Another big thanks to all the people reading and to my reviewers! This chapter is a little long but I hope you enjoy it!

The next day changes in the experiment took place immediately.

In addition to the meetings every day which were lengthened from an hour to an hour forty five, Alexander and Lizzie were served meals together as well. Though it seemed lately that neither of them were very hungry.

Branom provided them a book of poetry and short stories and encouraged them to read it together in the hopes that a common subject would provoke more conversation.

But much to the distress of both the doctors, Lizzie seemed to have fallen sullen and withdrawn after that night. During her treatment sessions she no longer screamed in pain that she was being suffocated, instead she would weep harder than seemed humanly possible.

And after each session she would remain silent, it was only when she was brought to the meeting room with Alex did she speak, softly.

Mostly she would ask him question, about his life and the many things he had done.

Alex couldn't have been happier with the arrangement, he found having someone who listened carefully to everything he had to say boosted his already glorious ego. And even if he exaggerated a few details here and there, if she noticed than she didn't seem to mind it.

He always knew when she was listening to, because she wouldn't move. If she was listening with great intensity than she would not move, she would sit still as a statue and stare as if his words fueled a film in her mind.

Once in a while, Alex would try to get a detail or two about herself and her life, but it was like pulling teeth and those answer he did get were noncommittal and bland.

The two young people never spoke of the nightmare incident, Lizzie being too embarrassed to touch the subject and Alexander simply didn't want to speak on it.

There were no more night terrors which ended with Lizzie being sedated, but in one other instance Alex once again saw that unwelcome fogginess in Lizzie's eyes despite the darkness.

He had been lying in bed, and it was well past midnight. Wavering between sleep and alert he at first thought himself in a strange dream.

The room was black as pitch, but in the darkness he heard muffled whimpering. He sat up slowly and looked about, but saw nothing but the outlines of furniture.

He listened closely and realized it sounded like it was coming from the vent shaft. Crawling off the bed, now wide awake, he slipped under the bed and pulled out the grate once more before peering through to the other side.

He saw a huddled mass under the bed, curled into the tightest ball a human being could possibly get into.

"Lizzie?"

The whimpering stopped and Alex reached forward, pushing out the grate on the other side with a struggle as his fingers just barely reached the other grate.

"Lizzie, are you alright?"

"I…I'm fine" a hard voice sputtered. "Go back to sleep Alex."

"Well, I was getting a lovely bit of spatchka. But I slooshied a malenky weepy zvook in the dark nochy and thought I ought to viddy in on you." Alex explained in his usual candor as Lizzie began to uncurl and turned slightly toward him.

Her eyes were wet but not red and swollen yet, but behind her dark glazzies was an unmistakable fear and sadness.

"Another nightmare then?"

"Yes, not as bad as the last one though." She nodded and wiped her eyes on her forearm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright."

She stared at him a long time, until Alex thought for a moment she might have fallen back to sleep with his eyes open.

"Alexander? Do you remember what you first asked me when we met?"

Alex shook his head, and lied

"No."

"You asked me why I did it. Why I killed my step-mother."

Alex nodded, "You said because you felt like it."

"I lied."

"I know."

Lizzie swallowed and eyed him in the darkness, "Do you still want to know? Why I did it?"

"Is that what made you so weepy?" Alex asked curiously, as if Lizzie had suddenly grown a conscience overnight and decided to weep for her sins

"No, I wasn't crying for her," She admitted, "I was crying because it's my own fault I'm in here, I was careless, and stupid."

Alex smirked, "I don't viddy it possible you could ever be gloopy, if any veshch you're too oomy for your own good."

"I was" Lizzie said flatly, "I killed my step mother for a foolish reason, and it's put me here."

"Why then? Alex probed, "Why tolchock her with an axe?"

Lizzie swallowed, "I was so angry, I had just been taken out of another school and my step mother convinced my father to send me away. To a housing unit out in the country for young women, girls who've been knocked up or got hooked on some drug, you know the kind."

Alex did know the kind, it wasn't just malchicks who ruled the night streets and Alexander learned very quickly that a girl could pack just as much of a wallop as a man could, and if anything devotchkas were ten times as vicious because they held on to grudges until the second coming.

"She said either I went to the girls' home or I would be kicked out on the streets and cut out of my father's will." Lizzie sighed and wet her lips.

