The Boy from the Bunker - Season 8

Episode Two, Part 4:

Episode Two, Part 4:
Neptunum

Wynn let out a nervous breath, making his way back over to where Ammon was waiting for them, making sure that Quill was walking close behind him. They were led out of the mess hall - not even getting a chance to touch the food that had arrived at their table - and trailed down the familiar halls to their cell.

Ammon stopped at cell number 112 - the same number that aligned to Wynn's, and now Quill's, wristband - not seeming to notice that it wasn't the same one Quill had come out of earlier. He opened the door for them, retreating back into a standstill position and waiting for them to step inside their cell.

Wynn hesitated for a moment but scoffed as he passed Ammon, being sure to pull Quill inside with him. He stood far back from the door, giving Ammon the go-ahead to seal him inside, immediately re-approaching once he knew he the lock had been set.

Surprising Wynn, Ammon activated the glass window on his door to roll down, allowing the two of them to communicate easily through the metal bars that divided where each side of the window had been.

"I will check on your friends for you," Ammon assured him, trying to emphasise the sincerity in his voice, but the mask stole most of his emotion away. "They should be back the next evening. I'll make sure of that."

"You'll be sorry if they're not," Wynn growled, refusing to let the sealed door or four, enclosing walls stop him from protecting his people.

Ammon sighed, activating the glass to roll back up, and moving out of sight from Wynn and Quill, leaning up against the wall of the hallway.

"Hey," a voice startled him, sounding close.

Ammon opened his eyes, hurrying to catch the breath he just let go of in fear that a superior had come to question what his intentions had been with the two boys. But it was only Xander - one of the guards who shared a dorm with him; the only one he had truly been able to call a friend since Neptunum found him.

"Are you okay?" Xander asked, patting him on the shoulder and coming to a stop right in front of him. He glanced through the window of the cell to see Wynn pacing around, noting the rage in him just by the way he walked.

"'Stressed out' doesn't do it justice," he began, "but I'm feeling pretty stressed out."

Xander laughed, already trying to think of ways to take the burden off of Ammon a little.

"Come on," he said, nodding for Ammon to follow. "I know just what we need."

////////

Xander and Ammon walked out onto the deck of the ship, removing their masks as soon as they were outside, relieved to feel the cool, night air hit their skin.

"Better already," Ammon managed a smile, walking out towards the edge of the ship, staring out into the seemingly endless sea ahead of him.

"Thought so," Xander smiled back. "I've seen you up here almost every night since you arrived... Is there a lot on your mind?"

"Always," Ammon sighed. "And now there's an entire clan of people that are here because of me. Everyone's depending on me for this to somehow work out in the end... That's a lot of pressure. More than I've ever felt in my life, truthfully."

"Well, if it helps," Xander said, "you're doing a great job at it. And I couldn't tell that you were even breaking a sweat. I suppose the masks are good for something... That, and making sure that I don't have to see your face all the time."

"Shut up," Ammon laughed, swatting his friend on the arm. After a few moments, the atmosphere turned again, and there was a lingering tension that neither one of them could shift. "What about you; are you okay?" Ammon searched, wondering if he had been so preoccupied with his own struggles that he had completely overlooked his friend's.

"Same as you, I guess," he shrugged. "Overwhelmed... And I overheard Leander say that the chances of us finding the death combination has risen by up to 80% because of the new harvest we brought in... I'm just worried that a lot of these people are going to have to die before we can get it, or at least go through tremendous amounts of suffering, first. But there's someone-"

Ammon looked over, confused at why Xander had suddenly cut himself short. "Someone?" He asked.

"...Never mind," Xander shook his head, turning his eyes to face away from his friend.

"It's okay," Ammon said, staring out into the horizon, not trying to pressure him into confessing. "I get scared about all of this, as well."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Ammon nodded. "I don't like the pain or mind trials. I don't like using people against their will. I don't even think that the death combination is even possible to achieve, let alone if it should be... I guess..." He struggled to get it all out of him; constantly questioning if he was making a mistake or saying too much. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not always sure if we're the 'good guys', you know?"

Ammon dropped his head, shaking it at himself slightly. "Don't let Leander know I've said that. Next thing you know, they'll be putting me through one of the trials just as punishment!"

"You don't have to worry about that," Xander replied, barely hearing himself as his voice was so soft. "There's plenty of things that I want to tell you about this place; about what I feel; about how I want to-" He stopped himself again - biting his tongue - clearly struggling with not be able to confide in someone...

"It's alright," Ammon said. "You can talk about it when you're ready. Trust is an important thing; you shouldn't feel as though you have to rush it."

"I do trust you, Ammon," he said sincerely. "I do. I just can't tell you this. I can't tell anyone this. Not yet."

"I understand," he nodded at Xander's words. "I have secrets, too." 

Two // Part Four
I'm not always sure if we're the good guys.

I love Ammon so much! I'm so excited for what's to come in his storyline, especially in Episode three! You guys honestly aren't ready.

In more important news, BIDEN IS 6 ELECTORAL VOTES AWAY FROM 270!! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED! VOTE TRUMP OUT! SAY NO TO RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC, XENOPHOBIC, MISONGINISTICS IN OFFICE!!!

05/11/20