Sixty-five

Their chatter becomes background noise, while I contently eat my food, and slip into a world of my own.

I have to get back. Whether they are looking for me or not. It would be nice to stay in the mining colony for a little while, just to take a break from everything but I have responsibilities that I can't skirt.

The sound of cutlery clattering drags me back to the present, and I see Soph standing up, while Julian follows suit.

" You'll be gone before I finish my shift," She opens her arms, and he does the same. Again he pats him on the back but this time is a little more awkward than the first time they did it.

" I'll stop by to check on your injuries, before bedtime," She tells me just as Gerald releases her from the hug.

I thank her just as she starts for the door, with Gerald on her tail. He says something to her that I don't hear, and Sophie giggles. And that's the girliest sound I've ever heard. It's light, and a little coy.

Once she is dressed and ready to go, she waves Julian goodbye and slips out of the door.

Once Julian returns to the table, he settles back in his seat and begins stacking the plates on the tray. He is not in a very chatty mood anymore.

" She is in love with you," I say quietly, and his hand stops midair and gives me a strange look. A mix of surprise, and mind your business kind of look.

After a few moments of awkward silence he hums, " We are just friends. That's all there is to it," He affirms quite blandly while finishing up stacking everything on the tray.

I say nothing, but he continues in the silence, " Tell me, who can I contact for you? Evidently, you're not from these parts. Your accent says as much. So where are you from mistery girl?" He changes the subject, reverting to our previous conversation.

" Or is it a secret?" He whispers, smirking at me. All right, funny guy.

" No. I'm from Baranstein District originally but now I live in Morston, " I supply, as we both rise from our seats. He drops the tray on the side next to a pile, and treads towards the door.

" I know a few people from Morston," He pauses, " One of them is getting married pretty soon. I'm sure you must've heard of it, unless you live under a rock, of course," He heaves a coarse laugh that grates my nerves, but that has more to do with the wedding than his laughter.

" I've heard," I say begrudgingly while we trudge through the muddy ground. A thin layer of snow has already settled over the roofs but nothing dangerous. Going back home won't be much of an issue if the snow doesn't pile on.

He hums as he leads me farther away through the colony, to a building that is right on the edge. It doesn't look like the other cabins. Is slightly smaller, but has more windows than the rest.

He pauses briefly to wipe the mud off his boots before stepping inside and I follow after him, right before I clean my boots on the floor mat. Not that it did any good, the thick muddy sludge clings to the edges like glue.

Once we are inside he settles behind a desk, equipped with a phone and a few stationery items, that seem to have collected a considerable amount of dust. It seems that he doesn't spend a lot of time in his office.

Gerald pulls out a notebook from the drawer of his desk and begins to flip through it, " Who do you know in Morston?" He asks with his eyes on the notebook.

" Mason Kinnaird," I say before I can stop myself. His head snaps up in surprise and regards me for a few seconds with mild curiosity.

His eyes drift down to my left hand hanging down my side, and I can't fight the urge to hide the hand in my pocket.

" Why not the husband?" He asks, as he picks up the receiver and begins to dial.

" He is dead," I don't know what else to say.

" You're too young to be a widow," He hums absently distracted by the phone ringing in his ear.

Just as I open my mouth, the ringing stops connecting to the other end.

" Hi, Sissy. Is Mason around?" He says and waits for Sissy to answer at the other end while he hums back a few times.

" Right. Could you have him call me back by nightfall? I have something of his," He grins wickedly at that and says his thanks and goodbyes to Sissy once he is satisfied with her answer.

Placing the phone down, he turns his attention to me," His future wife will be very displeased to know that he has to leave her side to rescue another woman so close to the wedding," Gerald taunts, as he rounds the desk and settles in front of it, facing me.

" I don't think I've ever seen Ava Morston happy, in general," I smirk at him and he chuckles.

" That's very true, " He hums, " Although I do vaguely remember Mason mentioning a few years back, a girl. It was about four years ago..." He trails off as his eyes study me, a little more intensely this time around.

After a fraction of a second, the coin drops," You're the ward," Humour laces his tone, as he pushes himself off the desk.

" Was, " I correct him just as the phone rings.

" You must be valuable. I've known Mason for quite some time, and he is terrible when it comes to calling back," He looks at the watch on his wrist, and frowns," Ten minutes," That's all it took for Mason to call him back. For some reason, my scalp begins to prickle, and all of a sudden my limbs go numb.

Smiling, Gerald lifts the receptor to his ear and begins to laugh at whatever is coming from the other end.

The room begins to spin out of control and before I know it I hit the ground with a loud thud. Something clatters and the rapid sound of footfall pierces through the ever-growing darkness, and that is the last thing I hear before I slip into complete darkness.