72
ŞAPTE ZECI ŞI DOI
walked, head down, toward Liliana’s building. The street milled with people. I turned to leave. I couldn’t be seen.I “Psst.”
A figure motioned to me from between two buildings. Starfish. I joined him in what appeared to be a makeshift command center.
“People are looking for you,” he said.
“They should’ve checked Jilava.”
Starfish whistled below his breath. “You okay?”
“Do I look okay?”
“Not really.”
“Liliana was there too. They’re holding her and a bunch of kids at the detention place your cousin was at. I have to let her family know. And I have to find Luca.”
“Was Luca with you? His family is looking for him.”
Could I trust Starfish? I had no choice. “Luca was shot,” I whispered.
“They arrested me, and I don’t know what happened to him. I have to check the hospitals.”
Starfish shook his head, taking a breath. “Your sister’s looking for you too.”
“I can’t go home. My mother will make me stay there. Help me, Starfish. Please.”
“Reporters are on watch. Don’t let them see you. I can get you into Liliana’s building through the back. Follow me.”
Starfish gave a whistle and a young man appeared from nowhere to take over his post. He worked his magic and got me into the building
without being seen.
The electricity was off.
“Thanks, man. I don’t have anything to give you. But to get to Luca and Liliana, I’m gonna need Kents,” I told him.
“I’m out. I’ll see if Mirel has some. I’ll meet you in the stairwell.”
I slowly climbed the steps and knocked on Luca’s door. No one answered, but I heard noise inside.
“It’s Cristian,” I said, knocking louder. I took off my filthy shoes.
The door opened a crack. A sliver of a face appeared. Her eyes
expanded.
“Your face is broken.”
“C’mon, Dana, let me in.”
She opened the door and quickly shut it.
“We’re here alone,” announced one of the younger girls. “But we’re not supposed to tell anyone and we’re not supposed to open the door. Our parents are out looking for Luca. Have you seen him?”
“I saw him last night around eleven o’clock.”
“Was he okay?” asked Dana.
I paused. “I’m not sure. Is the water on?”
“It’s poisoned.” She shrugged. “That’s what people are saying.”
“I just need to wash up.” I grabbed a candle from their kitchen, a pair of Luca’s pants, and went to the bathroom to change. I had to hurry. If someone was following me—or if Starfish was informing on me—I was putting Luca’s sisters in danger.
“Luca’s tall. His clothes won’t fit you,” said his sister outside the bathroom door.
Luca was tall. When he jumped up to save me, he was an easy target.
Scenes from the street rolled back at me: tracer fire, pops of gunfire, Adrian falling, Luca’s shoulder and arm moving in that unnatural way. So much blood. I grasped the cold sink and shook my head to clear the thoughts.
A stranger stared at me from the mirror. My face was covered in crusty badges of dried blood. My nose was a swollen knot. I washed as best I could and rolled the hems of Luca’s pants to fit. I went into the kitchen, pinched a small piece of bread, and retrieved the pad of paper from the drawer. I wrote a note and put it in my pocket. I’d slide it under the door of Liliana’s apartment if no one was there.
Dana cornered me in the hall. “Just tell me,” she said.
“If your parents come back, tell them I was here and that I’m looking for Luca. Tell them I’m checking the hospitals.”
“The hospitals?” Her eyes filled with tears. “Is he okay?”
“I’m not sure,” I whispered.
Because I wasn’t.