Title: The Giver
Chapter: The Other Side
Author: ask jaz
Note: Like I said, I do not own this great show, sadly. Leave a comment, or just think good thoughts. Either works.
"Juliet, come on in." The man intimidated Juliet, but that wouldn't stop her from telling him the truth.
"How have you been?" he asked, "Are you sleeping okay? I know you've been having nightmares…"
"That's not important. Listen, I have done everything I can here. You'll just have to find someone else, someone better."
"Juliet…"
"No, do not try and talk me out of this. There is nothing more I can do for you. I came and I tried, but I failed-"
"Juliet, there is no one else. You are the best in your field and the only one who can figure this problem out. You mustn't lose hope." Juliet knew he would react this way. He would never be able to accept the fact that her job here was done.
"I want to go home Ben. Just let me go home." Ben stood up and put down his round glasses onto the small desk he was reading on.
"Juliet, I think I have something that might interest you."
When I wake up I'm in a dark room, and my head feels heavy. How cliché. It's just like the mystery novels I read then pass onto Alin. I know he doesn't read them, but he pretends to like them because he knows I do. That's just one reason why he's so amazing.
I'm not strapped down or anything of that matter, but the door to the room is locked and there's nothing to break it. I dig into my pockets for anything I could use to get out of here, but I come up with only lint and sand. I sit back down on the bed, partly out of despair and partly because of the fatigue I feel. Everything is quiet, kind of like my room when no one's at home.
I wonder how everyone's reacting to my disappearance. I wonder if they've even noticed. I'm not the most liked or known person among us. Funny, because that's how it was for me at school. In fact, I'm probably more popular here on the island than I ever was at school.
As I wait for something to happen or for someone to come, I start feeling around the room. Other than the bed and an empty dresser, there's nothing here. As I'm scanning the floor looking for anything useful the door opens and a tall black woman stares at me. Her face is blank and lifeless, except for her eyes which are cold.
"Come with me." She says. She freaks me out so much that my mind doesn't comply with my feet.
"I can either leave you here another twelve hours, or you can come with me." There's no way in hell I'd stay here. I follow her into a long dark hall but before I can get a good look she straps a bag over my head and coaxes me to begin slowly, but steadily, walking towards something that can't be good.
I walk down the long hallway, trying to slide between person after person without causing any upsets. It's Friday, so these kids are more riled up than usual, probably because of the game tonight. Actually, who am I kidding, these kids are buzzing about all the drunken parties they can choose from after the game.
Occasionally, when I hear stories about the stupid kids from this school who get pulled over for drunk driving or crash and almost kill themselves in the process over a bottle of vodka, I'm glad I've never been, nor been invited, to parties like that. But that's only occasionally. Most of the time, being there seems a lot better than sitting at home Friday and Saturday nights, watching movies with my mom and her new hubbie, or "babysitting" my little brother, when I really just feed him, bathe him, put him to bed, and watch SNL.
Typical teenage life is the least of my worries right now though. My mom has been talking about me going to Australia over the summer to see my dad and his new family. I guess I'm still his family, but most of the time it doesn't feel like that. On one side, I don't want to go. I was kind of looking forward to possibly getting a job this summer. Maybe I could be a waitress. But on the other, what have I got to lose. It's not like there will be any friends pining over me. Let's just say, I've never clicked with any of the kids here. I don't even consider myself one of them.
I stop in my guidance counselor's office before I head to the bus to grab some papers on applying to colleges, but there's already someone in there when I swing open the door.
"Ever heard of knocking?" I never knew my guidance counselor was so snobby. Sitting in the chair across from him is a dark headed boy with a Green Day t-shirt on. My first thought is that he's kind of cute. My second is the high level of embarrassment I'm feeling right now.
"Oh, ah…sorry." I swiftly turn around and close the door. I imagine the chances of that kid talking to me, but with my luck, it'll just stay in my imagination. I wait just a couple of minutes before the kid walks out.
"Yo…you can g…go in...na…na…now." He stutters., but I understand what he says perfectly.
"Oh, thanks!" I say, remembering to throw in a smile for free. He smiles back, and from the looks of it, stands up a little straighter. As I walk into the office the smile is still plastered on my face.
The woman whips the bag off my head and pushes me into a chair. I'm in another room, only this time there's more people and a window. Along with the black woman, a man with white hair and a woman with long blond hair and sad blue eyes sit behind a table. On the table is a blank piece of paper.
I look around the room and notice a man standing near the padlocked door with a gun.
"I guess he isn't here for decoration, huh?" The blond woman gives a chuckle, but the white-haired guy stares at me with this strange look.
"No, he's not Cheyenne. He's there for your protection." My protection? I decide to leave that one alone for a while.
"How do you know my name?" From what Jack and Kate and everyone who's been taken by The Other's have told me, they're ruthless and will hurt anyone, even someone's who's pregnant.
"That's not important right now. My name is Juliet, and I need to talk to you about something."
"Who the hell are you people?!" My anger is beginning to bubble over the surface, "Why have you taken me? My people are gonna come looking for me, you know! They know I'm missing! They know-"
Juliet cuts me off. "Cheyenne, we know they know you're missing. It's fine. Now, if you can't listen, I'm going to ask Tom here to kindly shut you up." My heart is beating wildly in my chest. I so wish I could be home right now, playing patty cake with RJ, or watching clouds with Alin. But I'm not. I'm here in this godforsaken place.
Juliet looks at the man I assume is named Tom and shakes her head at him.
"Your name is Cheyenne Mason; you were born January 16, 1988. You have three younger siblings, six year old Matthew, four year old Melanie, and eighteen-month old Ryan Jr. Your mother was born in 1963 and your father in 1960. Your parents met in 1978, but didn't begin seriously dating until 1984. They were never legally married but separated when you were six and a half years old, both remarried. You live in Portland, Oregon, go to Alfred Kinsey Public High School, and your boyfriend's name is Alin Cance. Am I correct?" I begin clapping, for sarcastic measure.
"Do you want a prize? Jack and Kate already told me you guys know everything about us, and I must say, it definitely gives you a creepy factor." Tom grunts hoarsely.
"Good." Juliet says, smiling widely, "Now we can move on. Cheyenne, we're going to ask you to do something for us. There's a 99% chance you're going to say no, but we've decided we'll ask you first."
Ask me first? I keep looking at the door like maybe Sayid or Charlie will bust through the door, and there'll be a nice, happy ending to this. But that guy is looming evidence that even if they did, the end wouldn't be that happy.
"Well spit it out, Jules." Maybe some of Sawyer's sarcasm has rubbed of on me, but truthfully, sarcasm hides the fact that I'm scared out of my mind. I'm also hoping that it ticks them off a bit, but Juliet seems unfazed.
"We need you to have a baby."
