A nice change

45

TW: mentions of death (mourning)

Brendon was been scared. So, so scared. Brendon knew he was good, practically a prodigy, but Dallon had actually put in the work to learn and master the 'craft' of re-education, where as Brendon relied on his natural skills and instincts. And Brendon had taught Dallon everything he knew. Brendon had seen Dallon studying hard on a playground while the other kids ran around just being kids. Brendon had expected the kid to get bullied, but when he saw how Dallon got the other kids to do whatever he wanted, Brendon turned to Spence and Lindsey and said "That one."

Brendon had ruined Dallon's life, now Dallon was getting his revenge. Ryan S. stood there, as though he didn't care, because honestly he didn't. Ryan had been on of the kids on the playground. Dallon already had Ryan and under his spell and knew Ryan's dad wouldn't advertise the fact Ryan was missing for fear his favorite punching bag would tell the police what was going on. Spencer had been the only one who acted sorry for the kid instead of happy Dallon had such a prefect target lined up for them after two of the older kids (Jon and Brent) had left because Liseil wanted them somewhere else. Spencer had always been the one to see how wrong Liseil was. Spencer had been the last one to leave Brendon, and the only one who never left home. Sarah and Ryan Ross had been the first to leave, Liseil moving them to some other location. They never told where because they said it would be easier that way. Then Dallon and Ryan Seaman were moved a little while after that. Brendon said it would just be him and Spence forever. Spencer loved his friend, but he knew Brendon would never stop being a puppet for Liseil, and he never would be on himself, so he killed himself before they got the chance. That day was the last time Brendon ever cried.

At least it was until after Lindsey stormed into the room and took down Dallon and Ryan and the three of them ran out of there (with Tyler Joesph, who was just limply being carried by Josh). Brendon took them to Gerard's and cried for the again for the first time in far to long when he looked into Shadow's hazel eyes as they asked "Where's Remington?"

"Wh-what happened?" They asked again, as Brendon sobbed.

"I'm so sorry, Shadow," Lindsey said, "He died trying to free Patrick Stumph."

Shadow looked at Lindsey, then at Brendon, then finally at Gerard. Their hazel Way eyes filled with tears. They sobbed as their Gerard reached out to give them a hug before remembering he couldn't. Lindsey decided it was then her responsibility and crossed the room. Shadow tried to shake them off, but soon gave up. Lindsey was warm and if they closed their eyes, they could pretend she was the type of mother that didn't wait until after her child was mourning to actually give them a hug for the first time in eight years. But Shadow couldn't pretend Remington they wouldn't miss Remington's hugs. There would be so much Shadow would miss. But thinking about that made Shadow feel too much pain. It hurt so much, they just felt numb. Maybe something was wrong with them, it was just too much that they just completely shut down and laid on the floor with Lindsey's arms around them. Gerard squatted down next to them. Shadow was vaguely aware him and Lindsey were whispering something, but Shadow didn't hear it. They only heard Remington's last words to them.

"Hey, it's gonna be the two of us til forever, but that doesn't mean you can't make Gerard a part of your family."