"The next day father went to work and I was practically under house arrest with my step mother. And I was just so furious. I went down to the basement to get a suitcase because I decided I wouldn't give them the chance to throw me out, and I would leave instead. But…" she paused.

Alex listened to the tale with attentiveness, knowing this would probably be the only time she would ever tell this story to anyone.

"What stopped you?"

"The axe" Lizzie said, her voice heavy with the memory, "Father would use it to chop wood for the winters, but it was just leaning on the water heater. As if it had been waiting for me. I didn't even stop to think I just grabbed it and went back upstairs and found my Stepmother in her room. And…well you know the rest."

Alex was silent, watching her carefully as she finished her tale. When it was clear she was finished he had only one question.

"Are you sorry you killed her?"

Lizzie looked at him, and Alex saw in her eye the same attitude he saw the first time he saw her as she drew her lips back into a small smirk, for a moment her old self once more.

"I'm sorry I got caught."

Alex thought suddenly of something strange going on.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

Lizzie bit her lip, her eyes going blank a moment.

"I don't know, I just felt as if I would die if I didn't tell someone. I don't know why"

Alex smirked back at her, "You're right, you were dumb." He confirmed but added "But it's my fault I'm in here as well."

Lizzie was surprised, she didn't except Alex to be the type to take blame. "You're dumb for killing that woman?"

"No" Alex shook his head, "But I was gloopy for trusting my so called droogies when all the signs were right in front of me glazzies. I saw the red flag, but I viddied I had it handled. Or I thought I did"

Lizzie nodded with understanding, "you got careless."

"Exactly. The minoota Dim and Georgie nachinated govreeting about a "new way", I should have viddied what was going about." Alex mentally kicked himself.

"Well, it shouldn't be too much to ask for friends to be loyal." Lizzie comforted him, "But there is an upside to all this."

"Oh?"

Lizzie nodded, "Alexander I don't think I've ever met another person like you in the world. And whatever happens here I'm glad we've met, if only for a fortnight."

Alex grinned, "I was just thinking the same veshch about thou, Little Lizzie. If I may govereet so plainly."

"And you may."

"You might have made a real horrorshow droogie on the outside."

Lizzie gave him a genuine smile, "Thank you Alexander. I like to think we'd have been friends as well."

Alex smirked, "well who's to skazat that we can't? Dva more days little Lizzie, and we're both home free."

Lizzie smiled, "You never told me what you're going to do when you get out."

"Since you ask," Alex hummed, "I plan of tracking down those sodding bratchnies and reminding them that…" He cut off suddenly and went pale.

"Alex?"

He made a choking sound and ducked his head into his arm as he began to retch and cough as Lizzie stood completely still, unsure what she could do.

But it soon passed and Alex recovered trembling.

"Alexander, are you alright?"

Alex nodded and caught his breath, "It's that wretched, sodding treatment they have us on. I can't even slam my fist down without feeling like I'm going to snuff it." He growled and Lizzie thought.

"So that plan's shot to hell, huh?"

"Aye, but don't worry." Alex managed to crack a small smile, "I'll get'em."

Lizzie gave him an encouraging smile, "I know you will."

She reached through the holes in the wall and patted his hand calmly, "we had better sleep then. Good night Alex."

"Sweet Nochy Little Lizzie."

Before they closed up the vents Alex contemplated for a moment kissing her through the vent, possibly coaxing her through the hole that was easily wide enough to fit her and into his bed so that he could purge two years of animalistic lust pulsing through him.

But as soon as he envisioned himself over her, taking her brutally, the sickness came again and he struggled to push it away by erasing the image swiftly from his mind.

"Fucking Hell" he muttered in frustration as he flopped on the bed.

Two days later was the big day, the one everything had been leading up to.

Lizzie and Alex had been provided their clothes which they had worn the first day and washed and ate quickly.

Lizzie was surprised to find that the formless dress she had arrived in looked somehow different now.

"Not surprising" Dr. Branom said as Lizzie stood in front of a mirror, tracing her hips and waist. "You were quite underweight when you came to us, I imagine the vitamins and quality food have put a little meat on your bones."

"Hmm" Lizzie frowned, not all together pleased with the change. Lizzie had few faults that she would care to admit, but one that she could not deny was her vanity.

Since she has blossomed into a woman at age twelve the mirror was one of her best friends, be it the gilded hand mirror on her dresser or the large mirror in the hall.

She pulled her hair back and sighed, oh what she would give for a hair pin.

