The Weapon (The Hourglass Series Book 2) Read Free

sinking in through her bubble of
happiness.
    “You’re
not going to stay, are you?”
    Sarah
glanced at Finn, and then shook her head.
    “But,
the Hourglass Group… after all they’ve done?”
    “We’re
not giving up entirely, Mar,” Finn assured her. “We’re just going to do it
quietly. We might,” he threw Sarah a quick glance, and she nodded, “throw a few
spanners into the works if the opportunity arises, but we’re not going out
machine guns blazing.”
    This
seemed to mollify Marland a little bit until she remembered that they were
still going.
    “But
you’re still going?”
    “Yes,
hopefully with a little help from Harmony,” said Sarah with a hopeful glance in
Harmony’s direction.
    “Yes,
of course,” said Harmony with a glint in her eye, “especially if you were
serious about those spanners.”
    “We
are.” Sarah turned back to Marland. “Mar, come with us, hey?”
    Marland
shook her head sadly and grabbed Gary’s hand. “Sorry Sarah, this is where I’m
meant to be. This is my purpose. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of.”
    “Yeah,
I thought so,” said Sarah with a sad grin, “it was worth trying though.”
    “Excellent,”
said Harmony, standing up and ending the session before Marland could change
her mind. “I’ll start talking to people about preparations. Marland, we’re
going to need to find you somewhere permanent to sleep.”
    Finn
stood up as well.
    “Harmony,
before you go, can I chat to you about this?” He held up his wrist with the
barcode burnt into it. “It has to go.”
    “I’ve
been thinking about that.” She turned to Marland, “Marland, I think you should
keep yours, as further proof that what you say is real.” Marland nodded
happily. Harmony turned back to Finn. “Are you sure you want to destroy yours?
They prove who you are.”
    “I
hate every second it’s there,” said Sarah. Finn nodded in agreement.
    “The
options of removing it aren’t exactly gentle, you know,” said Harmony
warningly. “We’re a small, independent town. No laser removal here.” Sarah’s
heart sank.
    “What
about a tattoo?” Sarah didn’t really want a tattoo either, but the alternative
was unthinkable.
    Harmony
just shook her head. “A tattoo won’t work. The scanner reads the raised edges
of the scar as well as the image. Unfortunately ink alone won’t smooth out your
skin. We can cut it out, but you’ll probably need a skin graft and those things
take weeks to heal. If you went on the road with a new one of those, even if it
did take, it would probably get infected. The only other option is-”
    “I’m
not getting it burnt off.” It was a statement. Sarah had enough history with
burns to last her a lifetime.
    Harmony
shrugged. “Then you cover it up, because that’s it.”
    “You
can burn me,” said Finn, determined. “I want it off.”
     

Chapter Four
     
    Sarah,
Finn and Marland sat tensely on the table in the small kitchen, waiting for
Harmony to arrive. Greg was there as well, standing next to where Marland was
sitting. There was a small but hot fire burning away fiercely in the corner.
    Sarah
bit her lip nervously. “Are you sure you want to-”
    “Yeah,”
cut in Finn.
    There
was a pause.
    Marland
had a go. “But its proof that-”
    “Don’t
care. Want it off.”
    Marland
nodded silently and Greg squeezed her hand supportively.
    Finn
turned to Sarah. “You should do this too. If they catch us they’ll know
everything about you as soon as they scan you.”
    “I
know, I want it off too, but…” the Hourglass insignia burnt onto her
shoulder-blade and the barcode on her wrist itched simultaneously, “I just, I
just can’t be burnt again.”
    Finn
stared at her for a moment and then nodded once. He turned back around to the
stove, which they were all facing.
    Harmony
walked through the door and they all jumped slightly. She was carrying a metal
rod. She held it up briefly, showing it to them.
    “I
got the medic to clean this so it