Page 20 of The Souls Harvest
“What about the other people in the Turret? Surely something like that wouldn’t stay a secret for long,” Galen asks, as though my mention of a terrifying scream was just a garnish to my story. But, if I know him well, he’s probably making a mental list of all the possible reasons behind that scream.
I shake my head. “It was early morning, and nobody was there except us. Besides, Lucretia is not the type of girl who finds it amusing to share scary videos. As she would say, ‘uncoolnessis not my vibe’.” The vegetables on my plate have gone cold, but I take a few bites.
“So? What did they say?” Galen presses me. At least one of us has enjoyed his food. His plate is empty, and he’s taking the libertyof nibbling at my potatoes.
I move my chair so that I can face the window, and nobody else in the room but Galen can see my face or read my lips, “Not much, but one of Lue’s friends asked who sent her the video and snatched the phone to stare at the silent screen. I think that girl saw that video before.”
“And?” he asks, attacking my last burnt-fried potato with his fork.
My mouth is dry as if I’ve been talking for hours.
I take a sip of water. “Well, Lucretia refused to reveal her source but said something even more unsettling… She asked her friend if that is what rec...recycling squadsare trained for,” I let my words glide and sink.
I’m sure Galen is about to hurry me to pay and leave before Roden pops out of nowhere, raids the restaurant, and takes us away handcuffed because I said the forbidden words.
I give him a minute.
Fine. Maybe two minutes... and a half? Not a word. I’m sure he hasn’t blinked, either. Instead, he’s staring at me, holding up that last burnt potato stabbed on his fork.
“Hey, did you hear—?” I try my best to sound relaxed, waving a hand in his face.
“Is this why you want to go back out there so soon?” He surprises me. I was ready for him to freak out. Again.
“Among other reasons, yes…” I admit.
“Is there more?” He puts the fork down and waves away thewaiter who’s coming back to take our empty plates. Very odd, coming from the most polite person I’ve ever met.
“I just,” searching for the right words, I hear my stomach gurgling. I wasn’t ready for this. “I asked Popplewish to send me out again before all this happened. I wanted to experience something different, to come back with more than a bitter taste for a lost life. You always seem to hold special memories of your Nistarei, and I haven’t had that in—well, never had that really…Never wanted it.”
He nods and mumbles something, toying with the bread crumbs on the tablecloth as if he could find the answer there, and rolling between two fingers a slim silver chain at his neck I’ve never seen before, half hidden under his jumper. But when he looks back at me, he frowns, “Sof, you okay? Your forehead is sweaty.”
I touch my head, and my fingertips come back shiny with sweat. “I skipped lunch, maybe that’s all. Wine on an empty stomach is never a great combination.” I try a smile, but my stomach lurches, and I press both hands on my belly to muffle the awkward sound.
Galen stands up so quickly that his chair balances on its back legs before tumbling to the floor. “We’d better go…”
My eyes must be watery because Galen’s face wobbles like seaweed in choppy waters. I tried to articulate some words:it’s all fine, I’m fine, no need to go… But they stay in my head, and I hear him calling the waiter over with our bill.
As he drops some cash on the table and helps me to my feet, he whispers close to my ear, “Can you stand?”
My shaky knees answer for me.
“Unfortunately, my friend is not feeling well still… That should cover for your tip as well,” Galen explains calmly, but I can’t ignore the nervous edge in his voice.
“Galen…” I can barely hear my voice.
He shushes me while wrapping an arm around my waist, flipping my right arm over his shoulder. “Just breathe. In and out.”
We’re not far from the entrance, but it feels like an endless path to me. A bell rings in the back of my mind, and a door slams shut.
“Sorry…” It’s the last thing I manage to say before collapsing on the street outside the restaurant.
What comes after is all a smelly blur, a burning throat and sharp pieces of tarmac pressing against the palms of my hands and knees. Galen is talking, crouched next to me, and I try to follow the sound of his voice as he gently lifts me, rubbing my back.
“Sof, listen to me…” I don’t like the hurry in his voice. I’m only drunk, not in danger. “July? Keep your eyes open.”
Is it my mind playing with my senses, or is he trying to move us away from this place as if wolves are chasing us?
I roll my tongue inside my mouth, and the taste makes me retch. “I think... I’m going to…” I try to push him away, at least to save his nice outfit. Still, Galen doesn’t let go and holds me tight while dragging me to the other side of the road, towards the wood dividing the urbanised side of the island from the seashore and creating a natural border between the villages of Evemerys and Anagessys.
