Heartbeat

Chapter 5- Clementine

At the edge of the Lid, not far from The Warehouse, Clem sat by the water's edge. It was dusk, and Clem had to check in with everyone soon. It had been weeks since Nula's funeral, and Clem had barely seen Meg. Her office door was always locked; only Sal left to get them meals, and she would never answer any questions about what Meg was doing. Clem turned to her left and looked at Sal's twin, Dal.

There was no distinguishable difference between Dal and their twin, except their head was shaved close to the scalp. They had joined the Widows only two years before, both orphans, wanting to join immediately. Granny only allowed Dal to receive the tattoo for protection from someone hurting or stealing them. Granny didn't usually tattoo such young members she didn't know; they were too much of a liability due to their likelihood of being taken. However, Granny saw the loyalty in Dal and therefore tattooed them. Sal made more of a point never to leave the Warehouse alone to reduce their own risk. Granny wouldn't extend protection to someone so attached to Meg.

"So, she still won't tell you?" Clem asked with a raised eyebrow. Dal spat in response into the water. Clem held back a laugh. She knew she shouldn't have favourites among her Mice, but Dal was her's. Dal was tough as nails and didn't let anyone cross them. A year ago, they told Clem in private that they hated being called Sal's sister. Clem didn't understand but thought maybe they had a fight and did not inquire. A week later, Dal spoke again to Clem, insisting on being called Sal's sibling, not sister. Clem still did not understand or probe. She shrugged and said, 'Ok.' A week later, Clem made her third mistake and called Dal the "younger sister of the twins." Dal had bitten Clem's leg in response. Clem knew Dal would never hurt her unless she deserved it. She had dragged Dal outside as they scratched and kicked at her. Finally, through Dal's spitting and screaming, Clem understood and had referred to them as 'them,' or 'they,' whatever else, ever since, never 'she' or 'sister.'

Dal had begun to work harder out of fear they would be kicked out of the Widows. Clem had to explain that being a girl wasn't a requirement, but rarely did anyone else, but primarily girls wanted to join and sign up. Men were hired to work for them but never conscripted into their gangs. They were afraid it looked weak or emasculating. Clem could almost always calm Dal but would always spit and scream if anyone referred to them as 'sister' or 'her.'

"What do you think it is?" Clem asked; she liked to get Dal to use their mind this way. But unfortunately, Dal was so prone to minding their own business when they should have been observing their surroundings.

"Don't matter to me," Dal replied. Clem bumped her shoulder into Dals. Dal coughed and rolled their eyes. Clem eyed the large script 'W' on their neck. Every Widow got to choose the location of being marked; some wanted to hide their affiliation or make it less noticeable. Clem attempted to convince Dal to choose such a prominent place at their age. But Dal was bullheaded. She wouldn't accept being parented by anyone and would have paid anyone to do it on them if Clem had refused.

"A'right, maybe Pigeon gave up and is just gettin' drunk in there," Dal suggested. Clem considered this.

Dal continued, "But I guess Ertha or Zelda would have noticed if alcohol was missing, an' Meg don' have the Kruge to pay." Clem nodded in agreement, glad Dal got there themself.

"How's Win progressing?" Clem asked. Dal took a moment and thought.

"She's shit." Clem burst out laughing, but Dal stayed stoic.

"Come on, seriously, how has she been?"

"She'd make a great actress on the stage. She can't pick a lock, can't fight, and can't run. She's gonna get arrested by the Stadwatch soon."

Clem sighed; she had never gone to prison herself. She had never been caught. But she knew it was one of the realities of this work and that people had survived worse. Almost every Widow had been locked up at some time, even Hattie. Only Granny had also been able to avoid jail, but she never got her hands dirty.