Page 16 of Foul Days

She saw the question in Gizda’s eyes. Still, she knew it wouldn’t come out. They were both from Chernograd: they respected each other’s right to keep secrets.

Gizda sighed. “I know what you mean, hen, I really do. I scrimped and saved all my life to pay the smugglers for passage across. All that money wasted.”

“You don’t like it here?”

“It’s a city like any city. I don’t hate it. But was it worth it?” She shrugged her broad shoulders. A pause, and then she started talking quickly. “My brother emigrated as soon as he finished school. He was barely eighteen when he paid the smugglers to take him across. He kept sending us letters, though, he never forgot us. It was he who convinced me I had to move. If you ask him, it’s all sunshine and roses here.”

“What if I ask you?”

Gizda pulled on her cigarette. “It appears to be at a first glance, doesn’t it? Listen to me, hen. Belograd is like a fairground version of a city, but there are razors hidden in the candy floss, and the toffee apples are poisonous. They don’t want us here. That’s what it all boils down to. They’d rather we stayed behind our Wall where we belong.”

“They claim the Wall was built to keep the monsters out.…” Kosara said, careful to neither agree nor disagree with the statement. Gizda obviously had a lot of strong opinions on the subject, and Kosara really wanted to have somewhere to sleep tonight.

“Bah, the monsters! If that’s the case, why didn’t they make it so the Wall only keeps the monsters out? Do you know what the punishment is if they catch you trafficking people into Belograd? Life imprisonment!”

Kosara started speaking without really thinking. Every primary school child knew why. “They were afraid we’d spread the diseases caused by the monsters on this side of the Wall. Lycanthropy, mostly.” She saw Gizda’s face, and quickly added, “Or at least that’s what they claim.”

“You can’t convince me they had the magical power to build a giant Wall around our city in one night but couldn’t spare the resources to find a cure for lycanthropy. They simply didn’t want to. To them, we’re as bad as the monsters. You know why? Because we’re poor.”

Kosara chewed on her lip. “I only just got here.…”

“Just you wait. You’ll see I’m right. But since you reminded me, you need to go and register at the police station. They’ll have to put you under quarantine.”

“What? Why?”

“To make sure you aren’t infected, of course. Every new arrival from Chernograd goes through the quarantine during their first full moon here.”

“And what if I am infected?”

It was a hypothetical question, but the suspicion in Gizda’s eyes made Kosara wish she’d never asked. The landlady was silent for a few long, uncomfortable seconds. “If you’re infected, they shoot you.”

A chill ran down Kosara’s spine, one that not even her thermal vest could protect her from. She automatically raised her fingers to the scar on her cheek. Nevena’s face floated to the front of her mind, mascara-tinged tears welling in her eyes. Just shoot me, Nevena whispered. If I turn, just shoot me.

“I can’t be quarantined,” Kosara said loudly enough to drown the voice in her head. “I have things to do.”

“Don’t we all? Listen, it’s up to you, but I strongly suggest you go voluntarily. Otherwise, they’ll arrest you. After the fuss you caused today, I don’t think you can hide for long.”

Kosara hadn’t even considered that. She sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

The streetlights grew dimmer and sparser until the two of them walked in almost complete darkness. Kosara fidgeted, her fingers grasping one of the talismans in her pocket. She couldn’t help but imagine the Zmey’s pale eyes peering at her from the dark alleyways, even though she knew he was just as trapped on the other side of the Wall as she was on this one.

She hated the way her hands shook, and her heart raced at every noise. Before she lost her shadow, she’d have never been afraid to walk the streets after dark, even in this strange city. In fact, she’d have probably hoped someone would attack her so she could try her newest talisman.

Now, her talismans were useless. Her evil eye beads were nothing but pretty trinkets. Her boiled egg amulet was simply a tasty snack. She was helpless.

Someone whistled. Kosara turned towards the sound. Two bright lights gleamed in the distance.

“What the hell…” She staggered backwards until her back hit the wall.

The lights flew towards her, unnaturally fast, unnaturally bright. Kosara could see it now: they were the eyes of an enormous monster. Its body glinted in the moonlight, sliding over the ground. Black steam rose in its wake.

Kosara watched it, too terrified to move. Her hand gripped the boiled egg talisman so hard it broke. Yolk ran out between her trembling fingers.

A hoarse sound pierced the night. Kosara jumped about a foot in the air, her back scraping against the rough wall. It took her a moment to realise it had been Gizda’s laughter.

“Calm down, hen!”

Kosara’s mouth gaped open. Calm down? Couldn’t she see the monster?

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