Lost Highway(11)

“Staring at the couch?”

“Yes.”

“That’s very interesting.” When Quill doesn’t react, I squirm lower under the blanket. “This is more comfortable than the mattress in the other room.”

Quill says nothing for the longest time, but the silence isn’t so bad when he’s around versus when I’m alone.

“You haven’t asked for food,” he finally says.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Hunger isn’t a problem in the Lost Highway. Eating is a choice here.”

“Yet the Death Dealers cannibalize.”

“Eating humans is a strong taboo. Killing and consuming fellow human beings is as primal as one can become.”

“Have you eaten anyone?”

“No.”

“Don’t you want to go primal?”

“No.”

“Do the other Death Dealers think you’re a goody-two-shoes for not eating them?”

Quill doesn’t respond, but I laugh quietly at the thought of peer pressure between killers. My humor fades as my thoughts return to what Quill insists on calling a closet. The voices still echo in my mind, and I know they’re waiting for me downstairs.

“I’m going to sleep now,” I say, shivering under the thick blanket.

My gaze notices the bandage Quill wrapped around my leg. I haven’t felt the pain in hours.

“Are you going to bed?” I ask him after my eyelids grow heavy.

“No.”

“Will you be here when I wake up?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

In the dark room, I can’t read his expression. I only know he says he’ll stay with me tonight, and I believe him. Quill is scary and emotionless, but I believe he’s also the best and sanest Death Dealer in the Lost Highway.





Chapter Twelve


Quill




Odessa sleeps for hours on the living room couch. Using only the TV lighting, I memorize every curve of her delicate face. She opens her eyes just after the dull sunlight illuminates the room. I don’t look away when her gaze finds mine. Odessa frowns at me, but I refuse to bow to her will. If she doesn’t want me to look at her face, she can cover herself with the blanket.

“Did you sleep at all?” she asks, sitting up.

“I don’t need to sleep.”

“Did you at least get to recharge your batteries?”

I don’t react, but Odessa grins at her snide remark. She’s quite pleased with herself when she stands up.

“What now?” she asks.

I remain in my chair a bit longer, forcing her to wait. Once I finally get to my feet, she smiles as if she’s won.

“We should look at repairing your room. There’s no telling how long we’ll have access to the outside of the cabin.”

“Okay,” she says, following me down the hall.

I unlock the bolt on her room and swing open the door. Behind me, Odessa gasps and backs away.

The room is splashed with a reddish green liquid. As I step through the door, Odessa grabs my arm.

“Don’t go in,” she whispers. “Just close and lock the door.”

“It’s clearly gone,” I say, wrenching my arm free. “There’s nowhere for it to hide in here.”

“It could be in the hole.”

I walk to the gaping exit in the wall and lean down to look inside. “It’s empty.”

“What was it?”

“A nocturnal creature I’ve never seen before.”

“I’m not sleeping in here again.”

“I’ll block the exit.”

“I’m still not sleeping in here.”

I find Odessa with her arms crossed and a defiant expression in her green eyes. When I step closer, she flinches, and I smile at her fear.

“You cannot have my room,” I tell her.

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No.”

“I don’t want to sleep where Tom kept his victims.”

“I don’t care what you want.”

Odessa studies me. Though afraid, she refuses to back down this time.

“This is a female trick to convince me to give you my room and have me take the couch.”

“Yes, my flatly stating I will not sleep in that room is part of my devious plan. You’re very astute when it comes to the female mind.”

“I can’t sleep on the couch. It’s too short, and I’m too tall.”

“I don’t want your bed. It’s Tom’s old bed, and I don’t want to sleep where he slept. I’ll take the couch.”

“You’re lucky to have a place to sleep. I hear some Death Dealers keep their cattle hanging from the ceiling.”

“Cattle?”

“Trophies, cattle, dolls, meat. Each Death Dealer has their own term.”

“What’s yours?”

“Complication.”

“Since I’m a Death Dealer, what shall I call my companion? Oh, I know, you’re the tallest, darkest, and most handsome robot in all of creation.”

“Mine is catchier,” I say, surprising myself with a hint of a smile.