???
The smell of pine needles and damp earth clings to my nostrils as I wake again, making my mind spin. It has to meansomething.
But what?
Do people outside of here dream of their inner beasts before they erupt? Hennesy is probably the only one I could ask, but he’s gone AWOL.
Yeah, he’s out there living his best magical life, like everyone else. Fucker.
My eyes flicker open.
“Oh, look who’s back in the land of the living,” Aurora sighs, her hand on my cheek. “You’ve left me alone with that loathsome reptile for far too long.”
Reptile.Fuck. I know who to talk to.
“Hector,” I rasp.
She leans closer and peers at me, frowning. “It’s Aurora. Are you still delirious?"
I shake my head, making it swim. “No, sorry. New guy…need to talk to him.”
He was a shifter outside, a crocodile. Maybe he’d have some idea if this is a hallucination brought on by de Vaux’s poison—or a biological reality waiting for a way out.
“Get Layla to pass on a message that I need to see him. But when fucking de Vaux is out of the way.”
“Sure, but why?”
Hesitation keeps me silent. I’d rather determine if I’m losing my mind first. “Just need a word.”
Rolling over, I hear her sigh. “Fine, don’t tell me. Just get some more rest, Tally. I’ll make sure Lay gets the message.”
“Thanks.” The word comes out a croak.
I can’t fight the nausea and pain.
I close my eyes, and sink back into waiting for cold, fresh air and soft, loamy soil to soothe my hurt.
25. AURORA
The next day, the air in the corridors is sharper as Dot and I head off to lady-shower time.
Jensen must have followed through, because the usual sweltering weight of the Digger block has been replaced by a mild temp that almost makes me wish I had a sweater.
“Kinda miss the heat,” Dot grunts, her voice echoing off the damp concrete. “At least a good case of swamp-ass makes wiping your shit easier when we’re out of TP.”
Gross.
Dot eyes the groups of men grumbling in the cross-corridor as they get turned away from the showers. “I can smell your stink from here, Carson. Worse than your mom’s hairy pussy.” He gives her the middle and she just grins. “Talking of hairy pussy, what the fuck did you do to your hair?”
“You don’t like my new look?” I pat at my chin-length bob waiting for what I’m sure is going to be an astute opinion from Dot.
“Makes you look like a cock. Long skinny body and a shiny bell-end.”
Wow.
“So you’re saying I’m a dickhead?”
Her answering laugh is a bellow that echoes off the walls. She’s still chuckling as we enter the block, with only women inside.
