The institution of SMiLeS | Sanders sides human AU | angst

The bright mask of deception

(woah what a poetic title)

more tw lots of tw many tw really too much tw but not all that much I'm exaggerating

Roman's POV

We entered the bedroom- Sorry, cell, and I climbed up to my bunk. Logan's friends are weird. Logan's weird. Well, less weird, more- 'My backstory will make you sob with sympathy but I don't want none of your sympathy'. Sympathy's a weird word. Virgil looks cute today. Patton's really upbeat. Maybe at dinner we could- No, I already tried that one.

All of these thoughts and more went through my head in a matter of seconds. All of these trains of thought were lost when I saw the dragon witch walking through the small window in the door. She was holding a remote.

"What do ya think the Dragon Witch is doing over here?" I asked. Logan froze.

The door clicked open.

"Patton, Roman, Virgil, you're up. Some mom is coming, so you'll be going up top today," The Dragon Witch looked at us, and glared daggers at Logan, who looked pale and had an expression on his face like he wasn't really there. He blinked back to reality and swallowed, seemingly glad that his name wasn't on the list. I don't know why. 

See, going "up top" like the Dragon Witch said, is when a parent is doubtful about this place, so we get to pretend to be happy in an empty complex she has up there, and eat better food sometimes. I always use the time to check out the fence or possible escape routes. I've been up there twice in the month I've been here. We got out of bed and followed her to other cells to get other inmates. 

Logan's POV

Last time I went up there, nothing good happened. I was glad to stay down here, even if it should mark about a- Well, too long, since I've gone back up. Even if it's just because of my scars. I sat alone in the bottom bunk, looking down at my hands and recollecting the last time I went up.

I had been cellmates with Emile, Remus and Janus back then, and we were dedicated, when we went up, to hint at our real condition, get this place investigated. We did a brilliant job, and the police came. She managed to hide the real place, and the police found nothing.

I looked down at the scars on my arms. That was her reminder. To stop trying. I wish I had. Emile would still be alive.

Virgil's POV

We were doing good, acting well. Turns out she brought us specifically because she wanted to show that gay relationships were 'accepted' because the kid was gay. Patton because he was new, so acting happy would be easier. It was all whatever. The mom was talking to the kid when an employee came and whispered something to the Dragon Witch.

"Just a moment! Think it over!" She smiled and walked down a hallway. Roman dragged me and Patton after her, to spy. She'd gone into a room with a fancy wooden door.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR OTHER CHILDREN?!?"

"We- We need to renovate?" The employee stuttered.

"YOU THINK I HAVE THE MONEY TO SPARE? DESIGNER DRESSES DON'T BUY THEMSELVES! THEY GIVE US A GOOD IMAGE!"

"S-So Wha-What do we d-do?"

"Let's see... Kill off some of the older ones. Poison. I'll say they got sick via some plant or other in the back,"

"G-good idea. W-which o-ones?"

"Hmmm... Now that I've burned my way through Logan's fortune, we have no use for him. Besides, he's almost 17. If he turns 18, we have to let him go. He'll tell people. Remus is a murderer, no one will be sad to see him go. Janus's parents are dead. Remy gets on my nerves. Start with them. And get it done in a week's time, one by one,"

"Y-yes, ma'am,"

We immediately ran from the door, as we heard footsteps. We were back in the main area, where the mom was. We had to warn Logan. Patton looked astounded. Roman looked almost excited. 

"We have to warn Logan," I whispered, My breathing uneven. A panic attack was coming on.

"Finally, A conspiracy!" Roman grinned.

"You live in a conspiracy!" I was panting.

"No, Virgil, relax. Breathe. We can get out of here before anyone dies, call the cops," Patton calmed me.

*time skip brought to you by the Dragon witch is pretty evil in this story*

"-So we have to escape before you die!" Roman explained.

"No," Logan shook his head.

"Wha- why not?!?"

"I don't want to get anyone else killed to get me out,"

"But Remus! And Janus! And whoever Remy is! They'll all die!"

"WHAT?!?"

"Wait, did I not tell you that part?"

"No!"

"Yeah, them too,"

"Fine. We'll have to get out, then,"

We sat there until lights out, planning. We got nowhere.

"We ought to go to bed," Logan stood up off the floor.

"Why?" Patton asked.

"Chemicals, they put them in the air an hour after lights out if we aren't asleep,"

"That's surely illegal,"

"Probably,"

We got into our respective beds and fell asleep.

Logan's POV

I heard a hiss, and began to feel drowsy. Not again...