Page 25 of Caught By Menace

“Three weeks,” she said and purposely pushed the gross memories into the farthest recesses of her mind. “We were in the storm drain sections mostly, so it wasn’t too horrifying. I was only nine at the time. Daddy was able to make it into a big adventure at first so I wasn’t too afraid, but then a week became two and I started to wonder if I would ever see sunlight again.” She laughed as the good memories shone through for once. “Daddy came up with all these games and wild stories to keep me occupied.”

“You loved your father.”

“Very much,” she said and poked at her mound of fluffy scrambled eggs. “He always did his very best to protect us, but it wasn’t enough that day.”

“What happened?”

“Nattie got into an argument with our father. He took off out of the sewers and Daddy went after him and, well, you know.” She touched her neck. “I found him later that night, just after sunset.”

Menace’s eyes widened. “You went out alone? After dark?”

“Nattie and Daddy didn’t come back. I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit there alone and wait forever.” Her eyelids drifted together as the tormenting memory of her father’s gashed throat and bloodless body flashed before her.

“What happened after you found him?” Menace asked, his voice soft and gentle.

“I started digging.”

“What? By yourself?”

She stared at him. “Well, who the hell else was going to bury him?”

“But your brother—”

“Is the fucking laziest, most irresponsible dickhead you’ll ever meet.”

Menace frowned. “Language, Naya.”

She rolled her eyes. “He’s a jerk, okay? Even back then he was a huge jerk.”

“But you didn’t see it?”

“No, I saw it all right. I was just dumb enough and naive enough to think that people change. They don’t.”

“No,” he agreed.

Not wanting to talk about her brother or her father any longer, Naya changed the subject. “Your home is very nice.”

“Thank you.” Menace splashed the blue liquid into her glass. “I think you’ll like this. It’s juice from a fruit that grows on Harcos Prime. It’s a little sweet and just the slightest bit tart.”

She warily eyed the glass. “Is it mixed with water?”

“Yes.”

“From your planet or mine?”

“Mine. Why?”

“Because I haven’t been able to drink water in Connor’s Run without boiling it since I was ten,” she said and picked up the glass. After a curious sniff, she sipped the brightly colored juice. To her surprise, it was quite delicious. “Oh! This is nice.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He bit a piece of crispy bacon. “Why are water supplies compromised in your town?”

“The Merkorians destroyed most of the town’s infrastructure. What they didn’t screw up, you guys blew up during your aerial attacks on their ships. There hasn’t been any money to fix it, so we boil water or we don’t drink.”

“You don’t have to worry about that here. Water supplies are adequate and clean. The plumbing systems allocate a rationed amount per apartment per day but it’s more than enough for the two of us to drink, bathe and do household chores.”

She glanced around the space. “Your home is very clean. Do you clean it yourself?”

He nodded. “I’m eligible for a cleaning service, but I don’t enjoy having other people in my space.” He hesitated. “If you’d prefer, I can request those services.”

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