SH: Woo! Home stretch, are you ready ?
CPShawna: Yep!
Alex: Yes !
Erik: woo,buddy!
-1-
It wasn’t just the crutches he was barely holding on to, it was something about his demeanor that was different than I had ever seen at my time here. He was in the far left of the line up, his eyes were to the sun
Everyone’s eyes are always to the sun. This is a horrible line, I will never use again.
and had a tranquil vacant quality to them. There was a near perfect and elegant quality about his face.
It’s the drugs !
I felt for him instantly; maybe he was like me and just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I glanced at Sgt. Maxwell to see if he saw the same qualities in the prisoner I saw but, Sgt. Maxwell was too busy shouting out the orders. In the end, he left the man, Mr.Gray standing there. I guess Sgt. Maxwell did see the good in him.
SH: Aww, I never realized Alex might have a crush on Alan.
Alex: I...do..not *blushes and hides*
"Now, what the hell are we supposed to to with you ?," Sgt. Maxwell asked him.
"Let me go ?," Mr. Gray said.
He was either bold or stupid to talk back to Sgt. Maxwell like that, I was sure Sgt. Maxwell was going to yell at him but he merely went into a long speech before assigning Mr. Gray to one of the worst jobs at camp.
Washing dishes if you don’t remember
-2-
When all of the prisoners were assigned, the rest of us were dismissed to complete our activities for the day. I took a minute to myself and wandered over to the infirmary to take the last of the painkillers Maj. Channing had prescribed me. My ear had healed fine and did not hurt me at all but, I figured I may as well finish the bottle.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Frank,” I greeted Dr. Frank as I entered the infirmary.
SH:Why is it Channing had a rank, but this guy doesn't.
CPShawna: Ooops ? He's a jerk anyway.
He was busy on his Syndicate and ignored me as I stood on the chair to take the bottles of pills of the top shelf.
I swallowed the pills quickly with the 2 cups of water and left to complete the paper work on the new prisoners.
I made my way to County Hall and into Sgt. Maxwell’s office. Corp. Lansing was standing at Sgt. Maxwell's desk filling out some documents.
“Good afternoon, Sgt. Maxwell, Corp. Lansing,” I said as I headed to my desk.
“Do not close the door.” Sgt. Maxwell responded, turning the volume up on the news show he was watching.
“I didn’t, sir.” I said
“Do not take that tone with me, Haley”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
I forgot why Maxwell is so mad. Maybe Alan ?
The room was silent, Corp. Lansing left soon and Sgt. Maxwell and I ignored each other like strangers .
“Damn it, am I suppose to solve every problem ?,” Sgt. Maxwell said loudly into his Syndicate.
He threw the pen in his hand down.
SH: It’s 2081, why does he have a pen ?
CPShawna: It’s 2081 ? Oops, I forgot. Well, better throw the word Syndicate in there.
“Haley!," he barked
“Yes, sir ?,”
“Go meet Corp. Strange in the mess hall to wash the tables. We are a few prisoners short because of that idiot on crutches,”
Vice!Luce: Wait. Alan gets crutches ? I get my fucking leg ripped off an I don’t get crutches ! What the hell ?
SH: Okay, whoa, whoa, you’re really not supposed to be here. Go away !
CPShawna: Um, Luce you don’t talk like that…in fact, you don’t
talk. And why are you a brunette now ?
Alex: Hey, I like your arm tattoo, I have one too....wait. Wait, you’re fourteen, I look fourteen to some people...wait Shawna I am in Vice, right ?
SH: Moving on !
“Yes, sir.”
I gladly left the silent office and went to the empty mess hall.
I approached Corp. Strange, who was standing in the corner with a rag and a bucket of water at his feet.
Looking around there were only about 30 tables in the mess hall, Corp. Strange could have easily done it on his own but, I bit my tongue at the thought.
He handed me the rag and I started working, the tables were not even that dirty but, he stood over me inspecting every move I made.
After 30 minutes I was only half way through because he kept adding his own commentary and telling me to start over. In my head I thought about how if we worked together we could have been done much sooner. As I took the rag to the bucket to rinse it out another need began to bother me, I decided to take a break and set the rag down.
“Hey, where the hell are you going ?,” Corp. Strange spat at me
“I just have to go to the bathroom, sir,” I said.
