Page 116 of Remnants: Disruption
“Do you stalk all of your new recruits?” I ask, watching the final light ding at the street level.
Mary strides past me, the non-answer fairly damning all considered.
You’re not special.
I knew that, but goddamn does it hurt to realize.
The ride in the private car is nice and awkward. Mary, now with witnesses, no longer deigns to give me the slightest amount of consideration. Instead, she reads something on her tablet that she procured from God knows where.
Eventually, though, we pull up to what I expect is one of the last Catholic churches in Nye Verden.
“Jesus Christ,” I whisper, staring up at the sculpted chapel as we walk up the stairs.
Some old bitty scoffs at me as we walk by and I almost flip her a middle finger before remembering that I shouldnotcause problems at a funeral.
Especially not this one.
I follow Mary up a flight of stairs, and we move along the rows until we find a spot that overlooks the auditorium.
My mind runs into an icy wall when I see the open casket.
“Oh,” I huff out, feeling my legs thrum with pins and needles.
A hand gently prods at my lower back until feeling returns to my lower half. I glance over and see Mary giving me an indiscernible look before she retracts her hand.
Percy looks peaceful. And, from this far away, I can imagine she’s just sleeping. Ready to get up and fight another day.
“Do you want to say anything?” Mary asks and I nod wordlessly.
I follow her back down the other side of the staircase and we step into line behind what has to be a hundred other funeral attendees. Either Percy had a big ass family or she was beloved.
Probably both.
My attention finally leaves the casket and searches the faces for anyone recognizable. It would take someone exceptionally powerful or diligent to notice our disguises, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
“Fucking cretins,” I hiss and Mary stiffens beside me.
Bellick and McRoberts stand nearby another section of what I imagine are NCPD employees.
“Who?” Mary asks and I nod at the two bozos.
“Corrupt cops,” I say, trying my best not to seethe.
“Noted,” Mary says before turning back to the shortening line.
I continue to search the crowd but don’t see anyone out of place. But there’s a suave-looking man standing beside Percy’s parents.
We’d never been introduced, but I’d seen them in a few photos over the years.
Anthony. He looks devastated, and I wish I could say something. Anything.
But then it’s our turn.
Mary steps past quickly enough, but I freeze at the foot of the coffin. She looks a lot more dead here. A lot less happy.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, staring at the dark hair and hooded eyes. “I’m sorry for not telling you. But I need you to know it was for your safety. I just fucked up in the end. I need you to know that I never wanted you to be afraid. I know you’re in a better place now, though. A place that doesn’t have all of this shit going on.”
The casket blurs a little before I feel a hand tug at my waist.
