The cell beside Dakota and Crow was occupied by a single person, hidden in the very corner, trembling beneath harsh lights. It was a frail and unsightly figure, a boy perhaps the same age as the two girls next to him. His pale complexion and undernourished body made it hard to tell. He had draped the thin hospital gown over his legs as to create some warmth, but it did not seem to help, as he was visibly shaking and shivering. Tufts of his light brown hair stood up as if static had kept them in place. He had buried his head down, and took up so little of the cage it was almost impossible to come up with a reason as to why he had one all to himself.
Dakota had spent the morning trapped between nearly crushing defeat, new and terrifying for the young girl who was so accustomed to seeing the world from such a positive perspective, and nearly manic optimism… a certainty that all would go well and their freedom would be achieved with swift authority.
It was exhausting, maddening even, and it was hardly surprising that she found herself at odds with her emotions. She spend a good ten minutes prowling back and forth across the cage floor, fighting tears, before with a huff, she dropped down, her face buried in her hands.
It took quite a bit out of the boy to force his head upwards so he could glance at the cell beside him. He had been listening to Dakota prowl about for the last ten minutes, but had found no energy to pull himself up. When she dropped down, hearing the tell tale signs of tears overflowing, he gazed at her with soft brown eyes, a look of terrible sadness. His face was a dirtied mess, accompanied by bruises and cuts, but his eyes still seemed innocent. That was, however, somewhat hidden beneath the stunning deep blue glow.
“Are you okay?” He murmured, voice scratchy and hoarse, knowing full well it was a question she could not answer, but hoping she would understand what he meant by it.
Looking up, Dakota frowned softly, brushing her eyes with the back of her hands as she sniffed softly. None of them were okay. Crow had made that abundantly clear… but she loathed the idea of giving up. More so, she hated the notion that there was nothing she could do to make the others feel better.
“...Just sad.” She answered finally, honestly, and lowered her hands, she peered through the bars to study the boy on the other side. Her eyes widened slightly, as she took in his appearance, coming to meet his gaze after a few seconds, “Oh… Oh! You… That…” Gesturing to her own eyes, a ghost of a smile brightened her expression, “...That’s really neat.”
He seemed to flinch at her sudden exclamation, wondering if he had scared her. But he saw the hint of a smile and returned it, almost thrilled by the fact that she found it intriguing. “Oh.. I.. th-thank you.” He mumbled with a tiny smile that disappeared shortly after. “I’m sorry, about the sad part. It’s not..” His brow furrowed and he looked away. “It’s not.. easy in here, I know.”
“...It’s not your fault.” She replied softly, worrying at the edge of her lip, “And I shouldn’t complain. It’s been what… a few hours? I’m sure there’s people who have it much worse.” Twisting, she looked to the boy again, “How long has it been for you?”
He hesitated before answering. He seemed to recognize the innocence in her, and felt like the next words that would come out of his mouth could shatter her. But he didn’t want to be dishonest, either.
“Four months.” He whispered sullenly. “I think so, at least. I was leaving for college.” He looked away, rubbing at his eyes.
“...Oh…” She murmured, and her breath escaped swiftly, before she sucked in another, almost forcefully, “...I’m sorry. I… My friend Crow… She’s been here before, but she got out. Maybe we will, too. Maybe we all will?” Swallowing, blinking rapidly, she looked away, “I’m Dakota…”
“She’s the one who escaped?” He echoed with a look of surprise. “And they.. they caught her again.” He shrunk, looking defeated. “Maybe we all will.” He said with a sigh.
“My name’s Parker.” He felt awful, watching her try to deal with the severity of his sentence, when in fact, compared to the others here, he had on been in the SPME’s hands for a fraction of the time. “Don’t be sorry about it. It’s their fault.”
