Unlawful

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

Charlie       

It was Monday and I had just passed the scanning booth when I was approached by the man in the lab coat I talked to on my first day. ''You are done inside, you're partner is Ace, located at section three.” He walked away abruptly leaving me confused. I had no idea where section three was and I had no idea who Ace was. I glanced around the field and saw tall posts with numbers on them, section three was a ways down. When I finally got to my section I noticed there was a small hut in the middle of the field, I decided I would get my answers from there.

            "Excuse me, could you tell me where Ace is?" I asked the woman standing behind a window.

            "Yes, you must be Charlie. Ace Green is that robust man pounding coal to your left." She had a smirk on her face as I glanced where she was pointing. I walked toward Ace with suspicion in my eyes. He had his overalls rolled down to his waist and his white t-shirt was yellowed with sweat.

            "Ace?" I asked stopping a few feet from him.

            "You must be Charlie." He put down his axe and a shocked expression took over his face. "You're a girl? They partnered me with a little girl?" He said as he shook his head. "Dammnit, now I have to do double the work, I'd be better off alone, I don't need to add babysittin' to my list of duties."

            "It's a good thing I don't need babysitting then. And I am not a little girl." I wanted to start working and I didn’t like how this guy was talking to me. "You're not my first choice either believe me. Just tell me what to do and we can stay out of each other’s way." I crossed my arms and gave him a piercing look. This caused him to let out a snort.

            "I’ll break up the coal, see that wheel-barrel? Stack em in there and take them to the piles at the end of the rows. You know, if you can even carry anything with those chicken arms of yours." He seemed very pleased with his feeble attempt to offend me, this just pissed me off even more. I walked over to the coal he had already broken down and picked it up, it weighed about twenty pounds and I could fit three in my arms at a time. As I walked past Ace to place it in the wheel-barrel, I 'accidentally' dropped a piece of coal on his foot. He let out a girlish squeal followed by a glare.

            "Oops, sorry" I innocently smiled as I picked up the coal. He glared at me the rest of our shift.

            We were finally done after twelve hours of continuous labour, I found it wasn't half bad compared to being in a cramped space. Ace and I kept out of each other’s way, talking was limited to 'pass me this', or 'here's more'. Needless to say, I didn't mind it at all.

            When I got to the front gates Nash was waiting for me outside. “I didn’t see you go into the building, are you done inside then?” He asked.

            “Yeah, I’m paired with this bear of a guy named Ace. Ever heard of him?” Maybe Nash knows his story.

            “Ace? Nah never heard of him. Is he, you know, being civil so to speak? I could set him straight if you want.” I couldn’t help but laugh which caused Nash to give me a light shove. “Hey now, I’m just trying to be a gentlemen.”

            “I know I know, I’m sorry. He’s just so huge and I’m picturing you maybe just reaching his chin. But in all seriousness, he’s fine and I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me. I can hold my own.” I stretched my arms above my head and let out a groan. “Let’s get out of here, everyone smells.” I walked away from Nash and could hear him reassuring himself under his breath that he could take Ace. I smiled.