Insanity (Sequel To Madness)

One Side Of The Story

I take a slight step back at the sight of him and try to keep my jaw from dropping. I softly tug Shane's sleeve and gesture towards him. He of course looks at what I was showing him with his head turning just slightly  at first and then more when he realizes who it is. He looks back at Tim, who seems confused at this point.
"Why is Joshua here? He doesn't own any compound." Shane explains while softly resting his hand on my waist as a type of protection.
"He wanted to be a witness, like your wife. Allan let him come with him this morning, they came really early, so I figured, why not?" Tim replies with a soft shrug of his shoulders.
"Can we do anything about that?" Shane asks. Tim gives an uncertain look and another shrug.
"Probably not, since if you tell him to get rid of his witness, you'll have to get rid of yours." Tim sighs heavily after his explanation.
"Yes, that was my thought..." Shane groans softly while nodding.
"Hey, Violet. They have coffee if you want to get some with me." Mark taps me on the shoulder to offer.
"You should go with him, he'll keep you safe from the businessmen." Shane whispers, softly nudging me towards Mark. I nod and give him a soft kiss on the cheek before walking off with Mark.
"Josh is here." I comment as I grab a small, Styrofoam cup off a table that he had led me to.
"I know." Is all he replies as he grabs a cup and fills it with some coffee that comes from a large pitcher.
"Have you seen Rebecca?" I ask as I put a few, small sugar cubes into my cup.
"She went to go mingle. Since she's the newbie around here." Mark chuckles as he takes more sugar cubes from the same cup I had grabbed from moments ago.
"Makes sense. I guess we're outsiders around here too." I mumble as I pour a small creamer in my coffee and start mixing it with a small, red, plastic spoon.
"I'm more of an outsider than you. You're Mrs. Lancaster, Shane's wife, the owner of all districts. I'm known as the guy who was hanging around Rebecca and am a witness for Shane's point. Feel better now?" Mark chuckles softly as he pours some creamer after me and takes my spoon and begins stirring his own coffee.
"A little, but it doesn't make Josh being here any better. Since he tortured me to forget parts of my life. That doesn't make me feel very good honestly, in case you couldn't tell..." I roll my eyes softly as I take a sip of my coffee and wipe the edge of mouth with my wrist.
"Yeah, it get it. Just act cool, I think its about to start." Mark nods and gestures to the front of the room. "Shane's there after all." He whispers with a small laugh.
"Yeah, he always has to make a big entrance." I chuckle back, sipping down more of my coffee. I lean against the table where the coffee supplies were laid out to watch Shane and see what he is up to.
"Ladies and gentlemen." He starts, quieting the room almost instantly, only so there are few hushed voices finishing small talk to focus on my husband.
"It is a pleasure to see you all here in District 10. As you all know, today we will be discussing the ownership of a few districts that we will share details on later. During this meeting, we will hear opinions on multiple points and hear from different witnesses about these candidates. I will give the floor back to Timothy now, thank you for having me." Shane says while giving Tim a hand shake in front of the crowd. He only did that for the image, obviously.
"Of course, always great to have you. So, we had a claim a few days ago from Mr. Allan King, owner of District​ 6, that Mr. Lancaster was not doing his full job at the Main District. He suggested that Mr. Joshua McNeil take over as owner of the Main Districts in Shane's place. Would you like to say more, Allan?" Tim asks, looking over at the smug businessman who only nods and walks to the front of the room.
"Yes, I would." He says while fixing part of the sleeve of his undershirt.
"Josh and I have been friends for years, an I have known Shane for a long time as well... And, in the whole tim I've known them, Shane has never made a decision only for the good of his people. Everything he does, he does for himself." Allan states while giving Shane a glare that if was physical, would be slicing him to small bits.
"Says you!" A man who only just no enters the room shouts.
"Shut your mouth, Kevin... This is a debate, not a shouting competition." Another man who stands by the door groans.
"Well, if it were, I'd win, and I'd give my prize to the best man I have ever met, Shane Lancaster!" The man known as Kevin calls while smiling widely.
"I'm flattered, Kevin, but let the man speak." Shane demands while crossing his arms. Kevin smirks and leans against the wall, crossing his legs in themselves.
"Thank you..." Allan almost whines out, still throwing knives at Shane with his eyes.
"As I was saying, Shane does things for himself and the good of his friends, his family, his compound. No one else matters to him, and I don't believe he should be owning us all with that kind of mindset." Allan continues, pausing to take in a breath, probably so he can just continue spitting insults at my husband.
"That isn't true." Mark speaks up, taking a step forward.
"Mark, wait." Shane demands, giving Mark a stern look.
"No, I have to say something for someone who isn't here. Because if he were here, he'd be saying it." Mark says as he steps more towards the front of the room.
"I'm gonna say something for one of my friends, Jack." Mark announces, glancing back at me.
"Fine, be quick." Shane demands again with a small nod.
"Yeah, I will be." Mark tells him as he stands in Allan's place in the front of the room. Mark nervously rubs his hands together and takes in a deep breath.
"When my friend Jack first came to the Main District, he was hurt bad from a crazy guy's starvation kink, but that isn't what's important. What's important is that to Shane, Jack was a stranger. He never met him before that day that he came stumbling into the compound. And, Shane gave him free medical attention, a home, food, water. He gave him everything he needed, and this was to a complete stranger. When I asked Shane about it later on, he said he did it because it was the right thing. Now, let me ask you, Mr. King, was that a selfish act by Shane?" Mark asks, turning to face Allan.