Chapter Text
Todd's head ached, and he screwed up his eyes against the early morning light. He knew he'd drunk more than he should the previous night. He had known he was doing the wrong thing, when he'd accepted a drink off the guy, but he'd gone with him because the man paid with a fifty, and had a nice watch. Had being the correct term, because said watch was now in Todd's coat pocket, alongside the man's wallet and his phone, which he'd sell on later that day. The wallet had had three hundred dollars in it, and a tiny part of Todd hated the way he translated that instantly. Ten days medicine, and another few days for the watch and phone. Enough for Amanda to last a little longer, until he could pick up another guy in a different seedy bar, or find a job. Not that there was much chance of that after the Perriman Grand let him go without a reference, having found him with his fingers in the till.
He'd done this to himself, he tried to remember. He felt sick, but this was his own damn fault for getting out of his depth with lies. Amanda needed him, trusted him. She didn't know he'd lost his job. If she found out, he knew she would have immediately offered to forgo the medication, and he'd end up holding her as she screamed through attacks that could kill her. This was better.
His phone beeped, and he smiled when he saw it was her. He opened it to find a picture of a dog being walked.
"This dog goes past twice a day. His name is Fred," She'd written underneath it.
"What kind of a name is Fred?" he messaged back.
"His name. What kind of a name is Todd?" Her reply was almost instant, and that made him smile. If she felt up to texting, that at least proved it wasn't as bad as some days got.
"Name of the best brother in the world. I'll send you money for meds later."
"Wish you could come see me."
"Soon," Todd promised her. He didn't want to admit to her he couldn't afford to see her because he wasn't able to pay for fuel and her drugs. It wasn't fair to hold that against her. She never asked for any of it, and it was his lies that had trapped them there. She replied with an emoji of crossed fingers. He turned his phone off - with the power to his apartment out, he'd have to charge it at the library.
He rolled over in bed, then headed to shower, before shoving what he'd taken into a bag. He picked an old t-shirt and some jeans off the floor, and headed out to walk to the library, stopping on the way to sell the watch and phone. Feeling a bit better, he transferred the money at the ATM, then went to spend another few hours searching the job listings.
The library was quiet this early in the day. In the afternoons there would be kids crowded around, trying to do homework, and older people using the internet, but he'd found that midday tended to mean the library was close to empty. Which gave him a chance to get onto the computer and charge his phone while looking for anyone who might consider hiring a college drop out with no references and a serious medical condition.
So far, the situation hadn't exactly been looking promising, but there were only so many wallets he could steal, and he needed to look after Amanda, so he made himself keep trying.
He'd already stolen his rent money back off his landlord twice, and he knew that Dorian was getting suspicious. Trying to do it a third time could very easily lead to him getting a gun pointed in his face. But he didn't want to end up out on the streets, and he absolutely refused not to give Amanda the money she needed. Even if he couldn't afford food, he had to look after her.
He'd wasted their money on his own selfishness, because he had never dreamed she might need it. Now he knew she needed it, but he couldn't tell her the truth. Not when she had confided in him that his own 'recovery' was what gave her strength to carry on. He couldn't steal that away, not when he had already taken so much.
He opened up his emails to see if he'd heard back from any jobs. The first few messages were rejections, and he felt another wave of failure settle onto him. He wanted this over and done with, wanted to help his sister and live comfortably, but there was no hope yet. He refreshed the page, half expecting another avalanche of refusals.
There was one new email, its heading instantly catching his eye.
Job offer: Todd Brotzman
Todd's hand shook slightly as he went to click on it, mentally preparing himself for this to be another scam. Hell, if someone was in the market for a new kidney he'd be willing to sell, but he doubted they were buying.
The email opened, and he read through it twice, barely able to believe what he was seeing.
Job Offer: Todd Brotzman
Security Posting in Wyoming
Compensation: $20,000 per year
Employment type: Full time
A secure site in Wyoming is looking for staff to monitor CCTV footage, escort visitors and residents, and carry out basic tasks in the day to day running of the facility.
- 15 days PTO
- Medical/Dental/Vision/401k
- Private room provided
- On site staff canteen free of charge
Staff will be expected to remain on site, working in blocks of three weeks in every four, with the option to remain during the fourth week. Food and accommodation is provided on base.
If you are interested, please reply to this email.
Regards,
K.A.
Todd read through it again, staring at it in shock. It was clearly some kind of prison, looking to hire guards. They had emailed him. Accommodation provided would mean he would no longer need to worry about Dorian, and with no rent or food bill he could focus on earning money to help his sister. The pay wasn't great, but with no expenses he'd be able to save up and see Amanda when he had weeks off. For the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of hope settling inside of him.
He typed out a quick reply, hitting send before he could overthink it.
Thank you. I am extremely interested in this opportunity, and attach my resume. He hoped that he would hear back in the next few days from them. He'd got no experience or qualifications, unless you counted being a bellboy, but they had emailed him specifically.
Todd didn't believe in some kind of higher power, but if one did exist, maybe they had seen just how hard Todd had been trying to keep Amanda safe, and had chosen to throw him a scrap, a chance to do something meaningful for once in his life. If he got this job, he could tell Amanda. He could even leave it as a surprise until he got his week off, then hire a car to drive over to see her. He hit refresh again, not expecting to hear anything back yet.
There was a reply.
A car will arrive to pick you up tomorrow morning. Pack what you need, we can arrange for the rest to be placed into storage.
Todd grabbed his stuff and hurried home. He didn't know if any of this was real, but he couldn't take the risk of not being ready if it was. He put what he needed most urgently in a suitcase, and then left the rest. He was sure it had to be a trick. But as he lay down to sleep that night, he couldn't stop his heart racing.
The next morning, he woke up and realised with a sinking feeling that his resume didn't even have his address listed. This was all some cruel joke, and he deserved it after the things he had done. He curled up under the blankets. For once he wasn't hungover, but he didn't want to emerge.
That changed when he heard a knock on the door to his apartment. Reluctantly, he stumbled to his feet, still wearing his pyjamas, and opened the door. A man stood there smiling at him.
"Mister Brotzman I presume?"
Wordlessly, Todd nodded.
"You better get dressed then. That your suitcase?"
"Y...yeah." Todd admitted.
"I'll take it down to the car. Now, you hurry up then, I don't like ta be kept waiting."
Todd watched the man leave with his bag, then quickly dressed, shoving a toothbrush into his coat pocket. He headed down to the waiting car.
The man's smile widened when he saw him.
"Well hello there Todd. It's good to meet you."
Todd didn't ask the questions he wanted to about how the email had got to him, not wanting to cast doubt on something that might be good.
"Hi..." he mumbled, as the man started the engine, looking straight ahead, that smile lingering on his lips.
"My name's Priest, and it's my pleasure to welcome you to Blackwing."