Thursday, August 8, 2013

Chapter 35: Report

Music Track: Play when it shows up if you want to listen. 

~ Late Knight Simmer ~


I haven't seen Camo in days and I miss him. I'm a little worried about him because the conversation I had with Absolon about the shelter totally creeped me out.

RING-RING.

"Hello?"


"Hey, Verona, I found Mom, and your car. It's at the station, and it doesn't look like Mom did anything to it, except run it low on gas."

"Thank you, Victor."


As I leave the house and head for the police station, I see Camo and Titanium walking up to the gate. My heart does flip flops at the sight of Camo, and I run towards him with a smile on my face. My smile fades quickly, however, when I see that he has what looks to be a multitude of bruises on his face. They don't look fresh, but they look like they hurt. I can't stop the tears from flowing down my face as I collapse into his arms.


"Camo? What happened to your face?"

"I got punished."

"What? Why?"

"Titanium hugged me, and we got punished."

"Camo, that's ridiculous. No one should be punished for hugging their friend. You can't go back there."

"Believe me, I don't want to, but how do I get away with staying out? The Leader always goes out looking for people if they aren't back by curfew. I don't want to live my life on the run. He'd probably find me and punish me again for trying to leave. I don't know what to do, Verona."


"The Leader? Camo, that sounds really creepy. Do you seriously have to call him that?"

"He insists on 'Mr. Leader, sir,' actually, but I rarely say that. I don't address him as anything. I don't talk to him much unless he talks to me first.  Were you going somewhere?"

"Yeah, I'm going to the police station to pick up my car. My mother stole it last week. We can tell my detective brother you were assaulted, since it's obvious from your wounds, and get a restraining order filed so this Leader person can't make you go back there."

"Is your brother just going to think I'm lying because I don't like it there?"

"No, since you and Titanium both have wounds that are very similar, it looks suspicious, you know?"

"Titanium? We can be free from The Compound if we do this. It will work better if you come too, like Verona said, two cases of assault is stronger than just me going in. I know you were scared to come out today, but you must have done it for a reason. Will you come to the police with me?"

"Ye- yes."


Just then, Absolon comes running out to where we are standing because I sent him a text that Titanium was here. Absolon pulls Titanium into his arms and holds him tight. It's then that I hear Titanium start crying.


"Titanium, shh, it's okay. What's the matter?"

"I don't want to say it. I'm too scared. I'm broken, damaged, you don't want me. I don't know why anyone would want me."


I don't know what they did to him, but I am not letting him go back to The Compound. Not after seeing the bruises and cuts on his skin. The Compound already claimed the life of one person I loved, they are not going to take Titanium away from me.

"Titanium? Look at me. You are not broken. You are nothing but fucking perfect to me. Okay?"


Made a wrong turn, once or twice
Dug  my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's all right
Welcome to my silly life 
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss, no way it's all good, it didn't slow me down
Mistaken, always second guessing
Underestimated, look, I'm still around 
Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me 
You're so mean when you talk
About yourself, you are wrong
Change the voices in your head
Make them like you instead 
So complicated, look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred, such a tired game
It's enough, I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, see you do the same 
The whole world stares while I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and we tried, tried, tried
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time 
Done looking for the critics cause they're everywhere
They don't like my genes, they don't get my hair
Strange, ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that? Why do I do that?
Fuckin' Perfect - by Pink 

"What do you mean you're damaged? Just cause people have told you that you don't mean anything doesn't mean it's true."

"No, I get told that I'm better than everyone, it's not that. I'm damaged because- because I was- I can't say it, it's too painful. I don't want to remember it! You deserve better than me, I'm just a used piece of garbage."

Used piece of garbage? Oh crap, is that what I think it sounds like?

"Titanium, did you get raped?"


He looks at me briefly, and then looks to the side. He doesn't say anything, but the look in his eyes is telling me that I guessed correctly. I pull him close to my chest and try to keep myself from breaking down as well. For all the rules that place seems to have, it doesn't make sense that they would allow their residents to behave that way. I do know though, once they start suspecting any sense of rebellion, they go to great lengths to beat down the rebellious person, by any means necessary.

