them. “The way I came isn’t feasible at this time.”
“But you came here. From out there.” The girl was agitated, pointing off into some random direction.
“I did, but I can’t leave quite yet. There’s something I must do.”
“Liar! You can’t because you’re stuck, too!” she cried, tears welling in her eyes.
“Oh fuck. Don’t cry.” Casey had never been one to shed tears, but the few times she had when they were little just about killed him.
“It’s not fair. I don’t want to be here anymore,” the girl screamed. “I hate it.”
There was nothing he could say to make it better. And he wouldn’t lie. So he sat there like a big dumb fuck, feeling like he’d failed yet another sister.
Lila approached the girl, expression grim. “That’s enough, Miriam. Leave our guest alone.”
“Guest?” The girl rose from her seat at his table, but her expression remained ravaged. “Say it like it is. He’s a prisoner, too. We’re all prisoners, and we’re going to die here. Just like my mother and father.” Miriam whirled to point. “And your parents. And yours. We might as well kill ourselves now. There is no hope!”
“That’s enough!” Lila tugged at Miriam, who danced out of reach.
“Why not tell us the truth? We’re not babies anymore.”
Kayda stood, and Miriam went silent. Cam waited for Kayda to speak. Miriam tried to stare her down but failed. Her shoulders rounded. Sobs broke free.
He wanted to hug her. Wanted to promise her he’d find a way out of this prison. He remained sitting as Lila marched her out.
A silence hung in the room until they were gone, and then it exhaled in a wave of sound. A glance showed Kayda had resumed sitting. She didn’t look at him, yet her companion did. He inclined his head in an apologetic manner.
Not his fault. Miriam had only stated what he’d wager the majority of those wide-eyed kids also thought. They were so young. All so fucking young. And they knew they wouldn’t live to old age. Their parents hadn’t. Siblings, friends. All gone. Most of them probably didn’t even remember life before the Necropolis.
Other than Cam, the oldest person in the room was probably Kayda, who he figured was a few younger than him, followed by Gorri.
Most of them were probably waiting for the day they went hunting or gathering food and didn’t return just like the older generation. The girl was right. How long before the citizens of Diamond were no more?
There had to be a way to help them, even if he’d told Kayda he wouldn’t. Not directly at any rate, but if he succeeded in finding a way to halt the spread of the ash and the tainted air maybe they would stand a chance.
Never mind it wouldn’t solve the dragon problem. One step at a time.
First, he had to reach the source of the poison and stop it. Just a volcano, a fierce force of nature, and him without his sister who loved explosives. She would have had some kind of missile launcher she’d borrowed from somewhere or a vial of something that shouldn’t be shaken unless he wanted things to go kaboom.
More than ever, he wished he’d not lost Burton or his pack. His little pistol wouldn’t do him much good against molten rock. Then again, if he’d set out on foot, he might have never found Kayda and the Necropolis. Never realized the hopelessness.
Lila returned without Miriam and strode directly to his table. As the children dared to watch, she snapped, “Eat your dinner and take your posts if you’re scheduled. Nothing to see.” When more than one child continued to gaze and whisper, she eyed the nearest one and said, “Isn’t it your turn to sluice the latrine?”
Nothing like the threat of having to rinse piss and shit to get people obeying. The heavy gazing eased, and Cam’s shoulders lowered then immediately stiffened as Lila sat down.
“Why do you look like Gorri when I beat his ass at Slapmate?” she asked.
“Slapmate?”
“It’s when you each have a hand here.” She held it in front of his face. “Then quickly be the first to slap.”
He snared her wrist before it connected. “I take it the game has started.”
Lila grinned. “Foul. Minus one point.”
“No catching allowed?” He arched a brow. “What earns points?”
“Full cracking cheek slaps are a three for the slapper. Light skimming of skin is a two. You may duck for a point. If you defend and our hands slap, five points for you. A win