Page 112 of A Silence So Divine

Fingers brush my wrist, and I turn to see Creed inclining his head toward the truck. He’s giving me an escape, but my feet are rooted to the ground.

“Are you nuts? You know what she’s capable of.”

“No, actually, I don’t. And I don’t think she does, either.”

Suddenly, her attention is on me, and I wonder if it’s too late to flee.

“It’s up to you, Eden. We can continue to pretend like you’re capable of protecting yourself, or we can find out once and for all.”

I’m at odds. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but if people die and I could have protected them, is that any better?

What would my mother have done?

Cecil steps around her, approaching me. His hands lift like he might touch me, but one glance from Creed has his arm dropping back down to his side.

“No one expects this of you.” His voice is low, patient. “She doesn’t understand.”

Sylvie scoffs from behind him, hand on a cocked hip. Cecil watches me, as does Creed, but I pay them no mind. I stare at Sylvie until her eyes make their way over to mine, and she raises a brow at me. It’s a challenge.

“I’ll do it.”

Sylvie’s face stretches into maybe the first real smile I’ve seen from her. Meanwhile, Creed grimaces and Cecil’s nostrils flare.

“You’re sure?” He asks, eyes searching mine.

“I have to try,” I insist, motioning toward all of those training around us. “Everyone else is.”

His eyes soften. With a nod, he mutters an “alright”, then rolls his neck on his shoulders. Taking a breath, his posture stiffens until he looks every bit the emotionless man I first met.

“At least we all know sign language, because she’s about to burst every ear drum out here,” he announces. A gleeful giggle escapes Sylvie, and my insides turn to mush.

Forty Six

Eden

In a matter of minutes, the camp is vacant, save for Creed, Cecil, Sylvie, myself, and a pair of young guys that I don’t recognize. Everyone had been warned of the risks, but the duo chose to hang back and watch. Their reasoning? “If we’re going to fight with her, why should we fear her?”

It’s heartwarming, kind of, but it also spits gasoline onto the open flame of my nerves. Everyone else all but ran to their camps, going so far as to close their curtains. Like that would somehow shield them from the sound of my voice. In any other circumstance, I might laugh. Sylvie certainly did.

"What’s the plan?”

The question comes from Creed. Taking in his pursed lips and knit brow, I have to avert my gaze. The only person’s apprehension I can focus on right now is my own. Cecil, too, is a bundle of nerves. On the outside, he appears as aloof and fearsome as ever. But I know him too well now.

“We see what she can do,” Sylvie replies, speaking and signing in tandem. The sun is beginning to lower behind the trees, and it gleams off of her golden skin. Though she is smaller than me,she is the vision of a warrior. Even the sweat dripping between her collarbones appears as a pendant of strength.

“How?” I ask.

Sylvie begins to unravel a leather corded bracelet from her left wrist. It’s wrapped at least a half dozen times, and by the time it’s hanging between us, it’s no more than a rope. Without a word, she stands at my back. The tap of her fingers on my elbow has me sending her a worried glance. Wordlessly, she juts her chin towards my arm. No more than a puppet on her string, I concede. Cecil’s cheek puckers as he tears it to shreds from the inside.

Wrists thoroughly bound, she spins me until we’re eye to eye.

“Same as before. I come after you, you protect yourself.” She hooks a finger into the binding and gives it a quick tug. It doesn’t budge. “Only this time, try to use that sweet little voice of yours. Got it?”

My heart thuds like a drum, steady and heavy in my ears. When I don’t give Sylvie any indication that I’ve heard her, her brow quirks.

“Yes?” She pushes. Behind her, Creed is furiously signing to his brother. Though I’m unable to make out much of it, I catch words here and there.Hurt, stop, protect, fault.But he doesn’t pay attention to his little brother's pleas. He’s too busy staring at me.

“Eden.” Sylvie snaps, her amber eyes narrowed in annoyance. “Are we doing this or not?”