The day my family fell apart was just a typical Sunday afternoon. Mom had been staying at The Compound more and more, and she had finally come home, after almost a year. We were doing well without her, at least as well as we could. I knew Dad missed her a lot because he did love her. I hadn't taken it very well because I was mad at Mom for leaving and so I clung to Dad for support. When she walked in the door, she looked tired and like she had aged ten years since I last saw her. I don't even know why she came back. She stood in the hallway like our house was a foreign object to her, and she didn't look like my mom anymore, she just looked like a broken woman who was lost in her own body. I looked at her, unsure of how to even talk to her, even though I missed her desperately. Dad ran over to her and tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me, Enigma. I came to tell you that I've had a child for the good of The Compound."


"What are you talking about? You slept with someone else?"

"Yes, it's my duty to breed new residents so they can be raised with good values."

As soon as she opened her mouth and started talking like a robot, my anger surfaced and buried my feelings of missing her. I felt bad, but I was so angry at this woman who looked like my mother, but had taken my mother's mind and hidden it from me.

"Why are you even here, Mom? You clearly don't give a shit about us anymore."


"Absolon! Don't talk to your mother that way."

"It's true, Dad! She left us!"

"She's back now."

"Really? Look at her! She's barely here! She's like a shell of a human being! She doesn't love us anymore!"

"Don't say that, Absolon. She came back, that means she still remembers. We have to help her."

"No, Enigma. I require no assistance. I came because I'm here to recruit the both of you to come live in The Compound with me. It is dangerous in this world outside, you can be safe with me. You can be with me again."


"Fuck that Mom. Look at you! I'm not letting them turn me into what you've become! I'm not going!"

"We have to commit her to a psychiatric ward."

As soon as Dad said those words, Mom became lively, obviously disliking that option. She started arguing with Dad, saying she wasn't crazy, that she had seen the light, and that we didn't have to live in the darkness anymore, if we would just go with her to a better place. Dad tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't listen. She kept saying that The Leader had warned her that we might react negatively.


"The Leader? What the fuck are you rambling on about, Andromeda? Are you insane?"

"The Leader cares about me more than you do."

"What? Is he the one you slept with? Is he running some polygamous thing, where you're one of fifteen wives?"

"No. It was just a random resident. We do not believe in marriage."

"What?! You're married to me! What the fuck do you mean you don't believe in marriage?! Andromeda, what is wrong with you?!"

"You and Absolon need to come with me, it's better this way, I can show you the light. You don't have to live like this anymore."

I felt so bad for Dad, he looked so sad despite him trying to talk sense into Mom. It looked like he didn't really think there was anything that he could do for her.


"Stop it, Andromeda. Absolon and I are going to take you to a place where they can help you."

"No. I don't need any help. You and Absolon are the ones who need help. You are corrupted by this world."

"Andromeda, look at me. Forget about all the who needs help talk for a second. Why did you come back? You've been gone for a year. Absolon and I thought you just ran away because you didn't love us anymore. Do you still love me?"

"Yes, I miss you. That's why I want you to come with me. I was afraid that you both were still living in this corrupt world, I came to save you from the danger."

Dad tried to convince Mom that she was safe here with us, but I couldn't get over how blank and empty her eyes looked.


"Andromeda, Absolon and I are not in danger, but we both want you to come home. Stay with us. This is your home."

Mom shook her head, not convinced that we were fine, and that we loved her.

"No. The Leader said you would do this, he said you would try to make me stay with you instead."

Suddenly Mom bit down hard on something, causing her to start convulsing and foaming at the mouth. She fell and Dad held her in his arms. A few seconds later she was dead. She had bitten down on a cyanide pill. It was the worst thing I've ever seen, my own mother killing herself because she'd been so brainwashed she didn't even know her own family anymore.


After Mom killed herself, Dad started drinking heavily every night, and eventually, our relationship died as well. Everything we had worked so hard to build up in those few years fell apart. The Compound tears people apart, and they'd prefer it that you remain broken and empty. They can control you better that way if you have no fight left in you. They thrive on pain and suffering even though they tell you they're relieving you of it. I'll never forget the look in my mother's eyes when she said her last words, she looked alive as in her heart was beating, but her eyes said that she died long ago, when she joined that horrible place.

I hug Titanium close to me, sad that I thought of that awful memory. Titanium's my only family now since my dad kicked me out of the house, and I don't want to lose him. Verona taps me on the shoulder and tells me of her plan to go to the police. The four of us pile in my car and head to the police station.


