When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 5

Once he was back home Barry set to getting the others in line. There were twenty-two others. Most of them were good people, they didn't mean any harm, but there were some who had to be refused the light for benefit of the others. They fell to silence, each one in their chair, as they noticed Barry's return. His eyes lingered on Hedwig before continuing to look over the others.

They looked so expectant of him. They expected him to come right the wrong, to straighten out ones who were causing trouble. Hedwig was their resident troublemaker. He was the youngest and he always would be. Just like Dennis and Patricia, his function was no longer needed. His childish behavior was necessary years ago, but the body they shared was an adult now and they just didn't need him anymore.

No one really disliked Hedwig, he was a child. He was immature and annoying and bothersome, but, again, he was a child. The real issue began with those stories Patricia was telling. They scared him and so he was made to believe them. The others often told Barry they saw her whispering to him. No one disliked the child but when he started to gravitate towards Patricia they turned on him pretty quickly.

Barry took Hedwig aside, giving the light to Orwell, before doing so. There was no need to reprimand him in front of the others. They walked past Patricia, who hummed softly. Barry knelt in front of Hedwig. "Hedwig, you know what you did don't you? That wasn't nice." The boy looked to either side and folded his arms over his chest. "I had to be mean to our friend, Hedwig."

"Ith not our friend, justh yourth," he retorted. "The only one she knowth ith you."

Barry sighed tiredly. "Hedwig, I can't just give the light away. She doesn't know about us yet but I will tell her when I think she can handle it."

Hedwig looked at him. "I juth want the light for one minute," he whined. "Why doeth Jade get it all the time?"

"Jade deosn't have the light all the time but she has to take her insulin shots," Barry said. He thought for a moment. "What would you do if I gave you the light Hedwig?"

His eyes lit up. "I would do a bunch of stuff! I could draw more pictureth and-and litsthen to my radio."

Barry smiled at him. He was just a kid after all. "It's been a little while since you could do that, right?" He nodded as Hedwig nodded. "What if I gave you the light for the night so you could do all of those things? But you have to be good Hedwig. You can't keep doing things like this."

He nodded slowly and let his arms fall freely to his sides. Barry patted his head. He was worried that they were having a bad influence on him but maybe he wasn't so far gone as the others thought. That didn't stop the others from giving him a hard time though. Barry let Orwell keep the light for a few hours before giving it to Hedwig for the night. He was a good kid though that also meant he was easily led astray.

                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weekend came and for the time being Terrence was spending it at Monique's house. Seeing as during the week they often went out for lunch, dinner, or a light stroll in between business, most of this time was spent cuddling on her couch. Monique preffered the time spent as just the two of them. They could talk easier and she was the most relaxed that way. Terrence had no complaints either until she was ready for bed and he had to go.

Although she was loving the time she got to spend with him, she was deftly aware of how silent her phone had been. Barry had not text her since that evening. She didn't like how things had ended so the fact that he hadn't called her or anything was bothersome. Of course, Monique didn't let her worry show when she was sitting with Terrence watching movies all night. In the morning she checked her phone to see if there was a missed call or text overnight, but there nothing. Monique worried that there was something really wrong he wasn't telling her.