Chapter 21

"I'll take care of you from now on."

Ruby was laying on the bottom bunk, which was meant to be her parents, but didn't care. Madison was on the top, and if her parents showed up ... at least she had Madison to help her.

Madison was a little nervous about a confrontation with Ruby's parents. She got bad vibes from them at the last encounter. Madison took all her belongings with her to Ruby's bunk. She had a plan. Madison promised that she wasn't going to leave Ruby alone with her parents, and she fully intended on keeping that promise.

It looked like it was time to take her plan into effect. Madison saw Ruby's parents approaching the bunk. She did a quick double check to make sure that all of their belongings were on the floor, and quickly turned back to her book and pretended to read.

Ruby's parents were defiantly NOT happy about this. Why was Carina on THEIR bed, and why was that ... girl ... there? They decided to still put on the act because of all the people there. "Carina ..." Ruby's dad said, trying to stay calm. "Why are you on our bed, honey? It's getting late, we should go to bed ..." Ruby just ignored them.

"Carina ..." Ruby's mom started. She shuttered as she looked up at the ... friend. "If you would please excuse us, we need to talk to our daughter."

"Sure, you're excused. I'm not leaving my bunk though, so if you want to talk to your daughter elsewhere that is fine by me. Otherwise, whatever you have to tell her, you can tell me too. Not that it matters, she'll tell me everything you tell her anyway."

Ruby's parents just gave an 'unnoticeable' glare to Ruby. "Come, Carina." Ruby's dad said, firmly, yet still *acting* calm. Ruby just looked up from the journal, gave her parents a hard look and simply said, "No."

Ruby's parents were about to explode on the inside. "Carina ..." Ruby's mom started. "Now I know you're probably just going through some ... teen ... issues, but we need to talk about this ..." Ruby tried to hide the spiteful laugh.

Madison was bursting with pride. Ruby was sticking up to her parents, probably a first in her life. She wonder how difficult this was for Ruby. Maybe it was time for Ruby's parents to show their true selves. They have lived a lie, their death should not be a lie too. Madison turned to Ruby's parents and gave them a hard stare through squinted eyes.

"Do you not think I know what is going on here? You underestimate me, I am not that naïve. You can end your little charade and the mind games as well, because you are no longer dealing with a child who wants to be loved by her parents. You are dealing with me, an adult, and someone who gets really pissed when the little guy gets pushed around."

Ruby's parents decided they would follow the girl's advice. Who cared if they lost their berths, who cared if they stayed or went? They would die anyway, why not make themselves feel better? Ruby's dad broke the act. He glared at the girl who was friends with Carina. "She told you everything, didn't she?"

Ruby's mom joined in, talking to Ruby. "You little %#&%@! Don't trust a #^$% person! You should know you don't deserve anyone! You worthless piece of-"

"You don't even deserve the air you breath. How dare you speak to your child like that? You, the both of you," Madison spoke as she turned to face both parents, "are the green guck found at the bottom of the barrel. Get out of my sight, you worthless pieces of trash."

Ruby's dad was still angry at this girl. "You don't tell me what to do with my daughter, LITTLE girl!"

Madison jumped off the bunk, and through gritted teeth spoke. "The name is Madison. I am possibly the only person who cares about your daughter because you have confined her to a life of solitude. That life is soon about to change forever, and I am not about to let anyone, including your daughter, be alone through these times. If you cared even remotely for your daughter, you would be comforting her, not calling her a !@#@#. So as far as I am concerned, I am now in charge of Ruby. And I am telling you both to leave now."

"Fine, have the @^$*%." Ruby's mother said, looking from Ruby to Madison. "Glad to get her out of our hands." She looked at Ruby's dad. "Isn't that right?"

Ruby's dad still glared at Madison. "Sure are." Her parents gathered their belongings and walked away out of sight. Ruby was just staring at the journal she had in her hands, not really looking at it.

Madison turned and sat on the edge of Ruby's bed. "I don't think that you will have to worry about your parents anymore. They were wrong. They were wrong in the way they treated you and they were wrong when they said that you don't deserve anyone. You are a human being spawned by scum. You deserve much more than they do, and you deserve much more than they could ever give you. So, if it is okay with you, I'll take care of you from now on."

