The ashes we left behind

Chapter 11

5 150 weapons!

I blink my eyes twice but the word doesn't erase itself. It remains the same.

Too shocked, it takes me all the effort I have left to continue to read. It's long and there are too many details.

I quickly understand that Asher's attention isn't only to harm my sister but it goes further. On the page, it's written that 5 150 weapons are ordered for an army of 5 141 people. There's also a place and a date indicated which is the 20th December. What are those weapons for? Why that much people? It looks like a whole army.

The fact that I'm the only one who knows about it in the gang makes my nerves explode. I try to stop my hands from shaking. That amount of people with that much weapons could destroy the whole city... the whole city!

I should go to Connor and tell him about it. But he's going to consider me as a liar. And I really don't want to know what would happen to me. They're not supposed to harm me since I'm their leader's sister. But they would hate me. That's for sure.

Maybe... Maybe I should investigate by myself. If I find any more proofs, I would be able to make the excuse that I needed to be sure of the laptop's information. Or maybe I could stop that weapons' transfer. Nobody will learn about it. Before going to the place written on the paper, I have something to do.  

                                                                                                ***

"No way", Connor says without even considering my request.

"Why?" I ask calmly.

"Only Ginny has the right to interrogate him."

"Why?"

"Because... Because those are the rules."

"Since when?!" I start to raise my voice.

Surprised by my reaction, he continues, "Since the day your sister has made the Cursed. She made sure each of us has a job-

"What about me?! I have no job. Give me one. I can help Ginny."

"No", he says. His cold tone makes me shiver.

"Why?"

"Because you're not part of the gang!"

For a moment, I stop. I stop. I stop. What he just said is... the truth. He's right. I'm not part of the Cursed. So I don't have to fight for them. I don't have to do anything for them. Yet I helped them. All this time, I've been there for them. And that's what I dare tell to Connor.

"I went to that bar, you know? I had to touch him and to go with him to his office with Helene. I was the one to get into his room in secret to look for information-

"What information?!" he shouts, losing his temper. "What fuckin' information?! You found nothing. And he caught you which is worse."

He is right again and that's why I let the tears slip from my eyes.

"I nearly killed that guy", I murmur more to myself even though Connor hears me. "Asher tied me to a chair. Hailey is still missing and... and..."

I let Connor take me in his warm arms. I let my face lay on his chest and I cry. His hand travels from the roots of my hair to its tips.

"I'm sorry", I repeat over and over again until he replies, "It's ok, Mackenzie. It's ok."

Connor leaves me alone in the darkness of the living room. I walk from side to side, thinking. I have two choices. Either I should give up on everything or I can go to that place from the paper and look for what Asher is planning. If I can't get his answers, I have to look for them. I'll do it. I'll do it not for the gang since I'm indeed not part of it. I'll do it for Hailey.

                                                                                                ***

I borrow the balcony's stairs to go from balcony to balcony, hoping that no neighbor would notice me and call the cops. I put on the hood of my jacket so no one would recognize me. I walk past different streets, asking people about the indications. It takes me more than two hours to finally arrive to that place where probably thousands of weapons are hidden.

I think that my surprise is easily readable on my face at the sight of the building. Yes, it's a building. A small one on which is written 'A book is a weapon'. It's a bookshop...