Heart Hunters

FIVE

M A N O

"Kneel."

My knees hit the floor. I twined my fingers together on top of my head. I filled my eyes with the marble-patterned church tile.

"How much did I ask you to bring?"

I braced myself. "Two thousand. Sir."

Steps on the marble, coming toward me. Scuffed skater shoes blocked my view of the floor. "And how much did you bring?"

"Two thousand." I closed my eyes. It would be the face this time, it amused him to see how many times he could break my nose. "Sir."

"Hey, you got a little something on your face."

Stars exploded in my head. My head hit the floor. I gasped for breath, trying to stem the flow of blood streaming from my face.

"Do I look stupid to you? I asked for two thousand. How much did you give me?"

"Two thousand," I said nasally, hand cupped over my nose.

The child stood over me, his brown eyes cold and controlled. His hand rose to the breast pocket of his flannel shirt, slipping out a pair of small black gloves. "You gave me two thousand colónes, ay. I asked for pesos, you dumb fuck. Do you think the Market uses fucking Salvadoran coins? No one uses Salvadoran coins. Even El Salvador doesn't use Salvadoran coins."

"I'll get your money. Just — I only need a few days. You can do what you want with me if I can't do it in a few days."

"Look me in the eye, Uncle."

I cracked my eyes open.

The child squatted, glowering into my face. His curly black hair hung below his chin in a tangled mane, brushing the faded jean material of his threadbare jeans. His mechanical eyes whirred, artificial pupils searching my face for irregularities. On the wall behind him, a bleeding Jesus gave me a baleful stare.

"I should just bite you now." The child's voice gave a prepubescent squeak. "What would people think of me playing favorites? If I can't spare a man with a wife and children, why should I let you off the hook? You'll be more useful as a Walker anyway."

"Rudy." I wet my lips. "Rudy, please. I'm your own flesh and blood. Your papa — "

"I'm not a nihilist." My nephew bared his teeth. They were grotesque, filed to hard yellow points. "I gave you time. I gave you years. But you steal and you cheat and you ask me to treat you special just because you're my uncle? Does this look like a fucking monarchy to you?"

"Punish me, then!" My hands clamp around his ankles. "Beat me, banish me. Torture me if you want. I can be an example!"

He snarled, baring his pointed teeth. "I am a proud son of the pipiles. My ancestors have never stooped so low. Neither will I."

"They're my ancestors too." I pressed my forehead against the floor. "Please. Just one last chance."

"You're fresh out of chances. And I'm running low on this 'mercy' thing." He pulled on a black glove, his fingers cracking as they flexed and stretched. "Don't be so whiny. You couldn't pay the penance with honest labor, so you pay it with your life. A son of the pipiles should accept his sentence like a man."

"Like Hell." I yanked his feet from beneath him. His head cracked onto the marble floor, his neck arching as it bounced.

I sprinted for the double doors, pumping my arms like I was beating the crap out of the wind. The ends of my open jacket flapped as I leaned into the sprint. The doors crashed open, and I broke into the sunlight.

Cold iron clamped over my neck. It shoved me into the steps, forcing me to my knees. My nephew glowered at me with his horrible mechanical eyes.

"Please." I raised my trembling hands. "Rudy. Please. I can redeem myself. Give me a chance."

"Don't call me that." His grip on my neck tightened. "Don't talk to me like you're my family. Your sentence is too good for you."

He lowered his head, unhinging his jaw. His sharpened teeth slavered over my shoulder.

"Ugh." His hot breath tickled my ear. "I really don't want my poor mouth anywhere near you. Such cheap, stringy meat..."

"Señor Leandro!" A man so skinny he must have been half-telephone pole pushed through the rusty church gate. "There's an urgent message from the South Watch!"

Rudy turned away from me with a scowl. "Can't it wait? I'm a little busy zombifying my uncle here."

The messenger raised a spindly brow. "I did say it was urgent."

"Fine. What says the South Watch?"

"Walkers were spotted following the road to the Market. A Carrier was scented nearby."

"A Carrier?" His grip loosened, and I sucked in a shuddery breath. "I didn't think there was another in the area. I'll look into that later. How many Walkers?"

"Four. All younglings." The messenger brushed off a corner of his curling mustache. "I'll assemble a team straightaway, Señor."

"No need." Rudy's eyes whirred to mine. "Hey, Uncle. You asked for one more chance. I've just thought of a way you could redeem yourself."