Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
What if it wasn't just Miles that Rachel had a relationship with before the blackout but Monroe too? What if the three of them were together raising their twin children Charlie and Connor together until Rachel got pregnant for a second time, Miles and Bass went on their second tour, and she discovered that her son wasn't likely going to survive? So to save her child's life she broke all of their hearts making a deal that she didn't even know all the details of subjecting herself to eight years of pain and misery at the hands of Ben Matheson, never being able to tell Miles and Bass the truth, only caring about two things, keeping her children safe and getting them back to their fathers and now she has that chance, if she can survive the journey. WARNING FOR MENTIONS OF RAPE AND ABUSE.
AN2: So I've written parts of different revolution stories in the past but I haven't felt like posting them. This one I do. Just making it clear in case it isn't already but this will be Miles/Rachel/Bass relationship and bad Ben Matheson.
It has been six years since the power went out all around the world due to technology that Rachel helped to create, because it was the only way to keep the men she loves and her children from being killed.
After the blackout Rachel thought that she would finally get a chance to escape from Ben Matheson, who is the brother of one of the men she loves. She was forced into marrying him after he used his connections to save the life of her youngest son otherwise he would have killed all her children right in front of her, but ever since everything turned off he has been even more obsessive, even more controlling, and even more brutal.
After leaving the city they spent years in different places before arriving at a makeshift village a little under a year ago. Rachel along with her children have never seen the village during daylight hours as Ben keeps Rachel, Charlie, Connor and Danny locked in the basement of the house so that no one questions what he does to them.
Rachel has endured beatings and worse while still doing everything she can to prevent Ben from hurting Charlie, Connor or Danny even if that means enduing more herself.
It is night, or that is what the group of four assume, as there is no light coming into the basement through the small windows and cracks, and Ben came in over an hour ago to deliver another beating to Rachel, and to put the single candle that he allows to illuminate the basement in its position, one that no one but him can get to.
"Mom's not looking to good." Charlie says quietly to Connor as while Danny is over sitting next to a bloody and bruised Rachel Charlie and Connor are collecting water from the basin which is connected to a plastic pipe that flows water down from upstairs.
"I know." Connor says back, "It's been a while since he's hurt her this much." He responds just as quite, worry clear, as while he and Charlie are only eleven they learnt to help their mother with her injuries a long time ago, and have even become pretty good when it comes to being able to tell how bad an injury is.
While Connor and Charlie begin to fill up the makeshift bowls they have they hear footsteps which tell them that someone is coming.
"Connor, Charlie, come here." Rachel says worried, as she knows that when Ben comes to 'visit' more than once in a short amount of time then it doesn't mean anything good.
At their mothers request Charlie and Connor leave the water and jog across the basement where, with help from Danny and once they are there Charlie and Connor, Rachel stands up and stands in front her children, Charlie and Connor also standing in front of Danny, doing their best to protect their little brother. As they get into position they hear the locks on the door unlock and then open.
"Maggie." Rachel says surprised as it isn't Ben like she was expecting who walks into the basement but is instead Maggie, Ben's 'girlfriend' who up until four days ago had no idea about Rachel, Danny, Charlie and Connor, and the second she found out she promised them that she would help them escape.
"I've drugged him." Maggie reveals, "He will be out for at least six hours, you need to go." She says handing over four backpacks, clearly full, "I collected you as much things as I could by still making it seem like you grabbed it in a hurry." She explains.
"Thank you." Rachel says, as she grabs one backpack for herself and hands one to each of her children, when she does that Charlie and Connor head over to the basin and start to fill up every bottle they have with water and puts them in their bags, Rachel being more thankful than she can put into words that Maggie is helping her and her children to escape.
"It was the least that I could do." Maggie responds, "I'm sorry that I couldn't do anything sooner."
"You should come with us, he won't be happy when he realises that we are gone." Rachel says not wanting Maggie to be hurt because she helped them.
