Vestige | The Society

Twenty-Six | Poison

Alex sat with Sylver's head in her lap. Brushing the strands out of his face. He looked better. The colour restored in his face. He was no longer grey. "You were really brave, and amazing," He said. A smile on his face. He was proud of her. She had saved people's lives. Saved his life; that would be something he would never forget.

"It made me think. When we get out of here, I'm going to study to be a doctor," She looked down at him. The light beamed behind her. If he was still delusional, he'd think she was a goddess, or an angel. A celestial being come to save him. And she was. He couldn't imagine where he'd be if he hadn't talked to her that day in the church. He'd be alone and lost. Another teenager with no-one. And he was so thankful that he was there with him. "Anyways, I have to go round to help everyone find out who it was. You stay here and focus on getting rest. Doctors orders,"

"Fine!" He whined, making her laugh.

----------

"What's the point of any terrorism?" Will asked. "make us feel unsafe, force us to change how we live. Are you gonna eat food someone else cooked anymore?" Alex shook her head. She had eaten one of the oranges her and Sylver had picked in the spring. they weren't the best. But she was scared.

"Okay. We need to control the food supply better,"

"So they'll poison the water. Start a fire. How do we stop that?" The fact was that none of them knew. It had been so long since Dewey and that fiasco. Since the anarchy of the early days. If that picks up again, they wouldn't be in any place to stop it from happening.

"Who was so angry that they would try to kill people?"

"Harry was pissed he had to work,"

"Harry won't move three centimetres out of his bed. He wouldn't have done this," Alex defended the boy. She had checked up on him almost everyday. Slowly getting better. Not much though. Alex stood up walking into the kitchen to get a break from it all. She still had to begin reading to help Becca. and with this on top of that, it was more stressful than she had imagined. And the fear that someone could do something like that again, scared her to the core. She didn't know what to do. She felt useless in a way. As they tried to figure out who it was.

---------

"You monsters!" Alexandrea said, walking in to see what the boys were doing. Making the poor girl get changed in front of them. As much as she hated Lexie. Her right to privacy, was a basic human right. She never though Clark would reach another low after what he did to Dewey. Just because someone is a prisoner doesn't mean they can be treated badly. "Both of you, get the fuck out now!"

"Calm down Andrea. It was just a bit of fun," Clark laughed. He stopped when he saw her face. The rage he had grown accustomed too.

"You are about one word away from being punched in the face. Leave," Clark and Jason held up their hands before walking out. Mumbling to themselves. Alex turned to Lexie, giving her a sympathetic look. "Do you need to go to the toilet? Have a shower?" Lexie nodded her head, keeping her head down. Alex nodded and lead her out and up to the toilet. Lexie stopped before closing the door.

"Why are you being nice?"

"I'm not being nice. Just being a basic human being with feelings. Maybe you should try that someday," Lexie rolled her eyes and closed the door. Alex slid own the door, waiting for Lexi to be finished. She felt bad. No woman, or man, should be treated like that. Forced to change their clothes, and period product, in front of anyone. She waited until Lexie knocked on the door to show her back down to the room.

"Thank you,"

"No problem. we're not all monsters you know. We do have everyone's wellbeing in mind. Well most of us. Leading this town is a lot harder than it seems. Especially when Masculinity is through the roof and anarchy is around every corner," Lexie nodded her head looking down sheepishly. "I'm going to have to send the boys back down here. But, They won't be allowed in the room. And if anything like this happens again, they will call me or get removed from the guard." She went up stairs to see the boys stood in the kitchen awkwardly.

"Alex--"

"What where you thinking? You know people still have human rights in this place right? And what you two just did was disgusting. She may be held here right now, but that doesn't mean that you can be dickheads! One more mistake like this and you are off the guard. Especially you, Clark. I don't want to do that. You boys are good when you try. But there is always a line. Do you understand?" The boys nodded and walked past her, down the stairs again. It was harder when you notice the corruption starting in the systems you helped to build. You want to tear down the walls. but she had be careful. They could tear down the walls from the inside without notice. Leaving her, Allie, Will and others in the open.

----------

Allie had announced that they were to hold an election. That A mayor and four council members would be voted on. It scared them. Giving up the power. If anything went wrong, people with no interest in helping the town could win. Alexandrea wasn't as sure as Allie. Wasn't as sure that people had warmed up to her enough to vote her in again. And she wouldn't go up against her own friend.

"How do you feel about this?" Sylver asked her. Noticing how she had her arms wrapped around herself. He, himself, was anxious. Not knowing how it could turn out. Seeming like every crossroad, they chose the wrong path. Were they choosing the wrong path yet again?

"I have a bad feeling. I mean, it seems like we always do the wrong thing..."

"Maybe this time will be different. This might actually make people respect us more," Alex nodded her head, her nerves settling slightly. He had a point. Everyone seemed to be shocked, yet happy that she had said that. Happy that they could now have a say and a choice. Maybe it could work. But they didn't know who ese would sign up. Or even, if people would sign up. The power was no longer theirs for the time being. It was up to everyone else sat in that hall to choose.