A lot of Graces aren’t actually the massive, terrifying monsters the Angels have adopted into their ranks. Graces like those are a rare blessing, where the mass of mutations creates something useful. Most of the time, your body shatters into something just shattered. Dad and I found one a few days ago: a person turned inside out, lungs bulging as they gasped for air again and again.
That’s when it dawns.
The Vanguard are too afraid to do this themselves.
With all the skulls and flags, the firepower and muscle, they can’t handle what the Watch does. They’re too scared to fight back, so they’re using kids to do it instead.
Nick says, “It killed our friend.”
Silence.
“Right,” Joey finally says. The tooth goes next to the ears. “My condolences.”
“Is that enough for you?” Nick says. I can hear the grit of his teeth, the tension in his jaw. “We’ve done what you wanted.”
Joey says, “It’ll have to do,” and turns to the man beside him. “Two cases and all boxes but the big one.”
The big one: the one with fresh socks sticking out the top and pill bottles peering from the seam in the cardboard.
Salvador cries, “What the fuck, man!” Cormac lurches forward like he’s itching for a fight, and Nick just makes a quiet, broken sound. Even I can’t help myself.
“You can’t do that!” I protest. I turn to Nick. “Can they do that? They can’t just do that, right?”
“Stand down,” Nick warns us.
“One of those ears just wasn’t up to snuff,” Joey says. “Sorry if we’re a little cautious these days. We’re low on supplies too. Everybody is. And we decide what’s worth it. I’m sure you kids understand.”
“We made,” Nick grits out, “a deal.”
“And that deal,” Joey says, “is contingent on you doing your jobs. Look, kids. We go through a lot to get this to you. We’re taking this away from our own wives and children on the promise that you’re making the city safer for us.” I knew it. “We thought it was a good deal at the time. And if this is all we get on our end, maybe our families will decide this isn’t worth it.”
A threat.
Nick crumbles.
“Fine,” he says. His eyes drop to the floor and his fingers tighten around the bead lizard. This doesn’t look right—this doesn’t look like him. “Fine. Okay.”
“That’s what I thought,” Joey says. “Let’s load you up.”
I grab a case of water and carry it over to the sled. It’s probably forty pounds, and my hands ache when I set it down. I can feel the woman’s eyes on my back, their eyes on all of us. Cormac lingers by one of the pillars holding up the roof, assigned to his spot as a guard, glaring Joey down.
“Bunch of fucking assholes,” Salvador whispers to me when our arms brush tying down the boxes. Two cases and all boxes but the big one. Under the mask, xyr face twitches with rage. Xe looks like xe’s going to explode as soon as we’re out of earshot. “Can’t fucking stand them.”
This is why the Watch fights Angels. To trade pieces of flesh for supplies that are just stolen right back out from underneath them. Taunted with food and medicine by grown-ups who talk down to them like they’re toddlers. Grown-ups who should know better. A bunch of cowards.
Nick shakes Joey’s hand, sharp and quick. The bead lizard rattles. He’s angry. We all are. They lost their friend to the Angels, and this is all they get in return: some water and disrespect.
That settles it. This is what I want to do. I can help. I can make the Angels suffer for it.