You finish suiting up for the wedding, all the while thinking about Toney and what you thought you heard him say—and if he actually was there and said anything at all.
“I thought these folks did all the decidin’ for you?”
You hear his voice repeat the question over and over. Each time, images of Gail and her father appear in your mind, proving what he said a hundred times over. But then, sometimes you repeat the words and you see Claire.
“She is different,” you think to yourself. “Why didn’t she take the gun? Is she part of this too? What is she really asking you to do?”
Scratching your head, you walk into the bathroom and pause, staring at your feet. You close your eyes and wait for a moment, taking in a deep breath before slowly lifting your head.
“Look up. Be the Vulture.”
When you open them again, you are staring in the mirror and see a man dressed in a perfect three-piece gray suit with a black tie and mint accents staring into your eyes. From the outside he looks well-built, standing up straight and could easily pass as one of the most powerful people in town. However, behind his eyes is a terrified young man that is facing a decision that will undoubtedly change the entire course of his life, whether he makes the decision to go through with it or not.
You push your hands against your face and run your fingers through your hair. You breathe in short breaths and your feet squirm inside your new, shiny black shoes. Your anxiety builds until your teeth push together hard enough to make your jaw ache. You’re suddenly overcome with the urge to pull your fist back and punch a hole straight through the center of the mirror.
But you don’t.
Your eyes pass through the room, looking into each corner and at each fixture as if it will most certainly be the last time you ever do. You want to believe there’s another way out but there are no windows and only thin, narrow vents. You suck back a shiver of desperation and try to recompose yourself. You look back at the mirror and see a bead of sweat resting on your hairline.
You pause and let out a long breath. It’s time.