CHAPTER FORTY NINE

Arc

Arc didn't understand, but his irritation simmered, threatening to boil over and unleash hell on anyone in his path. As he bent to muck out the pigpen, a gruff voice growled from behind him.

"Something wrong with you, boy?"

Arc didn't need to turn; the tone was unmistakably Bill's.

"Fine," Arc replied, his curt response a warning.

A grunt sounded, followed by the unmistakable sound of Bill spitting. "You don't look it."

"I'm doing my job, aren't I?" Arc retorted.

"Well, you're doing it with an attitude," Bill snapped. "You'll scare my sweet piggies away with that long face of yours."

Arc clenched his jaw, choosing silence.

"Don't care how you're feeling, boy," Bill continued. "As long as you get your work done. No work, no pay."

Bill's crunching footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Arc with the unspoken threat.

Hours later, Arc discovered he'd be working overtime. One of the other workers had fallen ill with severe diarrhea. The ext