When The Light Goes Out

Chapter - 29

The hours went by even slower than usual. Her work day usually felt like an entire work day, but that day it felt like time had slowed and one hour felt like two. Five minutes felt like thirty. Monique rested her forehead in her hands just to give her eyes sometime from the screen and maybe to ease her growing headache. 

She couldn't stop replaying the scene from that morning in her head over and over. The look on Dennis' face when she had let those stupid words just slip out. She had hurt him, without meaning to or thinking about it, but it had happened. If he had lost that concern for her then surely they would tell Hedwig what she had said too. 

Why do I keep letting my mouth get me in trouble? I'm supposed to be smarter than this. Come on Mo', what are you doing? A hand gently grasped her shoulder and startled her from her thoughts. She spun around in her chair and looked up to see her boss' worried expression. "Are you feeling alright? You seem a little off this morning."

"I-I-I am... I-I'm fine, I'm fine, just feeling a little tired is all," she replied. He didn't seem convinced so she added, "I'll have this done by the end of the day, promise."

"Ah-ha. Don't push yourself too hard and try to get more sleep Miss Leavings. You've seemed a little work weary for a couple weeks now."

"Thank you for your concern," she said softly, lowering her eyes. 

He nodded then left her to her work. Monique sighed and turned back to face her desk. I can't let this keep showing on the outside. I gotta suck it up and move on. She took a deep breath and set to finishing her current project.

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During her lunch break she texted Dennis, despite the low chance of him not being busy at the same time she wasn't. "I'm sorry that what I said earlier hurt you but it was the truth. It doesn't mean I don't care about you and Hedwig."  It's not fair that I'm the only one going through so much emotional turmoil over this. I hate this. 

Back at her desk, she got a response. It wasn't one she liked but it was a response. "If you really didn't have anything to do with this then you wouldn't mind helping me with something."

Monique couldn't deny that sinking feeling in her stomach. "Can I ask what I would be helping with?"

"I'll explain it later. I'll come to you tonight. Be ready to go when I get there."

"Alright."

The concern from earlier now shifted into a minor panic. He hadn't said it too clearly, but she had a feeling that he was planning on filling the gap left by the escaped girls. Monique shook her head and looked back to her computer screen. I can't let it distract me. I have to  focus on work right now.

She managed to regain her focus and push through the rest of the evening. Monique was actually dreading going back home. The office felt like the safe place for once. The drive home was quicker than she would have liked and she was just all around agitated that evening. She conducted some nervous cleaning after showering and changing her clothes. The feeling she had in her gut was not a good one.

Monique had no true way of knowing whether or not that was indeed what he was going to ask her but she couldn't think of how mentioning the missing girls could lead into anything else. Her thoughts were stopped abruptly by heavy rasping on her door. She took deep breaths while clenching and releasing her fists before walking quickly to the door. She slowly opened it and looked up. 

Nothing came to mind to say so she  just stepped aside and let him in. She tried again to steady her breathing as she closed the door. 

"I'm kind of tired from work today," she said as she turned towards the room. "Are we going to be doing anything that uses a lot of energy?"

Dennis was sitting in the living waiting for her. "No, it's nothing like that. First, I have to ask you if you can look me in the eyes and tell me you had nothing to do with those girls escaping the other night."

"I-I didn't, Dennis, I told you." she replied as she hesitantly walked into the living room. 

"Look me in my eyes and tell me."

Monique folded her arms to keep her hands from shaking and met his stern look with her own. "I had nothing to do with the girls escaping."

He sighed and sat back. "Good. That's good."

Monique sat down next to him on the couch. "What's going on? What do you need my help with?"

"I need to find a new place," he said. 

"A new place to live? You know I'm not against sharing my home for however long you need-"

"Not for us," he cut her off. "We have to have the girls."

Monique sat up and moved back from him. "I knew it. You... You can't be serious?"

"We have to do it. The beast-"

"No." Monique shook her head. "I...I-I didn't know the first time. There was no way for me to know anything the first time but now? This is one thing I can't do."

Dennis furrowed his brow. "You said you wanted to help us."

"Yes but not like this. Not like this, Dennis."

"This is the best thing you could do for us."

"NO!" Monique covered her mouth as her lips began to quiver and tears fell from her eyes. "I...I can't do this Dennis. I can't do this..."

He turned to face her. "Look, the beast, he needs the impure. They will be used for a higher purpose."

"Dennis, stop. Just stop!" She stood from the couch and turned away from him. "I can't do this. Please, don't ask me to do this."

"You're weak. I understand this is beyond your abilities." He got up from the couch and approached her. "I asked too much from you." 

She didn't say anything as he turned and walked out. She couldn't find the words in-between sobs. He had seriously asked her to help him find more girls to kidnap. What was he thinking? Did he seriously think she'd agree to something like that? 

As much as she couldn't handle the thought, she couldn't let him take anymore girls either. She had to do something to keep anyone else from missing a child or any other girl from such a traumatic experience. She had told him no but he didn't need her help the first time. Monique took deep breaths to calm herself and dried her tears as best she could before grabbing a piece of paper. There was no telling how he, or anyone for that matter, carried out a kidnapping, but she would have to stop him before he got the chance to do it. 

Things were far past protecting now. She had to protect him from himself and with him being so much stronger than herself, it would take some strategy and wit to do so. Patricia wasn't often in control so she didn't have to worry about her. Dennis was cautious but she could see that he wanted to trust her. 

The thought came to her mind that Patricia may make him return soon. Monique knew what they were doing and she had refused to help. She was a liability. Patricia didn't much like her anyway so to come back to silence her wouldn't be out of the question. 

Monique jotted down a few things she'd need to implement a plan.  She didn't like the ideas coming to mind, but she wrote those down too. It wasn't about helping anymore. Lives were at stake.

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A/N: Yes, I have noticed that updates dropped to only Sunday. Hm... This still feels okay though... The idea hinted at here is one of the weird plot twists I mentioned a while ago that I might try. This is going to get weird and action packed! Dramatic and kind of sad too! Look forward to it...please.

As always, thank you all for reading! :)