The Forgotten

A Dinner To Die For

Once I get over the initial shock of seeing my old captor here, I take in his companions. The woman might not be his wife. She isn't wearing a ring. Neither does First Lady Lindor though, I recall. She is clinging rather tightly to his arm though.

I peer past the couple to Brace's son. I actually let a gasp slip from my lips. Jess seems surprised too.

Lieutenant Brace's son is Will.

Will separates from his father and the woman and sits down next to me. I want to ask him about...well...everything. Problem is I can't do so without drawing suspicion.

Will flashes me an amiable grin. I try to reply with my best fake smile. I don't think I succeeded though.

Will doesn't seem to notice my hesitation. He starts on his salad.

The appearance of Brace and Will together gets rid of my appetite. During the second or third course (I lost track) I slip away. I doubt anyone's going to miss me. Now the discussion has picked up. People are chatting about who knows what. Stocks and things. For the ladies it's all about parties and dresses and the sky-rocketing price of tea.

I disappear to the back porch. I haven't been out here before. The stars are shining over the trees. Or maybe those are sky scrapers. It's hard to tell in the big city.

Sometimes, back at the Forgotten Compound, I would sneak out onto the roof and star at the stars. On some occasions I even stole away with a book on the constellations. I remember Orion, Andromeda, and, of course, the Dippers.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I jerk. Someone laughs.

The person walks towards me. I sigh with relief when the moon casts light on Will's face.

"Yeah, it's great," I tell him, sitting down on the edge of the roof.

"Why'd you come up here?" he inquires, sitting down very close to me. I shrug.

"I just...I couldn't take it in there,' I admit. "All of the lights and people and..."

"Boring conversation?" he finishes. I laugh.

"Yes, exactly," I agree, also laughing a little. I turn my attention back to the dark sky. It's majestic. It will last even after there's no one left to see it.

"I'm not quite used to all of that either," Will confides. "In fact, I'm definitely not used to it. It's been months since my dad got promoted, but it's only been recently that he's been involved in these types of things. That I've been in these types of things."

I wish he hadn't mentioned his dad. Having Lieutenant Brace a few floors below me after I thought I was free of him (and the Forgotten Division itself) is overwhelming.

"Doesn't your dad work at the Forgotten Compound?" I can't stop myself from asking, even though I already know the answer. Raven wouldn't be concerned with that sort of thing. She would only be concerned with how close Will is, how I can feel his breath on my neck. Will didn't know Raven though. I'm still safe.

"Yeah," Will states. "Pretty dull, right?" I shrug.

"Maybe," I admit. "I just think it's mysterious."

"Not really," he says. "He isn't around much. When he is, everything is about work." I frown.

"But, you don't work."

Will explains, "I mean, he just wants to talk about his work. He doesn't care how excruciatingly painful listening to that crap it. He just doesn't."