Sinners 01 - Branded (31 page)

I reach up, pulling his bald head to my level. If it weren’t for his voice, I would’ve
never picked him out of the crowd. His curls have been replaced with a bold, dark
tattoo wrapping around his entire head.

“What did you do to your head?” I smack his chest.

“It’s a cobra,” he says. “I think it suits my personality.” He winks.

I nod my head, unsure of what to say.
Looks pretty freaking intimidating to me.

His cobalt-colored eyes fix on my crew. “Who are these guys?”

“Oh, that’s Bruno, Cole, and Cole’s guard dog, Zeus.” They shake hands and Keegan
smiles, but I feel tension for some reason.

“Well, I need to talk to my sister. You guys can rest up and dry by the fire. We’ll
be back.”

Cole locks eyes with me and shakes his head, not wanting to let me out of his sight.
I shrug. I guess it’s safe. I mean, it
is
my brother. So I follow Keegan down a narrow tunnel and through a small opening.
He opens a second door and I shuffle in, ducking under a five-foot walkway and into
a room that resembles a cave more than a bedroom. I shiver from the cold.

“You okay? I’ll see if I can get you another set of clothes.” Keegan carefully lights
a lantern and the room comes alive. “This is where I sleep.”

It’s almost bare except for the cot covered with a quilt and a pile of books lying
in the corner. The quilt forces me to pause. I pull it between my fingers and examine
the stitching.

“Is this?”

“Yeah. It’s the only thing I took when I left… It reminds me of the good times,” Keegan
says sadly. He sits on the cot and gestures me to sit as well.

“Oh.”

He takes my hand and reads my mind as I examine the plain space. His room reminds
me of a burrow with dirt-caked walls, dim lighting, and a musty smell. “It’s not as
bad as it looks. I only sleep here.”

“I guess. I don’t do well in small, closed spaces—that’s all.” I face him, but can’t
think of what I want to say. Or I know everything I want to say and don’t know how
to verbalize it for fear it’ll all come out wrong.

Thankfully, he senses my hesitance. “I regret leaving you every day of my life,” he
says. “But… I had no choice. There was only a small window of opportunity to get in
here.”

“Why here? Out of all places, you came here. You could’ve been killed and you didn’t
ever take into consideration who you were leaving behind.” I don’t want to be angry
with him, but part of me just can’t fathom leaving him behind if our places had been
switched.

He puts his face in his hands. “Of course I did—I still do. I always wondered if I’d
see you again, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it’d be in the Hole.
But you have to understand, I had no choice. I had to do what Dad asked of me.”

I yank his hands away from his face. “What are you talking about?”

“He never told you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Dad hated everything about this place. He hated the commander. He hated his lack
of morals and how the commander snuck up on everyone just to gain control. He hated
that he took away the ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ He hated watching all these
innocent people getting torn away from their families simply because someone didn’t
like them. It’s sick. I mean, look at you. We both know you did nothing wrong. You
shouldn’t be here and there’s thousands more who are innocent.” Keegan breathes deeply
and exhales while looking up at the ceiling. “Dad’s goal was to destroy the Hole and
revive the old judicial system. No, it wasn’t perfect. The system failed some innocent
people as well as freed some who should’ve been found guilty—but it was better than
this. Dad fought day in and day out, trying to find ways of making it better.” As
Keegan’s words register, it hits me.

My father believed in the revolt.

One time, he told me that he wanted to change the world for the better. He wanted
justice for all citizens, the way it should be. Honestly, I never understood what
he was referring to, but now, I have no doubt he wanted to destroy this hellhole.
He wanted the stories of countless faces unjustly accused heard.
People just like me.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve come with you.” I lean into him and feel his warmth
wrap around my shoulders. “I miss Dad. I miss him so much it hurts. When he died,
a part of me died right along with him, but I realized I still had my brother—he’d
love and protect me. Then you disappeared and my entire world shattered into a million
pieces. Every person I ever loved and trusted vanished out of my life and I was left
in the hands of a—” I stop.

