chapter 9

She was a very stupid angel after all.

They stood and kissed, and the dawn was getting brighter, and the sounds of the camp waking up penetrated the tent.

"I have to go," Ethan said an inch from Penny's lips. "You'll stay here." Go to the dining room. Then come back. There will be a task for you, angel.

Penny nodded and pulled away from Ethan. She bent down for her pants and gasped from surprise.

"What is it?"

"It hurts," Penny said, startled. Although this word was not entirely accurate. Rather, it was very... sensitively? She looked up and shrugged her shoulders, overcoming the urge to grab onto the injured spot. "Nothing surprising. After what happened at night.

Penny turned away and turned to her clothes, and then heard Ethan close to her ear as he squeezed her shoulder.

"You've had it a lot, haven't you?" Do you understand?

Probably, she was not the only one in this tent who was stupid.

Penny turned to Ethan and smiled, running her hand over his cheek.

"I guess it's all the filth I used to poison you." You'll soon be strong again. And I will weaken.

Ethan stared at Penny for a few seconds, and then walked away. He took a vest lying on the floor and began to check the weapon in his pockets.

"Folders are stored in the shelf. Take them apart. By dates. Sort it out.

"Why?" Ethan frowned, and Penny hurried to explain, "Today is a trip to the fifth burial site, where the makeup has settled. Faithfully? I can...

Make-up people love the angelic smell.

— Not true. Today we are hunting for alpha.

"Alpha...

"Yes," Ethan snapped, putting on a fresh tank top. "Alpha, who was missed yesterday. The chasing drones managed to track him. He did not have time to go far, he joined the neighboring nest. In the Zeta sector.

"Okay," Penny said cautiously, already fully dressed. "What time is it going out... sir?

"Not at all for you. You'll stay here.

"But why?"

"Do you condemn my orders?" Ethan barked. "Have you forgotten your place?" He brought his face closer to Penny's and grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to throw her head back.

"No, sir.

"That's good. You'll stay here. A task for you. Disassemble the racks.

After checking his equipment one last time, Ethan left the tent without looking back.

***

The camp had already woken up when Penny went outside. From the side of the dining room there was a smell of fire and smoke, the morning cold chilled to the bone. Penny walked to the communal tent, trying to look normal instead of like she had reunited with the love of her life, had sex with him all night long, and cummed twice.

In general, I tried not to smile too widely on this usual cloudy morning, smelling of gunpowder, rubber and sweat.

"We weren't expecting you," Corinne came around the corner and bit the tip of her thumbnail. "You look lousy.

"You too," Penny muttered, trying to get past her, but Corinne tugged at her arm, turning her toward her. The guys from the squad who appeared around the corner, the squat stout Rick and the thin tall Jeff, stepped closer.

"What kind of bald ghoul are you walking around here, Penny?"

"I'm going to the dining room. What do you want? Penny threw off her hand and winced in annoyance.

"Me?" No problem. But what would happen if the High Inquisitor found out that you were hanging around here instead of sitting in his tent and waiting for the trial?

Penny blinked.

"But why do people like you need a trial? The High Inquisitor is wise, why kill you in vain if you are already torn apart by the alpha today?

That's it... There was no prison in the camp, and commissars who violated military regulations awaited trial in ordinary tents guarded by their former comrades. On rare occasions, in the tent of the High Inquisitor, whose mere presence weighed so hard that the thought of escaping could not even arise.

"I'm not going with you today.

"Why would that?"

Corinne's normally handsome face twisted into a smirk, and Penny pushed her away from her.

"They're gone," a voice barked behind them, and a crowd of goosebumps ran down Penny's skin. "Corin, Rick, Jeff - to the training ground. Angel - I think I gave you a task?

"Penny isn't coming with us, sir?" Corin turned to him instantly. "But how?..

She paused, but Penny understood perfectly well what Corinne wanted to ask. It's stupid to go hunting without bait, when here it is, take it and use it.

"The angel has a different mission," Ethan said. "To the training ground. Quickly!

"Carrion," Corin said with her lips as she walked away.

"Why are you standing here?" Do you have nothing to do?

"S-sir...

"Go away." And don't get caught by anyone else.

***