Chapter 7

Gene and Iago

"Enjoy your sleep?" Iago grumbled to Grendel. He had to lie on the floor and his head was sore. Grendel, on the other hand, had lain on the couch.

"These kids aren't safe here." Grendel said. "Sooner or later one of Beowulf's men is going to come here. I don't want them getting caught in the crossfire."

Iago looked around. "Where are they now?"

"Scout's making some eggs and bacon. I think Jem's in the backyard." They heard some horses outside and a scream. "Get down on the floor! Now!" The two fell to the floor as two men on horses rode by the house. Another execution going on outside.

"I can't believe those kids have to live through this." Iago said.

"They've been through a lot." Grendel said. "But they're strong. Besides, it won't be long now."

They heard a scream come from the corner of the house. Jem. Scout ran in crying. "You have to help—its horrible—he's got Jem—"

Iago ran past Scout before she could finish. He turned to Grendel. "Get the girl out of here."

It wasn't long before he saw the man in the corner. His entire body was covered by armor. With one hand he held Jem. With the other he held a sword to his neck. Jem was crying. The man was breathing hard.

"Put the boy down." Iago said. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

"You won't kill me." The stranger said. "You don't have the nerve."

"I've killed everyone close to me." Iago responded. "What makes you think you'll get off any easier?"

The man dropped Jem to the floor. Jem ran out of the room. "Stay there!" Iago called back. "Don't come in here!" Iago pulled out his sword just as the man ran towards with his weapon. Iago ducked and swung his sword. It hit the man in the base of the neck. The helmet fell off, revealing the face of a boy. Older than Jem and Scout maybe, but a boy nonetheless. The boy's face had a mixture of fear and anger on it. And jealousy. Iago could smell it on the boy.

Iago recognized that look. He had seen it long ago.

The boy saw Iago's eyes widen with surprise. "What is it?" He asked. "What do you see?"

"I see…I see a reflection."

Noticing that Iago was distracted, Gene swung his sword at the bottom of Iago's legs. Iago let out a cry and fell to the ground.

Panting hard, Gene got up and wiped the sweat from his brow. He appeared almost hesitant at what he was about to do. "God, I've screwed up. Finny would know what to do. Finny—"

The wall behind Gene shattered in bits of plaster and dust. Gene screamed. Grendel grabbed Gene's arm and twisted it backwards. The sword clattered to the floor.

"Wait!" Iago cried. "He's just a boy!" Then, to Gene: "Just surrender!"

Neither of them seemed to listen. Grendel seemed to have regressed to his animal state and was beyond reaching. And Gene was just too stubborn to give up. He was crawling on the floor, trying to reach his weapon. He grabbed and held it up to Grendel.

Grendel swatted away the sword as casually as a man would to do a mosquito. Gene's arm went with it. All that remained was a stump. Gene screamed.

"What's going on?" Scout called from the other room.

"Just stay inside!" Iago said.

Gene writhed on the floor like a fish out of water. His arm, sword and all, lay a couple of feet away. He appeared to be in shock.

"What's going on?" He said. "I can't see. Where are you? I'm sorry, Finny. I'm sorry."

"Just finish it." Iago said, turning away.

Grendel did.

Just then, at the worst possible moment, Scout and Jem came in.

"Teddy?" She asked. The room was a nightmare. Grendel and Iago stood there streaked with gore. Gene lay on the floor dead.

Seeing the girl seemed to jolt Grendel back into normalcy. "Scout? Scout, I—"

Scout began to cry.