Tattooed

XXI

It had been two days since me and Wes' failed picnic date and I haven't seen him since. He was probably laying low again but I was paranoid and worried and I kept wishing there was some way I could contact him. I have no idea what happened that night after I got home or if Wes got back safe. Since it was the weekend there was nothing to keep my mind busy from thinking the worst.

With finding out the truth about our state and Wes' absence I decided I needed to call Corinth again and try to destress with her before I went insane. I knew I couldn't tell her about Wes but I was starting to think what harm would come from telling her what I learned from the book? The more I got off my chest the better.

Corinth picked me up for lunch and excitedly told me about this music festival she wanted us to go see later. I smiled. Going to a music festival with my friend would be the most normal thing I've done in a long time. First we were going to try a new restaurant for lunch and then stop by Corinth's work to pick up something for the festival set up.

The car ride was filled with normal small talk, catching up since we see don't see each other that often anymore. I was mapping in my head what would be the appropriate time to bring up the book. During lunch? Or at the end of the day after the festival? Or never?

"So how's your little boy trouble? You never brought me up to speed with that." Corinth asked breaking my train of thought. I flushed.

"I was kind of trying to get my mind off of today." I replied.

Corinth's eyes shifted to meet mine for a second before returning to the road. "Something went wrong?"

I bit my lip and half shrugged. "It's complicated."

Corinth let out a short laugh. "When I first met you I never thought you'd be someone complicated."

I scoffed at that but smiled. I never imagined my life being complicated either. Growing up I didn't even think I'd leave Clement.

Soon we pulled over to the restaurant and went inside. We got seats near a back corner and after ordering our food we talked some more. I decided to go ahead and drop a bomb and ask Corinth if she knew about the history of the stratums.

Corinth's eyes darkened as soon as I brought it up. "Why?" she asked. I stirred my drink with my straw.

"Just asking. I, uh, learned something from the library."

She sat up a little straighter and leaned forward. "Learned what?" I was surprised that she seemed so curious and eager, but I filed it under old Cunning habits.

I leaned forward until our faces were closer and then I whispered, "The Branding system from the start was messed up."

Corinth froze. I couldn't gauge her reaction, whether it was surprise or disbelief or...fear. Suddenly she got out of her seat, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me outside. She got back in the car and I followed.

"How'd you find out?" She demanded. She started the car and pulled back onto the road.

I was shocked from this sudden outburst. "I told you. From the library, there's this old book and it has the whole history of how the stratums were created and why the laws are the way they are and even life before stratums." Her reaction was completely different from what I imagined.

"Cecil, how many people know this?"

"I-I you're the only person I told." I answered. "Why...why do I get the feeling you already knew, or at least suspected?"

"Do you still have the book?" Corinth asked, dodging my question.

"Yeah, it's at home. Why?"

This time when Corinth looked at me while driving her eyes bore into me for a few seconds too long.

"We're gonna have a little change of plans. We need to get the book, and then I need to take you somewhere."