Heartbeat

Chapter 31- Clem

Clem walked towards the Crimson & Corrupted, the Razorgulls' gambling hall. She passed Win walking down the street and couldn't help but give her a smirk as she saw that she was being led by a group of what looked like well-off University students. She felt all her weapons clunking and clinking against each other as the rain continued to fall. Her hair was wet, black, and pulled back tight. and The marked black streaks she drew on her face began to melt off and fall down her face like black-stained tears.

Clem knew that their bouncer, Franz, would stop her from approaching as soon as she got close to the gambling hall. She eyed Fara, who approached on one side of the street and Felix on the other. Her eyes scanned. They finally found Sol in the crowd. She almost broke out into a full sprint to see the results of the rescue, but she kept her pace steady. Most wouldn't recognize her immediately, but she couldn't risk Franz or any other Razorgulls getting too good of a look at her before they acted.

Sol had clearly spotted her and began walking over, with someone being supported by her. Clem tried to see through the crowd but had always been shorter. When they were five feet away, Clem reached out and clasped Sol's free hand; they pulled themselves into one another. Clem came first to face with a half-conscious Meg, her weight being supported by Sol as she barely managed to keep herself upright. Fara joined from behind only a few seconds after. Clem crouched low to try to get her hands before Meg's eyes.

"Meg, are you ok? Are you hurt?" She looked towards Sol for an explanation. Sol moved to explain, but Meg lunged forward and grabbed Clem's coat.

"They shot her, Clem. They shot her! They killed her. And she's gone, and she didn't even do anything! It's me, Clem! It was my fault; I couldn't hear them!" Meg was sobbing and screaming Clem's face. Her words were overly annunciated. Clem looked at her with panic on her face.

"Sal?" She asked, mouthing as much as she could. Meg continued to repeat herself.

"It was me, Clem! It was me. I couldn't hear! I didn't know. They shot her!" Clem looked back at Sol, hoping Meg had been mistaken. Sol nodded solemnly.

Clem felt her world crash. She heard roaring in her ears and knew she was being swallowed by all the water around Ketterdam. She stared at Meg. She knew she was still yelling, but Clem could no longer hear her. She began pulling away from Meg's grasp. Heading for the Crimson & Corrupted. Meg tried to pull her back, still screaming, but Clem wouldn't return. Meg relented and started moving with Clem, her face red and flexing her fingers. Clem understood what she was doing and stopped in her tracks.

"Meg, you can't. This isn't yours. You'll collapse." Clem communicated. Meg continued to sob, shaking her head. Clem grabbed her hands, shaking her head 'no' as well. Meg released her hands from Clem's grip, pointed to her chest and then brought the same hand into a fist, placing it gently on her forehead.

"I know." She repeated several times. Clem felt the force of the rain and windfall harder on her. Fara and Felix waited with anticipation only five feet away. She could feel their anger and knew Sol must have told them what had happened.

Clem turned to walk away, to finish what had been started. Meg pulled on her again and shoved something into Clem's hands. Clem looked down and saw a tiny vial of red powder. They locked eyes, silently communicating everything they wanted to say through their stare. Clem knew. Clem knew that Meg knew. If Clem chose to take parem, it could kill her. It may not work, but it likely would kill her from the use or the addiction afterwards. Meg didn't know Clem had found the container of the pasty za vee. She didn't need to know; they both knew that regardless of the consequences, this was the step she had to take.