“Mason said that, too… But… but I don’t get it… I don’t understand what we did wrong. I even tried to keep it quiet. What I can do. Only… only reason anyone knows is because I messed up at the diner. I mean… I dunno that I messed up. I can’t help that it happened, I guess, but I think maybe that’s… that’s why they found us. Crow said it was her tracker, but they didn’t come for until after--” Glancing over, she smile dryly, “Sorry… I ramble.”
“What we did wrong was have these.. abilities.” Parker said bluntly,the most sure thing he had uttered so far. “It’s not our fault. We have these things and they want us for it. I don’t know how we get them. I didn’t even have them when they took me.” For the first time, he sounded mad, and sat up a little straighter at just the thought of it.
“...You… you didn’t have them?” Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Dakota straightened onto her knees so she could face his cage, studying him again, “...Then… how did they know?”
Solemnly, Parker looked forward, past the cafe bars and into the next, distant. “I don’t know.” He uttered, as if remembering a terrible moment in time. “I really don’t know.”
“How did you find out?” Sitting cross legged, she inched as close as she could, her hands gripping the bars so she could lean forward, “That you had them?”
He seemed to jump away from the bars the moment she touched them, almost anticipating it. He looked her up and down, and shook his head. “No,” he announced. “I can’t tell you. It’s not… it’s not good.”
Frowning, she sank back a little, “...Crow… Crow said they were gonna hurt us. It’s kinda weird for me to think about, cause I can’t… I mean… That’s sort of what I can do. Or I guess what I don’t do? I don’t get hurt… but I’m still scared. Is… is that what they did to you?” There was a softness in the question, not a prying, but an air of concern, her eyes roving over his injuries.
He stared at her incredulously. A power that allowed her not to get hurt? A part of him was so thankful she had gotten it. The other part of him knew it wouldn’t take long for them to find their way into her power.
“They forced it out of me.” He said, voice hushed, as if he didn’t want to believe it. “I don’t know how they do it. The pry at you, day and night. It doesn’t stop until you give them what they want you to give.”
“Be careful.” He whispered. “Be ready for whatever they’ll throw at you. You’re not as invincible as you think you are.”
“...I got hit by a car.” She mused, faintly, “I dunno what they can do that’s worse than that. But… but I believe you. That’s why I’m scared. I don’t want them to hurt the others, either though. So I’m gonna make sure they take me. I have to. For Crow and Mason and Levi… and… and everybody else. I can be strong. I think…”
He looked surprised once more, deep blue eyes staring at her with wonder. “Hit by a car, huh?” With some effort, he donned a smile that trembled the moment it arose. “M-maybe there is hope, then.”
“Yeah…” She continued, a little brighter, “Just smashed right into me… well… me and a wall. It was terrifying, but kinda cool. The poor lady who hit me, she was so upset. I think she thought I was a ghost. Just sort of happens… I dunno how.”
A strained laugh came out of him. “That poor lady,” He said, gazing at Dakota. “It’s amazing how the public really just… refuses to believe this isn't all made up, right? The comic books and the movies.. I can’t imagine how the world will react when.. we finally make ourselves known.”
“I still have a hard time believing it. I keep waiting to wake up, you know? Like I’m gonna just open my eyes one day and be back in my bed… and none of this will have happened. But I guess I don’t really want that, or I’d never have met Crow and Mason. They’re good people. Sad… but good.” Pausing, she looked away for a moment, leaning back on her hands with a small sigh, “...I keep thinking they’ll just come by and tell us they made a mistake. That we’re not supposed to be here. That they’ll let us go.”
At the mention of the two friends Dakota had made, Parker gazed beyond Dakota, at Crow, and then Mason. He studied them, carefully, before gazing back to her. “They’re not going to let any of us go.” He said. “Even if you didn’t have powers, even if you were never, ever going to have powers. They would never let you go.”
“...No… I guess that wouldn’t make much sense, would it?” Biting her cheek, she looked over at him again, “I mean… I guess at least I have good company, right?”