"Come along now we mustn't keep them waiting my dear." The doctor led her out and they encountered Alex and Brodsky in the meeting room.

"Are we all ready then?"

"It would seem so. But just in case. Alex, Lizzie?"

The two eagerly stood at attention.

"Remember this is what you've both been working for, a little demonstration for the minister and the reporters and you'll both be on your way."

"We're ready sir, you can count on us." Alex grinned and Lizzie couldn't help smile a little herself, for she was positively giddy from excitement.

"Now remember, just act naturally. The treatment will do the rest. Alexander, you will be going first" Branom instructed them.

They were led to a large auditorium with a medium sized stage up front, where dozens of people sat and waited eagerly to see the results of this so called cure.

Branom and Brodsky left to sit in the audience and a lab tech peered out at the crowd before nodded, "It's time."

He motioned for Alexander to follow his and Lizzie stopped his quickly.

"Alex?"

"Good luck."

Alex smirked, "Luck has none to do with it little Lizzie" he shot her a smile before walked out the door with the Lab tech, and Lizzie was left to wait behind the door for her turn.

She strained to hear what was happening on the other side while pondering a great many things that plagued her mind.

Was Alexander her friend?

Or was it just an alliance of circumstance?

With no one else around to communicate with could it be that they saw each other and thought 'Eh, this will do I suppose.'

It hardly matters now, she thought, I will go my way, and he his. Perhaps we will meet again somewhere.

She waited silently, growing antsy and restless as time went on until after about fifteen minutes there was a thunderous applause and Alexander was led through the door looking haggard but hopeful.

"Are you okay?" she asked and Alex nodded, "Real horrorshow." He assured her as the lab tach began to lead her out as well.

Lizzie watched the audience as she was placed up the stage, bright lights blinding her.

"Now what you are about to witness Ladies and Gentlemen is a newer part of this treatment." An older gent in a tux stood in front of the stage and addressed them.

"The young lady you see before you is the very first female subject to be cured. Her crimes, while violent were also of a different nature than that which you have seen before."

Lizzie looked out over the audience and felt rather self-conscious all of a sudden, she tried to smile winningly but feared it came across nervous.

"This young woman has used fear and manipulation as tools to get her way in life, tricking those around her with lies and threats for years, a sociopath in every sense of the word! Until she finally committed ultimate crime without remorse, and without guilt. But I stand before you all and say that this lass has been cured off all the evil within her!"

The man waved a hand up at her "As pure as a lamb in Easter morn, and as attuned to the human emotion she once disregarded as any saint! And as agreeable as anyone you'll meet! But do not take my word for it, see for yourselves…"

The man sat down and the lights dimmed slightly as Lizzie swallowed. From the curtains behind her entered a middle aged man in a suit and tie who waltz up center stage.

"Hello there miss." He greeted her and Lizzie smiled politely and nodded.

"Hello" she replied and the man smiled oddly.

"Well don't be so bashful my dear, come now let me see you."

Lizzie swallowed but walked over to him center stage, her arms folded defensively in front of her.

"My, my, my, what a pretty little thing you are."

Lizzie's face burned but she nodded, "Thank you sir."

"Why don't you smile for me sweetheart?"

Lizzie glanced at him and frowned deeply, who was he to tell her to smile?

But eager to be free from this hell, she obeyed and flashed him a pearly grin.

"Such a lovely smile." The man's hand snaked around her waist and Lizzie stumbled forward in surprise when he patted her bum appreciatively.

"I…!" She began to bark but she swallowed it, as if it were a golf ball. "I wish you had not done that sir."

"Done what my dear? You mean this?" He repeated the action and she growled. "Yes, that. It's not…"

"No need to get upset dear" the man laughed jovially and landed a hard smack on her backside that sounded through the room.

"I said stop that!" Lizzie shouted and grabbed his hand, digging her nails into his palm but suddenly she felt the familiar choking sensation wash over her as well as a wall of emotion stopping her dead in her tracks.

"I'm sorry" She said in a hoarse whisper, "I'm dreadfully sorry sir I did not mean to raise my voice." She sputtered as her heart began to clench painfully and the man eyed her.

"It's not very becoming of a lady to shout at someone like that." He reprimanded her but smirked a little. "But I'm sure there's a way I could forgive you."

Lizzie felt her heart racing, "yes sir?"

"On your knees then, beg for my forgiveness." He ordered her and Lizzie stared at him,

"Sir…?"