Ruby just bit her lower lip, closed her eyes, and hugged Madison, crying softly on her shoulder. "Sorry," Ruby sobbed, and tried to stop crying

Madison patted Ruby's back as she returned the hug. This kid had been through a lot of horrible things. Now, with the world coming to an end, maybe Ruby's horror would, too. "Shh, it's okay to cry. Everything's going to be alright now. We are going on the Mayflower and beginning a new life. They won't hurt you anymore. I promise. Everything's going to be okay."

Ruby took a couple deep breaths, then pulled away and looked at Madison. "Thank you again." She gave a small smile and said, "It feels so ... good ... to know that someone cares about you ..."

Madison returned the smile. "I'll always care about you." Madison gave Ruby a small noogie on the head. "I've always wanted a kid. I guess I'll have to settle for a teen."

Ruby gave a small laugh and fixed her hair, still smiling. "Oh yeah." She motioned to the journal. "Interesting already."

Madison smiled as she climbed back on her bunk. "Trust me, it gets better. I think that the barracks will be turning off the lights soon. We've better get ready for bed."

Ruby nodded, saved her place in the journal. She got ready for bed: changed in one of the bathrooms, brushed her teeth ... then she went back to the bed, placed the journal under her pillow. As if on cue, the lights turned off as Ruby got into her bed. "Good night."

Madison woke up with a start. She glanced at her watch: 6:24 AM. Both her and Mark usually got up at around this time. Madison lowered her head and saw that Ruby was still sleeping. Good, this would give her an opportunity to reconcile with Mark.

Madison straitened up her aluminum suit, grabbed her MRE (meal ready to eat), and headed to the cafeteria. She saw about twenty people, including Mark, eating by himself. She grabbed some water and headed over. She sat down across from Mark and popped one of her purifier pills into the water.

"Madison, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm purifying this water."

"It's bottled water, it's already pure."

"That is what They want you to think. I am positive that this water contains mind-controlling agents. Humanity is dying Mark, but the government doesn't want to die with it. They want to control us since we are representing humanity. I won't be part of their evil plot to take over the universe. And you shouldn't be part of it, either. I can't believe you. Not only are you drinking the water without a pill, but you are eating the food, as well. I bet you don't have your suit on either."

Mark was becoming annoyed. He thought that he had finally got into her thick head that the government was not trying to control their lives. The only way he was going to convince her was to expose her to what she feared most. While Madison opened her MRE, he took a handful of scrambled eggs and stuffed them in her face, particularly over her mouth.

Madison tried to spit the eggs out, but Mark covered her mouth. She was panicked, but managed to back away from his hand by standing up. She kept spitting on her napkin, even after all the eggs were out. Madison took a large gulp of water and gargled, but didn't know where to spit it. Oh God, she had to get it out of her mouth. She finally just decided to spit it out, not exactly meaning to hit Mark. It was Mark's turn to get upset.

Mark jumped out of his seat. "You just spit on me! I can NOT believe you just did that."

"I can't believe that you just put those eggs in my mouth after I told you what was in them. Geez, I come here to try to work things out with you before we get on the Mayflower, and you put poisoned eggs in my mouth against my will!" By now everyone in the cafeteria, and even some who weren't, were staring at Mark and Madison. They did not let that phase them, though.

"Madison, you are a PARANOID FREAK. My life was wasted because I followed you through your crazy schemes."

"If it weren't for my 'crazy' schemes, we wouldn't be here today. I saved your life. It may have been wasted, but at least you are alive. Only now, now you are working for Them. I will not be a part of this anymore."

Madison took a breath to calm down before she continued. "You were my best friend for a long time. You could have quit whenever you wanted. I don't regret anything, especially our friendship. Thanks for sticking with me all these years. Please don't be mad at me, not now. I am who I am."

"You're right, you are who you are. I can't help you for being the same person that I became friends with. But you know how I really feel now. And now that we are on good terms again, I think it is time to part ways."