The Occupation [Hiatus]

The Second Attempt

Delaware's POV
I needed to try again.

This wasn't a matter of want anymore. I needed to escape. Things were getting bad. I knew they were awful before, but the torture, the weakness, it was too much.

I could feel myself starting to break, the seams of my sanity fraying. It was becoming to much for me to handle alone. I hadn't seen my family in months. I hadn't been hugged by Da or been picked up by him. I haven't had a sleepover with my brothers or gotten to annoy New Jersey in months.

I missed them.

I wanted Da. I wanted to feel safe. I wanted to live in a place where I could be pain free. I didn't want to be chained and hurt in an endless cycle.

I wanted my Da.

I could feel tears welling up and tried to force them down. Crying was bad. Crying was dangerous. It let them know they were getting to me.

They already knew so much. Had so much power over me. I couldn't give them anything else to use against me. If they wanted to think I was an inhuman, emotionless being, I would use that to my advantage.

I needed it hold back emotions that showed weakness. It was like being at war. Except I couldn't fight. All I could do was cower in fear.

I couldn't hide from them. They are always watching, always hurting me.

The only thing I could try was to escape this hell.

But I wasn't even sure if I was strong enough to do that.

But I had to try. I couldn't just let this happen. I had to resist, no matter how hard it became. I had to. It was one of the few things I felt like I could still do.

I had been fiddling with the shackle on the chain, and was somehow able to get it loose enough to slip my foot out. That was good. It wouldn't help me with my plan, but it helped give me an eased mind.

I still had the problem of the National Guard though.

Everytime I woke up there seemed to be more and more of them, and I knew I wouldn't be able to escape at night like I did last time. There was always someone watching me.

But, although they watched me constantly, they never watched me when I used the bathroom, and I felt I had gotten so skinny, I would be able to sneak out through the small window in the bathroom.

If not, there truly was no hope of escape.

"Hey, I need to take a piss." I called out to the guard. He scoffed. "You want me to pee on the bed or something? There's a bathroom right there. I've used it before. Let me pee."

The guard looked upset and scowled.

"You should learn that if you want things, you ask nicely instead of demanding things. You aren't able to demand things. You are meant to be a tool of the government." He said.

"May I please take a piss?" I asked. The guard gave me another glare.

"Listen, that's the best you're gonna get. Take it or leave it, and I'll try and make sure my piss lands on you." I said, causing the guard to slap me. He grabbed my chin and forced it up to his face. I tried to hide my fear, but obviously failed, as the guard smirked and dropped my face.

"It's good to know that under all that manipulation and disrespect you still know your place. And don't worry Delaware, we will make sure that you understand your place. I know things hurt right now, but you have to trust the process. Now, since you've proven that you are only pretending not to know your place, I'll let you use the bathroom." The guard said. I felt an embarrassed blush creep up my face.

How could my resistance be twisted into compliance? It scared me. The guard unlocked the chain and grabbed my horn, dragging me to the bathroom before shoving me inside and locking the door.

I gulped, and steeled my nerves. I would only get one shot at this.

I pulled myself onto the sink counter, and reached for the window, pushing at it. It didn't budge. Of course.

I looked around, wondering if there was anything that could help me, and saw a metal cup in the shower. I hopped down and grabbed it, before throwing it at the window with all my strength. The window broke, leaving broken jagged glass edges.

I would get cut up badly crawling out of that window. But I didn't have another opinion. I leap back up onto the sink and made my way out the window, as I heard the guard in the room unlock the door.

I panicked, and tried to get out faster, turning back to see where the guard was.

That was a mistake, for I quickly lost my grip, and started to fall to the ground.

This is where I die then. I thought, as I curled up into a ball.

I'm sorry Da.

Then my body collided with the ground, and I knew no more.

——————

Waking was slow and painful. Everything ached. I groaned, wanting my Da to come and make the pain go away.

I felt a slap to my face. Then another.

"Wake up you useless Cow!" I heard a guard snap.

"Calm yourself Joseph. Delly had a nasty fall. It needs some time to be both aware and awake." I heard Terry say. I scowled at his voice.

"So you support what it was doing?"

"Of course I don't. But we are helping it, and it won't see that if we hurt it while it heals from an injury caused by its lack of intelligence. This is why states are made to be puppets of their government. They aren't meant to think." Terry said. I reluctantly pulled my eyes open.

"I think better than you do." I said. Terry turned to face me and smiled.

"Delly! I trust you are feeling better?" He asked. I snorted.

"No thanks to you." I cut in. Terry looked annoyed at that. 

"All I do is he-"

"Hurt me. You hurt me and my people Terry." I said. Terry just sighed.

"Listen-" he said, putting his hand near my mouth. I quickly turned my head and hit his hand. Terry pulled his hand away quickly and glared at me, before a dark tone entered his voice.

"You'll pay for this Delly. And then you'll really understand your place, and you'll bow to my every wish like a good little state."