"You heard me, girl."

Lizzie's face went bright red but she slowly complied, getting on her knees before him but staring at the ground.

"Now beg me."

Lizzie felt as if she would die, either from the breathtaking tremors wrecking her mind and lungs, or from shame.

"I'm deeply sorry for shouting sir, it was not becoming of me. Can you please forgive me?"

The man grinned evilly but nodded, "I suppose. Now get up."

Lizzie did so quickly and the minister dismissed the man as the audience applauded.

Lizzie felt so embarrassed she might have died on the spot.

The next person to join her on stage was a young woman about Lizzie's age, maybe a year or two older.

She wore a nice dress and fine white shoes and walked up to Lizzie with a large smile on her face.

"Hello." The girl smiled at her and Lizzie eyed her with suspicion.

"Hello."

"My, what a lovely dress." The girl marveled then smirked. "Even if it is a bit of a sack."

Lizzie's eyes widened. "Well I…" she prepared herself to tear into the girl but before a mean word could leave her lips her heart began to clench.

"You what? Come on, spit it out then." The girl demanded and Lizzie smiled a strained smile.

"Well I think you look just lovely" She forced out as well as she could.

"Hmmm" The girl circled her, "Never heard of a hair comb then?" she picked at Lizzie's long locks that hung limp down her back.

"Well? Speak up then!"

Lizzie refused to speak a word and the girl's taunts grew extreme.

"Getting mad are we? Are you getting angry with me? Do you want to hit me?"

"No"

"Oh sure you do, go on I'll give you a free shot." The girl offered up her face to Lizzie who wanted nothing more than to strike her to the floor but didn't dare lash out.

"Oh do go on!" the girl laughed. "You've had no problem with it before."

"Please stop it." Lizzie whispered.

"Stop it? Did you ever stop it? Hm?" the girl shoved her and Lizzie stumbled back. "Come on! Yell at me, strike me!"

"I…I don't want to" Lizzie lied, very much wanting to and feeling the wave looming over her like a monster hiding in the closet.

"Maybe we should get you an axe and you'll chop me up with your dear mother!"

The girl laughed and Lizzie's eyes began to water and spill down her cheeks, the wave of pain and every negative emotion she had ever felt overwhelming her and bringing her to tears as she covered her face and doubled over, gasping for breath as her heart clenched painfully, and her throat began to close as if an invisible hand grasped at her neck

"Please stop, please please please stop!" She begged and the minster stood.

"Enough." He dismissed the girl who left after a bow.

The minister walked on stage to Lizzie who straightened up and wiped her eyes as the minister patted her shoulder.

"Wonderful my dear, just wonderful. How are you feeling?"

Lizzie swallowed. "Fine, sir, fine." She lied and smiled tensely.

"Fantastic, you see!" he addressed the audience as the Lab tech brought Alexander back in to the stage, placing him right next to Lizzie.

"This cure is exclusive to none! Man and Woman alike will be treated and cured with this modern miracle! Crime a thing of the past!" the minister smiled

"You see our subjects are impelled towards good by paradoxically being impelled toward evil. The intention to act violently, or morally reprehensible is accompanied by strong feelings of physical and or emotional distress. To counter these, the subjects must to switch to a diametrically opposed attitude. Any questions?"

A man stood up in the front row, a look of anger on his face. "Choice!" he stalked onto the stage.

"These two have no choice, have they? Self-interest, maybe! Fear of pain drove them both to grotesque acts of self-abasement! Its insincerity was clearly to be seen! They cease to be evil-doers also they cease to be creatures capable of moral choice!"

Lizzie nervously wrung her hands, if this man of God somehow convinced them, then all this hell would be for nothing.

"Padre, these are subtleties." The Minister brushed him off.

"We are not concerned with motive, with the higher ethics. We are concerned only with cutting down crime!" He thought then turned to the audience "And with relieving the ghastly congestion in our prisons..."

The minister put himself between Lizzie and Alexander, a hand on their shoulders, "They will be your true Christians! Ready to turn the other cheek. Ready to be crucified rather than crucify, sick to the very heart at the thought even of killing a fly!"

Lizzie eyed Alex, the minister's words gave her no comfort. If anything they filled her with doubt but she forced a winning smile across her face to keep up appearances.

"Reclamation, joy before the angels of God. The point is that it works!"

The crowd erupted with applause.