I had been working since early morning and hadn’t gone to the bathroom all day. That and the water I had with my pills was beginning to weigh on me.
“You should have asked, first," Corp. Strange said
My face felt like it was burning. I never had to ask before.
“I’m sorry, sir. May I go to the bathroom, sir ?”
“No.” he said
"No ?,"
"Are you coping an attitude with me ?," he asked
"No,sir. I'm sorry sir."
"That's what I thought." he said
He walked closer to me and put his hand on my shoulder like he was going to push me.
"Don't touch me." I said backing away.
Vice!Luce: That’s my line. What the fuck ?
Alex: Um, well. Not to be mean, whoever you are, but I was here first, so technically it is my line.
SH: As you both know I have no recollection of writing any of this, so moving on.
"Or what ?" he challenged, " Now, stop with the attitude and finish the job I gave you."
“Yes, sir” I responded
It only took me 20 minutes to finish the rest of the tables..
“Am I dismissed, sir ?,” I said
He stood up and walked around with his hands behind his back, he was walking like Sgt. Maxwell.
“No.” he picked up another rag,” You need to do the floors.”
“Fine, sir but, may I go to the bathroom first, please?,” I asked
“No. Now get on the floor and give me 25 pushups,”
“What ?,”
Okay, I’m going to explain why this scene exists. Firstly, I wanted to show Alex getting bullied (Break The Cutie !) by officers, so we understand why he isn’t super loyal to them and willing to befriend a prisoner.
Secondly, in Hidden I wanted Alex to be androgynous on the outside, but I also knew he was a boy. And I wanted it to be made clear in Hidden he was a boy, so in order for this to happen I needed Alan to see Alex’s penis (yes, I said it) and there are really but so many ways to make this happen. So, in Hidden, Alan walks up on Alex urinating outside (Here comes the fridge horror) by the cafeteria. But they also have bathrooms and Alex is all rule-follow-y, so I needed him to have to go pretty badly to do it outside.
The word and tone I said it in slipped out before I caught it.
“Excuse me ?,”
“I’m so-“
“Since you feel like talking back, you can drop and give me 50."
SH: Not to make this any worse than it already is, but this scene could have ended with some of that corporal punishment we talked about earlier, but never did anything with.
CPShawna: Huh ? Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of my breaking the cutie.
I hesitated
"Are you going to disobey your superior or are you going to tell Sgt. Maxwell and he will kiss you and make it better ?”
Sidenote: I think Strange is a readhead.
My face was getting warm with embarrassment and I wanted to leave but, Corp. Strange was technically still a commanding officer, even though I knew Sgt. Maxwell had little respect for him.
I got on the floor while he loudly counted. I had never been been asked to do push ups or even punished by anyone at camp , just the occasional tounge lashing. After the first 15 push ups I fell and he berated at me and I started over. I continued to fail and he finally put the sole of his boot in the dirty water and stomped it in front of me.
“Last 10, all the way down, shithead. I want you to kiss the floor.” He said
He pushed my head down so my lips made contact with the dirty floor where he just stepped.
I touched the floor with my mouth ten times before he let me up.
Everybody now: Break The Cutie
My arms ached but, the hotness in my face had gone down, I did not care what he made me do anymore. I was not going to let him get to me. He couldn’t have the pleasure.
SH:Hell, yeah !
Some of the officers and cooks in the kitchen heard him counting and were staring at us, Corp. Strange had a smug look on his face as he dropped a rag on to the ground.
“Now, clean the floors,"
"Yes, sir"
"And I want every inch hand scrubbed ,if you piss yourself , you will have to clean it up and then start over.”
I got on my hands and knees and began to wash the floor while he stood over me drinking his afternoon coffee. Corp. Strange was an idiot, he can't hurt me unless I let him. That was what I had to keep telling myself. I was half way done when more soldiers began to file in for lunch.
Alex is kind of an unbreakable character...and maybe it isn't all naivety. Maybe some of it is strength.
I stopped to see if he would let me leave but he just looked at me. I finished the floor and I was losing it. I was sure I could tell on him to Sgt. Maxwell, I could make up a lie and have him dismissed.
SH: But you won’t because you are too nice.
When
I finished I gave him the rag. The pressure in my bladder was painful.
