When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 18

Needless to say, by the time Monique got to work she only had a few hours to work on her assignments. The editor was not happy, but he calmed down a bit once he saw how much she already had done. Monique finished two photos but it took up all the time she had left. It had to be after hours for the zoo as well. She hadn't gotten a message from Patricia yet so she went to the store after leaving the office.

She text Dennis, assuming he was in control most of the time, to let him know she was just getting to the store. Clothes. The shopping list had clothes on it. Monique sat outside of a clothing store looking over the list. Teenager clothing was on the list as well as some other items she assumed they needed considering where they were staying. Monique got out of the car and went inside. She took into account the weather and where they were staying.

It was cold, so more clothes meant warmer bodies. She grabbed up a few pieces and put together three outfits with pants and sweaters and hoodies. She could only afford three outfits, but she tried to make them count. Next on her list was food items. Quick food items. More like snacks. She headed to the grocery store. She got what was on the list and a few extra things she thought they would like. Extra food never hurt anybody.

As she put the bags into the car she got a text. "Find a way to bring everything in at once. I'll be waiting outside around ten." Monique knew that would be pretty much impossible, but she headed home to find some bags to hold the groceries. At home she found a large backpack to stuff the groceries into. The groceries fit right into the bag. 

Monique wasn't sure if she should be  impressed by her tetris abilities or feel guilty for the fact that they could fit in the backpack. She waited about half a block away. There was no way she didn't look sketchy sitting at the curb in her car. No one knew what she was waiting for and, really, it might only have made things look all the more sketchy. When her phone went off in her pocket she assumed it was Dennis or Patricia, but that wasn't the number on the message.

"Hey Mo'. We haven't talked a while. How have you been?"

"I've been keeping it together. I thought you had drowned in your work."

"Yeah, I had. I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with you."

"It's alright. I know you're busy. The editor has me drowning under assignments too. So I'm sorry too."

"How are things with Barry?"

Monique hesitated to respond. She was just going to lie again. That wasn't what she wanted, especially not now.

"Things are great. I was just helping him with a few errands."

"I'm glad you're still getting out without work as an excuse."

"I miss you. All this time with Barry  just reminds me of how long it's been since we even talked." 

"I miss you too, baby. I'll try to figure out some time for us to just chill."

"That sounds good. I'll be thinking about that too."

"Good."

"I miss you so much but I have to help Barry get these groceries inside. I'll text you tomorrow, okay?"

"Alright. We'll talk later."

"Love you."

"Love you too baby."

Monique looked at the time on her phone and sighed. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and got out the car. It was after ten but not that much. Considering it was after hours it shouldn't matter that much. It had been too long since she talked to Terrence. Technically, it was a text, but all the same at the moment. Monique really did miss him and all this time away from him did make it worse. She hadn't completely lied- more of it was the truth. Mostly truth. 

When she reached the gates Dennis was waiting for her. "It's ten minutes past," he said. "You're late."

"I know," Monique sighed. "Do I have to come in or...?" 

He opened the gate and let her in. She walked past him with her head down. She was suddenly too tired for interactions. The facade she put on for the horde wouldn't be kept up very well. They went back to the small kitchen area and Monique unpacked the backpack. Dennis stood by the table. She looked up at him. "Are you gonna help me? I mean, I don't want to be going through your things."

"You should be familiar with the kitchen," he replied. 

Monique stood from the refrigerator and turned to face him. "Does that mean I'm gonna be coming in here a lot?"

"Sometimes. We'll let you know when we need you."

Monique put everything away, it wasn't a lot, then turned to the bag of clothes. "Here are the clothes for Jade."

He seemed a little confused but took the clothes from her. "This task was to see if you were someone that could be trusted. You were late, but you did get everything we asked for."

"Sorry about that," Monique mumbled. 

"We may ask for other things so, you should know where the storage room is."

Dennis gave her the tour of the maintenance hall. He opened each door and showed her the rooms. Two of the rooms he skipped, explaining that it wasn't a storage room. In the room where the clothes and computer were kept the room door was closed. She was curious all the more about what the room was used for. 

"Can I ask what this room is for?" she said as she walked up to the door. "It's not your room, is it?" She put her hand on the doorknob. It was warm despite how cold it was down there.

Dennis frowned. "Step away from the door. Just remember which rooms are the storage rooms." 

She took her hand from the doorknob and followed him out of the room. "I appreciate you all letting me help you even though you don't like me."

"I never said I didn't like you," Dennis said. "I just don't trust you."

Monique nodded. "Well, still, I hope that we can move past that someday."

Dennis stopped and turned to face her. "Mrs. Patricia is allowing you to help us. I don't think that we need your help but she sees a reason to keep you around."

"Well, you let me in, not Mrs. Patricia." Monique replied. 

He sighed. "You wouldn't have stopped coming around if I didn't. You still messaged me after I ignored you."

Monique folded her arms. "I told you I care about Barry and that's why I'm here, but I also care about you. I don't want to hurt any of you any more than you already have been. You not trusting me is fine, I don't care, but I hope we can move past that."

Dennis shook his head slowly. "We don't want to be looked at as some who should be pitied."

Monique started to speak but Dennis turned away and continued down the tunnel. She quietly followed him back outside. On the other side of the gate she watched him go back inside. That entire day had been so stressful and that was how it ended. She had to keep telling herself that things would change. They would get better. Dennis would come around and they wouldn't put anyone in danger and they she would have her friend back. Things were going to get better. 

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A/N: I know it's still a ways off but I just wanted to let you all know that in August I'm gonna get pretty busy. I'm hoping to have more chapters ready before that time comes because I know it's just gonna be ridiculous talking about typing up chapters then. Things have been going so well so far and I just don't want to betray your expectations on upload days and such. 

Thank you all for reading and I appreciate everyone who interacts with this story :)