"No. It needs to seem like you escaped, that's what I've got to do; make it look like that." Maggie says shaking her head, "You need to go, run as far as you can and never look back." She says before pulling a gun out of the back of her pants, "I got you this, I guess you know how to use it." She says handing the gun to Rachel.
"I do." Rachel confirms putting the gun into her pants.
"You need to go." Maggie says.
"I will never forget this, thank you." Rachel says to Maggie, "Let's go." She says to Charlie, Connor and Danny and together the four leave the place that has become their prison.
"Good Luck." Maggie says to the retreating figures as she begins to work on making everything look like Rachel, Charlie, Danny and Connor escaped.
Being as quite as possible Rachel leads Charlie, Connor and Danny out of the house. Once she checks to make sure they won't be seen Rachel turns to her children.
"This is very important; Danny I want you to always be holding onto either mine, Charlie or Connor's, hand, no matter what, can you do that?" Rachel asks her son and he nods, "Good. No matter what we need to stick together and you have to do what I tell you to." Rachel tells her children.
"We know." Charlie tells her mother,
"We will Mom." Connor assures.
"Good." Rachel responds, "Let's go." She says, positive that the cost is clear and she reaches and grabs Danny's hand and she leads her kids out of the village and into the forest and once they are far enough away from the village Rachel lights torches so that they can see where they are going. She holds one and she gives one to Connor and Charlie, telling them to be careful and to take turns carrying it.
For the next two hours Rachel, Connor, Charlie and Danny walk together at a fast pace and even though it is clear to both Connor and Charlie that the walking at the speed that she is walking at is difficult for their mother she doesn't once slow down.
"Mom, where are we going?" Connor asks curious as while it is clear that his mother is in pain it is also clear that she knows where she is going.
"We'll take a break in half an hour, I'll tell you everything then." Rachel tells her son as she would like to be as far away from the village as possible before she reveals where they are going but she also knows that Charlie, Connor and Danny need to know where they are going.
"Okay." Connor responds after exchanging a look with Charlie.
The next half an hour passes just like the previous two has for the family of four. Rachel walking in front holding Danny's hand with one of her hands and the touch with the other, while Charlie and Connor following behind. Rachel looking back and checking on them quite often, about once every couple of minutes.
"Okay, time for a break." Rachel says stopping in a slightly open area. As she says that she sticks the touch into the ground. One they see what their mother has done Charlie, who is holding the other touch, does the same.
"So where are we going?" Connor asks curious as he sits down on one of the rocks and drinks some water, the others following not far behind him.
"We're going to find your Dad and Pop." Rachel reveals to her children as she has always told them the truth, she never wanted to keep secrets from them and she does her best to never lie to them.
"You know where they are?" Charlie asks looking excited at seeing her Dad and Pop again as she has some memories of them, not a lot, but some, but despite this she feels like she knows them because of all the stories her mother has told her and her brothers.
"I've heard the villages talk." Rachel says with a nod as one thing that the basement wasn't was sound proof, they could hear what was going on outside and she spent a lot of time listening as she tried to come up with a way for her and her children to escape, "They have set up a base to run the Republic from in Philadelphia, that's where they will be, and that's where we're going." Rachel informs her children.
"How long will it take for us to get there?" Connor asks trying to keep the excitement out of his voice as like his sister he has some memories of his fathers and has been hoping that one day he would see them again.
"Two, three weeks." Rachel informs her children.
"I'm going to meet Dad and Pop?" Danny says shock in his voice as unlike his siblings he doesn't remember his fathers because he has never got the chance to meet them.
"Yeah you are Sweetie." Rachel tells her youngest son with a smile, "But Ben is going to know that that is where we're heading." She informs her children, her voice turning serious "So for the next few days we've got to walk as much as possible." She reveals, "Try to get as far as possible."
"Do you think he will come after us?" Charlie asks scared.
