Page 38 of Wrath

He narrows his eyes again. “It’s how warriors get here, by fighting day and night to be the best.”

“And remembering your family, your mother, they’ll stop you being at the top?”

“It does no good thinking about them,” he mutters. “They can’t help me here.”

Zeus is glaring at me as I pass him his tray. “No treats today?”

I laugh. “I’ll try to get some for lunch. How are you?”

“What?” he scowls.

“How are you?”

“Why are you asking?”

I laugh. “You really have to stop being so suspicious. I’m a nice person, honest. You look tired.”

“I don’t sleep well,” he mutters.

“Maybe I can help? I’ll visit the pharmacy later.”

“I don’t like pills,” he snaps. “No more pills.”

I nod. “Okay. I can ask for liquid form.”

When it’s time to see Wrath, my heart is beating wildly. I half hope he’s cooled off and is ready to talk, but deep down, I don’t think he’s the cooling off type.

He’s at his table waiting, and I breeze in with his tray and place it down. “Good morning.” He doesn’t reply, and my heart twists. “Did you sleep well?”Nothing.“I didn’t. My mind was racing.”Nothing.I sigh and pour his water. “You might hate me, Wrath, but I can’t hate you, so I’m going to pretend like we’re friends still and keep talking like we are.”

I head out and close the door quietly, leaning against it and groaning. It’s too hard to pretend we’re okay when we’re not, but he’ll give in eventually. I know he will.

Midmorning, I take a walk into the village to grab some things for Martha. Alex goes into the butcher’s and bakery for me because I can’t face seeing the families of Abel or Jade. I head for the pharmacy, and I’m surprised when I find a man behind the counter and not the woman who asked me to pop in and see her.He looks up, and I force a smile. “Is there anything I can take for not being able to sleep?” I ask.

“Insomnia?” I nod. He looks back at the shelves behind him.

“But not tablets. I can’t swallow them very well.”

He gives a stiff nod and takes a bottle from the shelf. “Try this,” he says, handing it over.

“Thank you. It can go on the Sanchez account,” I tell him, and he smiles wide.

“Of course.”

Medicines are one of the things we have to pay for, and that’s usually left for a man because they have access to money. The forefathers have an account.

Next, I call into the grocer’s and pick up four apples. “On the Sanchez account,” I tell him because fruit is also limited and any extra on your rations must be paid for.

At lunch, I call in to Abe, holding up the green apple with pride. “See what I got you?” He goes to take it, but I snatch it away. “But first, you have to accept my friendship.” He smirks, and I hand the apple over. “Enjoy.”

He bites into it and groans. “I don’t remember the last time I had one of these.”

“I’ll try to get different fruit each time I go out,” I promise and place his tray down. “Do you ever think about the times before you were brought here?”

He shakes his head. “Why would I?”

I shrug. “Don’t you miss that life?”

“I was only young,” he says. “And my life before was no different to how it is now. I was yelled at and locked in my room a lot.”

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