The Day Earth Died

28. Just Another Swan

"Stop! It's me! It's... It's me."

I slowly tipped my eyes to the left, towards Cygne. Her gaze was locked ahead, away from mine, drenched in raw honesty. Neith choked in my grip, blanched. I let go and he fell to his knees with dry coughs of agony.

"I figured," I replied.

"W-what?" she stammered, finally looking right at me.

"I knew it was you." The heavy gaze we shared only ignited in response.

"Then why would you?" she raised her voice at me.

I glanced down at Neith. He had shifted to sit back against the base of Amell's bunk, still on the floor. His face was clear of fear, or relief, or pain. Clear of anything at all, for that matter. He was unreadable at once but that was because there was nothing to read. He was still alive though. Barely. It was probably his first time coming anywhere near death. I almost felt some empathy for him. Almost.

"To test both of you."

"I don't understand." I had to admit I liked her honesty, even considering what she had done.

"You were the mole and he knew it. I wanted to know who would crack first. Turns out he was ready to die for you."

Cygne stumbled back a bit at the accusation but soon got a hold of herself.

"He didn't know," she said.

"He did. Didn't you?" I asked down at Neith.

"Yeah..." he weakly trailed off, proving he was paying attention more than he seemed.

"How?" she wavered out at her brother.

"That doesn't matter right now. I need you to tell me what information you've told, and who you've told."

"I... There was that officer. Not long after your Blind Match, he brought me into a room and asked me to weekly inform him about you. Major's order, he said. And he told me he'd kill me if I refused. I had to meet him in secret again and again. I'm sorry Mal, I didn't mean to, I was just so so scared and—" Cygne rambled.

"That's not what I asked." I crossed my arms. She looked at me with wide eyes and resigned herself to speak.

"I told him about the rebellion. And that a senior officer was going to try to cut off the cameras, but nothing else! He just wanted to know where you were when he couldn't watch you."

So that's why I wasn't attacked; Cygne didn't tell him I'd be there too. He must've only given the order to kill the senior officer.

"What's his name?"

She chewed on her lower lip nervously.

"I don't know."

"What does he look like?"

Her lip started trembling, her teeth still sunk deep into it.

"I don't know."

"What?" I snapped in disbelief.

"I-I don't remember." She backed off but her back hit the structure of the bunk bed.

"Oh, I'll make you remember," I threatened, uncrossing my arms to raise my fist.

"Neith, no!" Cygne screamed.

I clasped my right hand around the sharp object he was trying to stab me with. My skin ripped open to the flesh. I sedately turned my head towards him. He had grabbed the steak knife out of my pocket and I hadn't noticed until Cygne shifted my attention to him. Neith grasped the handle tightly with both quivering hands, mouth agape and eyes shiny with unshed tears.