“Am I dismissed, sir ?”
He looked at me, taking pleasure in my discomfort . He watched me for 20 minutes, we just stood face to face.
"Okay." he said, “You may use the prisoner’s latrines, only.”
They were all the way across camp.
I nodded my head
“Yes, sir” I said.
I’d strategically only used the restrooms in the offices because I did not want to catch any of the bacteria that was living in the prisoner’s latrines. I gave up the thought of making it all the way to the latrines and went to the side of the mess hall to quickly relieve myself.
So, there is about to be a time skip. Alan and Haley meet by the Mess Hall. Become friends and then Ft. Liberty( Where Alex’s brother is buried) is blown up.
-3-
***
It was like they killed my brother twice.
CPShawna: Sorry about that.
Harlow had been buried at Fort Liberty—or Fort Life as we were know ordered to call it--- and now his grave marker was gone and so were all of our friends at Fort Life, the soldiers who had gone to work there.
SH: Hey CPShawna, you realized Fort Life and the Life Project sound kinda the same
CPShawna: It’s all just a plot device to bring Minnow back
Vice!Luce: Ooh,, bring her back from what ? Does she die ? Please, say yes.
SH: Go away !
Corp. Collins.
SH: Called it.
CPShawna: You wrote it....
He was a good man.
The news of the attacks made me uneasy because the day before I had a bad feeling following me around. I knew something was wrong when Sgt. Maxwell came into the prisoner barracks and called me by my first name again.
It was late at night and pitch black out when he pulled me out of bed. I had to run to keep up with Sgt. Maxwell's long and quick strides. We headed to the central office where officers where running around from desk to desk, most of them in their night clothes still.
“Alex, I want you to call Fort Liberty until you have made contact," Sgt. Maxwell instructed me , "Call all the nearby bases in a round to see who has connection. Write down any news you hear.”
“Yes, sir.” I said
I spent all night calling all of the lines but, Fort Life was dead and judging by the connections the two forts surrounding it were gone as well. The two nearest towns came up empty as well. A lieutenant in the corner kept calling out numbers every few minutes and when he began everyone quieted down.
“200,”he would say
“400,” he would say.
3 hours later, when he got to 700 I realized he was giving death estimations.
I was then tasked to answer the phones as teary family members called asking for their sons, I had to say I did not know any information. I took down names and numbers and made promises to get back to people when I could.
As the sun came up I was given a list of the soldiers on the Fort Life base who were believed to be dead and I had to call back and give the family the bad news. It was better than no news, I figured.
We got calls well into the morning and everyone was helping until soon it was just Sgt. Maxwell , me and a few other officers in the corners just talking on the phone to people.
SH: Phone ?
CPShawna; I mean Syndicate or whatever.
Sgt. Maxwell left soon and told me I could accompany him back to his room. He gave me a uniform to wear and he got into his dress uniform. I dressed quickly and sat on the edge of the bed watching him intently as he slipped his gold tie clip into place.
He stood with tired eyes looking into his mirror. He went into his drawer and picked up a cigarette, his hand trembled with the fickle lighter, and he burned himself dropping the lighter on the ground. I picked up the lighter quickly and easily started the flame, he didn't move as I walked in front of him and lit the end of his cigarette for him. He never looked up from the mirror , instead of thanking me his hand just brushed the top of my head. It was like he was in a daze, like he was scared.
He only took two hits of the cigarette before extinguishing it on his desk. He turned away from the mirror and looked at me for what felt like the first time in forever—and I reacted.
I liked this scene right up to 'I reacted'.
I reached forward, fell into his body and hugged him, it took a few seconds but then he put his arms around me and embraced me as well. I was not expecting it or even asking for it. I felt ridiculous, Sgt. Maxwell had never done one truly kind thing for me and yet I found comfort in his gaze and felt even more as he embraced me.
SH: So, Alex is more aware that Maxwell is a jerk than I thought.
“I love you, sir” I said
His Syndicate went off over my voice but, I know he heard it.
“All officers to the County Hall, we have the camp gathered.”
Sgt. Maxwell let go of me and we walked side by side to County Hall. I saw all the soldiers and prisoners being led to the building as well and I wondered how many of them knew what was happening. I thought of those phone calls, what if that nuclear attack happened here ?
