Chapter 6: Life In Bitterness
"Just wait here. I'll be out in a minute." Shay ordered them absently as she walked into the SMELTER building.
Trevin grumbled as he watched her hand the same white envelope Sylvan gave her to an elderly man. As his eyes focused on her face he became transfixed with the way her lips curved.
"I call dibs." Gage whispered to Trevin getting back his attention.
"What?" Trevin sighed annoyed.
"I called dibs; I get the girl."
Trevin turned his head and glared at him.
"You can't call dibs on a human being."
Gage chuckled.
"Oh really? Like you haven't before?"
Trevin opened his mouth to say something but shut it as Shay made her way back to them.
"Alright, I'll walk you guys home." She stuck her hands in her jacket pockets and shivered in the cold night air.
"There's no need for that. We are two grown men; we can take care of ourselves." Trevin snapped at her.
Shay shook her head.
"You are the son of the most hated man on this god forsaken planet. I can guarantee you that more than one person will recognize your face. Plus I have a feeling that this is the first time you have ever been in the city without the constant protection of your father's body guards."
When Trevin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists Shay laughed.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Shay slid her jacket off her shoulders and threw it on the rusted metal chair in the corner of the room. She ran her hand against the rough wall feeling for the light switch. The dirty light bulb sizzled as it came to life; illuminating her crammed living quarters. Shay sat on the edge of her bed and slowly began to slip off her boots. Just then three loud knocks startled her. She stood up and took a step towards her door.
"Who is it?" Shay yelled.
"It's Kirby!" The gruff voice echoed against the walls.
Shay sighed and ran her hand through her hair as she unlocked the door. As soon as the lock clicked Kirby walked into the room.
"Come on in." She muttered bitterly.
"How'd it go?" He asked eagerly; taking in his surroundings.
"As well as expected."
He nodded.
"Do me a favor and tell them there's a meeting tonight at ten…and to not be late."
"Do you really think we can trust them?" Her voice was tight.
Kirby scratched the back of his neck as he searched for the right words.
"Honestly…I don't know, but what I do know is that this is our only chance. If we don't do this now we will all be dead within the next year."
Shay nodded.
"I'm only going to bring this up once, and then I will never speak of it again…" Kirby paused as he held her gaze.
"When the time comes in two months you will go into Leader's headquarters and end his life. You won't make it out of there alive."
"We have been over this before Kirby. Why are you bringing it up again?" Shay rolled her eyes.
"Because assassinating Leader is not the only thing we will be doing that day."
"What are you talking about?" She frowned.
"We're going to steal the cure Shay. We are going to cure all Ruster's of the Red Disease."
Silence filled the room.
"By sacrificing yourself you will be saving thousands. I just…I thought I should tell you before we get too far into this."
Shay sat down on her bed and wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans.
"You think I'll back out." She said finally.
Kirby lowered his head confirming her suspicions.
"When I was fifteen I watched as they hauled my parent's bodies away. All I could think about was that I didn't get to tell them that I loved them one last time. I didn't get to say goodbye." Shay's eyes glossed over as she stared at the wall in front of her.
"In two months I will kill Leader as we agreed. The rest is in your hands."
Trevin pulled on his jeans that hung low at his hips and walked into the kitchen. He stopped immediately when he saw Shay sitting at the bar.
"Holy mother of-" He hollered as he clutched his chest.
"Gage let me in before he left." Shay said in a taunting tone.
Trevin sighed dramatically.
"Of course he did."
As she got to her feet she studied his chiseled chest discreetly. Taking a deep breath she forced herself to look away.
"So what exactly are you doing here?" Trevin crossed his arms over his chest.
"Kirby asked me to stop by. There's a meeting tonight at ten sharp. Try not to be late this time." Shay turned around and walked over to the door.
"Wait, where are you going?" Trevin asked as he grabbed her arm.
A jolt of tingles came over his hand as their skin touched.
"Wouldn't you like to know." She mumbled; eyeing him.
"Why don't we do something? I mean I'm just sitting here alone…doing nothing…by myself." Trevin shrugged.
Shay raised her eyebrows.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well I don't know. What do you do for fun?" He smiled, causing her heart to jump. She hated how her body reacted when she was around him.
She shook her head and gave him a lopsided grin.
"I don't think that you would like what I do for fun."
Trevin narrowed his eyes.
"Oh really? Try me."