His arms squeeze the air out of my lungs. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.
I can’t take back what I did to you, but you have to believe me when I tell you I
had no idea what kind of man our stepfather was, what he was capable of doing, what
he would do to you. If I did, I never, ever would’ve left you. Ever. If I knew he
was going to torture you, I would’ve killed him myself and taken you with me.”

“How—how do you know about that?”

“Sutton told me.”

“Wait, what? Sutton told you?” I stand up as anger shoots through me. “How would he
know?”

Keegan grabs my hands and swings me around. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“Tell me what?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Tell me what, Keegan?” I notice a twitch above his eye. He sits back down and pats
next to him. I remain standing.

He inhales. “Sutton was Dad’s best friend.”

My heart stops for a moment and I gaze at him in shock. “What are you talking about?”

“They’d been best friends since childhood. Practically brothers.”

“Then why don’t I remember him?” I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t remember seeing
him.”

“After Sutton became a doctor, he traveled a lot. His residency wasn’t anywhere near
where we lived so Dad didn’t see him much when we were growing up. They kept in close
contact, of course. Sutton volunteered to come here and work at the hospital. He wanted
to take care of people, but at the same time, he wanted to have contact with the inside.
Think about it. How else would Dad have gotten all the information about the Hole?”

His words confirm my suspicions. “So Sutton was his informant?”

“From the beginning. Sutton knows way more about the revolt than I ever did, but Dad
never told me in great detail. He didn’t want us to know anything that would end up
putting our lives in danger. Lexi, Dad was amazing. He loved humanity and saw potential
in everyone. All he wanted was to get the judicial system up and running again and
let the accused have their day in court—like it was before. Because of Sutton, he
knew everything that was going on in the Hole—the living conditions, the violence,
the torture. All of it. Every day he internalized his anger, his disgust, his hatred
for the commander, and did it well.” He leans back, resting his head against the wall.
I sit down beside him and rest my head on his shoulder as he continues. “I snuck in
the back of a guard’s truck and hid underneath his supplies when he drove into the
Hole. When it stopped, I jumped out and made a break for it. I came here in search
of answers and found them when I ran into Sutton. Right away I recognized him. I’m
not sure how or why, but the second I saw his face I knew who he was. It sorta freaked
me out.”

“I’m actually pretty pissed off right now. Why wouldn’t Sutton tell me? What? He didn’t
think I had the right to know—that I couldn’t handle it?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. Look, we both agreed it’d be best for you to hear all
this from me. Sutton won’t overstep his boundaries. He’s loyal, honest, and has a
damn good heart. When this is all over, we’ll control this place together, making
it right again.”

“I’m well aware he’s a good guy. It’s just the damn secrets I hate.”

“Some things, Lexi, you’re better off not knowing.” Keegan lowers his voice in a stern
manner.

I sigh and let Keegan take my hand in his. “Would you please stop trying to protect
me? I’m well aware of the horrific things that go on here. I’m living it.”

He stays silent for a moment and then examines my other hand. “Is that the ring Dad
gave you?”

I hold my body as still as I can. “Yeah, why?”

He pulls my opposite hand closer to his face, turning it around and watching the light
reflect off the gold. “Why the hell are you wearing it on your left hand? I swear
to God, if you’re married I’m going to kick your ass. I’m not joking.”

I pull my hand away, take off the ring, and place it on my right hand. “No, I’m not
married. I was rushing around this morning and I must’ve put it on the wrong hand.
It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve done it.”

I hate lying. It reminds me of my stepfather, but I don’t know if he’s ready to hear
the full truth about Cole and me.

“They would’ve taken it from you. How’d you manage to get it back?” He glares at me.

“They didn’t take it. They never found it. Just don’t ask me where I hid it, all right?”

He winces in disgust. “Oh, no you didn’t. Wow, that’s—” He shakes his head with disgust.

“Eww, enough. Please, can we talk about something else—anything,” I say. I hear him
laugh under his breath before he speaks.

“I must say, you have great critical thinking skills.”

“Keegan!”

“All right. I’m sorry.”