Private Marshall, he was from Sun Valley too. I just learned he used to take meals for my Grandmother before we moved in.
Private Fredrick, he liked to play cards and did tricks with them.
Corporal Strange, he was tough and tactless as Sgt. Maxwell said but, his parents owned a restaurant in Ft. Perch
Corporal Erickson, his brother was at Ft. Life
Ooops, this is Rosa from UL’s last name.
If there was an attack here they would all be dead.
I’d be dead and I had not talked to Momma in months. She would have lost me and Harlow so close together, I don’t think she would have been able to function.
Tears ran down my face as we got closer to County Hall and joined the informal camp procession. My vision blurred, I had to stop walking and tried to cover the tears. Sgt. Maxwell saw me and jerked my arm and pulled me to the back of the building. He came down on his knee to my eye level.
“Get it together, Alex” he whispered to me but, I saw his eyes were damp.
That only made it worse.
Vice!Alan: Imma let you finish Shawna, but Vice has the better nuclear bomb scene…I’m just saying.
SH: Away !
CPShawna: What is Vice ?
Sgt. Maxwell was strong and emotionless, he isn't supposed to be affected by anything. The world really made no sense now.
He lead me to a bench where we sat together. He directed my head to his shoulder and he put his arms on my back, letting small kisses land on my neck, affectionate kisses that I usually craved. He rubbed my back with his hand.
I think this is it. Alex likes Maxwell because Alex craves affection.
“It will be okay.” He whispered in to my ear
His words felt like lies, this was not okay. People were dead.
“We have to believe these men are in a better place, right ?” Sgt.Maxwell whispered to me.
With the conversations I had with Mr.Gray I was not entirely sure anymore. I did not know what to believe anymore. Did all those men really just stop existing ? Where were they ?
“Alex . . .listen. . . I need you to know . . .you are a very special person to me.” Sgt. Maxwell said, “Remember that. We can mourn our friends but, let’s be thankful we are here right now.”
-----
This country was going straight to hell, they both were. That seemed to be the consensus at the War Committee meeting.
I had been asked to go with the Major General to the War Committee because he said I was up for a promotion if things got any worse with this war. I had no idea what they thought could be any worse than this.
Captain Roemer and the General of the Armed Forces were the key speakers at the War Committee and after some pomp and circumstance they basically told us how it was going to be. They wanted money and men. Money for nuclear weapons and men trained to operate them. I couldn’t agree with it—the nuclear weapons-- not with the conversations I had with Robert these days. He had just left the Summit Project to help at Ft. Life and had daily horror stories for me.
Oh, ignore my earlier comment. Channing went to the Summit Project not the Life Project.
It was as if they didn't remember the Serial Wars and how we were still recovering from them. They didn't care at all for the lives of boys that would be risked. Deep down I knew with the Eastern State enclosed in their high tech sphere, we couldn't attack them like they could attack us.
But, I wasn’t here to give an opinion. I had to follow my orders.
On the way out of the meeting I shook hands with Roemer, which was a highlight but would have been better under cheerier circumstances. We were not set to leave for Camp for another few days so I decided to head home after the meeting.
My parents still did not believe I was not dead so, I had to go and see them. On my walk home I called Robert.
And that’s all he’s going to say about that.
“Merry Christmas Eve,” I greeted him
“Doesn’t feel like it.” he responded
“I know. I just listened to a 4 hour talk about nuclear holocausts. Merry Christmas,” I agreed sarcastically, “Tell me some of them made it out alive, Robert.”
“We are still working hard out here, we occasionally get a breather but, it’s pretty hard. It is just me and a few soldiers. I could really use some help.”
“If I find someone stupid enough I will let you know.”
“Hey, or passionate enough. Thanks, though. I am sending for Persephone, she helped with my research. You remember her ?”
“Yes, she was cute.”
“Stay away.”
“Of course.” I said
-4-
One day with my doting parents, over emotional sister and argumentative brother I was losing my mind and needed to get back to Camp.
I have to admit I was afraid to go back to camp.
And It wasn’t the threat of nuclear war, it was Alex.
Everyone around camp was antsy and feeling a combination of nerves and charity. That was why I decided to buy him a gift--it was just a sweater after all. It had nothing to do with his words.
alex wears this sweater in Hidden, I can't remember when.
