Page 52 of Burn Like An Angel

“Be careful. You’re still hurt. I can wait for Langley to get back.”

“You need your damn pills, Raine. You look like shit.”

I’d send him a glower if I knew where he was standing, searching through our two bags. I can hear his movements, but with all the dripping water and sporadic breezes, my spatial awareness is being thrown for a loop.

“Gee, thanks. You’re always so complimentary.”

“And you’re a fucking idiot for waiting this long to take your dose,” he hits back. “You know it takes the edge off the withdrawals.”

“I’m trying to ration the pills. They’re all I’ve got.”

Another worry to add to the ever-expanding list. The longer the riot drags on, the more desperate our situation is becoming. I had one bottle of pills prescribed by Doctor Hall when it all went to hell.

No refills.

Without the methadone to manage my withdrawals, I don’t want to consider what state I’ll be in. Getting clean from several years of opioid use won’t be an easy fix. I feel shitty enough even with the pills.

The sound of tablets clashing against plastic brings sharp relief. I hear Lennox’s faintahabefore his slow footsteps approach. He’s up and moving but still in considerable pain, judging by his laboured breathing.

“Got them,” he announces. “We’ll find more.”

“Where from, Nox?”

“I don’t know, but we will,” he insists. “I’m not watching you suffer. We both know that going cold turkey could kill you without help.”

“But—”

“Take your fucking pills, Raine.”

I suppose it’s ironic, really.

I’m going through this self-inflicted torture to kick my addiction for the last time. But to do that, I’m dependent on a handful of synthetic pills. I can’t truly escape the power they still hold over me.

“Here, man.” Rough fingertips touch my hand where I’m crouched against the wall. “How many do you need?”

“I’ll do it. Pass them here.”

“You need water?” Lennox asks.

Nodding, I close my fist around the pill bottle dropped into my palm. Lennox shuffles away, still trying to hide his pained grunting, and quickly returns with the sound of crackling plastic.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah,” he acknowledges. “Please just tell me next time? You look paler than a ghost. I could’ve found the pills hours ago.”

Counting out my dose, I knock back the handful then let my head rest against the cold, cinder block wall. I doubt the pills will help my aggressive shivering. It’s freezing cold in here.

Langley went searching for the other two and more food. Ripley and Xander have been missing since she stormed out. In this strange, lawless period, two days is a lifetime.

“That dickhead has been gone all night.” Lennox loudly slumps back down. “You reckon some idiot’s captured him for ransom?”

“Don’t say that, Nox.”

“I mean, it’s possible. He is a guard.”

“Apparently not. What’s the deal with his… I dunno, colleague? The woman Ripley mentioned? Sounds like she works for these Sabre people.”

His breathing catches. It always does anytime the topic of the Z wing or their escape is broached. Lennox plays a good game, but I’ve learned to read his unconscious tells. What he saw down there has left its mark.

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