“Here… I’ll change the subject. Life in the Hole, it’s glamorous, isn’t it? I especially
love the food.” I roll my eyes with sarcasm and he laughs again.

“Crap, that reminds me. You’re probably starving, right?” A mischievous glint sparks
in his eyes.

I sigh, relieved I don’t have to explain that Cole gave me the ring back.
That Cole’s amazing, loyal, and I’m in love with him.

“Hey, did you hear me?” Keegan asks again.

“Uh, yeah sure, food sounds great.”

“Okay, and while we’re at it, I’m going to see if I can find you a pair of boots.
No offense, but your feet reek!” He stands and pulls me up after him.

Keegan leads me down one dank hallway after another. The maze that makes up his hideout
must’ve taken years to build. Each passage looks and feels the same with metal bars
climbing up the walls, the musty smell, and the constant dripping of water from pipes
above.

My feet sting with cold, but knowing I’m safe brings comfort I haven’t experienced
in years. Keegan stops and slides open a black gate and continues down the hall. Then
he swings a left and opens a large, heavy door.
I wonder what Bruno, Cole, and Zeus are doing while we traipse around?

Just then, the door creaks open and I’m blinded by lights and noise. He holds it and
motions for me to go in first.

The room opens up into a large area where people sit, eating from trays at their tables.
Dirt doesn’t cover these walls. They’re all cement with white paint slapped over top.
The fluorescent lights hang in rows over each table, making the room the lightest
I’ve seen. Around the right side is an area where the people fill their trays with
meat, potatoes, and vegetables. The smell wafts to my nose, making my stomach grumble
with desire. I haven’t eaten a decent meal in ages. I have to restrain myself from
sprinting to the line and filling my plate until it spills over in heaps, but then
my eyes catch the black, bold words painted along the back wall of the cafeteria.

Humans will not be a form of entertainment. And remember, my brave friends, you can
overcome anything short of death—so free them.

—
C. Hamilton

My mouth drops open and my eyes begin to water. My heart wells with pride. The words
are those of my father. I twist my ring around my finger, drawing strength from the
inscription and feeling his presence with me.

“Sutton had someone paint it years ago. It’s our daily inspiration.”

“It’s incredible. I love it. Just wish Dad were here to see it.” I wipe a tear away,
but although I’m crying, I feel hope spring up within me. Everything makes sense now—the
personal guard attached to me from the beginning, Sutton’s hiring me at the hospital
when I had no experience at all, and Wilson’s harassment.
My family’s been involved with the revolt for much longer than I ever knew.

“I know. Me too. Come on. We’ll talk more later, but for now, you need to eat.” Keegan
loops his arm through mine and gently pulls me in the direction of the line. He yells
greetings to several people as he parades me through the room. People seem generally
happy to see him and they even smile at me too.

Most of them have brands. They’re many colors, and sizes, but they eat together like
family. They even joke around as if they have no cares. Children weave their way through
the lines and dodge trays as they play tag.

I spot Cole and Bruno sitting at a table, gorging themselves. The sight of Zeus hovering
over Cole’s plate makes me laugh out loud. His slobber drips onto Cole’s forearm,
and I can see Cole’s face wrinkle with disgust.

“Come on, Zeus!” Cole complains. He pushes Zeus’s head away, but not before Zeus grabs
a pork chop off his plate and drags it onto the floor.

“Dude, the dog’s gotta eat too,” Bruno says with a huge smile.

They wave at me and I smile. They haven’t showered and are still covered in filth,
but they look happy. Cole’s perfect white teeth take my breath away. Keegan sits down
to talk to them and I think about how perfectly Cole fits into my family. I think
my father would approve of my choice.

I go through the line, picking up extra for Zeus, and then sit next to Cole. I enjoy
the bantering around me, breathe in the relaxed atmosphere, and relish the thought
of new shoes and a shower.

I shovel the food into my mouth and before I know it, I have to untie my pants to
loosen them a bit. “You can have my fruit if you want. I think I ate way too fast.
I feel like a balloon that’s about to explode,” I say to Cole.