Chapter 8

It's been three months since Roy encountered the man named Bellamy. Roy started to feel a lot happier. He has been hanging out with Jasper, Monty and Athena a lot more. Roy sits alone in the Cafeteria as he has been for the past two months. Every morning when Easten and his mom were asleep he would leave and sit in the Cafeteria. He found the silence of the almost empty Cafeteria peaceful. Roy notices someone he hasn't seen before, someone he hadn't recognized. Perhaps he hasn't paid enough to his surroundings to recognize everyone.

"I never thought you would come here so early." The voice of Pike made Roy on edge. Roy turns his head to the left where Pike was standing. Pike had his arms crossed.

"Uh, yeah I just like to be alone."

Pike sits down next to Roy. "You like to be alone? I've haven't seen you in class."

Roy began to get uneasy. "Yeah I-"

"Don't worry about it." Pike interrupts.

"When do you think Earth will be habitable?" Roy randomly asks.

"I don't know. It could be right now. Why do you ask?"

Roy looks down then back at Pike. "Everyday seems the same, I wake up, I eat and sleep. Sure I hangout with friends. I just think there is something more, something we don't know." Pike nods

"There is only one way to find out and trust me nobody is going to volunteer to maybe die on an inhabitable Earth."

"Yeah, but what if it is. We have to end our mission eventually. That's the whole god damn point of why we are here is to save humanity." Roy replies with energy.

Pike looks at Roy with tension. "So, you're saying you would risk your life to maybe live on a habitable Earth."

"I'm not scared to die Pike. Because I'm not living, I am just alive, and If I have to die so my mom, my brother, my friends have a chance for a new life then so be it."

Pike nods. "I have to go, you take care."

Roy watches as Pike walks into the line, where everyone gets served food. Roy was left with a feeling of satisfaction and freedom. He never really talks about what bugs him with anyone. For some reason he could tell Pike, he trusted him. Roy thought it was because Pike was a teacher. Roy sits there for almost five minutes, he sees Easten walking towards him. Easten what is he doing? Normally Easten sleeps in.

"Easten? What are you doing up?"

"What I can't hangout in the Cafeteria with my lame brother?" Easten riposte.

Roy lets out a fake laugh. "I know you've been coming here in the early morning." Easten finally says.

"So now you're stalking me?"

"No dumb ass you, are a loud person, you have woken me up from a deep sleep many times, very sloppy."

"Shut up." Roy says as he gets up.

"Where are you going?" Easten asks as he stands up.

"I'm going to find junk."

Easten gives Roy a funny look, "What for?"

Roy takes a few steps towards the exit, then stops to answer Easten's question, "How do you think we eat? Now are you coming or not?"

Easten quickly walks to Roy,"Yeah I'm coming." Roy and Easten walks out of the cafeteria. There was nobody in the halls normally there are a few guards walking around on patrol.

Easten puts his hand on Roy's shoulder,"Where to now?" Roy pushes Easten's hand off his shoulder and answers,"This way." Roy turns left towards a small group of apartments. Easten follows Roy and asks, "Where are we going?" They continue down the hall and stop at one of the apartments. Easten looks at Roy, and speaks with an irritated tone, "You ignored my question. Why are we here? I thought we were getting junk." Before Roy could say anything the door opens. A lanky man in a guards uniform stands in front of them. The man looks at Easten then back at Roy. The man, then speaks in a rough deep voice, "Can I help you?" Roy smiles at the man then speaks in a friendly tone,"Hi I'm here to deliver the 'Medicine''" The man eyes widen, he then looks left and right, he then speaks with relief,"Oh-right come in." Roy quickly noticed the smell of candles. The front room was small. There was a small couch on the far back of the room and a small table in front of the couch. The man gestures for Roy and Easten to sit on the couch. The couch looked brand new.

The man walks into another room. Easten smiles at Roy then speaks,"So, my brother is a drug dealer." Roy glares at Easten, then responds,"I don't just deliver drugs I also-you know the least you know the better." The man comes out of the room.

"You know what to do?" The man asks, while handing Roy a strange looking bag.

"Yes, sir," Roy says with an enthusiastic voice. The man gave Roy a wary look, a few seconds later he smiled.

"Alrighty then," the man says, while shaking Roy's hand. Roy and Easten walk out of the apartment. They take one last look at the apartment before they start to walk.

"Can I hold on to it?" Easten asks, while walking beside Roy.

"What Why?" Roy asks, with an irritated expression on his face.

"Aw come on I wanna do something," Easten groans, while frowning at Roy.

"Fine," Roy finally gives in, and hands Easten the bag.

The two continue to walk until they stop when they see two figures walk from afar. Please don't be a guard. Roy thought to himself. Easten, looks at Roy then at the figures, and asks,"Who are they?"

Roy turns his head to Easten and replies with a concerned voice,"I don't know." Roy and Easten continue to walk closer to the figures. Roy's eyes widen as he realizes who the figures were. Maybe they had forgotten about him.

"Oh, hey friend. I haven't seen you in forever," The skinny, boy says with a wicked voice.

