not an it!” Odetta said. “His name is Conrad!”
Bennet hesitated. “I’m sorry?”
“Excuse me,” Sebastian said, satisfied that there were no other Hollow Men in the building, “but what exactly is going on here?”
“We’re in love!” Odetta said.
“Yes, we are,” said Bennet.
“Not me and you!” Odetta said, almost angrily. “We! We are in love!”
Bennet looked at his wife and the Hollow Man. “I’m missing something here.”
“I … I think she’s leaving you,” said Sebastian. “I think she wants to spend the rest of her life with it. Sorry. Him. What’s his name again?”
“Conrad,” said Odetta.
Bennet laughed. Then his laugh failed and he lowered the gun. “What?”
“It’s true,” Odetta said. “I’m so sorry, Bennet. I didn’t want you to find out this way, but I didn’t know how to tell you. I got scared. I thought just walking away would be the best thing, but then I knew you’d be worrying, so I had one of Conrad’s friends deliver that message … I suppose it’s good, that you’re here. We can finally talk about it.”
“You’re … in love with … with that?”
“With him,” Sebastian corrected.
“But he’s a Hollow Man,” Bennet said. “He’s made of paper. I don’t get how this is remotely possible?” Tears brimmed. The gun fell to the floor. “You’re leaving me?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“You’re leaving me for a man made out of paper?”
Odetta wept. “Please don’t be nasty,” she said.
“But we’re married. Why are you leaving me? You can’t leave me – we’re married. What about our son?”
“Kase knows. He understands.”
“But we were going to have more children. We talked about it, about giving Kase a little brother or sister.”
“He can still have that. But you won’t be the father.”
“Odetta, come on,” Bennet said, moving forward. “Be reasonable. You can’t have children with a Hollow Man.”
“He has a name!” Odetta said, her anger rising again.
“This is ridiculous! The only way you could have children with it is if they’re on a paper chain!”
“How dare you!”
“Is that what you want, Odetta? You want paper-chain children? Is that it? You want origami kids?”
Odetta punched Bennet so hard his knees buckled and he fell.
“Don’t say nasty things!” Odetta shouted. “You know why I fell in love with him? Because he listens! You say nasty things whenever you get upset! You’re a nasty man! I can’t stand it! I can’t stand it any more!”
“But … but I love you …” Bennet said, struggling to get up.
“The only person you love is Darquesse,” Odetta spat. “And that is sick beyond reason! There is something seriously wrong with you if you worship that monster! She murdered over a thousand people! How can you talk about her like she’s this majestic, heavenly creature when she’s killed so many? You, you and your sick friends, there’s something wrong with you all!”
Sebastian hesitated, then helped Bennet to his feet. The man felt like kindling in his hands.
“Odetta …”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Odetta said. “And I think you should move out. I’ll be back on Sunday. You better not be there.”
“Can we … can we just talk about it?”
“Talking to you has never got me anywhere,” Odetta said. “Go home now, Bennet. The next time I talk to you, I’ll be divorcing you.”
“No, no, please …”
“I’m going to say this once and once only, so open your ears and listen to it. It’s only one word. Even you can absorb one word. Ready? Here it comes.”
“No. Don’t. Please. Who else will love me?”
She leaned in. “Goodbye.”
“Hello.”
His voice. Deep, and smooth. Like velvet.
Valkyrie sat hunched over on the bed, her phone to her ear. Elsewhere in the clinic, beyond her room, people were talking and machines were beeping, but in here Valkyrie was trembling. Her whole body shook.
“I know you’re there,” he said. “I can hear you breathing.”
She stared at the wall.
“That’s OK,” he said. “You don’t have to talk. I can do the talking for both of us. You’re probably feeling very alone right now. This is understandable. You’re afraid and you’re confused and you’re panicking.”
“It fades,” she managed to say.
“I’m sorry? What was that?”
“Smoke’s corruption,” she said. “It fades away after forty-eight hours.”
“That’s what you’re hanging on to? That’s what you’re pinning your hopes to? Valkyrie, whatever makes you think that I would want this to wear off?”
“Because you’re not yourself.”
“This doesn’t change who I am. I’m still me, Valkyrie. I’m just a more efficient version of me. I’ve left behind so many little rules.”
She shook her head. “Smoke controls you. You’re a slave.”
“I could see how you would think that, but I’m afraid you’d be wrong. The only time in my life, such as it is, when I’ve felt more liberated than I am right now is when I wore armour. You should try this. You should join us. I’m sure you’d be a boon to the anti-Sanctuary.”
“Help us,” she said. “Lethe … Smoke … they think you’re on their side.”
“I am on their side.”
“I don’t … I don’t believe that.”
