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Where the hell is he?
Where the hell is Fipp? He told me he’d meet me here an hour ago!
I was beginning to get anxious. Fipp told me we’d get out of here, get away from all the death and the rebellion and the destruction and fighting. He told me we could finally have some space to breathe.
Where the hell is he?
I can’t wait any longer, I need to know where Fipp is. He wouldn’t leave without me, would he? He couldn’t have! He promised he wouldn’t leave me! He looked me in the eyes and promised me that day. The look on his face couldn’t have been a lie!
I need to find him, I need to make sure he’s okay. We have to leave together, I don’t want to lose him.
Plane be damned, I just need to see my husband. We can just buy another ticket.
I took to the streets, blinking back tears that throbbed behind my eyes. I scanned every corner and crevice, looking for a glimpse of the man I love.
As I studied the town, I heard…shuffling and cheers. The hell? I must be hearing things.
While searching, I spotted…Dr. Billeaux. Eugh. Definitely not the man I wanted to see.
I’ve never been a fan of Benjamin Billeaux. He’s pathetic, to put it bluntly. All he does is test nonsensical hypotheses and waste money. He’s a whore as well! He bats his stupidly long eyelashes and leans on any guy’s desk. He even tried to go after Fipp once! He can’t keep his clammy hands to himself.
I’m not ashamed to say I started a rumor or two about him. You may believe that’s childish, but the UGC was basically a high school with the messiest gay people you’ll ever meet. Plus, Cladwell practically encouraged it.
Dr. Billeaux is pathetic, stupid, and annoying. All he does is waste resources and is a burden on this company, and our society.
He also knows something about me that nobody else does. Not even Theodore or Isaac or mother. He saw a version of me that I swore I wouldn’t show a soul. He’s seen things that I hate him for seeing. Maybe that’s why I’m so vile towards him, despite him having information about me that could get me in serious trouble.
Pushing that thought to the back of my mind, I slowly approached the scientist. “Dr. Billeaux,” I said, forcing my voice into something that almost sounds calm. I smiled, but my cheeks hurt from the fakeness of it. I won’t be able to properly smile again until everyone is safe and I’m on a plane to Rio.
Billeaux startled and turned to look at me, his brows furrowing. “McQueen…” he said skeptically. I gestured for him to keep walking and I followed behind, my hands held firmly behind my back.
“I haven’t seen you around in a while,” I said after a moment of silence. I kept my gaze to the ground. Billeaux hummed in acknowledgment and kept his eyes ahead. I didn’t say anything else after that and we walked in a tense silence.
I kept glancing around, fidgeting with my hands and trying not to cry in front of him. I can’t be vulnerable in front of him, I can’t trust him. I bit my lip and swallowed heavily. Where the fuck is Fipp?!
I could feel Billeaux looking at me. His eyes seemed to bore holes into me but I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to see the look of judgement on his face, somehow seeing straight through my flesh and straight into how I am inside. Why did he have to see me that way? Why couldn’t he buy my act like everyone else? Why did he have to see deeper?
“How’s your work been?” Billeaux asked after an almost unbearably awkward silence. I blinked. Was he actually trying to make a conversation with me? Why is he even bothering? It’s hardly a secret that we can’t stand each other.
“Good.. Busy. You know how it is, all the paperwork and reports and meetings…I was actually just about to take a break. Me and Fipp are going to Rio,” I fidgeted with my wedding ring, feeling more nauseous every minute that went by without a glimpse of Fipp. Billeaux nods and we continue walking. My knees are beginning to ache but I don’t say anything.
We’re back in the nice part of town now. The UGC headquarters is gleaming above the hill and I have the sudden urge to run. To get the hell out of here. Instead of letting it fester, I dig my nails into one of my wrists, knowing there will be bloody crescent-shaped marks there I’ll have to explain to Isaac and Theodore later. It’s fine, I can probably hide them. If not…well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I hear them before I see them. But there’s only a half second before we’re surrounded. Looking down at me are the faces of the poor side of town. They’re all grinning manically, except for Penny and Little Sally. I can’t look away from them.
