Free Edge of Mercy (Young Adult Dystopian)(Volume 1) (The Mercy Series) by C. C. Marks

hushed.
    “The Council will see it differently.”
    Not for the first time, my resentment for the Council bubbled up, and I clenched my jaw at the thought of the Council sitting in their comfortable quarters, waiting for their meals, and making life and death decisions like I chose clothes to wear to school years ago. Insulated and protected as they were, they hadn’t had to fear for their lives in a long time. Perhaps too long a time had gone by since they’d even heard Draghoul screams close by. They forgot how terrifying a world it was for the unprotected.
    We broke the tree line and walked around the field where a group of workers gathered, drinking water and talking. At our approach, the conversation died, and the men’s gazes turned toward us, focused on the slow amble of the woman.
    Their voices carried, but their words weren’t meant for us.
    “Is that what I think it is?”
    “Who is that?”
    Nick Stone, one of the senior guards stepped out of the group, his eyes more alarmed than concerned. “Zeke, what have you done?”
    What had we done? From the reactions, I thought we’d committed the ultimate sin. Sure, the woman behind us was a complete stranger and could carry the infection, but she asked for our help, and the decent thing to do was to offer her shelter until a reason not to surfaced.
    “We did a quick check. She doesn’t have any bites or scratches. She’s just a woman by herself. Says her family’s all succumbed to the infection, she’s starving and needs help.”
    The senior guard grunted. “And where did she get the idea we’d help her? Did you offer it up again, Zeke? Even after what happened last time?”
    My gaze flew to Zeke’s profile. His jaw was clenched like a fist. Now I knew Nick spoke of Zeke’s consequence for helping me.
    At the time, I’d known the Council called him before them. I hadn’t realized they’d given him nightwatch, too.
    “It was my idea. I said we could help her, the way you helped me.”
    They stared at me in silence, their eyes scrunched in confusion and horror as if I’d explained everyone had to sleep in the forest tonight. What was the big deal? Was it wrong to help someone?
    “Then, you can be the one to explain it to the Council.”
    “I was there too. He didn’t do it alone.” Zeke’s gritted admission didn’t sound happy.
    “You can both talk to the Council. Doesn’t matter to me.” He turned to the group, waved his hand above his head, and let out a piercing whistle. “Let’s go! Day’s work is done.”
    His focus zeroed in on the woman behind us. “Take her to the holding cells until she’s cleared of infection.” His gaze shifted to me as he continued, “You two, report to council chambers immediately. Don’t get something to eat, don’t clean up, don’t even relieve yourself. They’ll want to see you right away.”
    Every muscle in my body tightened. No doubt about it, I’d splatted right into a pile of goat crap this time.
     

Chapter 5
     
    “Tell us again, boys. Why did you bring the woman back to the fields?”
    I swallowed hard. Zeke and I stood in front of a half-moon, wooden table in the center of an otherwise unremarkable room. I glanced around the white walls and beige carpet. It had obviously once been a large office of some kind, but I hadn’t been inside this room for months. At the start of the year, I’d been summoned right after my sister was born, and my mother had died. The Council had to decide what to do with me. At the time, I hadn’t really paid attention to my surroundings, too focused on my fate instead. As I looked around now, it occurred to me I’d expected the Council to live a little more rockstar . I mean, for as much special attention as they got, they didn’t live lavishly. It wasn’t at all fit for an elitist group, and as I looked at their emotionless faces, I felt a little bit thrown off.
    Every nerve in my body stood on edge as I clasped my shaking hands in front of me and spoke,