Heartbeat

Chapter 20- Clem

Clem stood in the sitting room, looking at Win and four mice. She heard the back window in the Kitchen slide open. Craning her neck, Sol could be spotted climbing through it. She waited for Sol to join them in the sitting room and breathed in.

"What's the news?" She asked tremulously. Felix responded first.

"No one has seen any sight o' Pigeon, Sal or Dal. Glovey and Nik are still out looking and know to come back 'ere if they find anything. Kai is waiting near the Warehouse."

"Has anyone heard anything?" Everyone shook their head, no, and Clem felt she could begin cursing at them for being so useless. She knew it wasn't their fault. She felt useless herself. Clem looked to Win.

"How did you sneak away from Zelda?" She asked. Win looked as though she had good news.

"I met with her; she made me the official messenger on her behalf while you go through this trying time." Everyone laughed at this, but Clem didn't. Still trying to hold out a scraping of hope that Zelda was being genuine.

"Any messages then?" Clem asked cooly.

"She wants all the contracts of the indentures for those we've provided service to. She says they've been sitting in a drawer too long." Clem's face flushed at this. Win continued, "I will collect them and bring them back to her during this time."

"Lamb followed her here; she is still outside waiting," Sol added. Clem spotted Felix's face turning red. He got up and angrily closed the curtains.

"That lil' wench is drunk if she thinks she can spy on us. We can't let this go on, Mouse." Clem ignored Felix, thinking it was foolish for him to even get up and close the curtains if their plan was to hide what they were doing from Lamb. She still couldn't care. She considered telling them all to leave again and return and search. She could have Win remain with Granny while she helped.

There was a knock at the back door. Clem opened it and spotted Sol remove one of her hollow machetes from her side. Clem saw through the bars on the window that Fara and Sara were waiting there. Clem unlocked the door and let them in.

They both hugged her as soon as they were inside. They gave her no words, but she knew they understood her pain. Clem embraced the hug willingly. She almost started to cry until she realized Granny was not yet dead and that hope was not yet lost. She pulled away and led them into the sitting room as well. They remained standing.

"Did Win tell you we've been put on a leave of absence for our good health?" Fara asked. She looked disgusted, while Sara looked solemn. Clem's eyes darted between the two of them, and then Win. Win threw up her hands in innocence.

"Wasn't my news to tell." She defended. Clem sighed. Zelda's moves seemed less and less innocent. She knew if she expressed the hope she was holding out, she would only embarrass herself. She heard a noise from upstairs, and everyone pulled out whatever weapon they had. Vran came down the stairs, looking out of breath.

"You just come in through windows now?" Clem asked. Vran looked sheepish.

"I didn't think sticking to the streets was safe, and I've wanted to learn to climb better anyhow."

"Did Zelda give you her orders?" Win asked him. He shook his head no.

"I left as soon as she suggested the moment of silence. But, Mouse, you should have heard her like she was auditioning for the next play at the Komedie," he responded. His large eyes are even more prominent in his own bewilderment.

"What are we going to do, Mouse?" Fara asked. Her posture was poised to fight. Clem shook her head.

"Nothing, we need to find Meg and Sal. They have an antidote for Granny. They're all that matters right now."