A/N: Just going to try and move this story along. Shit should be going down in upcoming chapters

Don't be a stranger

Chapter 18: Revelations

I stayed with Jenny for the following two nights. So many more painful memories were flooding back into me, and I learned more. I learned about Ryan and Augustus disgusting little secret called Persephone. I learned that those prisoners are often sold to the likes of Ryan Industries and Fontaine Futuristics for sick experiments to test their concoctions and 'potions, later to be sold commercially seen as the rise of tonics and plasmids in store windows and posters. I remembered more about the crimes I've committed and how used I was. And that is the hardest part to accept.

I've manipulated and lied to people. Lured men into ambushes while letting their wives cry on my shoulder. The children I've hurt. I can't believe I did it. But that is the truth. I remember all the stories and the world of realities described to me, thinking that it was the right thing. Thinking that I was helping fight against a greater cause against Andrew Ryan or because I was protecting the innocent. And why did I do it? How was I convinced. He just simply asked with reason. Asked by none other than Frank Fontaine. A despicable sole. Someone so sinister and unmistakably deliberate in their decisions with refined skills in manipulation.

Would you kindly…Would you kindly

Such a…simple phase. Simple yet compelling. Not a line I would hear very often, but not usual in any way. I can't believe the power it held over me. It was never used as a question, yet it sounds like one. Telling me again and again, with a new empty memory file every time. I never remember before now, and so the charade of doing something for the greater good, for the poor, for the coloured, for the children were played over and over.

I hated the memories in the lab. Strapped to a chair, with shadows surrounding me. I couldn't tell you anything about which part of rapture I was in, but I could tell you about the doctor. Never learn his name, but he was of the yellow sort. A short shrivel up man, with big thick framed glasses and a large forehead. He would poke and prod me with needles, taking blood while putting other things in my blood stream. Every time he look me over, I felt like a small insect, with his headlamp blinding me while he leaned over me. When he wasn't tapping into my veins, he would you the phase 'would you kindly' to tell me to do basic commands. I would say I felt like a puppet, but puppets don't have minds of their own.

While pieces fell together from start to finish, all the stupid decision I made, how trusting I had been, there was still something I couldn't answer, and it shatters me every time I think about it.

Johnny.

I remember meeting him for the first time and got to experience our blooming relationship once more. Those memories hurt the most. So care free, and completely at peace. It was a sense of pure golden happiness. But with reliving the good days, I was constantly having to experience heartbreak and terror of finding him gone. Memories of what followed during the night too, reminded me of how I ran to Fontaine. His confession about knowing Johnny was to be taken, and how I would have been killed if I was there. And thats way they took my memories.

I forgot Johnny, but also anything related to him. I forgot that it was Ryan's people that took me in to wipe my mind. I forgot that not only Ryan was there, but so was Augustus. So all along, he knew, and he toyed with me, gaining more than my trust, but my reliance on him. Fontaine was the one who had earlier protected me but it was also Fontaine's people that took me in for the control tests and manipulated me to do horrible things…

There are no good sides.

"What do I do now…" I whisper to Jenny as we sat in her bed.

Jenny didn't know any better than me, but she sighed, and thought for a while anyway. "I don't know, Charles."

That silly little name, 'Charles'. I helped lighten the weight in my chest. "I wish we could go back…Try again. Maybe next time I would just stay on the surface, continue with my studies, and make nothing of myself like I was suppose too…"

"No, Charlie. You would have hated yourself for that. You were never supposed to live so dull." She rubs my back soothingly. "You just… have to play the game. Down here, isn't like the surface. You don't just take the same crap they give you up there." I frown a little as she continues. "You can get on top of them. In fact, you have an advantage now. They don't think you'll remember anything, so why would they try to hide anything from you if you just ask."

"I see…" I sit up straighter.

I walk proudly over to Augustus office, holding a stack of files to do with last months documents for the opening of a bar, already opening. When I'm allowed into he office, I place the pile down. "Morning Gus. We're all ready for tomorrow night" I beam.

"Good Morning, Charlie…." Augustus starts, trailing off as he flicked through the papers in front of him, unsure what I was going on about. He frowns, then a look of sorrow comes across his expression. As expected, he tells me that this was for last month, and he did the papers himself. I practice the look of shame mixed with self disappointment Jenny taught me, profusely apologising.

