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“I…” Mara didn’t know what to say.
“Was it plain luck?”
“No. I saw his hand, and I stabbed it.” He thought about trying to explain how he saw things slower. He’d never believe me. He’d think I’m crazy.
The Shadow sat in silence for an even longer time than before. Mara’s wrists stung, but as much as he tried not to move them, he couldn’t help it.
The Shadow stood. “You will be brought a meal while I deliberate. Unfortunately, due to the nature of your arrival, you will remain tied.”
The Shadow pulled the blindfold down and left. Mara could still see the mask in his head. He imagined red eyes and pointed teeth underneath it. He didn’t sound like a monster. Maybe they are just men?
His next visitor didn’t remove the blindfold and fed him in complete silence. The liquid was cold, lumpy, and salty. Nothing like the food Silas had fed him, but he was glad to have something. Before it left, his visitor even wiped his mouth. Maybe these people are okay. If I hadn’t stabbed that other one, maybe I wouldn’t be tied up. Maybe I’d have my bed. Why didn’t Silas tell me they would come get me? He felt angry at Silas. What else did he lie about?
His wrists hurt so much that it took him a long time to fall asleep, then as soon as he did, he was startled awake when the keys rattled in the door. His blindfold was taken off, and the Shadow sat in front of him again.
“Tell me, Mara, do you know why you were brought here?”
Mara couldn’t remember the name for it. “To kill people that deserve to die.”
“The man that brought you here told you that?”
“Yes.”
“You have no family?”
“No.”
“Will anybody be looking for you?”
“No.”
The Shadow stood. “You will be released and taken to your room. Know this, however, you have been given an unprecedented chance. Do not disappoint me. You will receive no further lenience.”
Mara had no idea what unprecedented or lenience meant, but it didn’t sound good. He’d do exactly as he was told. Maybe that way he’d get his bed.
The Shadow left the room, and an identical-looking Shadow came in and untied him. Mara rubbed his stinging wrists.
“This way.” Its voice was deeper and it stood shorter than the first.
Mara followed it out of the room into a stone-walled corridor that was brightly lit by candles pressed into wax-covered piles of bricks. There were doors on either side all the way along. Are there boys in all of these?
They passed through a door at the end of the corridor into a large square room with a wooden floor and a high ceiling. Two of the walls had many doors on each, and each had a different number of lines scratched on it. The remaining wall had just one large door. There were no windows, only candles on tables providing light.
“Can you count?” the Shadow asked.
“Yes.”
“Number twelve.”
Mara looked around the room and counted lines on random doors. Four, seven, two.
“Over there.” The Shadow pointed toward a corner.
Mara walked across and stood to face four doors, each with many lines on. He pointed at the l
ines as he counted them. “One, two, three…”
The Shadow stepped in front, opened the door on the far right, and guided him in.
