. Save Ivan, or kill the bad man holding all those nice people hostage. He has plans for them tonight. It won't be pretty."

I was about three-quarters the way sure I was screwed no matter what. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't turn on her. I couldn't kill Those Things. Only Strauss, and Michael, and Intrepi-what-the-bloody-ever could kill Those Things. I couldn't even do what I did best and run, on account of she slithered around behind me and started petting my head.

It was odd. I don't know what more to say about that.

"You have pretty hair," she said. "Have you ever wanted a sister?"

"Not even once."

"Why not? I'm told sisters share things. Like secrets and men. Yours is very handsome."

"Look, if you're going to kill me, just get on with it. I'm getting bored now."

"Kill you? Why would I want to do that?"

"I haven't the first clue what you want in life, lass."

"I don't want to kill you, Rhian. I like you. That's why I invited you over for girls night. Have you made your decision?"

Let me be clear about something: I had a strong suspicion the lass was full of shite about saving Ivan. Strauss said there was no cure for the Waste, and even if she could do something for him, I doubted it'd be without some kind of twist. There'd be regrets no matter what, and for all I knew, the captives were already dead. The bottom line: it was all just a game and I wasn't buying in. I knew where my morality stood and it was none of anyone's goddess-be-damned business—least of all the Crazy Bitch still petting my head.

"Aye, I have." I crumpled the map and tossed it in the pond. "Not playing."

"That's new," the Crazy Bitch said. "Nobody's ever chosen to do nothing before. I see why he likes you."

At the time, I thought she was referring to Strauss again. Turns out, she wasn't.

"Because of that, and because you're a nice girl, I'm going to give you a third option."

Coming from her, I supposed I was a nice girl.

"Besides, you have a baby to think about now. That changes everything, Rhian. I should know, I was a mother once."

I could hear her heart pounding just as well as I could hear my own. If it were a race, I'd have her beat by about a thousand per minute. The lass was completely crackers.

"Wait—you didn't know?" she asked. "And I thought you were the perceptive one."

I certainly did not know.

"Oh well." I felt her shrug. "For your third option, I'm going to give you a chance to leave all this behind. Go back to Palisade or go find something else to do somewhere else. I don't really care. Just leave me and my village alone and I'll leave your friends alone. Sound good?"

"Well, it's not the worst thing I've ever heard."

The lass kept on petting my head, all the while I was starting to feel dizzy. Truth, the attention felt nice apart from the fact it was a maniac on the other side. If what she said was true, and I wasn't even sure it was, I couldn't stay in Oskari. Especially with That Varis lurking over our shoulder.

So, we made a deal.

But don't worry—keeping a promise to a Crazy Bitch wasn't part of it.