Parker blinked, redness coming to his cheeks, a welcome sense of color across his sickly pallor. “Oh,“ he mumbled, brows furrowed as he smiled once more. “Y-yeah, I guess so.” He gazed up at her, look softening as his eyes radiated their deep blue glow.
“Sorry…” She offered, with a small smile, as she noted the redness in his cheeks, “It’s just… Most people find me annoying, so I guess it’s not the worst thing in the world being locked up with at least four people who don’t… you know?”
“That’s… s-stupid.” He announced, looking a bit bothered. How she could find the light in this awful, horrible situation, Parker had no idea, but he hoped it would keep Dakota strong. “I don’t think you’re annoying.”
“I mean… I totally am.” She laughed, gently, with a shrug, “I talk way too much and I ask too many questions. And London says, he’s a friend of mine, he says that I have this wacky obsession with traditions. I guess I just like making things special. But I can see how it might make somebody crazy, you know? But I don’t mind if that makes me annoying, too. As long as someone feels good.”
“My mom would go crazy for decorations. Our house was always the brightest on the block.” He smiled fondly at the memory, but it was replaced with a frown. “I missed Christmas this year,” He mumbled. “And Thanksgiving, and Halloween.” He scratched his chin, blinking away wetness from his eyes. “I was going to make my siblings a costume.”
“Oh. Oh… no. Don’t cry… We’re gonna get out. We’re gonna find a way to do it, and then you’ll have next Christmas and Thanksgiving… and all the holidays.” Shaking her head, Dakota pushed forward again, and reaching through the bars, put her hand over his.
He had been a bit to distracted to notice Dakota reaching out through the bars, and only jumped when it was too late. Tiny sparks of blue electricity, similar almost to a static shock, passed between them until Parker yanked his hand away. “Sorrysorrysorry!” He announced, breaking into a coughing fit straight after. “Y-you shouldn’tve touched me!” He cried, holding the offending hand to his chest as if it would lash out at Dakota again.
Pulling her own hand back almost immediately, with a small yelp, Dakota cradled her palm. As the shock wore off, however, there was no fear or anger evident in her expression - but a sense of amazement, as she stared through the bars, “...Woah.” She breathed, “That was amazing. It’s okay… Just stung a little. Sorry, I… I have personal space issues, too, I guess. I could write a list… it’d probably be easier to keep track of.”
He seemed out of breath after pulling away so sharply, staring at her with wild eyes. How could she be amazed by it? Truthfully, he saw it as a curse. An inhuman part of him that someone had forced out, something that never should have been there but these people had made him to be. “D-don’t.. Don’t.. Write a list..” He huffed, posture finally relaxing in an exhausted heap. “Are you alright?” Smiling coyly, Dakota shook her head, “I was just kidding. Don’t think they’ll give me a pen and paper anyway… Probably against the rules here.” Sitting forward again, she held up her hand for him to see, “...Perfectly fine. You?”
He gave a small nod after seeing her unmarked hand. “I’m okay. It always takes a bit out of me.. Even the smallest of shocks, but..” He sighed. “I think powers tend to.. Fit people. And I don’t think this power fits me.”
“Or maybe you just haven’t figured it out yet? Could come in handy… right? Especially if your car ever breaks down.” Smiling, she pulled her hand back through the bars again, studying her palm for a moment, “That… that’s the first time I felt something like that in a long time. I guess Crow was right about it not working in the cages. Except…” Blinking, she looked to him again, “You… how did you?”
He chuckled lightly, moving his hand back down. “I, uh.. It’s not really.. I can’t really use my powers here. It’s like..” He looked away, trying to find a way to explain it. “It’s like a residual effect. I.. store electricity, so when they leave me in places that take it away, I still.. Have a little shock left.”
He gestured to the empty cell. “That’s why I’m alone.”
“Yeah… I can imagine that might make you a little bit of a difficult bunk mate.” Smiling, she leaned back against the bars of her own cell, “I was working at trying to figure out all that I can do. When I got hit… I realized something was different, so I started experimenting. Seeing what limits I had.” Rubbing her shoulder where the crescent mark lay, she frowned, suddenly, “...They know at least one. Cause they managed this.”
