Vestige | The Society

Twenty-Three | Six Months Later

Alexandrea lay in the bed. Resting her head on Sylver's chest. It had been a heavy day. She wasn't allowed to be at the Execution, so had stayed in the house having a Harry Potter binge with Sylver. Neither of them knowing how to feel. A mix of guilt, fear and remorse swirled in her stomach. Like a stomach ache that would never go away. No matter where her daydreams took her. An imaginary pain that plagued her. It felt worse that she couldn't be there. She couldn't help her friends who had to take part in it. They all sat next door. The two being too scared to intrude on them trying to get through it. "Al, you need to talk to me," Sylver said. Putting the book down and rubbing her arm. She sighed. 

"I-I don't know what I'm supposed to say, Sylver. A guy was killed today, because we said so. I'm scared that one day, that would be normal. I've lived my entire life being against the Death Penalty. Now look at me,"

"That doesn't make you a bad person. We are starting again from almost the very beginning. We don't have the technology to hold people for years yet, nor the resources. And people would have kept killing, because they would get away with it. Once we get this ready, once we improve everything, then we can lock people up forever as a punishment. Where we were, they had that technology. Do not beat yourself up over this," He explained, pulling her close to him and leaving a small kiss on top of her head. Both of them understood that. The world they were in was new, as far as they had found out. No one around. No one to explain to them what was best to do, or how to act and behave. 

They were trying their hardest to lead. Trying their hardest to keep everything in order without letting the power get to their heads. None of them knowing what was going on in the other people's brains. Did they hate them for what they did? Were they scared? Because everyone on their 'government' was petrified.

----------

Six months. Six months of the same hell, and no sign of escape. Alexandrea and Sylver had gotten closer. In more ways than before. It seemed like the town was moving on, finding a routine and somehow surviving. The guard had grown slightly, people being trained for the role. It seemed like there was normality beginning to settle back into place. The town seeming less scary that before. The community was tighter. Weirdly threading together to become stronger. Following Cassandra and Allie's rules. Living in harmony.

A midnight curfew had been set for everyone in the town, and no one seemed to argue about it too much. Mandatory weekly town meetings took place. Either Allie or Alexandrea leading it. The town beginning to warm up to them too. But the two of them still lived to the edge. Scared that one wrong move could lead tot heir deaths. The community Doctrine : those who don't work, don't eat. Alexandrea had been weary of this implementation, but Allie put it in place anyway. Alex had seen how some people had started to crumble. Their mental health getting worse with everyday. Those she did notice, she tried to help. Almost like she and Sylver had taken on the role of the towns Councillors. Though neither of them really understood what they were doing. They were happy to at least help people. Fearing that people would start starving to death.

Alex and Allie stood in front of the town who sat in the church. Small smiles on their faces. Alex looked around, seeing everyone. The bags under their eyes. Some picking at the blisters on their hands and feet. Guilt washing through her once again. 

"Uh, so new class sign up sheets are posted in the Church lobby. Um, we've just added an improv class, and due to popular demand a second jiu-jitsu class. Oh, and finally, I hope to see you all tomorrow for movie night," Gwen explained.

"Thank you, Gwen. Okay, I just want to remind everybody that this Thursday is Thanksgiving, so bring your recipes to Will so that he can make sure that you guys all have the right ingredients. Next we have an Update from the committee on resources,"