Chapter 13: Lucky

There is a music track in this chapter. I have posted it where it is relevant to the story, so for those of you who want to listen to it, click it when you see it. :D 

-LateKnightSimmer-

---

We know now that there were plenty of unhappy people living in The Compound, who were tired of its rules, but unsure how to live any other way. Were there any residents who were actually happy to be there?

Yes, there were. I chose not to associate with them, mainly because of my shyness, but also because Zinfandel was the most obedient person I knew, and she drove me crazy. There were people who were more obedient than Zinfandel because they actually thought The Compound was a good thing for them.

---

Barry is sitting in the library, reading one of the books about purity and thinking about how lucky he is to be in The Compound. The Leader comes in and sits in a chair in front of him.

"Hello, Barry. How are you today, my son?"

"Hello, Mr. Leader, sir, I am doing well. I was just thinking back on how grateful I am to you for saving my life. I would probably have ended up dead if your shelter had not been here."

"I am glad you think that way Barry. I love having you here. You are one of my best. I am truly sorry I had to put you in Isolation for a while. I still love you even though I had to punish you."

"Oh, of course, Mr. Leader. I understand the purpose of Isolation, and I know it is not a personal attack against me."

"I do have to talk to you about Zinfandel, however."

"Yes, of course."

"I do not know if you are aware, but Zinfandel has been complaining about your intimacy session with her. Would you care to enlighten me with your side of how the session went?"

"Yes, Mr. Leader, sir. I was already in the Intimacy Room when she walked in. I will admit, I was less than pleased to see her."

"Why was that?"

"She became angry with me after we both got out of Isolation. She said it was my fault we got punished. I tried to apologize, but she refused to listen and stormed away. I was reminded of her rude demeanor towards me so I didn't want to talk to her. We got undressed and laid down on the bed. When I began the intimacy with her, she just kept squirming and pushing me away. At one point, she asked me to move differently, so I did. After I did what she asked, she continued to squirm awkwardly. I knew that we had to finish the session, so I just kept going."

"Thank you for telling me your side of the story, Barry. I see that you did nothing wrong here. Consider this situation closed."

---

Camo and Titanium walk into work, and Titanium suddenly freezes in place. Camo nudges him gently. He hasn't seen the reason Titanium stopped walking until he looks over his shoulder and sees Absolon in the cafe playing his guitar. Titanium wonders if Absolon is here because of Verona. He's glad because now he will get to see Absolon every day, but he's also sad that he's still not on good terms with Absolon, or any terms for that matter. Titanium can't help but be drawn to Absolon, and he thinks Absolon may have looked up momentarily to glance at him.

"Camo, I feel the tension coming from Absolon."

"Just go over to the other side of the store. I know you like drooling over Absolon, but you're going to keep worrying that he hates you if you keep him in your sights."

---

Verona is the nicest, most genuine person I have ever met. She didn't judge me or shoo me away. Hell, she didn't even ask me anything about why I was playing in front of the store, she just offered me an opportunity. That touches my heart. What she did for me is way nicer than anything those damn Compound people ever did. It's just all talk to suck you into their bullshit. Verona said I could play whatever I wanted. I feel like she's in charge here even though she looks like she's barely nineteen. I think covering songs is fun, so I sing the first song that comes to my mind, which is In the End, by Linkin Park.

"One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind I designed this rhyme to explain in due time

All I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away
It's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watch the time go right out the window
Trying to hold on, but didn't even know
I wasted it all just to watch you go
I kept everything inside and even though I tried
It all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory
Of a time when I tried so hard

And got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter

One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme to remind myself
How I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mocking me
Acting like I was part of your property
Remembering all the times you fought with me
I'm surprised it got so far
Things aren't the way they were before
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then but it all comes back to me in the end
You kept everything inside and even though I tried it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory
Of a time when I tried so hard

I put my trust in you, pushed as far as I can go
For all this there's only one thing you should know

I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end it doesn't even matter
I had to fall to lose it all
But in the end it doesn't even matter."

Some people in the cafe clap for me when I'm done. I saw Titanium. I knew that he worked here, which is why I kept playing in front of the store. I want to talk to him, but I'm still pissed that he tried to pull that high and mighty crap on me.

---

Was it just extreme brainwashing that made some people actually like living in The Compound?

I think that it was a matter of perception. Some thought their lives improved after being in The Compound.

