Days later, Oswald's terrified face still hovers behind your eyes. Your hands are shaking, and any time anyone makes a sudden movement around you, you flinch. You try to keep it under control, but people notice.
"You seem on edge, honey," Miss Mooney says to you, her arm wrapped around your shoulder. "You wanna tell mama what's wrong?"
You shake your head and give her a smile that you hope convinces her. "I'm fine, Miss Mooney."
She clicks her tongue. "I'm good at picking stuff up. There's something goin' on." You reply with silence. "You were scared, weren't you? The other day with Oswald. You've never seen anything like that, have you?"
She hit the nail on the head. "No, I haven't…He's dead, isn't he?"
Fish sighed. "I'm not going to lie to you. Yes, he's dead. He betrayed me, so he had to be punished. Did you like him?" You shrug. You didn't, but you don't feel like saying it. "You didn't, but why are you so bothered by his death?"
"I've never known anyone that's been killed before."
"And you're nervous because you're a witness." You nod. "You're such a good girl." Good girl. That's what he said, too. You agree again. "You're a simple girl. You like safety." You still don't say anything. "Listen, I like you, so I'm going to do you a favor. I'll get you a nice job in a nice place. You like waitressing? Or is there something else you want to do?"
You look at Miss Mooney, not quite realizing the proposition that lay in front of you. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," she started, "you want to be safe, I'm giving you safety. You can wash your hands clean and be free. You'll never have to worry about seeing something like that again, and I'll protect you from anyone that might want to hurt you." She looks you in the eye, suddenly a little bit frightening instead of comforting. "All I ask is your silence, nothing else. Because you know what will happen if you talk."
Wide eyed, you nodded. "Thank you so much, Miss Mooney. I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, honey. Remember, you never worked here."
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