The Fortunates (Unfortunate #2) - Skyla Madi Page 0,15
Jim’s annex was number nine.
How convenient.
Inside, pillows were tossed from bunk bed to bunk bed, followed by exaggerated laughter and every swear word under the sun. The smell of sour, poorly cultivated wine hung in the air and burned at Kade’s nostrils. He couldn’t stand to be in this place another second. In one corner a large man tugged his small cock to Unfortunate films from the Black House and in another, a young man, no older than eighteen, polished a rifle. For the briefest moment, he was grateful he was born a Fortunate. The thought of existing in the shit hole he stood in made his blood run cold.
“I’m looking for James Buchanan.” Kade shouted, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Number seven-three-two-D-B-six.”
Heads turned to look at him, their beady eyes wide and frightened. How many Fortunates have come to the barracks seeking a moderator before? he thought. Judging by the looks on their faces, he assumed it wasn’t many and he guessed the outcome was never good.
Kade stood patiently, waiting for the asshole to show his face. Within seconds, he was able to put a face to a name. Jim raked his thin fingers through his mousey brown hair and nervously licked his thin pink lips as he stepped out from behind a bunk and into the center of the room wearing his worn, all black uniform.
Kade didn’t know what colour Jim’s natural complexion was, but he’d bet all seventeen of his mines it wasn’t pale white.
“I am James Buchanan, sir.”
Kade’s eyebrows pulled together. He wasn’t sure what he expected Jim to look like, but he definitely wasn’t expecting a man as young and as disappointing as him. Kade almost felt bad that he had to kill the guy, but he remembered that although Jim was small for him, he was still bigger than Nine. Kade had to remind himself as he looked at the uneasy moderator who stood in front him that he hurt Nine. He was a dangerous man. By killing him, Kade would be doing the world a favour.
Kade stepped to the side. “Let’s take a walk.”
∞
“You seem tense,” Kade wondered aloud, unable to take the smirk off his lips.
Moderators didn’t have the same restrictions the Unfortunates did. If they finished whatever their jobs required of them they were allowed to unwind with booze and food. To keep their spirits up, they were rewarded with an Unfortunate from the Black House twice a month.
“I can’t say a Fortunate such as yourself has ever brought me down to the lake for a beer before.” Jim replied, eyeing Kade suspiciously. “Forgive me if I’m a little…concerned.”
“And what would you have to be concerned about? Hm?” Kade asked, unscrewing the lid off his third beer, the golden bubbles racing up the neck of the clear glass.
He brought Jim to the lake to come clean and beg for forgiveness. He thought a relaxed setting would help him forgive like Nine did. At the moment, he didn’t plan on forgiving Jim, but as they passed by the Sario mansion, Kade felt a stir in his stomach. For Nine, he decided he’d try to be the man she wanted. So he grabbed a six pack of beer and brought Jim down to the lake. Kade’s favourite spot.
“I know you know what I did. Why else would we be here?”
Kade took note of the slight slur in his tone. He’d only had two and a half beers. If his gentle swaying was anything to go by, Kade assumed Jim was drinking before he arrived at Jim’s annex.
Jim glanced over his shoulder. “Are you going to kill me?”
Kade lifted the semi-warm beer to his lips.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said before swallowing a large mouthful.
A short spell of silence filled the air and it did nothing but escalate the tension and impatience Kade felt. He couldn’t let it go. To forgive such disrespect just wasn’t his style. Despite Nine’s voice in his head, he knew in his heart that forgiveness would not be given this night.
“Is this where you caught the Unfortunate?” Jim asked a small eternity later, turning back to the lake.
The moon shone on the surface, making it look more like hard glass than water.
Kade cleared his throat uncomfortably, but Jim didn’t notice. “Yes. This is where I caught her.”
He shifted anxiously. He didn’t want to talk about that night. He already spent most of his time trying to forget it.