Those words he said to me, ‘I love you,’ how had I let that happen ?
He was just emotional. We were in hard times now, people say ridiculous things during hard times--- that must have been what was going on with him
But, what was going on with me ?
I wanted to keep my distance from him and yet I was taking pictures of him and even worse—keeping the images by my bedside.
You’re a stalker.
When I got back to camp the day after Christmas , I was hesitant so I kept my distance from him.
During my lunch break, Alex was off somewhere and I hadn't seen him all day so I got up and shut the door to my office. I sat at my desk thinking about what to do and then got up and locked the door. Sitting back at my desk I turned my Syndicate on to the camera I recently installed into my room. I had contemplated recording Alex and I's time together but, never got the courage to do it.
STALKER
However, I had given him the key to my bedroom and left the camera rolling while I was away for a reason that disturbed me far more--I just wanted a clip of him sleeping. STALKER
SH: Okay, I’ll admit this is a contrived plot point, so Maxwell can see Alex and Alan together.
I fast forwarded through most of the day when the room was empty and I was taking a kind of joy in the voyeurism when I paused on a frame.
Erik: Maxwell needs Jesus. And to go to jail.
Gray.
That Gray boy was on the floor, on top of Alex and Alex was laughing, I had never seen him laugh before. They were both dressed but, it still made me feel betrayed watching them in that precarious position. I rewound the tape more and watched as Gray drank my whiskey and then forced it on to Alex.
I knew they were friends, I had allowed it because I never saw a threat in Gray. He was on his way to being a social pariah within the prisoners. I wanted Alex to have some sort of social connection because I couldn't give it to him anymore. I hadn't even taken into consideration Gray's attractive qualities. I could see he was a handsome boy, young and of course he was mysterious. He was from the East and that must have made him of interest to Alex.
Still, how could Alex let another man into my quarters ?
How could he say he loved me and then spend time with another like that ?
I dismissed it.
I had to. I tried to calm myself down but, when I watched the tape more and saw Alex reach into hug Gray at the end rage washed over me. I had never felt this furious at anyone even the dumbest of privates. Did Alex really think he could replace me so easily ?
He was mine.
Alex: Uhhhh
SH: Yeah, this does not end well for you.
I was livid, my mind moved without my feet. There was a devil inside of me as I headed to the mess hall and towards the washroom before I thought about it. I was hoping I did not find Alex there.
If Alex wasn’t there I would be fine.
I heard his sweet laughter before I got to the door. Alex had been my charge, mine, I had saved him and now he was with someone else.
Not if I had anything to say about it.
I busted through the door and Alex’s expression turned to fear when he saw me—he had been caught.
I did not remember anything after that, white anger was going through my body.
SH: So, when this scene happened in
Hidden (Maxwell shoving Alex into the sink) I knew why it was happening. Even
though this wasn’t written. Did anyone else pick up on this ? Are any of you who read this originally even still around ? Of course not, why would you be.
I
wanted to be tough with him, I was going to show him why he should never cross
me.
SH: Another scene you could have attempted to bring that corporal punishment thing back
CPShawna: Geez, SH, what are we into in the future
SH: It's NOT like that. Also, the future is pretty good. I mean life wise, serially wise it's nothing but trenches.
He stood to me when I walked in the room and I raised my hand to punch him in the face like a man but, I could not bring myself to hurt that lovely face. I hesitated and grabbed his thin neck instead, I was ready to choke him, just enough to scare him but, I saw the water and became impulsive and I overacted.
I did not feel the anger flowing out of me as I held him in the sink like I was hopping. All I felt was more anger and sorrow.
I pulled my sleeve out of the water and saw the bleach stain.
Shit, shit, shit.
What the hell was in that water ? Was the even water ? What had I done ?
I ran out of the room as fast as I could, and I head Alex’s scream as I was almost away from the washroom. A lump rose in my throat as I imagined the insufferable damage I may have caused Haley. I considered turning around and apologizing but, Gray was there.
Gray.
He was probably comforting Haley. He would turn Haley against me, he was poison.
SH: Yeah, you go Veritas!Alan
.
“Corporal Lansing,” I said into my Syndicate,” Haley is in the washroom, take him to the infirmary, no questions asked.”