---

When Barry first arrived at The Compound, he had been running from people who were trying to kill him. He had joined a gang at a young age, but grew tired of that life and vowed to clean up his act. He quit the gang, which made the gang leader extremely angry. The gang tried to kill him on the spot, but Barry ran away and hid in a homeless shelter for a week. Eventually the gang found out where he was living and shot up the homeless shelter. Many died, but Barry managed to avoid being shot by hiding in a back room. When he saw them start to pour lighter fluid all over the shelter, Barry escaped through a back door.and didn't stop running until he came upon The Compound.

I banged on the door of The Compound. The sign out front said it was a place for those who wanted to be clean, which is exactly what I needed right now. A red haired man was walking towards me. He opened the door and I hurriedly rushed inside.

"What is wrong, my friend? What has you so worried?"

"I am being chased by some of my former gang members. I need a place to stay. They just set fire to the place I was staying, so I'm hoping they think I'm dead, but I don't know, I don't know."

I couldn't breathe and I was speaking really fast. I don't even know if the red haired man understood anything I had just blurted out. When I finally caught my breath and looked at him, he had a calm expression and a smile on his face.

"You may stay here. It is okay. You will be safe."

I changed my appearance drastically the day after I started living at The Compound. I dyed and cut my hair and stopped wearing my contact lenses, choosing to get glasses instead. I ditched the eye liner and earrings. The Leader doesn't approve of makeup and jewelry which was perfect for me since I wanted to ditch the old me completely. I was paranoid the first few weeks I was here, but I've calmed down since then and cleaned up my life just like I wanted to. He saved my life and has protected me ever since. I couldn't ask for anything more.

---

Titanium and Camo are sitting in their room eating pancakes.

"You look really happy today, Camo."

"Verona said I was cute. No one's ever been that nice to me before, except you. It's a cool feeling."

"I told you she wouldn't think you were a jerk."

Titanium looks down at his plate as he eats the last little bit of his pancakes. He's happy for Camo, but sad for himself because he's not having the same luck.

---

"Daddy!!"

"Hey baby girl! Why don't you come here and give me a hug?"

I was so glad to see my dad's face when I got home from work. He was standing by the front door as if he was waiting for me to get home. When I walked in the door, he picked me up in a giant bear hug and squeezed me tightly.

"I missed you Verona, how is the store going?"

"Good! I hired some entertainment."

"Very nice."

"How was your movie?"

"Great. My job is done, the movie's in post production and editing now. I am free to hang with my best daughter."

"Dad, I'm your only daughter."

"That doesn't mean you aren't the best."

My dad winks at me. He is the coolest person ever. He goes to sit on the couch and I follow him. We sit down and continue catching up.

"Has your mother been giving you a hard time?"

"Oh my god, yes. She tried to hook me up with this guy named Marcus who was studying to be a doctor. I could care less."

"Is there anyone you have your eye on?"

I smile shyly and nod my head excitedly.

"Yes! I took him to Fettucini's for a bite to eat and he's amazing. He's super hot and I'm really curious about him."

"Ooh, the tall, dark, and handsome mysterious type, huh?"

"Charles. Hello my love."

Ew. Mother. Before I can answer Daddy, Mother interrupts our conversation. Daddy grins stupidly at Mother. I guess I would probably make that same face when I see Camo, and I guess I'm glad my parents are in love, even though Mother is so ridiculous sometimes.

"Kalya! How are you?"

"Good, I missed you my darling."

"Kalya, you've really got to stop trying to set Verona up with random guys. Let her explore and find someone for herself. She is more than capable."

Daddy is so awesome. He looked at me when he said Mother should let me explore for myself. He doesn't ignore me like I'm not in the room. He sticks up for me in more ways than one. Mother of course, frowns at Daddy because she doesn't think I'm capable of anything at all. Then she gets all dramatic and puts her hand on her chest like he just said the most horrible thing in the world.

"Charles, she is going to soil our family name with her antics."

"No, she won't. She'll make our family name stand out. Come on, baby, don't you trust me?"

"Verona must also get a more decent job, Charles. Must she continue to slave away at that bookstore?"

"Kalya, we own that bookstore. Verona wanted a job to get her out of the house, and she couldn't find anything she liked, so I put her in charge of our bookstore. It's much better pay than any other service job around here. She's hardly slaving away, she's the boss. You know these things, why do you continue to bicker about them?"

"I bicker about it because it's a service job, Charles. Our beautiful daughter shouldn't be working a service job, it's for the lower class. Why can't she work at the country club?"

"Fine. Let's ask her. Verona?"

"I don't want to work at the country club."

"That's your answer, Kalya."