Chapter 10 - Heather’s POV
Great. I’m stuck next to my bleeding out murderer while we drive him to the hospital. And yes, I am ticked off. Why are we helping him? He killed me! I think about complaining, but I decide not to because it won’t matter. Sadie is definitely set on her opinion. She’s arguing with Silas about it, even. There’s no hope for convincing her that Derik is evil. I purposely avoid looking at him.
“So,” he says loudly. “This is awkward. Wasn’t I supposed to tell a story?”
“What happened to your pinky?” Sadie asks
“Oh. My stepmom broke it because I didn’t want to kill people.” Silas snorted.
“Seems legit.”
“She’s broken it five times before today.” I wonder if he’s telling the truth. I look at him. His eyes are honest, but that doesn’t really mean anything. Maybe he’s just good at hiding. Still… there’s something about the way he said it that makes me believe him. It almost felt like he thought like it was normal for parents to break fingers. Like it was nothing special.
“What else did your stepmom do?” I asked, quietly.
“Oh, nothing much. It was more of my dad.”
“What do your dad do?” Silence for a long minute. A very long minute. I got the feeling he didn’t want to talk. “Never mind.”
“No, no it’s fine. He just beat me.”
“Why are we whispering?”
“I really don’t know.”
“Silas can’t see or hear me. I don’t want to make Sadie feel weird.”
“Well, I shouldn’t be caught talking to invisible people. It’ll make me look bad.” I smiled despite myself.
“You know, if you weren’t a murderer, maybe we could have been friends.”
“Maybe. Or maybe you’d just ignore me and go on living your life, the way you were supposed to.”
“Or maybe we’d be friends.”
“But we’re not. And we can’t be.” His face seems to get darker.
“So. Why are you helping us?”
“I quit Shadow Clan.”
“So why help us when you could just be living a nice, average life on the run?”
“I’m assuming that was sarcasm. Honestly, I don’t know. I guess it’s nice to help people for a change.”
“Why did you kill? It doesn’t seem like you want to.”
“I don’t. I was forced to.”
“Forced how?”
“Well, it was kill or be killed, but, that’s not really it either.”
“So then what is it?”
“You’re gonna think I’m crazy.”
“Try me.”
“I’m serious.”
“I think Mrs. Yancy - you know her, right? Creepy ass math teacher who tried to kill Sadie?”
“How do you know about that?”
“I have sources. Anyway, I think she can control people. Kids. Kids within TSC.”
“Jesus.” My whisper drops even lower. He lowers his head.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m still a killer.” He stares straight ahead and doesn’t say another word.