20 comments:

  1. Damn. What a deep and sad chapter. Wow...I...can't form words right now. Of all of them I feel like Camo can get through all that's happened the best. Verona is a good support system, but poor Titanium, he's very fragile, and just seems so broken to me. I know he has abs but I'm not sure if that's enough to fix all that's broken...And wow...the whole thing with Absolon's mom biting down on that cyanide pill...Damn I think you pulled at all my heart strings on this chapter. Amazing chapter. As always, however, I still liked this one maybe a bit more then the others, not that they aren't good. I think maybe I just liked how serious this one was.

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    1. Oh wow. Thank you so much for the compliment, amandralynn. I was seriously struggling writing this chapter, and you just made me feel so much better about it. <3
      Camo has retained more of his original personality than Titanium has. Titanium has the problem where he doesn't really know who he is because he never really formed his own personality. Ever since he lost his childhood friend, he's just been shut down. He's really dependent on Camo, so much so that he's like a shadow. Luckily Camo is a good person, but Titanium is kind of that subordinate person, that if Camo said Jump, he'd say How High.
      Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

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  2. Wow, this chapter was just, wow...

    I knew that The Compound had been brainwashing Absolon's mother but, oh my, I wasn't expecting that to end on her killing herself in front of her own family! That was heartbreaking :-(.

    Absolon is impressive, despite his own hardships, he still has left enough willpower to be so supportive and kind to Titanium (poor thing, too). They look so great together.

    Great chapter! And I love the new look of your blog :-).

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    1. Hi Marsar! Thanks for the compliments.
      Yeah, Absolon's mother was weak and that's why Absolon is scared for Titanium, because he sees that he's weak too, and he doesn't want to lose Titanium to The Compound. Now we know why Absolon hates The Compound so much.
      Absoolon has been through a lot, but he never let himself think that he was the cause of his problem. It's not to say he blamed everyone else, he just chose to remain confident, and take each hardship as it came rather than worrying about the what if. Absolon was alone for a long time while he was homeless, so he welcomes friendships and relationships with an open heart.
      Thanks, I thought the blog could use some sprucing up, it had been the same layout for too long. LOL.
      Thanks so much for reading and commenting. :)

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  3. Awwwww poor Abs, Poor Titanium :'(
    *Cries*
    They're on there way to breaking the shackles of The Compound!
    *Cries some more*
    I love how strong Abs is. He is such an amazing person, he deserves Titanium and Titanium deserves him.
    this may seem incredibly odd but I'm glad Verona's mom stole her car, because then I don't think Camo or Titanium would have been able to report The Compounds crimes.
    -Carrie

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    1. Hi LoveHugCarrie!
      LOL, yes you are right in a way, the car theft led to Verona having a lead in to getting Camo and Titanium to the police. A lot of times with life, it's all about the timing.
      Absolon has learned a lot through the hardships he's had to deal with. He's mostly been alone after his mother died because his dad shut him out, so he's learned that he needs to be strong for himself. It has proved to be helpful because he's now able to be strong for Titanium too.
      Thanks for reading and commenting! :)

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  4. This was a heavy chapter, very sad.
    But hopeful too, since it's looking like Titanium and Camo can finally get out of the Compound. And maybe even get it shut down for the illegal shit the Leader is up to.

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    1. Yeah it was really sad. Sometimes it takes extreme things to snap people's brains into getting out of places like that, but it can also have the opposite effect, like it did with Absolon's mother. I'm not sure their bruises are enough to get The Compound shut down as they'd have to have hard evidence because you know The Leader is just going to deny everything. They can however, finally stop being forced to live there with the restraining order. Thank you for reading and commenting. =D

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  5. Damn.
    First things first, thank god they're finally going to the authorities and are going to report the Leader. Hopefully he doesn't intervene on their way there or something!? Ughhh I hate him soooo muchhh >_<
    Poor Abs, too.. Such a sad story about his mother and how his family ended up because of the Compound. T_T
    *hugs everyone in this chapter*

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    1. Awww, they appreciate your hugs. Yeah, they're going to at least get the law involved so The Leader can't drag them back there and beat them up again. That might be all they can do, but at least they'll finally be free of that nonsense. Then they can start healing.
      Absolon has been through a lot even though he never joined, and his side story shows how badly cults can affect family members who aren't even part of the cult. *shivers*
      Thank you for reading and commenting. =D

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  6. a Cyanide pill? Wow, extreme but believable. She must've really felt that they wouldn't let her go again.

