Heart Pangs

Chapter 20 - Golden Boy

The members of Epomis are varied. Benji meets an old man who's lost both his daughters to prey contracts, one public and one private. There's a young woman who rambles to him about the history of preds and prey and how the centuries of disparity means the two sides likely won't see true equality in her lifetime, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to get as close as possible to that goal while she still lives.

At some point, Camille introduces Benji to a tough looking man who's, "been consumed and cut his way out fives times now." The man explains how he's been teaching other members his techniques in case they're ever in a similar situation.

"If you join us, you're welcome to these lessons as well," the man offers.

Benji responds with an uncomfortable smile. "Thanks. I'll consider it."

The more Epomis members Benji meets, the less accusatory glares he gets, which he is grateful for. Everyone there seems to know and respect Camille. He suspects this gives him a leg up when it comes to winning any sort of approval from the members. However, after a seemingly unending stream of new faces and tragic stories, Benji is ready for a break.

He slinks off to the side of the room and leans against the wall, taking a minute to breathe. A moment later, Camille is at his side.

"So," she says and Benji can hear the wariness in her voice, "what do you think?"

Benji lets out a slow breath as he gathers his thoughts. "It's certainly a lot to take in," he tells her carefully.

"I know," she replies. "I'm sorry I couldn't really prepare you better, but you understand now why I couldn't, right?"

Benji nods. He wouldn't have wanted to come if he had known more. He doesn't necessarily want to be here now, though he keeps that thought to himself. Instead he says, "So this is everything you wanted me to see?" He gestures to the people spread  about the room. "Everything that would make me understand?" Even as he says the words, he can hear the doubt in his voice. The tales of the Epomis members are moving, but he's still not convinced.

He thinks Camille must hear it too because she drops her gaze and mutters, "Not quite everything."

Benji glances at her curiously. "Then what's missing?"

Camille licks her lips like she's considering telling him, then she eases back and raises her eyes to the ceiling. "You'll learn during the meeting. It's better that way."

Benji has half a mind to press her further, but he knows Camille. Her mind is set. She won't tell him anything more. So instead he shuts his mouth and silence falls between them.

After a minute, he feels Camille watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Do you want to talk about being consumed?" she asks quietly.

Benji tries not to balk. "No," he says more harshly than he means to.

Thankfully, Camille seems to understand. "I know it must have been terrifying," she tells him softly. "I didn't even make it all the way down when it happened to me, and I still have nightmares."

Benji grits his teeth. He hates that he's spent a decade shoving that memory to the back of his mind and the first time he ever speaks of it out loud is within Epomis of all places.

"It's nothing," he cuts back. "It happened a long time ago."

Camille's face turns, her lips slightly parted. There's a calculating look in her eyes and a question on her tongue, but she doesn't get a chance to ask it.

"Attention, everybody!" McMullen's voice cuts through the din of ambient conversation. "Please, take a seat. The meeting is about to begin."

Camille's face drops so quickly Benji wonders if he'd imagined the look.