"I don't know Charlie." Rachel admits, "But I've got to assume so." She admits as being on high alert is the only way she can keeps her children safe
"Will you be okay?" Danny asks his mother, worry clear, as unlike his siblings he doesn't know how to tell exactly how bad an injury is he does know when his mother is hurt.
"I have to be." Rachel informs her son.
"Maggie gave us a lot of food." Connor reveals as he looks though his bag, deciding to change the subject for now for Danny's sake as he can tell how worried his little brother is.
"She did." Rachel confirms. "She also got us medical supplies, plenty of water and things to use as bedding. We should be okay." She informs her kids.
"How much longer can we rest?" Charlie asks interested.
"Five minutes." Rachel responds, listening for any sign of movement.
"Got it." Charlie responds and Danny and Connor nod.
Five minutes later the five leave the clearing and continue to walk this time Rachel has told Charlie and Connor to walk in front of her and Danny so that she can keep her eyes on them at all times.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asks her brother in a whisper as she can tell that something is bothering him and she isn't sure if he will want their mother to know.
"You mean other than the usual?" Connor asks curios.
"Yeah, other than that." Charlie responds, "Things are petty okay Con, for the first time since we were like three us and Mom are free." Charlie tells her brother, "No more being chained up or kept in a basement and watching our Mom get hurt because she's trying to protect us and being hurt ourselves when she was to hurt to." Charlie says to her brother, "And we're going to see Dad and Pop again, as far as I am concerned that makes things good, so why aren't you happy about it?" Charlie asks concerned as she knows her twin well enough to know that something is bothering him.
"I am happy Char." Connor tells his sister turning to look at his sister while they walk, "I really am." He stresses, "We're away from Ben and we're going to find Dad and Pop again, that's all I've ever wanted." He says.
"But?" Charlie asks knowing that there is something that he isn't saying.
"We don't know if Ben is following us and…." Connor starts to say before lowering his voice a bit more as even though Rachel and Danny aren't close enough to hear as they are several paces behind them he wants to be sure, "Mom's really hurt Char, you know it, I know it, Danny knows it, it's bad, really bad and I'm scared that she is trying to do too much, that she's just making it worse." He admits.
"I know." Charlie says, subtly looking back at her mother and younger brother, "I'm scared too." She reveals, "If we could I would suggest resting for a couple of days but we don't have that luxury, not when there is a chance that Ben is after us." She tells him, "All we can do is do whatever we can to help." She says.
"How about we ask for extra breaks even if we don't need them so she can rest." Connor suggests.
"Good idea." Charlie says with a nod, "We should also help with Danny whenever we can." She adds.
"Don't we always?" Connor asks and Charlie nods and the twins continue to walk but this time in silence.
When the sun rises four hours later the family off four are taking a rest by a stream. While Connor and Danny fill up the water bottles they have drunk, Connor watching his little brother like a hawk, Charlie walks over to her mother with some of the medical supplies that Maggie packed for them.
"How are you feeling?" Charlie asks her mother as she sits down next to her.
"Not bad." Rachel answers.
"Mom." Charlie says in a drawn-out voice making it clear that she doesn't believe what her mother is saying.
"I'm telling the truth Charlie," Rachel tells her daughter putting an arm around her, "It looks worse than it is." Rachel reveals as while it isn't strictly true after eight years of being abused she tends not to feel pain quite as much as she once did.
"Can I do anything to help?" Charlie asks curious as she moves closer into her mother side, being careful not to hurt her.
"No." Rachel says, and as she does Connor and Danny come over from the stream and sit down, "But there is something you all can do." She tells them.
"What?" Danny ask curious.
"Do you remember what I told you last time we spent a lot of time walking?" Rachel asks her children.
"Don't wonder off." Danny says.
"Stick together." Connor says, "Never do anything alone."
"If we hear people or horses we're to hide, wait for it to pass." Charlie adds.
"Good." Rachel says, "And drink lots of water." She adds, "Just like then I need you to follow all those rules now." She says, "Can you do that for me?"
"Of course." Danny says and Charlie and Connor nod.
