Page 59 of Brutal Bargain

GAGE

She hates me.

Good.

It’s no less than I deserve.

And my baby will be all the stronger for it. She’ll make it strong despite me, and they will flourish in this cold, cruel world.

The radio crackles.

Blake:You there?

Gage: What do you want?

Blake:Something up?

Gage: No.

Blake: How’s the woman?

Gage: I may have accomplished my mission.

Blake:Already?

Gage: I’ve been pumping her with more cum than a sperm bank and she’s late, but with the stress and everything going on, it’s a coin flip.

Blake:Is she happy?

Gage: She hates me.

Blake:Jesus Christ, what the hell did you do to her?

Gage: What needed to be done.

Blake:It shouldn’t please you that she hates you.

Gage: It was by design.

Blake:Funny how you don’t sound too happy about it.

Gage: Are you a fucking shrink, now?

Blake:Come on, man. Talk to me.

There aren’t too many people I’ve opened up to, but with how confused I feel, I figure maybe I’ll add one more to the list.

Gage: I guess I never expected to like her. She makes me laugh. Not like any of the guys do. There’s a snark to her.

Blake:Dry humor during an apocalypse is a treasured quality.

Gage: I like how she fucking gets it. How she knew there were no good options, so she logic-ed her way to the best outcome she could. Some people just aren’t made for this world, and they die quickly. Without even a fight.

Blake:What did you do to her?

Gage: She came to me under false pretenses. You know, the recording. That she would have been fine with. Then I told her I was trying to get her pregnant. I don’t know if she’ll ever get over that.

Blake:You really are a monster.

---