“Yes, sir” he recouped
***
I stood in my office not doing anything for half of an hour before I gave up and went to the infirmary to check on him.
As I entered I saw Dr.Frank had Haley bent over a sink---Minds out of the gutter--of running water,Dr. Frank was dabbing and flushing Haley’s eyes with water, they were in the middle of a conversation facing away from me.
I had yet to meet this Dr. Frank and was already feeling less than impressed with him.
“So, should I report the abuse ?,” Frank asked
SH: Um, yes. Let’s end this.
“No,sir” Haley said, ”It just was an accident.”
SH:Ugh
“Accident ?,” Frank questioned
“Yes, sir. Sgt. Maxwell did not know what was in the water. He would never try to abuse me. Officers are just very tough here. . . you will see that.”
“Well, I should get the other boy's version of the story in case this comes up in court martial.”
“Alan will lie, he does not like Sgt.Maxwell,” Haley said, “But, I respect Sgt. Maxwell and like him too much to get him in trouble for something he did not do. There are more important things in this world right now, right ?”
“Sure,” Dr. Frank said
So, Alex lied for Maxwell. Huh.
I waited a few minutes to decide what to do next, I wanted to walk in on them and apologize to Haley, to throw myself at his feet and do anything I could to make him better. That would have been impulsive, I had to be rational and get my head right. I retreated for the room and headed soberly back to my office.
Our relationship had changed, Haley was wrong and Alan would have to be punished.
Maxwell is so screwed up. He thinks Haley doesn’t deserve to be forgiven for talking to Alan.
Also, this is a plot device to get Alan sent to The Summit Project.
***
I kept in contact with Dr. Frank that day and he told me Haley would be fine. He just needed to keep his eyes covered and Dr. Frank had Haley spend the night in the infirmary recovering.
So, to recap, this is Haley’s second trip to the infirmary. Cutie
Broken.
The next morning, I was more than surprised when I saw Haley sitting at
his desk when I got into the office.. He was not working but just sitting
there, waiting for me, a pair of dark shades obstructing most of his
face.
He stood when he saw me come in.
"You are up awfully early," I said.
"I'm used to early mornings, sir."
I walked past him and then backtracked.
"Haley, I need you to know how sorry I am. I would never hurt you like
this."
"I know,sir" he said.
"Good. You don't have to work today, go back to bed," I said," I
am about to talk to Mr.Gray and I don't think you need to be here."
"That's actually why I came,sir " he said," I know you want
to punish him but, you have to know he didn't really do anything."
It was like he wanted to piss me off. Haley was defending that god damn prisoner.
"People must know their place."
So, Alan hears up to about this much of the coversation in Hidden and then walks in on Alex on his knees infront of Maxwell. Did no one catch the UST ?
"But, Alan is a good person and it was all my idea, sir."
"Shut up!" I barked at him," I will do what I see as fit."
Haley did something I wasn't counting on. He walked over to me and got on his knees in front of me.
Not the best move...
"Please, sir Alan is my friend. He is kind and good and--
“--I said shut up,” I said. I raised my arm to hit him but, Alex was holding on to it.
I had never known Alex to be so insubordinate.I could not believe I was fighting with him like this and getting angry over this incident.
“I’m sorry,please" he pleaded, "Just, please don’t do anything bad—please it was my fault--"
“Quiet!” I repeated.
“Please,sir. I will do whatever you want. I will be good,please--”
“I said stop it, enough of this!,”
So what is really getting Maxwell mad is how much Alex is fighting
for Alan. Also, Alex's fear of Maxwell is making me sad now. Seriously CPShawna, the cutie is broken.
“Look, you punished me already, don’t hurt Alan. I will take more, he didn’t do anything--,”
“I didn’t punish you, it was a mistake I--,”
“Yes, sir I know, sir. I'm sorry, sir.”
I heard my door open and turned to see Strange and Gray.
“Well, come in," I said
I realized the compromising position we were in with Haley at his knees clutching my arm.
“Sir,” Strange said
I shook out of Haley’s grasp and non verbally ordered him to stand up. He followed the order but, continued with his insubordinate pleas for Gray.
“Please, sir remember Mr. Gray is good —,”
“Disrespect me in front of my men one more time." I warned him.
