Only the Moon Watching

Chapter 41: Things Are Getting Urgent

Shiv is livid that she missed dinner. Technically, a guard let her out of Ad-Seg in time to eat with us, but decided to torture her a little longer by inventing errands that needed to be run on the way to the cafeteria.

"By the time I got here kitchen was closed!" Shiv huffs. "We just had to check that the washing machine wasn't overflowing, because she'd heard a rumor. And then she was just desperate to go to the library to pick up a book – but of course, the library didn't have it because they don't have anything! And then she wanted to stop by and talk to Girdle's guard-crush. My stomach was rumbling so loud I know she could hear it, but!"

After two days in segregation, Shiv looks even more delicate than normal: her collarbones are poking through her skin, her under eye bags are deep purple and her cheeks are flushed as red as her hair.

And she only gets redder when I relay Kristina Kelly's threats.

"She put her hands on you?" I can't tell if Shiv's furious or jealous. "You have to tell Steak!"

"About his ex? Of course I'm going t–"

"And about the fact she threatened you. In fact, have Chet tell their guard too–"

I snort. "You think a garda could help?"

"Well I'm not saying tell Girdle, I know she's useless! But we should have someone looking out for you! You're new here, baby, I forget that. You're not safe just because there are rules and things are banned and we get cavity searched every time we want to use a tampon! People find ways to bring shit in. There are weapons – you could get popped!"

She shoves a pen and paper into my hands, wide eyed, like she's asking me to write a will or a note declaiming intentions of suicide in case I mysteriously go missing.

"Write to Steak and tell him."

"You don't think this is an in-person kind of conversation? He's supposed to be sending me a note back any–"

As if on cue, someone in the room above us knocks on the bowl.

"–I could just respond to him and ask to meet soon. Let me see what he says–"

"Don't gamble with your life, Jos. I'm serious, this is bad. Kristina Kelly put her hands around your throat and none of the Gardas know it happened. She'll find a way to do damage next time. You really need to tell him."

"Fine." I tear a fresh page from my notebook and scribble:

Need to talk to you in person, urgently. Way more urgently than you. Had a run in with Kristina Kelly – she got her hands around my throat and told me something horrible. I can't write to you again until I've told you in person. You'll hate me if you think I kept it from you but I don't know how to say it, here. Please visit as soon as you can. It's urgent.

"But is it, like, time sensitive?" Shiv jokes. "Do you think you're really on a deadline? Would you say it's–"

"I get it. I said urgent too many times. Just send this up for me."
My kite goes first. Then Steak's comes down the bowl.

Need to rethink my letter then. Will meet first, then maybe send.