"What are we doing today?" Connor asks curious as he grabs a bit of food out of his bag.
"We walk as much as possible." Rachel says, "Take small breaks when we need them, about an hour after sundown if everything is okay we make camp." She says.
"That sounds like a lot of walking." Danny says with a small frown.
"It is, and I'm sorry about that but we don't have a choice." Rachel tells her son.
"I know." Danny says, "It's okay Mom." He tells her, though he really isn't looking forward to doing all that walking.
Twenty minutes later after once more filling up any water bottles that have been drunk out of the family of four are picking up their stuff getting ready to once more start to walk.
"Hey, Dan-Man how about you walk with Charlie and I for a while." Connor suggests.
"Sure." Danny says walking over to his older siblings.
"Don't let go of each other's hands." Rachel tells her son as he grabs Charlie's left hand and Connors right.
"We won't." Connor, Charlie and Danny respond and the group starts walking once more. Rachel walking behind her kids being sure that she is only a couple of steps behind them.
As the hours pass it becomes clear that everyone, Danny especially, are becoming more and more tied.
"Mommy, how long until I can sleep?" Danny asks his mother curious as they stop for a water and food break, it being clear how tied he is because he is calling Rachel Mommy instead of Mom.
"A few more hours." Rachel tells her son walking over to him, "I know it's hard and I know you're tired, but we need to keep walking." Rachel tells her son, as she sits down next to him, as they are too close to the village for her liking, "If you get to tired and you really don't think you can walk anymore let me know and I'll carry you." Rachel tells her youngest child.
"Okay." Danny says with a nod while Charlie and Connor exchange a concerned look as while Danny may be very small for his age he will still be pretty difficult for Rachel to carry, especially with her injuries.
"Good, now eat." Rachel says pulling out one of the cans of food out of her bag and giving it to her son.
"How much?" Connor asks as he knows that rationing food is something that they have to do, it is something he has always done.
"This can is for me and you for now, so eat as much as you want." Rachel tells her son as she is used to eating less so that her children can eat more, "Are you two alright?" Rachel asks Charlie and Connor who are sitting next to each other sharing their own can.
"Yeah, we're okay Mom." Connor says and Charlie nods.
"You know I think I still remember how to hunt, do you want me to try tonight?" Charlie asks curious as after they left the city after the blackout they had to learn to hunt to eat and Ben refused to let Rachel; so while Charlie and Connor went hunting he kept her chained to a tree as he wasn't stupid enough to give her a weapon, because he knew what she would do with it and he always knew that Charlie and Connor wouldn't do anything because they were too afraid of what he would do to their mother and brother if they did.
"Not tonight." Rachel tells her daughter, "Later this week would be good though. I want to make sure we are as far away as possible before we start to stay at a place longer." She explains.
"Okay." Charlie responds.
"Connor is your ankle okay?" Rachel asks concerned as Connor hurt his ankle a few days earlier.
"Yeah, it's fine." Connor assures his mother, "It's still wrapped up and isn't hurting so I'll even go as far as to say it's good." He tells her.
"Good, let me know if it starts to hurt." Rachel tells her son.
"Of course."
"I'll keep an eye on him." Charlie tells her mother as it was her fault that her brother her his ankle.
"Really?" Connor asks his sister looking annoyed.
"Really." Charlie responds with a grin.
"Keep an eye on each other." Rachel tells her twins, "We start walking again in ten minutes." She informs her children all of whom nod.
It is two hours later when Rachel realises one of the only reasons why Danny is still standing is because Charlie and Connor are holding his hands, basically keeping him up.
"Guys stop." Rachel tells her children and they listen straight away allowing her to walk the five or so steps that separate them, "I want to try and get another hour and a half to two hours walking done today, so I'll carry you for the rest of the day." She says to Danny.
"Are you sure you can?" Connor asks concerned.
