bambi eyes || tradley

19. the right track

"I want Tristan," Bambi complained to the man, who he learned is named Joe. "I do not know why I have been taken here. I want to be with my Tristan."

"I understand your connection with Tristan hasn't died," he said as they made their way into a little room. It was dark, the only light source coming from screens taking up most of the room. Bambi stared in amazement. "Which is good. We need as much help as we can get."

"I cannot help you," Bambi informed him. "I have to help Tristan and myself. We are in trouble."

"Trouble?" he echoed, plopping down in a chair. "What kind of trouble?"

Brad lowered his voice into a whisper. "Government trouble."

"Ah, so at least you have a taste of what's happening." He spun around in his seat to face the small boy. "Well, Nineteen-Seventeen, we are here to help you with that problem."

Brown eyes darted around the dark space. The two of them were the only ones in the room. "We?"

"Connor, James, and I. You know of the experiments they've been doing on humans, I suppose?" Bambi nodded. "So, if James or Con haven't explained it to you, we are sort of like an anti-goverment group. The three of us have been trying to change life for the "experiments" ever since James escaped five years ago. After Tristan found out, we've had more hope for their lives changing, but it's been a struggle, especially after his memory was taken away from him."

"James was held in the lab?"

"Yes. You do not remember much, I see."

"No, not really."

"It's okay." He spun back around in his chair to face the screens. "You're on the right track at least."

"I do not think we are on a track, Joe."

"It's an expression," he slowly explained.

"Like, 'we're getting somewhere?'" The man gave him a terse nod. "How do you people use expressions? They are too confusing."

He let out a laugh before patting a hand on a seat alongside his. "Come, sit, get comfortable. Let's have a chat."

"I thought we were already chatting."

"We are, but I need to know if you're willing to help us free the experiments," he explained as Bambi slowly sat down in the seat he'd offered to him. "They're in danger, and even though your memory is foggy, we need as much help as we can get, as I said. Especially with someone as strong as you are. It could really help us with this."

"I want to help," Bambi decided. "But I cannot do it without my Tristan."

"Perfect," Joe chimed. "Because we can't do it without your Tristan either."

. . .

It was nighttime. Bambi didn't like the idea of staying over with the three boys, but they were friendly at least, besides James. Brad was still finding it hard to befriend someone who tried shooting at his Tristan, and James didn't seem like he wanted anything to do with the curly-haired boy. When he came in the room, the man instantly fell silent, like the sight of him sucked out all of his energy. The twenty-year-old would prefer not being liked by a grouch, but it still bothered him why his presence was such a disappointment. They were put into the same situation, held into the same place, and according to Joe, the two boys had a history together. Brad wasn't sure what it was.