Sunset Rising

Then Madi struck her. Hard.

Crystal fell to the floor, and I watched, as if in slow motion, as Madi pulled her leg back and kicked Crystal in the stomach.

Something inside me snapped.

“Go home, Kai,” I said in a low voice.

I strode toward Madi, picking up speed as I went. I had to stop her.

She saw me coming and turned her attention to me. I thought I saw a smile on her face, and I was gladly going to wipe it off for her. As I closed the distance between us, she pulled her right arm back to throw a punch at me. I easily ducked it and brought my right fist into her stomach. As she doubled over, I snapped my knee into her face. I moved like Jack had taught me, allowing one move to create the next. I grabbed her by the hair, pulled her face up, and slammed her back against the table. I didn’t see her reach back and pick up an iron, but I saw it when she swung it at my head. I stepped back, and the iron missed me by less than an inch. The distance between us gave Madi an opportunity to punch me in the stomach. I felt the impact, but not as much as I could have. The vest I was wearing gave me an advantage. She pulled her hand back in pain, and I smiled. I brought my leg up and kicked her back against the table.

I came at her fast, but she recovered quickly and was ready for me. She bent down and came at me full on, grabbing me around my waist and pushing me backwards. I hit the floor hard, and she came down on top of me. She was heavier than I’d expected, and I struggled against her weight. To win this fight I would have to get her off of me. I rolled on to my side to throw her off, but I couldn’t get enough force behind the movement to budge her. Madi held my arms down at my sides. I was pi

“Now I got you, bitch,” she said sitting up on top of me.

She let go of my arms to use her fists against me and as soon as she did, I punched her, catching her at the base of her throat. Her eyes widened as both her hands went to her throat. She gasped for air. She rolled off of me onto the floor, and I got up as fast as I could, getting ready for her next attack. But none came. She flopped around on the floor looking for a breath that never came to her.

Madi was dying.

I had killed her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I watched in utter shock as Madi struggled to hold onto life. She obviously couldn’t breathe, and I didn’t know how to help. A heated numbness flushed through my entire body as the shock of what I had done penetrated my brain. I became aware of Crystal and Di staring at me. Sweat was dripping from my face, and I felt a little dizzy.

I stepped up to the sink and stuck my head under the faucet. I let the cold water run over the back of my neck before I turned my mouth to the stream and gulped. Finished, I leaned against the sink for a moment, trying to collect my scrambled thoughts.

I turned around to face them. “I didn’t mean to hurt her that much!”

Di picked up a sheet and threw it over Madi’s spastic body. Crystal and I both gave her a strange look.

“What? I don’t want to watch that mean old thing die.” Di shuddered. “And she got what she deserved if you ask me. Well done, Su

“Maybe you shouldn’t put the sheet over her until she’s dead,” I said.

“You take the sheet off if you want to,” Di said, shaking with revulsion.

Within seconds, Madi’s body became still, although none of us moved for a long time.

“Do you think she’s dead now?” Crystal asked.

“Yes,” I said.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about killing someone. A jolt of panic went through me, but then I remembered how hateful Madi was, and it went away. I knew I would be in a lot of trouble for killing a supervisor, but I was already wanted for execution. Life really wasn’t going to get any worse for me.

“What are we going to do now?” Crystal asked.

“You’re going to get upstairs before you’re late for the president’s party,” I said. I would deal with the body.

“But I can’t just leave you with this mess. It’s because of me that you —” Crystal began, but I cut her off.

“This is not because of you. This is because she was a mean and hateful woman who was spoiling for a fight. And I gave her one.” I wouldn’t let Madi’s death make us feel guilty. Di was right. She got what she deserved.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” Crystal asked.

“Jack taught me.” Fighting was the last thing I wanted to talk about right now.

“Is that what the two of you are teaching everyone in the common room?”

When Crystal mentioned it, I remembered I was supposed to be in the common room right then having di

“It’s not just about self-defense. It’s about uniting everyone to work together for a better future. Unfortunately, fifty people in a common room learning a few good moves aren’t going to change anything. We need everyone to make it work.” I knew I sounded preachy, but I didn’t care.

“Well, you can sign me up,” Di said brightly.

Crystal was looking at the lump under the sheet that used to be Madi. “After tonight, I’m a believer. No matter what, you and Jack have to succeed. You’re our only hope.”

Tears streamed down her face. Was she crying for Madi or for something else? Then I remembered she said she had heard things. Things she wasn’t supposed to hear. Did she know something the rest of us didn’t? I wanted to talk to her, but she was going to be late if she didn’t leave now, and I had a mess to clean up.

“You better get yourself upstairs,” I said.

“You’re a good person, Su

“You want to check her or should I?” Di asked. I raised my eyebrows. “To see if she’s dead or not.”

“I will.” Though I was pretty sure she was. I pulled back the sheet and nearly ran away screaming when I saw Madi’s eyes open wide and staring vacantly at me. I forced myself to check her pulse. There was none. “She’s dead.”

“Well, that’s it then. What will we do with the body?”

“I’ll get rid of it. I don’t want you to get involved any more than you are.”

“I hated that woman from the day I met her. I don’t mind helping to get rid of her.”

“Look, I have nothing to lose here. I’m already wanted for execution. But you’re free. Don’t get involved in this.”

“Free?” Di sounded surprised. “There’s not one person living down here who is free. ‘Cull’ is just another word for execution, and I’m due in less than a year. So stop being self-righteous and learn to accept help when it’s offered.”

I hadn’t expected that response from Di. She had always seemed so… tolerant of her situation. It surprised me that she might be fed up and angry, too.

“Okay. Help me get her in one of the laundry carts. Are you able to finish Crystal’s work and get it upstairs? I really don’t need anyone nosing around here tonight.”

“I can do that.”

I retrieved a cart full of dirty laundry and wheeled it alongside Madi’s body. I took out some of the clothes and motioned for Di to grab her arms while I picked up her legs. We hoisted her into the cart.

“Where are you going to dump her?” Di asked.

“Probably best I don’t say. That way when they find the body you can look genuinely surprised.” I put the pile of dirty clothes on top of her and made sure no parts were showing. “I’ll be back as soon as I can to help you finish the ironing.”

“Best hurry up before she gets stiff in there or you’ll have a time getting her out.” I didn’t respond. The thought was gross enough.

I rolled the cart out of the laundry room and checked the halls to make sure they were clear. There was one guard lounging against the wall, and I would have to walk past him to get to the mineshaft. I pulled my hat down over my eyes and strode purposefully past him.