After being comforted, I change the topic to a 'conversation I overheard' about a deep sea diver who came to Rapture and disappeared. " Strange isn't it. Sounded like he was a big deal, why wouldn't he be, but then nothing. I certainly don't remember anything about it. Do you? Has there been more cases about it."

It was nice seeing him become uncomfortable in his chair. But of course he denies knowing anything. I whimsically play with 'conspiracy theories' about how a facility in rapture exists to put unwanted and problematic people, essentially describing Persephone.

Still Augustus doesn't release any information. Not even if it wouldn't hurt too. Perhaps he was ashamed at what he did?

Later I left feeling fruitless about my attempts. At least I know I'll have more lack with Fontaine, however I don't find him. He always finds me. I go about my day, shopping for at the grocers ticking off my to do list, but it was barely lunchtime when I ran out of things to do. I choose a private place in Arcadia, far from where Johnny and I used to go, and laid back on the spongy grass, taking a deep breath. As I exhaled, I sunk deeper into the grass. The aromas and peaceful atmosphere alleviated the tension within me, lessening the heavy ache I still have.

"Afternoon, Sunshine." And there he was. "Got much on your mind?" Fontaine settles down beside me with ease, carrying out his flirtatious routine. I flatter my eyelashes and smile sweetly.

"Not really. How about yourself?" I roll onto my side to face him, propped up on my elbow.

Fontaine leans back on his elbows arm loosening his tie. He actually seems like a real normal person, with their daily stresses of work and family. "It has been a week alright." His accented thick as ever, makes him sound like the working man. "Sometimes I wonder why can't I just stop and live a normal life, ya know."

"What do you do for a living?" I ask, remembering how a lot of his 'jobs' for me would start off with a bit of priming like this. Gotta relate to the man and get on the same page.

"I work for the great big cock Ryan. Heard of him?" I winced "Yea, well he's one sick bastard and been me and the men to the bone. I ahh…" He looks at me, like he made a mistake venting to me. "Maybe I shouldn't talk about this to a lady…"

Nice move. "No..no. I want to hear. What does he make you do?" I console, placing a hand on his, as if I cared.

He shuffles around to face me on his side, looking down at our hands. "He ahhh…got this place up in the higher up town, where he…" he brings his hands up to his scrunched up face, as if he might cry. "He takes kids up there. Young ones ya know, when they don't know much better, and holds them hostage against us so ya know, we don't do anything stupid."

"What?" I ask, trying to sound anger but also wanting to laugh my pants off. I knew he was going to get me to kidnap some kids.

"Jesus Christ" He wails behind his hands, turning away from me curling into a ball. "God I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do. He's got my sweet baby girl and I just want her back."

I climb up onto my knees and wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. "Shhh…its going to be okay…." I whisper soothingly.

"No its not." I feeling him shudder, though because I can't see his face, I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually try to hold back hysterical laughter. "I just want her back. I can't get up every morning knowing that if I screw up once…."

"Well… if there anyway to get her back?"

"God I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever see her again unless I took her back myself. But I couldn't pull a stunt like that off…not alone."

"Have you got any friends that can help you?"

"No, can't trust the lot of them. Half of them are rats, and the other half are scared shitless by the man."

I starting rubbing his back the way Jenny would for me, leaning into him, I can breath in his musky scent. I quite liked the cologne he had on…

"Unless… no… but I desperate…" He turns and looks into my eyes, bringing his hands onto my shoulders. "Would you kindly help me. I'm begging you" Fontaine pleads.

I suddenly feel compelled to help him with whatever needed to be done without question. "Of course." I answer wholeheartedly as I looked into his dark brown orbs. It was like looking into the eyes of a puppy. How could I say no to that.

Without hesitation he brings me into a tight squeeze of a hug. His strong arms around me both comforted me and how I was feeling, and scared me. The strength this man's body had, I couldn't never resist, as it would be pointless.

So here I was, walking up to an apartment, given instruction to 'sell' a drink that would send the lady to sleep. This lady, I knew was the real parent to the child I was to take, but despite my knowing it was wrong, I couldn't help but feel like I had no choice. However I also found myself not entirely against the idea, because me main objective was to keep Fontaine from suspecting me. Perhaps if I really desperately didn't want to do something, it would be enough to break the conditioning put into me…

I knock thrice sharply, and waited for the lady to answer. When the door swung open, I plastered on a smile, and began my sales pitch. "Have you been feeling a bit worn down and finding yourself being dragged around by the children?…" The lady looks on disinterested but does not interrupt. Perhaps door sales are not my strong point. "Why don't you purchase a sports drinks, Mum Edition!"

