I Saw the Lights Go Out

Wishing You Were Anywhere but Here

Sorry this is so late, I've fallen behind on writing because of deleting a whole chapter when I wasn't happy with it, and to add to that, I have family visiting. Anyway, on with the story! 

Sorry for any mistakes I may have made :)

Dan was awoken some hours later by an incessant knocking at his door.

"Daniel James, you wake up right now!" His mother's voice carried through the thick wooden door, it was muffled, but the effect was still there. Dan immediately shot up and opened his door to let his mother inside, she glared at him as she passed into his room, and tutted. "I've been knocking for almost three minutes now! Not to mention, I tried to contact you through the server - why aren't you dressed? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Dan reeled backwards, only worsening his mother's steely glare. "I'm sorry, it's been a long few days. It won't happen again."

"It had better not!" She scolded, giving his room an agitated once over. "We're doing a public talk today - you especially." Dan had to suppress a groan. "The citizens will want to know that you're still capable of protecting them."

Dan nodded, and her cold eyes turned on him with such a sudden ferocity that Dan couldn't hold back his flinch. "You are still capable of protecting the people aren't you?" Her voice was low, threatening.

"Yes Ma'am. Of Course." He said, straightening his back and maintaining eye contact. Her eyes softened, and the closest thing to a motherly smile formed on her normally stoic face. She reached a hand up to brush Dan's fringe out of his eyes, and Dan could see her sucking on her cheek thoughtfully.

"Good." She muttered, a sparkle in her eye. "Wear something black." Were her parting words, as she swiftly left Dan's room, the door banging closed behind her. Dan let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding in, and immediately walked into his walk in wardrobe, selecting a pair of black combat pants and a plain black t-shirt, his usual attire. Normally on public outings, he'd be made to wear a suit and tie, but this wasn't a rally - this was a reassurance. And Dan had to show that he was ready to fight.

Dan idly wondered if Louise or Carrie would be coming to the 'reassurance' - as he now called it in his head. He bit his lip nervously, ignoring the mild stinging sensation as he irritated the sensitive skin there. It was only when Dan was trying to tie the laces on his heavy boots when he realised that his hands were shaking. Dan sat still, staring at his hands. What was wrong with him? He'd never been this nervous before. Maybe it was the prospect of actually having to speak this time around, usually it was just a smile and a wave (and a lot of pretending to be interested in what his and Louise's father's had to say).

Dan took a deep breath as he managed to tie his last boot up, and stood, assessing his appearance in the full length mirror. His bruises from when he was first taken had all but disappeared now, but the ones from a few days ago were still clear as day - but rather than a deep purple-red colour, they were a horrible yellow-brown colour. The scab on his lip was still there, though it was only small now, and Dan could move his mouth freely without having to worry about it splitting. Dan lifted his shirt slightly to assess the bandaging on his hip, before deciding that he didn't want to look at what was underneath - he could feel it well enough. His chest was still mottled with yellowed bruises and scabs. But below all of the fresh bruising and cuts and horrible sun burn, Dan could just make out the faint white scars from his past weaknesses; Dan was ashamed of these scars, they were a symbol of his failures. Dan's finger idly traced the large white scar which ran from the bottom of his ribs, diagonally over his bellybutton. He'd gotten that one for being slow. The thin white line on his neck he'd received when he'd allowed himself to be snuck up on, the only reason his neck hadn't been slit open that very moment was because Pj had shot the guy from above.