Page 90 of Suncatcher

Driz’s arms resisted, but she knew she needed to let Pearl go so they could help her. So they could heal her.

Pearl grabbed Driz’s hand as she slipped away. But Oak hauled her back, breaking their fragile hold. The sheriff dropped her gun so she could support Pearl with both arms, but clicks sounded as at least five more were trained on Driz from three porches.

“What’ve you done to her?” Oak asked, and the words bit at Driz’s flesh. “Fucking vulture.”

“Please help her,” Driz said, curling her twitching wings to make herself smaller. “I did not know what to do. I do not know what is wrong.” Shame and fear burned through her, her arms cold and empty. Pearl had to be alright.

Pearl struggled in her mother’s hold, almost managing to stand as she pushed away. “Get off me,” she said, her voice and movements weak.

“Hush,” Oak said, half-carrying her toward the door. “Let’s get you inside.”

Pearl looked at Driz, her flushed face frantic. “Don’t leave.”

“I will not.” Driz started to follow, but two new firearms pressed her back. Driz considered ignoring them and following anyway, but then what? They needed to focus on Pearl.

“Oh, she’s leaving,” Oak said, pausing at the door to draw her second revolver.

Pearl glared at her mother. “Stop it. I mean it.”

But Oak didn’t stop, so Pearl slammed herself into her, awkwardly wrestling the gun from her hand. Lurching into the support of the porch, Pearl swung it at one of the men aiming at Driz.

“Drop it, Steve.” Pearl trembled, but the weapon was surprisingly steady.

“Calm down, Pea,” Oak said, her voice soothing in the tense silence that was broken by Pearl’s rattling, horrifying cough that scraped along Driz’s insides and carved her hollow.

“If anyone hurts a hair on her, you’ll have me to deal with,” Pearl panted, barely clinging to the post, her face shining with sweat. “You hear me?”

“We hear. Give me the gun,” Oak said, slowly reaching up and gripping the barrel.

Pearl stared at her mother, and finally released the weapon.

Driz watched Pearl until she disappeared behind the closing door, footsteps climbing up to the second floor where Pearl’s room was. Muffled voices murmured as the healing man entered.

“What’d you do, vulture?” the man name Steve asked her.

Driz ignored him, eyes on the building, and after a while, she sensed him leave.

The street grew quiet. Many eyes watched her, but she didn’t meet any of them. She remained standing there, face upturned toward where Pearl was just beyond her vision.

The curtains in the upper window twitched, but no one appeared.

The other humans didn’t seem to know what to do with Driz, so they also eventually left.

When the farthest part of the sky started to brighten, uneven feet returned down the stairs. After a long pause, the door creaked open.

“How is she?” Driz asked at once.

Oak’s tired, hard face watched her. “Dawn’s coming. You’ll put Pearl in danger if you stay.”

Driz looked down. “I will leave.” She swallowed. “But I will be back tonight. Please tell Pearl—”

“No.”

Driz met Oak’s eyes. “I will be back tonight.”

Pearl angrily elbowed her way to the surface of her hazy sleep.

She was lying in her bed, her sheets damp and a blessedly cool cloth on her forehead. When she started to sit up, a hand pressed her back down. “Easy, Pea.”