"No thanks…" She says politely, slowing closing the door.

"Oh but you at least have to try a free sample!" I quick say. "Even if you choose not the purchase, we value the public's opinion very highly, so we can keeping catering to our consumers." Unable to come up with a good excuse, I was able to go in, and pour her a glass. She first sniffs the drink, before sipping on it. I bring out a notepad, and pretend to write down her responses as I ask her about the taste and colour so on.

"Any final thoughts?" I ask, noting how as she finished her glass, she became unsteady on her feet.

"Ummm….." She frowns, not noticing how she started leaning to the side. I didn't stop her. Moments later she was cold on the floor.

I go to the phone, and ring the number 'Harold' gave me. Now I was to wait for the kid to get home form school. I walked around the apartment. It was compact, but very nice. Photos on the walls told me the kid had a long life here, and other clues lead me to wonder why Fontaine wasn't doing this himself. Possibly too busy with some other victim? I guess also most people know Fontaines face now. Nobody knows me. I hope.

"MUMMY! I"M HOOOOME!" I wait in the child's room, curtains shuts and lights off. When she wondered inside, unable to find her mum, I quickly smothered her with a cloth with chloroform and carried her limp body to the living room where I rung 'Harold' again. Soon he was there with a bottle of gasoline.

"Would you kindly burn this place down." And so I did while he took the girl away. But before he fully had disappeared, I called out.

"Wait!" He stopped and looked back. "Let me come with you…help you out at home with your daughter…"

"That won't be necessary, I need to pack and go into hiding. I thank you sincerely for helping me, but please, I've got to disappear fast."

I wasn't going to let him go that easily. "Let me hide with you. Or and least help you get rid of you old life. And you know, meet the mother of you beautiful girl…" I smile sweetly.

Fontaines mouth forms a firm line as he thinks. "Alright, quickly." I smile and rush to finish my job.

Where we went, was not where I expected. I thought we would end up at the orphanage but, this facility was where so much more happened. Point Prometheus much bigger than Fontaine other facilities, and was where most of the little sisters were born. I clung to Fontaine/Harold, keeping up with appearances.

"H-harold. Why are we here?" I squeaked.

He smirks, but does not respond. We go up a flight of stairs, and through multiple corridors until we reach a surgical like room. Fontaine dumps the child's body on a table and proceeds to attach the restrains.

At this, Fontaine finally smiles. Then laughs. "I always love the look on your face when I tell you exactly who I am. Name's Frank Fontaine, and I run this show."

I smirk and cross my arms in front. "I know."

Fontaines smile drops.

"And I know what you did to me, and what all this is." Fontaine approaches me, and I walk backward. "And…I want you to take your thing off me. And tell me where Johnny is. I want out!"

"Want out?" My back hits the wall, and Fontaine still comes closer. I swallow. "Now we both know thats a lie. But I'll give you something. Johnny's dead." He stops we he stands over me, inches apart.

"Lair."

"Well, maybe not dead…but there ain't no Johnny no more."

"You knew that was going to happen. Why did you stop it!"

"Because, I got my own game to play, but I did roll the dice and saved your life."

"Why?"

"Why do you think?"

I didn't answer. Just looked down and his polished shoes, twiddling my thumbs.

Fontaine's hand lifted my chin up to look at him. "Because, Charlie….you're easy to use."

I shake my head and pulled out of his hold. He was right, I was very trusting, and…obedient. He had his secrets and I had mine, but he was the one who got the upper hand. "Easy before or after the…" I struggled to find the word "…conditioning."

"Project WYK certainly helped, but you were always a good girl for me." Fontaine chuckles. I give him a dirty look. "Listen, dollface. I'll still be needing ya, but the moment you become a problem for me, there won't be no Charlie Sage no more. Now, I'll take you to Johnny, but you ain't going to like what you see. Come." He walks away, hands in pockets. I glanced back to the little girl on the table before catching up to Fontaine.

