Transform Me (A "Shatter Me" Trilogy Fanfiction)

TWENTY-NINE: WEDDING PREPARATIONS

29: Wedding Preparations

When I awake several hours later, the situation still hasn’t improved, although I feel marginally better now that I’ve had a chance to catch up on lost sleep.  Still, there’s an ache in my chest when I think of Kim and how much pain he’s in right now.  After all, out of everyone here, Kim is the one who feels the impact of Gupta’s treachery the most.

 There’s a strange hush in Souseiki Dousa, accompanied by occasional whispers and murmurs.  As I make my way into the mess hall for breakfast, I catch snippets of conversations.

 “Did you hear about Gupta?”

 “He was such a good kid.  I’d never expected him to betray us like this.”

 “Why did he kill the general?  What was his motive?”

 “What if he’s not the only traitor here?  What if there’s more?”

 I try to block them out as I find my usual seat.  The others are already here, but no one has touched his or her food.  Not even Juliette, Warner, and Kenji.  Kim is unsurprisingly nowhere to be seen and I wonder if he’s alright.  Everyone seated around the table looks dejected, but Warner is just as grim and as listless as he was last night during the interrogation.

 “I never saw it coming, you know.”  Jun is the first one to speak up.  “I mean, Gupta?  It’s just unreal.”

 “I know what you mean.”  Caitlan sighs forlornly.  “I hate how suspicious I feel of everyone else now.  The others may be right.  There might be another accomplice among us.”

 “But Devin’s gone through all of our minds and Gupta’s is the only one that revealed betrayal.”  I point out as I stir my food absently.

 “Maybe some are just better than others at keeping their own thoughts a secret.”  Warner voices out tersely.

 “What’s that supposed to mean?”

 Warner opens his mouth to speak, then decides against it and scowls instead.

 Juliette casts a worried glance in his direction.  “What is it?  Something’s bothering you.”

 “It’s nothing.  I’m just tired, is all.”  Then Warner looks at me from across the table, and I’m surprised at the intensity of his gaze.  But before I can ask him what his problem is, he rises to his feet.  “I’m going out for a walk.”

 “Do you want me to go with you?”  Juliette asks anxiously.

 He shakes his head and forces out a smile.  “I’ll be fine, love.  I promise.”

 As soon as he leaves, the table grows silent again.

 “All this negative energy is harmful to everyone.”  Caitlan says as she begins to eat.  Mechanically, I start doing the same.  “If everyone begins to doubt everyone, things are going to get real nasty real quick.”

 “We can’t let conflict and doubt crumble our unity.”  Jun adds grimly.  “We need some form of distraction, or some sort of event to remind us that we’re all still family here.”

 “What do you have in mind?”  Juliette asks curiously.

 “I’m not so sure.”  Jun sighs.  “I’m thinking of something along the lines of a concert, but not everyone here likes heavy metal.”

 “What about a wedding?”  It’s the first time Kenji speaks.  He’s careful to avoid any eye contact with me.

 “A wedding?”  Jun’s pierced eyebrows knit in confusion.