"I'm sorry, Sgt.Maxwell, sir."
Seeing Haley fight for that prisoner, Alan Gray-- to see him beg for the mercy of him irate me more but, it was something I could not ignore. I could not severely punish Alan without hurting Haley and I was not prepared to hurt Haley again.
He means for like the 12th time.
Mr.Gray's punishment was not a high priority anyway so, I did the next best thing.
All I wanted was for the two of them to be separate anyway.
I sent Alan to stay with Robert and do whatever work he had to do for him there, I really did not care.
I prayed he would get radiation poisoning though.
So, here is more of Maxwell’s domestic abuse qualities. He controls who Alex talks to and communicated with. He is alienating him from friends.
I did not wait to see him get taken away, I avoided Haley the rest of the day and the next few days after. I played the tape over again and I watched it and the more I watched it the more wrong I began to feel. He was not even thinking about Alan in a way that threatened me. Gray reminded him of his brother. That was all.
And why was I feeling so threatened to begin with ?
It bothered me how easily I could hurt Haley physically and it must scare him how easily I can cause him pain, I had done it a lot of that. This time had been intentional, I hurt him out of vengeance and passion-- I could have killed him.
I had a job and so did he and as long as we were in close quarters aspects of our relationship would never change.
I was a superior, he was a subordinate.
There was a war going on.
-5-
It was Sunday.
Except for the 6 long timers it was the day when prisoners would be heading back to their lives. For those of us working prisoner detail it was a quiet day and for the first time there wasn't even any busy work to be done.
I took the afternoon off and sat on the steps outside of the empty prisoner barracks just watching the nothing happen around me.
I was supposed to change this world, I was supposed to get all of the bad out of it and somewhere along the line I may have forgotten that.
Haley came up to me from the distance and handed me the bottle of water I asked for . It was hot as usual and I took a long drink.
He sat down on the steps beside me. His head leaned to the side and rested on my shoulder and he looked out in the same direction as me. I put the bottle to his lips and he drank , excess water falling from his lips.
The
camp was quiet and it was like we were the only two people for miles in an
abandoned world. This is a better ending line.
Together
we just sat.
Waiting
for the others, the prisoners, the war, the end or even death.
So, I knew this was going to be a really open-ended ending. This is one of those stories, where nothing changes after it’s over because Alex and Maxwell are stuck in this situation as long as the war goes on. Or atleast Alex is, because Maxwell isn't letting him go until he (Maxwell) can go to.They will always been stuck in this place that other people leave and they will always be together. Maxwell will probably do more horrible things and Alex will probably forgive him.
As for their long term relationship, well, it’s not on the page, but I think it’s safe to say Alex gets out of it. I mean in this universe, in Mimic, Maxwell ia married to a woman.
This story has certaintly grown on me now. I guess I forget that it’s not a love story, it’s a relationship story. It has an unlikeable and even horrific MC who is controlling, abusive, arrogant and another frustrating character, Alex, who just takes it. It’s a bit of a hopeless destructive story, that I have no idea where it came from, but here we are. I’m no longer afraid of Sundays !
So, we did it everybody ! Here is the end, any last words ?
CrazyPastShawna: Remember OHG ? What up with that ?
SH: Well, I kind of blew it in the comments, but I have some new and exciting thoughts-
HMLIS!Jonah M: What about us ? We’ve been really patient.
SH: Hey ! You don’t belong here. I just need the plot bunnies to calm down a bit on all of this. I will get to everything eventually. I promise.
Alex: Mrs. Harrison, I can take it. Just let me know; Am I in Vice ? or is Sargeant Maxwell in it ? or are we both in it ? Or if we’re just not in it at all.
SH: Yes
Alex: Which one-
Vice!Luce: Hey, am I in anyway related to him ?
SH: I mean only in that I realized I needed another young teen, kind of naïve character like Alex but not Alex…. but then you got away from me.
Vice!Luce: Hey, I’m not against spoiling Vice for people—
SH: Okay, good night everybody. Moving on.
The End
This is old:
A/N- As a thank you for indulging me with this piece I want to share with you my new website. I realized my web serials are on a bunch of different websites and I wanted to put them in one place so I created a new website. Check out the ' coming soon' section to see the names of my new projects at shawnaharrison.yolasite.com