The Risks

July: Chapter 60

A/N: Surprise! Another double update! This chapter is about half the size of my usual ones, so I figured I'd throw it in. Tomorrow, I will post the final two chapters. *sobbing*

"What the hell was that all about?" Raleigh demanded as soon as we pushed through the doors of George's old office. "You think I'd let him stay here? Give him the ol' pardon and call it all good? You don't get a say when it comes to that."

"Raleigh," I said calmly, lifting my hands in surrender. "It's a lie. I had to give him a reason to do this. He will never be a member of any community. That was never actually an option."

He stilled, exhaling through flared nostrils.

"I don't want him here any more than you do," I told him. "Trust me."

"You think that'll be enough to get him to what you ask?"

"No," I answered honestly. "I think he'll need a little more incentive."

"Okay. So what's the plan?"

"It's risky," I said, then glanced to Parker. "And I'm going to need help."

He nodded to me. "Anything you need."

His eyes were so sincere that I knew that he'd follow my lead regardless if he agreed with it or not. If I wanted to let George go, he'd let me. If I wanted to torture him until he begged me to kill him, Parker would let it happen without batting an eyelash. If my plan was too reckless or altogether stupid, I knew he'd talk me through it until we found a way for me to get whatever I wanted done in a way that didn't pose a threat to me. And I loved him for that, for his endless support and faithfulness. Even for his tough love.

So I explained to them my plan. It did need some altercations, some small tweaks here and there to ensure that I wasn't exerting myself too much. And still, there were some aspects of the plan that I kept to myself –some things that the others would just have to go along with when the time came.

...

I'd waited a day before going back to visit George, taking with me a plate of food and a drink for him. It had been days since he'd eaten. I didn't need him dying on us before he could do what I wanted.

"Hungry?" I asked him.

His eyes flicked to the plate for the briefest of seconds, before bouncing back to glare at me. I sat in my chair again, scooting closer to George and immediately I could smell the piss dried into his pants. I wrinkled my nose, but instead of drawing attention to it, I dipped the spoon into the warm oatmeal and raised it to him as an offer.

"I will not be spoon-fed."

I raised an eyebrow. Apparently pissing himself wasn't enough to wound his pride.

"Refuse to eat and I'll have you put on a feeding tube."

He seemed to consider this a moment, but ultimately gave in.

"You know," I began, spooning the food into his mouth with disgust. "If you agree to make the vaccines, I'll let you get cleaned up. A shower. Fresh clothes. Two meals a day. Doesn't that sound nice?"

He ignored me, taking the bites as I offered them until I stopped. I looked at him pointedly, demanding an answer.

"You're determined," he said, glancing to me. "I can see that. That's how you've made it so long. You'll fight hard to get what you want. So tell me, how far will you take it to get what you want from me?"