"Yes." Rachel says as she picks, with a small amount of difficulty, her youngest son, "Are you two alright with walking for a couple more hours?" She asks Charlie and Connor curious as if they really aren't okay with that then she will get them to stop for the night even though she would prefer to continue walking.
"Yeah, we're good Mom." Charlie says and Connor nods, although they are both tired they won't let it show as they both know how important it is to get as far away from where Ben is as possible.
"Good, let's go." Rachel says and the family continue to walk, this time Rachel is walking between Charlie and Danny.
Two hours later Rachel can see that Charlie and Connor are struggling to continue to walk, Danny is asleep in her arms and she is also struggling with walking and carrying Danny so she decides that it's time to stop for the night.
"We're going to stop to make camp in the next few minutes, so can you two please pick up brunches and sticks that we can use to build a fire." Rachel says to her older children both of whom nod and while they walk they pick up sticks and would.
This occurs for several minutes until they reach a place that should be a good campsite for the night.
"Charlie can you get the bedding out of my bag for me and lay it on the ground." Rachel request, squatting a bit so that Charlie can reach.
"Sure Mom." Charlie says, before dropping the firewood she is holding and walking over to her mother and little brother.
Once Charlie has put the bedding down Rachel gently places Danny on it, "Sit with him." She says to Charlie before walking over to Connor who is attempting to start a fire, as she does she pulls the lighter that she saw earlier out of the front pocket of her bag.
"Here, try using this." Rachel says squatting down next to Connor, handing him the lighter, "it's okay." She assures him as Connor has gotten a look of complete shock on his face,
"What do I light?" Connor asks as he has never used a lighter before as Ben made sure to keep dangerous things out of his and Charlie's reaches as much as possible because he knew that they would either give them to Rachel or maybe use them themselves against him.
"Grab one of the sticks and light the end of that then place it on top of the others." Rachel explains to her son and that's exactly what Connor does, "Now back up and let it burn." Rachel says to him and both she and Connor stand, "I'll heat up some of the food Maggie gave us, go sit with your brother and sister." Rachel says to Connor as she doesn't want to risk Connor or Charlie burning themselves because they tried to cook. Connor nods and, after lying down the rest of the mats he sits down next to his brother and sister.
While she heats up their dinner Rachel makes sure to always have her eyes on Charlie, Connor and Danny as well as listening for any sign of movement.
Ten minutes after they finished eating both Charlie and Connor are asleep and Danny who was woken to eat is once more asleep. Rachel on the other hand is awake. She is awake and watching over her children. After a while she pulls a photo out of her pocket, a photo that she has never been sure why Ben let her keep though if she had to guess she would say that he let her keep it as a way of mental torture as a way to remind her of what she will never have again, of what he could take from her any second.
The picture was taken the day she found out she was pregnant with Danny. In the picture Miles is holding Connor, Bass is holding Charlie and Rachel is standing in the middle of them, both of them have one arm around her and Bass had just stuck a plus one sign on her stomach. All of them, including Charlie and Connor who didn't understand what was going on, have looks of complete happiness on their faces. None of them knowing that it would be one of the last times that they would ever be happy together because Bass and Miles shipped out for their second tour two days later and two months later she agreed to 'do anything' if Ben would use his connections to get Danny into an experimental procedure, and when seconds later she discovered just what that would mean she took it back, said that she would find another way to save her son, but then Ben pulled a gun on Charlie and Connor, and threatened to use it. She lost her freedom that night and was forced to lie and break Miles and Bass's hearts, something she never wanted to do.
As Rachel stars at the picture she wonders what it's going to be like to see them again and how they are going to react to the truth, but before she can get to deep into though she is distracted by a sharp pain in her side. Lifting up her shirt to take a look Rachel sees, illuminated by fire light, blue bruising covering her entire torso and at least two clearly visible broken ribs and seeing the state of her injuries she can't help but wonder if she will be alive to see Miles and Bass again, though she knows one thing for sure, she will get Danny, Charlie and Connor to them, no matter what it takes.
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