Percy made a mistake. That's how it happened. Just a silly little mistake that never should've amounted to anything.
The evening after John Coffey's execution, Paul left him on his own on the mile while he'd gone to check up on C Block's night crew.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened that night. In fact, Percy was quite bored for some time, but everything changed when he took one fatal step in the wrong direction.
Two muscular arms shot out from the cell he'd been walking past, and a hand quickly slapped itself over his mouth so he couldn't scream, though it didn't stop him from trying.
"Mmmmmpppphh! Mmmmpphh!" He tried to shout, even though it was all painfully in vain.
"Shh shhhh shhh." Came a whisper. Moist, warm air greeted the soft skin of the side of his face as the perpetrator shushed him.
"You just be quiet now." His attacker told him. "We 'gon have a whole mess 'a fun."
Percy struggled as he felt his weapon belt being undone from around his waist. Nothing could be done to stop Wild Bill, though. He was just to strong.
"You gon' like this, lover boy." The crazy kid had chuckled sadistically before he took advantage of the other boy's restrained state and did the one thing Percy had been praying he wouldn't.
Tears streamed down the young guard's face as he was forced to submit to his unwanted lover.
Wild Bill made sure that he got his efforts worth before finally letting Percy go.
Percy returned to the office and sunk down into a corner to cry.
Wild Bill had been careful not to hurt him, for reasons unknown, but he'd sure done some emotional damage.
Paul found Percy an hour later and had Brutal throw Wharton into the restraint room for his disgraceful actions before driving Percy to the hospital, where his parents and Aunt had picked him up, all emotional wrecks over the situation.
None were worse than Percy himself, though.
Paul felt terrible but how could he have known Wild Bill would really rape the kid? Everyone had assumed his antics that day Percy pissed himself had all been a joke.
"I ain't done nothin' that boy didn't love!" Wild Billy protested, thrashing violently as Brutal threw him into the restraint room, kicking and screaming the whole way.
Even Brutal was disgusted with Wild Bill's actions towards Percy, and he hated Percy more than anyone.
No one was more upset than Percy himself though. And neither he nor anyone else could've guessed the consequences that one unlucky night would have.
...
"Aunt Rose?" Percy asked his Aunt before he headed off for work one morning, three months after the incident.
"Yes, honey pie?" The dark haired woman replied, flipping a pan of hash browns on the stove.
"I uh...I don't feel so good." Percy admitted, holding his belly with one hand. "Do we got any of that tonic you give Sophie for her carsick problem?"
Rose sighed and put her hands on her hips.
"Honey, why don't ya just stay home? Huh? I don't like ya workin' when ya ain't feelin' good." She told him.
"I need the hours on my paycheck." Percy reminded her, rubbing his stomach while he used his other hand to gather his belt and hat.
"Well here then." Rose sighed, getting a brown glass bottle down from the cabinet above her and pouring a glass for Percy.
"Drink it all." She told him. "Or it ain't gonna help."
Percy wrinkled his nose at the fouls tasting stuff, but he was able to gulp it down anyway.
It didn't exactly solve the problem though. He was feeling worse once he'd actually reached Cold Mountain, and by eight that morning he was vomiting in the water closet.
"Percy?" Paul asked, voice concerned as he knocked on the door.
"In a minute!" Percy growled back, tears streaming his face as he leaned over the toilet, a trail of vomit dripping from his mouth.
Paul sighed and waited, eyes going to the prisoners who had all been pretty quiet that morning.
There was however, still one exception.
"S'wrong with mah lover boy?" Wild Bill asked, coming to the bars and lounging up against him.
"Shut up and sit back down, Wharton." Paul warned him. "You know you ain't allowed to speak with him anymore."
Wild Bill shrugged and backed away from the bars. Sometimes he'd argue the subject, but he must have been feeling pretty obedient that day.
Paul's attention was caught when the waster closet opened and Percy stepped out, wiping his mouth with a hankie.
"Percy?" Paul asked. "Would you like to clock out a little early? Maybe see a doctor?"
"No." Percy stated.
"Are you sure?" Paul asked again. "There might be something that..."
"I said no." Percy growled, slamming the water closet door and stomping off towards the office, passing Wild Bill without a look.
"Ya know, My big brother got a gal sick like him one time." Wharton commented once Percy was gone.
"Whatchu talkin' bout, Kid?" Peter Coppins, a new prisoner, asked with curiosity.
"Mornin' sickness is what it is." Billy said then. "Hey stiff! I think you should be 'a congratulatin' me. I done put a seed in that boys belly!"
Paul glared back at Wharton. Of all the crazy ideas.
Little did he know, it wasn't so crazy after all.
TBC