Parker opened his mouth to say he was sorry, but realized he’d already said that, more than once. He hated to see the crescent mark on her shoulder, the pain it must bring her. He remembered how much it hurt the first time. Parker pulled the collar of the hospital gown down on his shoulder to reveal a similar scar. This one had healed over time, but was clearly of the same nature.
“Up side… We all get matching scars. That's sort of cool, I guess.” Looking over to Parker again, Dakota smiled, “Annoyingly optimistic. There's one for the list.”
He laughed again, this time with a little bit more of a sad twinge. “I’m..” He wanted to tell her he thought these scars were hardly an upside, but he had the case of permanently glowing blue eyes to deal with over a stupid crescent shaped scar. “I told you not to make a list, didn’t I?” He brought up a hand and attempted to smoothen the tufts of his hair that stuck upright, but with a similar blue crackle of electricity, they stubbornly stayed in place.
“Made you laugh, though…” She said, with a slight shrug. It was no small victory, even if she had noted the sadness behind it, “That’s something, right?”
He turned to her and gazed, eyes searching as if trying to answer a question. “Yeah. I guess so.” He turned back away and sighed. “I think it’s been awhile since I laughed.”
“I’m sorry.” Dakota offered, looking over to him, “I know I keep saying it… but I am. I’m sorry you’ve been here so long. That you missed all your family stuff… I’m sorry that any of us are stuck here. It’s not right. None of it… But I’ll do what I can to… to make it a little better. Even it’s just… shutting up.” Smiling faintly, she turned away, “Whatever helps.”
“Don’t shut up.” Parker said, almost exasperated. “Please, don’t. I haven’t talked to someone in so long.” He was almost tired of her apologizing for her every piece of herself. He certainly sounded like it. “And don’t be sorry. I know you’ll figure it out.”
“Oh good. I’m really bad at it, actually. Being quiet.” She laughed softly, gently, before leaning her head back on the bars, “You said you had siblings? How many… What’re they like?”
“Three,” Parker murmured. “One older and two younger. My older sister’s in college.” His voice got quieter as he spoke, like it hurt to do so. “And a younger brother and sister. They’re twins. Annoying as hell, but I…” He swallowed. “I miss them a lot.”
“I have three, too. Jimmy, Laine and Fi… They’re all older. I was sort of a surprise. Mom and Dad thought they were done, but I guess not.” Her expression shifted, and she looked down at her hands, “...My parents always said it was a reminder that not everything can be planned out. They were both cops. Mom works at a grocery store, now. And dad… he does private security. I think they just got tired of being sad all the time.” Knotting her hands, she bit the edge of her lip, “I miss them, too. But we’re gonna see them again, Parker. I know it.”
He was silent this time, lips pursed. If he opened them, he was afraid more and more sadness would continue to spill out. He couldn’t allow himself to think about his siblings, his family. It hurt too much. He hated the thought that crept into his mind. The thought that they were all worried sick to them, that the twins had no Halloween costume perfected by their big brother, and an empty seat when his sister came home for the holidays.
“I hope so.” He whispered.
Unraveling her hands, Dakota reached through the cage bars again, but not far enough to touch him, fingertips hovering, “...I’m not gonna let them break me. And I’m gonna get us out. All of us. No matter what it takes. Cause you need to see your family again. I promise. Whatever it takes.”
Parker almost looked like he didn’t believe her, like he refused too. He’d been here so long and the others had been here for so much longer. He hardly believed there was a way, but Dakota was so hopeful. He seemed to reel back when Dakota reached out, gazing at her open hand as it seemed to poised to grasp him.
He put out his index finger and touched it to hers, the tiniest crackle of electricity being shared between them, as close as they would get.
With a smile, Dakota looked over to Parker, murmuring quietly, “...So cool.”