“Mother—?” I start, eyes locked on Penny, but I’m instantly grabbed by Becky. What? I yell in surprise and watch as Billeaux just stands there. My view is quickly covered as Hope Cladwell moves in front of me, grinning widely, almost manically.
“Hello, Mr. McQueen,” she says cheerfully. I try to fight the lady’s grip and yell for help but another poor person comes up and restrains me as well, placing their filthy hand over my mouth. Hope just grins wider. Their hands are tight and I’m already beginning to lose feeling in my arm.
I try to free myself again but I’m punched in the stomach by another person in a dirty vest. I cough weakly and almost lose my footing, but the two people holding me don’t let me fall. I twist my ankle pretty badly, however, and let out a whimper of pain.
I notice movement out of the corner of my eye and watch as Little Sally backs up unseen. I almost feel bad, but any thoughts I could’ve made were cut off as I was shoved to the ground, my head hitting the pavement with a resounding thud. A concussion for sure.
Pain bloomed all over my body as the rocks scraped up my skin. My vision went blurry for a second and I tried to speak, but a foot was placed on my back. I looked up and—
“H-Harry…?” I asked weakly, staring at my brother in shock.
What’s Harry doing here? And why does he look so pissed? Did I do something? I’ve always cared for Harry— he was my brother, after all. I was the one to comfort him when he broke up with Billeaux, and I would sneak him new clothes and food when things got bad for him.
He just grits his teeth and kicks me in the face, causing a sickening crunching sound to fill my ears, blood to pour from my nose and my glasses to be sent skittering across the asphalt. I can’t see anything anymore, all people and objects being made into one blurry shape of color and movement.
I blinked a few times, the ringing that had started in my ears overpowered anything they were saying. Based on the little I could make out, they were cheering. Cheering for my death. The pain was beginning to get overwhelming as kicks hit every part of me. All I can do is cry out weakly, wishing Theodore or Isaac would save me. I miss my brothers.
Suddenly, the assault stops and a gentle hand cradles my face. I slowly look up, squinting my eyes to try and see who’s in front of me. Then, my vision clears. Someone put my glasses back on me? I blink once more and there’s Harry in front of me. He’s grinning.
“Harry…Harry…what’s going on?” I stammer, my words slurring together. I’m suddenly pulled up to my feet and someone holds me up so I don’t fall. Harry laughs manically and steps back, revealing Penny.
“Mother?” Thank god. Mother’s here, she wouldn’t let this continue any longer. Harry’s always listened to her. This will stop. The pain will end!
Mother doesn’t move. My hope falters. “Mother?” I asked again, my voice cracking. “Mama…?”
Blood is still spilling out of my nose, down my face and now staining my dress shirt. The fabric clings so my chest and I hate how it feels. I hate the feeling of all of their hands on me. I have to get out of here—
A fist connects with my face.
I was knocked back by the force of the punch. What the hell? What just happened? Mother just…Penelope just hit me? Why would she do that? I thought she would help me. What the fuck.
It’s at that moment I realize I’m absolutely fucked. Theodore and Isaac are deep in the sewers, and by the time they get out, I’ll already be dead. Penelope is helping kill me, and Billeaux is still standing there like a fucking coward. He wasn’t even restrained!
I fell to the ground and landed on my wrist wrong. I heard a crack and I screamed. All I got in response was a ‘shut up!’ and a kick at the broken bone.
“Mama…?” I mumbled again, blinking tears out of my eyes and looking up at Penelope.
“I’m sorry, darling, I’m sorry,” she whispered before disappearing back into the crowd.
Everything just hurts ten times worse now. Every cut and scrape felt like burning lava on my skin. All of my senses were on high alert, screaming at me to get away. I tried to fight it, to get away, but one more kick to the skull and I was out.
Why?
What did I do to deserve this?
As my vision fades, I meet the eyes of who I thought was my mother. She’s crying.
I’m sorry.
I forgive you, mama. I still love you.