Reaper's Lullaby

Gus: The New Roommate

"The language of friendship is not words but meanings."
-Henry David Thoreau

Gus couldn't sleep. He could feel the presence of his new roommate, and it was suffocating as he gripped his blanket in fear. This "roommate" had been hand selected by the staff to spy on him. Gus had clearly heard the conversation between him and the staff member who'd escorted him here.

Now the guy had his file somewhere and would be studying it behind his back. All the shameful things that had happened to him. He would know everything and tell all the others... but not if Gus could find it first.

In the pale light of early morning, Gus started quietly looking through the room. He wore the socks with the sticky bottoms they had given him on his first day. They didn't make a sound. He checked the bathroom, the nightstands and under the beds.

Of course it wouldn't be somewhere obvious. It was probably under the guy's pillow. Gus's new roommate had dark brown, almost black hair and was sleeping on his side. There wasn't much to see of his face; he had his hands up near his eyes. Gus very carefully began to work his hand under the pillow and had almost made it halfway when the boy woke up. The expression on his face was a cross between confusion and terror.

"Where is it?" Gus asked softly.

"Huh?" the boy said, pushing himself away from Gus and into the corner.

"The file they gave you about me. I know you have it."

"What are you talking about? I don't have a file!"

Gus glared at him. "I know they gave it to you last night. I heard everything so drop the bullshit. I know exactly what you're here for."

"What the fuck? I was just asleep. Leave me alone!"

Gus looked at him closely. The boy had a face very similar to Adam's. The two of them could've been brothers. That thought sent his brain on a new wild path.

"Did you know a guy named Adam Taylor?"

"No."

"Well he's dead," Gus said, looking closely to find some glimmer of a reaction. Nothing. Maybe he was wrong about that part. But the rest of it...

"You can't trust some people in this place. I know they told you not to tell me, but don't listen to them. They have files on all of us!" Gus exclaimed.

"Yeah... 'cause we're patients," the boy said slowly.

"Don't be a smart ass. This shit is serious. We're out here in the middle of nowhere. What do you think their plan is? It ain't good for us, I can tell you that! There's only two people you can trust. The rest are nuts. You can only trust Jeff and Gina."

The boy bit his lip and didn't say anything for a long time. Finally he asked,

"What's your name?"

"Gus. What's yours?"

"Lucas."

"Seriously, Lucas, if you have that file-"

Lucas smiled. "Are you-" Laughter. Gasping for breath. Then more laughter. "Sorry, but are you for real right now or are you joking? I honestly can't tell. Not trying to be a dick."

Gus was surprised. Out of all the reactions he'd expected, laughter wasn't one of them.

"Why you laughin' at me?" he demanded.

"I'm not laughing at you. Calm the fuck down. God."

"Can I just see under your pillow?"

Lucas sighed and sat up, throwing his hands in the air. "Be my guest."