Chapter 13
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“So, Cameo,” Infinity said that night, “how did they react when you told them that you were the savior of the teens of Yellowknife, Canada?”
Cameo laughed, a beautiful, happy sound. “Pretty well, I think. I mean, no one lost their mind. And I think it was nice for them to have someone to talk to about…” He didn’t finish, a look of sadness shadowing his handsome features.
He and Infinity were around one of the many fires the teens had built in the roads. He and the older boys had spent the afternoon removing the bodies from houses and highrises throughout the city, and, after confirming identities, buried them in the middle of a large park, with painted rocks marking the graves. The girls had scrubbed homes free of blood, since they had no desire to help with the decaying corpses. Many of the younger teens had mourned their losses, but had all bounced back after realizing the sacrifice their parents had given for them. Cameo was the youngest boy taking care of the bodies, but, as he was the one who organized the effort, everyone else came to him for instruction.
He would never reveal his true feelings, but he was secretly very upset and mortified at all he had seen today. Hundreds of dead men and women, severed limbs, blood-stained walls, graves shoveled full of dirt. Tears stood unshed behind his closed eyes.
Tanner wove his way through the celebrating throng, nearly tripping over a few of the rollicking kids. Cameo stood up as he saw him approach. “You wanted to talk?” Tanner nodded and the two boys walked away from the fires, into the shadow of the Rale mansion.
“I just wanted to clarify what you meant earlier. You said something about Charisma being a wretch?” Tanner had a hint of concern tracing across his face.
“More like a demon whispering my greatest failings and weaknesses in my ear as I slowly die from grief and guilt,” Cameo responded, dead serious. Tanner raised his eyebrows.
“What did she say?”
Cameo sank to the ground, suddenly weary. Tanner sat next to him, not pressing for details, but a curious presence, all the same.
“She mentioned my little brother. I couldn’t listen to her anymore, but even if I could, the visions… Oh, the visions are the worst. The two men knocked on the door, and my mother answered it. They demanded she give us up, but she refused, said she'd rather die than let us go. The men told her that they'd arrange that, and barged in, storming upstairs, pinning my father and mother against the wall. They grabbed me and Colton and shot them in front of us. He was only thirteen. He shouldn’t have seen it!” Cameo ducked head, hiding the tears that spilled over his cheeks. Tanner placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
“It’ll be okay. You’ll save him, and all our sibs.”
“You’re right.” Cameo lifted his head. “I’ll save him. No matter the cost.” Tanner stood up and walked back to one of the fires, where he grabbed Emma’s hand and spun her around. Cameo trudged back to Infinity.
“You okay?” She asked. He nodded, not speaking, feeling the anger building. “Okay.” She pressed a kiss against his temple. “If you say so."
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