Page 6 of Rue

Chapter 5

The door opened hours later, and she flinched back from it, scooting back to the wall as a light was flipped on. She held her hand up to hide from it and try to see.

HE was standing there, his hands in his pockets as he looked her over.

“That a school uniform?” he demanded loudly.

“Saint Agnes,” a man behind him answered. “My nephew goes there.”

“Wha’s your name, girl?” HE asked, stepping in and looking down at her, his hands still in his pockets.

Sailor shook her head, her breathing too rapid.

“She don't answer, shoot her leg,” he called back, and the man with him drew his gun.

“Sailor! Sailor! Please! Please, you have to let me go, my…”

“Shut up,” HE demanded, lifting his chin. “Answer my questions, and tha’s it, you understand?”

“Yes?”

“How old are you?”

“18.”

“Graduating next month?”

“Yes.”

“I take it you fuckin’ remember me?” he asked, his lipcurling and a dangerous light in his eyes.

“Yes,” she whispered, hiding her face again.

“Yeah. I bet you do. You was tryna keep that shit hidden from me?” he demanded, nudging her hip with his foot.

“I… no? I didn’t know who you were. I don't… I don't know who you are. Just… just some guy.”

“Just some guy,” HE chuckled, looking over his shoulder at the other man, who smirked. “Nah. Nah, I ain’t just some guy. The fuck was your name?”

“Sailor?”

“Alla it.”

“Sailor Rue Macintosh?”

“We got a Macintosh in our organization?” HE asked the other man.

“Nope.”

“Sailor. That, like, from that cartoon? Sailor Moon?”

“No… My… my dad was in the Navy. He died right before I was born… he called me his Sailor. His… umm… his swimmer. His Sailor. Mom just…”

“Yeah, I don't need all that. Not the cartoon was all. It don't suit you, does it? Rue. That suits you. You one ‘a them tiny little loud mouths, huh? Always got shit to say and no way to back it up. Think ‘cause you cute you don't have ta pay for that mouth. How long?”

“I… I don't know what you’re asking?”

“Till you drop the kid.”

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