Page 37 of Kill Me Sweetly

That would be a no. I saw Shep from where I sat, and his fists were clenched. Angel was stoic and just listened.

“Did you ever hear anyone mention parents?”

Four’s eyes traveled the room, as if he were either thinking or maybe contemplating how to answer.

“Once. A boy. He said he wanted to go home. He was whipped for that.”

Angel was narrowing his eyes while Shep got redder by the moment.

“Home. What’s home to you, Four?” Aziza scribbled on her notepad.

“I don’t know.”

“Would you say that being here with JJ and the others feels like what home might be like?”

Again, he took his time answering. “Maybe. I like it here.”

“I’m glad you do. Feeling safe is a luxury many people take for granted. Do you agree?”

Four shrugged.

“Four. I need to ask you a hard question, but if you’re not ready to answer it just say pass, okay?”

“Okay.”

Aziza took a deep breath as if she were bracing herself for the answer.

“What were you trained for with the Alabastrine Consortium? What job did you have?”

Four flinched when Aziza said “Alabastrine Consortium,” and I realized that it was the first time she’d said the name out loud. The last time we’d outright asked about them, he’d gone feral. This time he didn’t.

“I’m not allowed to talk about that.”

“I understand that’s what you were told, Four. I don’t want you to say anything today that makes you uncomfortable. We’re all just trying to find the best way to help you and to do that, I have to ask the hard questions.”

After he still didn’t say anything, Aziza motioned for me to interject.Right…uhm.

“Four?”

He turned his head, broken eyes staring at me.

“I know they said you can’t talk. They told you a lot of things that weren’t true. Here, in this house, you’re safe to say anything you want. No one will punish you, no one will shout or take something away from you. We want to know so we can help you. No matter how impossible you think our help is, we are going to try. Our best bet to win this is to have all the facts. Will you please help us?”

Four didn’t look away from me for a few seconds; then he blinked as if he’d come to a conclusion. He faced Aziza again.

“The boys in the Alabastrine Consortium are trained to be weapons to do their bidding. We are taught how to fight, withstand torture and severe environmental conditions. We must learn the manuals set before us to know the crimes others commit so that we might be able to inform the wrongdoers as judgment is set upon them.”

Wow, that was the most he’d ever said in one go.

“Thank you, Four.” Aziza’s grin didn’t reach her eyes. How could it? This consortium was made up of monsters that raised children to become weapons.

“What of the girls?” Aziza spoke softly.

“I don’t know. I only saw one once. She was taken to the pink house.”

Shep and Angel were whispering to each other, and Angel was texting. I was sure it was in our group chat to keep everyone informed of what was happening. Aziza wrote something and moved on.

“Yesterday you told us how you were allowed to talk as a reward with sweets, right?”

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