When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 22

Time passed so painfully slow in those four walls. They couldn't tell what time it was with no windows or a clock. No view to the outside world. These girls are resilient to still be so lively after being down here who knows how long. I'm feeling antsy after only a few hours. The only thing she was pretty sure of what that it had to have been at least the early morning hours. 

The girls were still sleeping when the door opened. Dennis held the door open. Monique didn't move. "Please come outside," he said more than asked.

She still hesitated but she did go. He closed the door behind her and locked it. Monique's eyes were narrowed and brows set in dissatisfaction when he looked up from the doorknob. "What did you do to them?"

"Haven't done anything," he said as she walked past her to the other door. "I'm not-"

"No." Monique stood in front of him and the door. She grabbed the handle. "You did something to them. They told me that you..." She dropped her head and shook it sadly. "Why are you doing this to them?"

Dennis frowned. "I already told you. This is something beyond you or them."

"That's not telling me anything! What- Why are you holding these girls hostage? What is going on, Dennis?"

Dennis shoved her aside and opened the door then pulled her out into the tunnel. Monique rubbed her arm where he had grabbed her. Barry did tell me he was the strongest. I suppose he had to be... He turned back to her with his usual frown on. "Those girls? They don't matter. We brought them here so they could serve a purpose."

"Is that what Patricia said?" Monique asked softly. "Is that what she told you?"

Dennis' mouth set in a line and he walked around her. She followed him with brisk steps to keep up with his longer legs. "I don't know what she told you, but she's wrong. The only thing you've done is put everyone in danger. You can't come back from this, Dennis."

"We are not following their rules anymore. They weren't made for us." 

"I don't think you believe that."

"You don't know me. You never will. No one does."

Monique's legs slowed to a stop. "Will you just talk to me? I want to listen but I can't hear anything if you don't talk!" she shouted after him. "I don't want to hear Patricia, I want to hear you! I think you're just as important as any of the others, probably even more."

Dennis slowed to a stop then. She doesn't know, she doesn't understand what we've been through. What I've been through. The ridicule... the darkness...  A slight pressure on his shoulder made him look up.

"I know she didn't tell you to me out of there," Monique whispered. "Patricia was going to leave me in there. Just like she didn't tell you to let me in the first time either. Those were your choices."

He opened his mouth as if to speak but let it fall closed again. Monique stepped out in front of him. "You can't tell me I'm wrong, can you?" Dennis looked past her and sighed. "I've seen them now, you can't just ignore that and send me home, can you? I don't think that's a risk you're willing to take."

"No," he replied tiredly. "Patricia was intending for you to stay there and act as sacred food as well." He looked down at her with furrowed brows. "You've always been a liability. She thought that if we kept you nearby then we could keep an eye on you."

"Like what I planning to do?" She folded her arms. "Okay, keep talking. Why did you take the girls?"

"I'm the strongest," he said with a shrug. "I was the only one who could. We all want the same thing so I have to do something to help."

Monique shook her head. He was closing up again. At least I know I wasn't wrong about him a far as his choices. He's following Patricia's influence just like Barry said. She is the one who started this. "Are you going to let me go?" she asked, taking a few steps back.

Dennis nodded. "I will, but if you tell anyone-"

"I-I know, I know," she cut in quickly. "Even though you're acting like a monster, I still...want to help you. Because I'm the only one who knows what going on right now."

He didn't seem amused as he walked past her to the door.

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Monique woke up in a cold sweat. She looked around the dark room with wide eyes, trying to see everything in the room. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom to splash her face. The person reflected in the mirror looked tired and afraid. Monique felt like she had been running a marathon in her sleep with how achy her legs felt.

"It was just a dream," she told the woman in the mirror. "Nothing to lose sleep over." She splashed her face a few more times then went to the kitchen for a cold drink. The water cooled her head, but the rest of her body was on fire. Sunlight peeked over the horizon, turning the sky a dark blue. I got a few more hours to sleep. Better get all of it. 

On her way back to the bedroom a knock sounded from the front of the house. Monique looked outside then searched out a clock. 3:30am. That's what I thought. She sighed and went to a nearby window to peek out at the driveway. She squinted but couldn't see anyone. Who is knocking at my 3:30 in the morning? Monique rolled her eyes as she moved to another more effective vantage point. 

Peeking out this time, she could see the elbow of a grey coat. The odd visitor stepped back and looked up. Monique almost dropped her glass when he looked in her direction. Why?  She ran to the kitchen and put down her glass then ran upstairs to change out of her sleeping top. Why is he outside my house? How does he even know where I live? 

She swapped it for a light t-shirt then hurried back down the stairs as the doorbell was rung. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself then went to the door. "Who is it?" she called. 

"Dennis," he replied shortly. 

"Hey, Dennis? Do you know what time it is?"

"Yes. Can I come in?" he knocked on the door again.

He was awfully impatient. The images from her dream flashed in her mind and she quickly unlocked the door. She let him in, still rather reluctantly, then set all the locks back in place. "What are you doing here?" she hissed. "Do you know what time it is?!"

"Yes," he replied. "But I have to ask a for a favor."

She folded her arms over her chest and fixed him with a look. "You couldn't text it to me? Leave a voice mail? Skype me? It's three-thirty in the morning Dennis!" Monique sighed exasperatedly as she went back to the kitchen for her drink. 

"I know that, but... I wanted to talk." 

Monique raised an eyebrow as she sipped at her ice water. She put down her glass. "You want to talk? Are you gonna tell me any more than what you've already tell me?" He nodded. "We're actually going to have a real conversation?"

"I liked it better when you were too shy to speak," he said. 

"And I liked it better when you didn't come stalking around my house three-thirty in the morning," she retorted. "But let's talk. Say whatever you want. I'm here to listen."

He seemed nervous at first but he eventually did began to speak.  Monique would never forget this conversation.

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A/N: Every time I sit down to this story now I think I don't have anything to write and then stuff just comes out. This is an example of letting the story drive itself. I had not planned for him to go to her house so soon, but it opens up a few different paths for the progression of the story. I'm also just kind of done with the maintenance tunnel right now xD This is just a momentary change of scenery though.

As always, thank you for reading!