Page 77 of Us Dark Few

Forks raised, and food went into mouths, but no one spoke.

The women seemed to shrink into their chairs, while the other councilmen kept their eyes fixed on the tablecloth, their heads hung low. Khalani couldn’t tell if it was out of shame, fear, or submission, or perhaps a combination of all three, as everyone pretended nothing had happened.

Any lingering hope she had that the councilmen would come to their senses and help the people in Apollo was swiftly dashed. They dared not even stand up when one of their own was murdered.

Khalani and the other servants were soon directed back to the kitchen. Delicious-looking trays of cookies, sweets, and cakes were prepared for them to bring to the table. Her throat felt tight, and nausea crept in with each passing moment.

“You two.” The butler hastily gestured to Khalani and Serene. “Take the trash bags here through that door. There’s a large bin outside where you’ll deposit them. Hurry back.”

They quickly obeyed.

“Can you believe this?” Serene gasped as soon as they were out of earshot. “The Governor’s insane.”

“Keep your voice down,” Khalani admonished, glancing around nervously.

Her forearms ached as the plastic bags thudded against herlegs. They soon found the large garbage bin outside. Khalani’s face scrunched up as a putrid odor wafted from the container.

“What the hell is that?” Serene’s face twisted.

Khalani lifted the top of the bin and peeked inside. The sight had her scrambling back, the container closing with a loud thud.

“What is—oh my God,” Serene whispered, her expression etched in horror as she opened the bin.

It was Councilman Wyatt’s dead body, thrown inside with the garbage. Blood pooled around his mouth, and his legs were bent in a position they weren’t supposed to be in.

She couldn’t get the image of his eyes out of her head. They were still open. The frozen shock embedded there, infinitely capturing his last horrifying moment.

“Why would they do this?”

”Because they’re animals,” Serene said through her teeth.

The sound of footsteps and harsh laughter made Khalani freeze. Serene quickly grabbed her arm and the trash bags, pulling her behind a line of bushes. They crouched just as two men emerged around the corner and stopped in front of them.

“See? There’s no one here, Bruce. You’re hearing shit again.”

Khalani held her breath as she peered through the bushes. Two guards stood a few feet away, built like stone pillars and carrying assault rifles.

“I could’ve sworn I heard someone. Maybe they saw the body,” the guard with a buzz cut said, casting a wary glance around.

The other guard shrugged but tightened his grip around the gun. “We could torture a few servants. Maybe one of them saw something.”

“Nah.” The guard sighed, exasperated, as Khalani and Serene exchanged wide-eyed looks. “Too much effort. Probably came from the party. Besides, I’m not in the mood for any more squealers tonight.”

“Wyatt should’ve gone out like a man. Too quick, and freaking bled everywhere. At least I had time to play with that scientist last week. What was his name? Victor?”

“Vincent, idiot. And youstilldidn’t manage to break him. Kept babbling on about crop failure even after you cut off his fingers. Maybe you’re losing your touch, Dom.” The guard chuckled.

“Shut up.” Dom scowled. "If I got my hands on that Death-Zoner they locked up, he would’ve begged me to end his life.”

“Mhmm, sure.”

Bruce glanced both ways, and his voice lowered. “Did you see the equipment they recovered?”

Khalani and Serene leaned closer, straining to hear.

“—wouldn’t work. The Governor insisted we put it in his study. Don’t know why. It’s archaic junk.”

“Whatever. Let’s get back.” Their footsteps grated against the gravel as they disappeared out of sight.

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