The Unwanteds: Missing Pieces

Nobody Wants A Weakling

It was the same routine every morning. Get up. Wash, using as little water as possible. Get dressed in the same grey, boring uniforms of Quill. Get the food ready. Sit down. Give thanks to the High Priest Justine. Eat.

Except for today.

There had been something odd in the air. Alex felt it as soon as he woke up. Aaron had, too, he guessed, by the nearly invisible flicker of expression on his face. It had gotten even stronger when they'd entered the little kitchen. Neither parent showed any kind of emotion, but Alex knew it was there all the same. And it certainly wasn't a good feeling.

Alex sat quietly at the table, pushing the food around his plate, his stomach tight. Something was definitely off and asking questions would only provide him with an answer he wasn't prepared to hear.

He didn't have to wait long. Barely five minutes had passed before his father looked up. "Alex," he said in that bland, emotionless tone.

"Yes?" Alex said.

"You've been marked as an Unwanted. In three years, you'll be eliminated." Without waiting for a response, his father went back to his plate, eating as though nothing had just happened.

Alex sat, stunned. He looked around at the table. His mother didn't look at him. Aaron didn't, either. He must have been dreaming—yet another possible strike. But a quick pinch on his arm discouraged him of the thought.

Unwanted. It had been only a couple times he'd been caught scratching the markings into the mud. How? No one else had been around. No one else but Aaron, and Aaron would never betray him like that.

There was the clanking of dishes. He started, scrambling to his feet with his unfinished plate as he realized that everyone had stood up, ready to go to work. Alex followed behind them, numb, cold, and yet too scared to show any sign of emotion.

Unwanted.

The word pounded in his head all day. The hours passed in a blur as he methodically dug the graves with his brother and father. None of them spoke a word to each other, simply doing their work as told. Several times he caught Aaron's eyes only for his twin to shake his head when their father wasn't looking. And so Alex kept quiet, working until his hands ached; not quite as painful as the ache in his heart.

Unwanted.

###

The day went and passed, just like any other day. He spoke barely a word to anyone, going through the motions, still trapped by the brief, one-sided conversation just that morning.

Unwanted.

Dinner was a quiet affair. It usually was. But it was even quieter this time, if that were even possible. Alex stared down at his plate, not even daring to open his mouth. He simply sat and stared the entire time, waiting for them to finish, waiting for them to get up and prepare for the end of the day.

Finally, it was time. He was the first one out of his chair, the first to clean up his mess, careful not to show anything of what he felt. He didn't make a noise as he cleaned. Every piece inside him felt as though one tap would shatter it to bits, and it took everything in him to keep standing.

Unwanted.

Creativity was a weakness, they'd been taught. Nobody wants a weakling. Unwanteds were just that, a failure, an outcast. Useless. Stupid. Weak.

Unwanted.

He traced the steps to his room, and closed the door behind him. Aaron was still outside with the rest of them.

Finally. He was alone.

Unwanted.

Alex stumbled over to his bed without bothering to clean up anything, and sat down.

Unwanted.

He shouldn't be crying. That was another misdemeanor. But what did it matter? He was Unwanted anyways, and nothing would stop that.

It started out as one tear, and then it turned to silent sobs as he buried his face in his pillow, hiccuping as he tried to conceal the noise.

Unwanted.

The door opened. He sprang up in a sitting position, wiping at his eyes, sniffling. But it was only Aaron.

His twin looked at him for several minutes. "You don't want them to see that," he finally said.

"It doesn't matter, does it?" he whispered, staring down at the ground. "I'm..." He swallowed, hugging himself, searching for some measure of comfort. "I'm Unwanted."

It wasn't fair. All it had been was a few scratches in the mud. Why should he have to be eliminated for it? How had that little thing made him weak? He could work just as hard as the rest of them. What was wrong with him?

A hand rested on his shoulder. He looked up. "It'll go quickly," Aaron whispered.

He knew he shouldn't do it. But he couldn't help it.  Alex stood and wrapped his arms around his twin, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm sorry," he choked, biting down on his lip. "I'm sorry."

A moment's hesitation, and then Aaron's limp arms embraced him in a hug. The two were facing opposite from each other, and it was lucky for Alex, for he missed the look of disgust and scorn that crossed Aaron's face.

A/N:
So yeah, it's been a bit since I've updated much of anything. I kinda payed the price for procrastinating on essays and markups, so it's been a bit hectic. I'm also still trying to figure out the mechanics for Halt's AU, and I'll get to the character reaction soon. I have a few more short stories coming up soon, btw, and Imma give you a heads up: be prepared for angst. Anyways, have a great day/night!