Letters in the Refuge

Chapter 4

I am very, very sorry for basically roasting Letter from the Refuge in this chapter. I am also very, very sorry to say that I actually had fun roasting it. I guess I got a bit too into the character.

Anyway, enjoy Letter from the Refuge from Johnathan/Letters' POV!

My eyes snap open. Something woke me up, and I can't quite put a finger on what it was. I look over at Owl's bunk, but find that he's laying down, asleep. I roll my eyes. For once that kid's sleeping during the night. But if he didn't wake me up, who, or what, did?

I suddenly become aware of someone shifting at the other end of my bunk.

Oh right. The crip. What's he doing awake? I look down towards the end of the bed where he's now sitting up. He glances up at me, and I quickly close my eyes, feigning sleep. After a few moments, I open my eyes again, and find that he's lit a candle.

Wait, how'd he find my candle? I thought I hid it pretty well. Well, I guess that doesn't matter now.

(A / N: Johnathan's thoughts in italics)

"Dear Jack, greetings from the Refuge," he says.

Great. He's writing a letter. One more thing for me to do. But at least it's to Sullivan. Snyder'll be happy.

"How are you? I'm okay. Guess I wasn't much help yesterday," he continues.

That's for sure.

"Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch. Oh yeah Jack, this is Crutchie, by the way!"

Kid thinks his best friend can't tell who's writing the letter.

"These here guards, they is rude. They say 'jump', boy, you jump or you're screwed."

Because you deserve it.

"But the food ain't so bad 'least so far,"

Huh?

"'Cause so far they ain't brung us no food!"

Now that was pretty good, I have to admit.

"Ha, ha."

My thoughts exactly.

"I miss the rooftop. Sleeping right out in the open in your penthouse in the sky. There's a cool breeze blowing even in July."

Ugh. It's been so long since I've been outside, that actually sounds nice.

"Anyway, so guess what. There's this secret escape plan I got!"

Oh, really? Tell me about it. I'm sure Snyder would love to hear this!

"Tie a sheet to the bed, toss the end out the window, climb down, then take off like a shot!"

That is the most pathetic escape plan I've heard of yet! Even Pockets can do better than that.

"Maybe though, not tonight. I ain't slept and my leg still ain't right."

Aww, I feel so sorry for you. Just kidding. I've got no sympathy for Refuge kids, and especially not crips.

"Hey, but Pulitzer, he's going down!"

Doubt it.

"And then Jack I was thinking we might just go like you were saying. Where it's clean and green and pretty! With no buildings in your way."

He's getting louder. Owl'll wake up any second if he keeps up this volume.

"And you're riding palominos, every day! Once that train makes- "

I sit up. "Shhhhhh!" I shush him, then lay back down.

"Damn this place," he mutters. "I'll be fine. Good as new!"

Not.

"But there's one thing I need you to do"

Oh, boy. This should be good.

"On the rooftop you said that a family looks out for each other."

That so? Then where's mine?

"So you tell all the fellas for me to protect one another."

This just gets sappier by the minute. When is it going to end?

"The end."

Oh, good.

"Your friend."

If you were really his friend, he wouldn't have let you get put in here.

"Your best friend."

Cheese.

"Your brother."

Ugggggh. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

"Crutchie."

"Alright, enough already!" I groan.

He complies, and blows out the candle leaving us in darkness.