    I'm so glad that Verona took charge of the situation and the two guys didn't try to fight her. Mr. Leader, sir obviously erred when sending THOSE two to isolation. Sonofabuttmonkey.

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    1. Yes, in really destructive cults, extreme measures are normal, especially with someone who was as deeply brainwashed as Andromeda. If she had gone back to The Compound without the "new recruits" she would have been punished or possibly kicked out. As brainwashed as she was, she would have felt like no one loved her and had no reason to live anymore.

      Camo has always felt his life in The Compound was wrong, he just never knew what to do about it, so he wasn't going to turn down an opportunity to leave, especially from Verona, whom he loves and trusts. He's not very brainwashed as in he doesn't like anything The Compound does.

      Titanium is a little more brainwashed, but he is mostly just afraid of The Compound. He definitely didn't like it, but for a while, after Isolation, he thought he didn't have a choice. He knows that hanging out with Camo and going out is better for him, and he trusts Camo's judgment on most things.

      Ha, yeah The Leader screwed up big time. He was counting on them to be too scared to tell anyone about what happened, but he clearly underestimated them.

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  7. I don´t know how, but I missed the release of that chapter.

    Hell yes. Now I can see how Abs is completely in love with the whole concept of the Compound. I wonder how hungry he had to get to even go there for food

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    1. Hmm weird. Well, at least you found it! Yay! =D Haha, yeah, this is why Absolon had such a strong reaction of hate at the mere mention of The Compound. He was pretty much starving, and hadn't eaten for like a day or two, when he remembered that weekly gathering thing where he could get food at least once a week.

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  8. Finally getting back to this. Great chapter! I can't believe what happened to Absolon's mom. Jeeze.

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  9. @MandySaurus... so the "Reply" function wouldn't work. Heh. I hope you see this reply since I couldn't reply directly. This cult is crazy disturbed... suicide by cyanide pill is pretty common for crazies. ROFL. Sorry I don't have more chapters for you to read, LOL. I am sad to say I'm almost done with the story. T_T haha, that might be why I'm not updating it as fast.

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  10. Yes, they both left... Yes, the police..... gods I hope they stay out of there. I hope the place is shut down and the criminals are taken to prison.... Poor Absolon and his Mom.... sheesh... I bet if the place is raided, every one inside would chomp a poison pill :(

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    1. It's the escape chapter. LOL. They don't want to be in there again, no worries there. The cyanide pills might be common for those who get caught but don't want to say anything to the police.

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  11. YES! Finally, they're going to get those bastards at the Compound in trouble! :D

    Titanium's fear was just so paralyzing and sad
    I was so glad that Absolon pretty much refused to let him go back to that hell hole and they took them to the police station.

    Absolon's memory though.... :(
    "Don't touch me, Enigma. I came to tell you that I've had a child for the good of The Compound."
    "No, Enigma. I require no assistance. I came because I'm here to recruit the both of you to come live in The Compound with me. It is dangerous in this world outside, you can be safe with me. You can be with me again." OMG that whole scene between Absolon and his parents was so intense. Lmao Absolon's mother was really out of her mind though, I feel so bad for her and then she committed suicide...Wow, I'm just speechless...That was very intense.

    On a lighter note, I loved that photo of Absolon kissing Titanium's forehead :)

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    1. *dances the dance of joy* Haha, wheee!

      Yeah, there was no way in hell Absolon was going to let Titanium go back to the place where he got raped. Also, Absolon sees similarities between his mother and Titanium, as in they're both weak, so Absolon was scared that Titanium would be lost to him forever if he didn't take the chance now to get him out.

      Yeah, Aboslon's mom was 100% brainwashed, there was none of her actual self left. She was the perfect resident. If The Leader could have his way, all of his residents would be like her. She committed suicide because The Leader wanted her to bring her family back, and he didn't want her if she came back alone, so he gave her that pill and told her to bite it if she couldn't get Absolon and Enigma to come with her. Thank you :)

      Haha, that picture makes me sad cause Titanium just looks so broken, but it's also touching and romantic and all that good stuff. XD

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