Roy stops Easten, and walks in front of him. "What do you clowns want," Roy says while walking closer and closer to the skinny one.

"What's in the bag?" The skinny boy asks with a creepy smile.

Roy looks intensely into the skinny boy's eyes, "None of your damn business." Roy speaks again this time in a deeper, more intimidating voice,"Now back the fuck off."

The skinny boy begins to laugh like a maniac, he then pulls a small blade from his pocket. Roy doesn't notice the blade until it was too late, the boy slashes at Roy, the blade leaves a small cut along his cheek. Roy takes a few steps back, then he punches the boy, hitting his forehead. The boy falls to the ground, not a moment later the fat boy tackles Roy. He repeatedly punches Roy. Easten Instantly drops the bag as soon as he sees The fat boy on top of Roy. "Hey Fatty," Easten shouts as he runs and knocks the fat boy to the ground. Roy slowly gets up, he walks to Easten. Roy tries pulling Easten off the fat boy but Easten resistance was too great. Roy feels a sudden sharp pain in his back. He turns around, the skinny boy is standing, this the blade in his hand. The boy swings the blade recklessly Roy was able to move out of the way in time. The skinny boy swings the blade again, this time Roy was able to grab the boys hand. Roy twisted the hand with all his might. The boy screams in pain, he drops the blade. The sound of the blade hitting the floor echoed down the dead hall. The boy, knees Roy in the crotch, causing Roy to fall. Roy gasps for air, as the boy kicks his stomach. The boy kicked him again and again.

The sound of boots hitting the metal floor in a pattern echoes through the hall. The boy quit kicking Roy. Roy slowly gets up, his stomach ached with pain. The boy screamed in terror, as Easten beats the lifeless body. Two guards run towards Easten, they taze Easten with stun guns. "No!" Roy shouts, as his friend is beaten by the guards. The guards turn their attention on Roy. One of the guards with the stun gun tazes Roy. He falls to the ground as his muscles tense up, causing excruciating pain. Roy's vision becomes blurry as tears begin to form. Roy tries to get back up but the pain was too much to bare; he loses consciousness.

Roy awoke in his bed, his body feels like it was pulled apart and put back together. Roy sat up, every little move hurts. Roy painfully gets out of bed. He shuffles over to the front room. Expecting to see Easten laying on the couch. Roy's mom was crying, her eyes were red and puffy. Roy rushes to his mom and gives her a hug.

"They took him," his mom says in a soft weak, almost lifeless voice. The words pierce through Roy's soul.

"It's my fault," Roy says as tears slide down his cheeks.

2 months later

Roy answers the door, after hearing a knock. Roy gives a friendly smile as he sees it's Jasper. "Jasper what are you doing here?"

Jasper's face lit up with excitement, "There is this party that's going on tonight and I think you should come. You need to get out more, have some fun. You've been distant, again."

Roy frowns, "Look Jasper I-"

Before Roy could finish, Athena interrupts,"Come on Butt hole, you need to have some fun, besides if it weren't for you me and Monty wouldn't be a thing."

"I don't have a nice suite," Roy protests.

"You don't need one, just a mask and a body," Athena says while fixing Monty's hair.

"I don't have a choice do I," Roy says with a weak smile.

Athena quits, fixing Monty's hair and answers, "You are correct." Roy walks out of the apartment and follows Jasper, Athena and Monty. Athena walks besides Roy.

"Did I ever thank you?" Athena asks.

"Thank me for what?" Roy replies.

"If you told me that Monty likes me," Athena says with happiness.

"Oh, yeah." Roy replies.

"Well thank you, and I'm sorry about Easten. I know he meant a lot to you, just know we are here for you," Athena says before running ahead and jumping on Monty's back. Monty and Athena both laugh, Roy could only watch and wish that he could be happy. Their happiness made him smile, at least they are happy. That's all Roy ever wanted was to see his friends and family happy.

Seven hours later.

Roy looks at himself in the mirror, he puts on the mask.

"Hey, are you ready?" Jasper asks.

"Yeah...I'm ready," Roy says in a calm, smooth, voice. Roy and Jasper come out of the rest room. Athena and Monty were standing together in the front room. Athena was wearing a long black dress, and long black gloves that went to her elbows. Monty was wearing a black suit with a red tie. Jasper and Roy wore their everyday clothes besides the mask. The four walk to the party, music could be heard from the halls. Once they arrive The place is filled with dancing people, from all over the Ark.

"Monty and I are going to dance," Athena says while grabbing Monty's hand. Roy couldn't hear her over the music. Jasper and Roy look at each other as Monty and Athena split from the group.

"What do we do now?" Roy asks.

"Dance?" Jasper says before he disappears into the cluster of people.

Roy didn't know what to do, he's never been to a dance.

"Hey, wanna dance?" A girl, with blond hair asks. Through the mask Roy could see she had green eyes.

