When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 15

Now that she had met this other alter Monique was admittedly feeling both relieved and panicked. He wasn't going to let her get any closer. Monique was able to pull herself together and return to work, not that anyone was missing her or was worried about what happened to her. She slipped right back into her groove and kept moving. Ontop of how busy she suddenly was, she was also thinking on how to gain Dennis' trust.

It wasn't fair to expect him to open up to her just because the others had. Their perception of the world was different. Monique would have to learn something about him. Barry had told her things, but she needed to know what he was like. During her lunch break she called him. It was no surprise he didn't answer.

I know you would rather not have anything to do with me but I just want to talk. Can we at least do that?

Now that she knew what the situation was, she could plan things out. While awaiting his possibly never coming reply, she was being run all over and given multiple photos to edit by the weekend. The editor had apparently had a bad week. Well, she wasn't complaining, more work meant more pay and she could always stay late if necessary. It was a little taxing but it would give her a boost in morale when she finished everything.

As the day was plunging into evening and the desk lamp had to be turned on, she got her reply. "You keep saying that you want to understand and that you won't leave us alone. We're different. You aren't like us."

"Does that mean I can't understand?"

"Yes."

"Why? Because you just don't think I can?"

"Because no one does. It's just the way things are. Nobody understands. We aren't interested in trying to make them understand anymore. They don't care."

Monique took a deep breath to calm herself. After being ignored and pushed away by this person, she was starting to get a little agitated. I'm saying the exact opposite of what he's saying right now. The conversation was going nowhere. "How can anyone understand if you don't give them a chance to?"

"They don't want to understand. They only want to ridicule what makes them afraid. I don't care if they do or don't. It doesn't matter anymore."

Monique tilted her head curiously. He said I that time. She mustered up her courage to keep poking at him. "I don't care about the other people either. I want to know you. I really care about Barry but that doesn't mean I can't care about you too." She left it at that and waited for his response. There was no reply too quickly after that, but by moon rise her phone was vibrating.

"I know what you're trying to do. It won't work."

"I am not trying to do anything but figure out why you don't like me when we don't know anything about each other. I didn't suddenly not like Barry when he told me the truth. Doesn't that count for something?"

"This is bigger than me or you. Whether or not you understand doesn't matter."

"Then why not just tell me? Maybe I want to help you."

"You want to help us?"

"That's what I've been saying this whole time."

"You don't even know what we're doing."

"And you're not going to tell me either. You don't trust me. Don't tell me, but at least give me a chance to earn your trust."

There was a long wait for his next reply but she considered it a good sign. That meant he was thinking about what she said. Maybe he was telling the others about it. It was a little nerve wracking but if they were all aware of the conversation then they would all be thinking about whether or not to trust her. She wasn't sure who was truly calling the shots, but she was hoping they would decide to at least give her a chance.

Monique rubbed at her tingling arms as she looked back to her computer screen. It was made all the brighter by the lowered lights in the office. She looked out the window to the moonlit buildings and it drew a yawn from her lips. She had been so occupied with her work, then the conversation with Dennis, that she hadn't really slowed down. Now she was feeling her first day back at work everywhere.

She turned off the computer and gathered her things. She finally got a reply on her way out to her car.

"We don't need anyone's help or understanding any more."

Monique decided not to press the issue any longer. It was late and there was enough of a conversation to think over for now. Maybe they would even be looking over the conversation. Maybe. She didn't want to think that what the horde was intending to do was something illegal, but she had a bad feeling it would wind them up in some sort of trouble.

If they would consider letting her help them, which wasn't seeming likely, she would have to be willing to go along with their plans. For now it was an issue of trust. What they valued she assumed to be recognition, acceptance and something else personal to them. Did they still care for Kevin as Barry did? Did they still want to protect him?

It was sad to think that maybe the horde was beyond even just self-preservation. It had sounded like Dennis wanted more than that. She tried to remember what Barry had told her but she was starting to wear down. The further she got from the office the weaker she felt. Once she got home she fell into bed and gave a long, content sigh.

There wasn't much else shared between them, once again. She had been trying to analyze his responses to see if she could get a better understanding but it wasn't very deep. He had been rather straight forward with her. Now that she had something to at least start with she had to get moving. The conversation the other day had drained her more than she realized, considering the pounding headache she woke up with.

Monique was not one to push an issue, much less try to back someone into a corner. It wasn't as easy as talking to Barry. He was willing to trust her to help. Neither had been sure what to expect as far as her abilities but he still trusted her. She learned a little something about herself the other day too. When things get heated, she was capable of putting on a brave face; well, over text she could.

It was early one morning about two days after the Dennis conversation, a random morning she hadn't planned, when she decided to buy breakfast. She decided to buy breakfast for two. Well, she bought a little more than that just to be sure. Then she went on a leisurely stroll past the zoo. She had parked her car elsewhere to give herself an excuse to walk out her nerves. It wasn't apparent whether or not he, or them, was a morning person, but she was there with the intention of doing more things that made her feel like exploding.

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A/N: I am so sorry there was no update Sunday! I had some school assignments to complete and I just didn't have time to work on the chapter this weekend. Sadly, I knew it was going to happen, eventually, my story deadlines always catches up with me. I wrote this pretty much on the day of and tried to stay up to finish it but that obviously didn't happen. I'm so super sorry everyone! It's a new week though so I will try to get back on the ball so this doesn't happen again.

It's so embarrassing but thank you so much to all those who have added this story to their reading lists. Thank you all for reading :)