We left Point Prometheus, and headed for Fontaine Futuristics. I had no idea they had a theatre there until we walked in, taking a set near the back. A few other citizens were there of the higher class. "Who are these people?"

"Investors mostly. Gotta show them what their money is doing for us."

"Annnd what are you showing them?"

"Wait and see… and would you kindly not make a scene."

A cloak of dread fell over me, but I didn't say anything and looked on.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! FONTAINE FUTURISTICS INVITES YOU TO SHED YOUR SCEPTICISM, EVOLVE YOU EXPECTATIONS AND DISSOLVE YOUR DEBT AS WE UNVEIL THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF OUR HOME DEFENCE PLASMID SERIES…" the voice over the intercom proudly sung out.

"PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR OURS TRULY… SUBJECT DELTA"

The curtain goes up, and a huge hulking metal beast is revealed. The crowd applauds, and my jaw drops. Turrets emerge from the floor and security bots fly in from over our heads. Subject Delta runs around, shooting sparks and fire from its fingertips, dancing around the stage, dodging and charging round like it was a recital. Explosion after explosion as each mechanical enemy is defeated, only to be replaces by two more of itself. Loud churning groans rumble the floors and walls from the subject, until one of the turrets manages to hit the subject in the shoulder. A roaring shriek erupts, resembling all the pain the subject must be feeling. I sit wide eyed unable to understand why others were cheering and clapping.

Why am I here… I didn't want to think about what I already new. Subject Delta was not a machine, but a man. My eye stung, but I did not look away, I did not cry out. Inside I was falling to pieces, but on the outside I remained seated and quiet. That was my Johnny.

After the last bot was destroy, people stood and applauded once more. I couldn't move.

"STILL A WINNER DELTA. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THAT CONCLUDES TODAYS PERFORMANCE AND PLEASE…IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE, HEAD TO THE FRONT DESK AND ASK HOW YOU CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESEARCH!"

The crowd stood up to leave, and the curtain was drawn shut. My stomach had knotted up and I could barely breath. Fontaine waited for the guests to left before turning to me.
"I told ya you wouldn't like what you see."

"Change him back please." I whisper, sinking into my chair.

"You know that it can't be undone. Let him go." Fontaine sighed uncaringly.

"You turned him into THAT! You can change him back" I huff, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face, but despite it I remained somewhat contained. Damn not being able to express the emotion I feel.

"No I didn't do that specifically. That, was Ryan Industries, trying to make protectors. I took him after his planned didn't work out. Now he has a purpose."

"But…he's in so much pain…"

"He ain't your love boy. That pain means nothing. I've seen you stronger than this, Charlie. Don't put thoughts in your mind like that." Fontaine stands up. "Would you kindly go home and don't say a word about any of this."

I stand up, dry off my eyes, hands shaking, and begin to walk home. I didn't want to go home, and I needed to talk to Jenny about all this, but I just kept walking in the direction of my apartment.

When I walked passed the rail way station, I heard this wet metallic sound. I looked around, not seeing anything until a pair of glowing eye caught mine. I stopped in my tracks, and stared.

The eyes were familiar, and as my sight adjusted to the darkness, I saw the grey sickly body of a little girl, crouching over a bloated corpse. Her needle, as long as her arm, plunged in out and of the body beneath her, filling up with red glowing liquid that slushed in a glass tube.

The girl hummed to herself, and I was about to continue walking when whispers from around the corner stopped me again. Panicking, I hop behind a crate, listening to the voices and patters of footsteps.

"Hiiiiii little girl. Why don't you look…endearing" hissed a female. Her male counterpart chuckled in a deranged manner. "Where's your mummy?" They slowly approached the little girl.

I couldn't see what was happening, but I knew the girl had stopped retrieving the ADAM. I debated whether I should do something, but then what would I do if I were to save the girl. She's not a girl anymore. Let the splicers have their ADAM if it keeps them away from me.

A shriek filled the station, echoing off the metal walls. Grunts from the splicers as they pull the girl into their clutches and whack her repeatedly with blunt objects until she ceased to move. The sounds of rummaging around told me they were collecting their goods before leaving the scene.

I emerged to see the remains of the girls mangled corpse upon the other corpse. Wonder what will happen to their bodies now. I presume they have a maintenance worker to collect the bodies.

I continued on home to sleep.