"Sure," Roy says with a grin. The two slow danced, they bumped into others who were dancing. The girl slowly slipped away from Roy's arms as the song changed. Roy was alone again. He notices a couple who look bored, they both stood there awkwardly. The girl quickly turns around flicking her hair in the guy's face. The girl was now facing Roy, they instantly saw each other. Their eyes met and glued together, they couldn't stop staring. Roy felt like he knew her. Slowly without thinking Roy walks towards her. Roy is now only inches from her, he takes her hand. They don't say anything, they just stare into each other's eyes. Something inside Roy was happening, Like a fire was lit inside of him. Like there was a spark between him and this mysterious, beautiful girl.

Suddenly there were voices coming from the intercom, as the music turned off and the lights turned on. Suddenly guards separate the crowd and ask people for their IDs. The girl gets really nervous, she glances around the room.

"What's wrong?" Roy asks. The girl doesn't say anything, she just looks at him. Suddenly a man grabs her arm, Roy recognizes the man but couldn't figure out who he was. The girl looked relieved as she saw who it was. The man pulls the girls arm and they go towards the exit. Roy follows them. "Bellamy, I need to get home," the girl says with a worried tone of voice.

Bellamy? Roy thought, as the two talk. "Bellamy," Roy says.

Bellamy looks at Roy for a short period of time then speaks,"Do I know you?"

"Yeah, remember those two thugs were trying to pick a fight, you saved me," Roy says. It takes Bellamy to process the information then he replies.

"Yeah, I remember."

Bellamy takes his stun stick out,"I'll make a distraction, Octavia go home and hide."

"Cadet Blake, why is your weapon out?" A guard says. "Mask off," The guard says as he takes the mask off the girl.

"Sir, she's fine I already scanned her," Bellamy assures.

"You don't have a scanner, "the guards say with an unsure tone.

"ID please," The guard asks the girl.

Roy steps in front of them, "You haven't checked my ID." The guard looks at Roy with frustration.

"Step aside, I will not ask again," The guard demands. Roy doesn't obey the guards order. The guard then pushes Roy to the side. "ID now!" the guard demands.

Suddenly the girl runs for the exit. "Stop her!" the guard barks.

Two guards grab her arms, stopping her.

"Get your hands off her!" Roy shouts as he tries to rip her free from the guards grips. Roy felt this new feeling, not anger, not hate; rage. All he knew was he had to save her, it was like instinct. One of the guards pushes Roy back, knocking him to the ground. Roy quickly got back up to his feet. He punches the guard, The other guards hits Roy with the stun stick. Roy falls to the ground. Roy looks up at Bellamy who is in shock, and concerned. Roy understood why Bellamy didn't do anything, he couldn't. Roy attempted to get up, but was countered by a kick to the gut. The guards strengthen their grip on the girl. "Get your...Hands of her!" The guards start to beat Roy as he lays on the floor.

"No!" The girl screams, as Roy is beaten.

"Alright take them both to the Sky Box, Now!" The guard orders. Two guards grab Roy's arms. They begin to drag Roy and the girl towards the exit. Just as they arrive at the exit Roy turns his head right, and sees Jasper, Monty and Athena. They all watch as he is being dragged out the exit. Roy is separated from the girl as they drag them into different buildings. This is it, this is my fate, I'm to be floated when I turn 18. My mom will be losing two sons. Even if Easten wasn't my brother I still consider him to be. Roy thought.

The guards take Roy to the second cell block. They drag him to the cell then throw him in it. Roy lands on his hands in knees, blood drips from his mouth. Roy looks up to see Easten sitting on the bed. "What the hell happened to you?" Easten asks.

"Nice to see you again brother," Roy says before getting up on his feet. Roy sits on the bed next to Easten.

"How is mother?" Easten asks.

"She is ok, but I fear she won't be for long." Roy says.

"Losing two sons, not an easy thing to go through," Easten says, while looking at the floor. Easten looks at Roy, with sadness in his eyes,"How come you never came to visit me."

Roy looks across the cell into another from across from him,"I couldn't it's my fault your in here, it should just be me." "What happened Easten?"

"You know what happened," Easten answers. Roy looks at him with an irritated expression. "You don't know do you."

"They didn't tell me jack shit! All I knew was you were gone, because of the fight and herb. But there's something else, isn't there?"

Easten sighs and Speaks, "During the fight, when the short kid knocked you down and started hitting you I lost control. It was something worse than anger, something deeper, stronger. I couldn't explain it I had to do something, I couldn't let you get hurt. When I knocked him down I began to punch him, I..I couldn't stop Believe me I tried. It was like I was possessed." Easten eyes begin to eject tears,"Roy I killed him. I'm a monster."

"Easten you are no monster, I think I know how you feel, and if you are a monster then I'm a monster too."

"What happened, did you get in another fight?" Easten asks while wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand.

"I don't know, I just couldn't let them touch her, they will pay!" Roy says as he thinks about the ambiguous girl.

"You don't know? Why would you try to save a girl you don't even know?"

"She's more than just some girl, she's..I don't know okay."

Roy and Easten don't say anything else they just stare out into the empty cell.