Walking Dead: Dark Burdens
Chapter 12 of my Walking Dead story, the drama continues.
Reviews
Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, sadly, it's just gonna get worse for her :(
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.
Chapter 12: Shock
Clementine sighed as she entered school on Monday, absently fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. Omid and Christa had been worried about last night, due to her obvious frustrations, AJ had tried to get her to open up about what was troubling her and wouldn't leave her until she did.
'Kid's way too smart for his age.' Clem mused at the memory. 'Had to tell him not all police are good guys, finally told them all about Abel and him refusing to do the handwriting comparison...all to just act as if everything is fine when it's clearly not.'
It didn't matter what Abel said, Omid, Christa and even AJ agreed when she told them. They were all sure, as was Amy, that Violet was missing. Now back at school Clem knew her chances of trying to push matters with the police were smaller; Amy's weren't much better, what with her working three jobs. But they were still going to try.
'Of course, now the others are gonna find out...they don't know yet...Not everything…' Clem noted to herself as she approached the group.
They were all standing ahead, in their usual hang-out spot, chatting amongst themselves. She noted one drama still unfolding.
'Sarah and Becca are still going at it, jeez Becca...you want to get hauled in front of the Principal and read the riot act on dress code for wearing your skirt too short…' Clem reflected.
It was indeed true, she was, Sarah as contrast did not attempt such things. But still she tried to move so Becca was blocked from view as they both spotted Gabe approaching, only for both of them to freeze in shock and horror.
The reason for their shock and horror was also the reason for the surprise of the others, Clem's raised eyebrow and Louis' eventual wolf whistles. For Gabe was walking towards them, holding hands with Brody.
"Uh, hey guys." Gabe greeted them all, blushing.
The others smiled and Marlon spoke. "Hi Gabe, Brody, so…?"
Both blushed again and Clem stepped up. "Finally confessed to each other, huh?"
"Yeah." Brody replied, brightening up. "We spoke on Saturday and well...here we are."
The others all smiled, but Sarah and Becca were devastated, unable to believe that, after all their efforts, Gabe was with another girl entirely; especially in that it was Brody he was with. A girl they had no chance of competing against what with her natural beauty. But even they were jolted out of their thoughts when Louis noticed.
"Violet she, she's not here…" He looked around. "Where is she?"
Clem knew right away she had to speak. "She's gone missing, she left my place to go home on Saturday...hasn't been seen since."
That caught everybody's attention, all of them turning to her.
"Her mom and I tried reporting things to the police, but the officer we spoke wasn't interested, dismissed our claims and now a letter has shown up out of nowhere…"
She told them all the details about the letter and about Abel, as well as the issues with the letter, such as it claiming Violet had run away out of shame at her sexuality. Something which they all knew was false.
Knowing such a thing didn't match Violet at all, they all agreed with Clementine something wasn't right here.
"Violet's mom and I have been trying to force the police to take a closer look." She continued to explain. "But Abel isn't having it, he's resisting any efforts to do so, blocking any attempt to make a handwriting comparison, even saying it isn't necessary...as if Violet's dad saying she wrote the note is proof."
"What the fuck, that's…" Marlon growled. "Urgh, shit…"
It was clear he wasn't the only one disgusted, they all were and while not mending their friendship, Clem noted that this news had at least convinced Sarah and Becca to put aside their dismay and animosity towards each other. Clem knew that now she had back up, people to help her and Amy in the search for Violet. She was glad to have her friends support; as the day went on she sure enough found herself facing people questioning her about Violet's disappearance; rumours were already flying around and Clem found herself having to quash them quickly. To make it clear that something had happened to Violet and her disappearance was in no way willing. This faced stumbling blocks as the teachers had also noticed and quite a few had heard of the note. Luckily her friends backed up her accounts and also made sure that people knew about the lack of a proper handwriting comparison test, plus the fact that there was clearly no DNA or fingerprints to offer any proof. To Clementine it turned into a great relief when school nurse Kate Garcia spoke to her, as one of the people who believed her. Clem knew that her own reputation around town meant she could run damage control pretty well, but that didn't make it any less stressful and she was more determined than ever now, she had to push until a proper investigation was done and Violet could be found and brought back to them.
XXXXX
Violet glowered, imagining her eyes boring holes in the back of Alyssa's head as she walked behind the woman. Behind her, preventing her escape, were Troy and Eric. Violet fought to keep her surprise off her face, despite the fact she never knew this place existed. She was still in the camp building, but had been taken away from the others and through to a seemingly bland room. Until Alyssa had opened up a door, almost completely hidden in the wall. Now she found herself heading down into the basement of the building, they were in a long corridor soon reached two doors. Alyssa handed her something and gestured to the door on the left.
"Get in and get changed." She ordered.
"I-"
"Now!" She snapped.
Biting her lip Violet did so, finding the room was little more than a small store room, empty of anything. Disrobing she pulled on what Alyssa had handed to her, startled by what it was, a white short hospital gown, so short it barely reached the middle of her thighs. Fear bubbling up inside her she exited the room and Alyssa opened the other door.
"Inside."
She entered, aware she had no chance of escape. Once inside she stopped, eyes wide.
In the middle of the room was a somewhat large chair, with several straps attached to it, additionally there were a number of wires and what looked like electrodes on the end of said wires and were attached to a large console at the side of the room. Opposite that was a large screen attached to another, smaller console.
"What is this?" She gasped.
"You are not here to ask question, girl." Markus suddenly said, startling her. "Now, sit down."
He was here, along with Simon, all eyes on her. It chafed every fibre of her being, but obedience was her only choice. Trying hard not to tremble she sat down in the chair. No sooner had she done so did she find herself being strapped into it by Troy and Eric who then stepped back.
"What, what are-?"
Alyssa stepped forwards, holding the wires. "Silence."
Her voice was a hiss and Violet was startled, even more fearful as suddenly she realized the wires were being attached under the gown, to her nipples and there, between her legs, her most intimate areas.
"Simon, get ready." Markus said.
The boy nodded. "Yes father."
He hurried towards the large console while Alyssa stepped up to the smaller one.
"Now, to explain why you are here Violet. This is how we are going to fix you. To make you a proper member of society and get rid of that repugnant sin you bear." Markus told her.
"I don't, I don't know what-?" Violet stammered.
"Do no lie, you know full well your sexuality is a sin and this will prove it, you will see how painful it is, you will learn the truth and come back to the light." Markus snapped; then spoke calmly. "This chair will ensure it. Graham built it for me, a wonder of his work. You will see...certain images on the screen in front of you. The machine will detect levels of arousal from those images...including, improper reactions. Which you will learn the pain of, when it sends a simple jolt through where the sensors are fitted. It will hurt I'm afraid, but it's for your own good."
Violet froze at that, eyes wide, even her wish to protest was lost as she realized with horror now what her father had done, what she had been forced into. It was disguised under the usual words and all, but there was no mistake, this was conversion therapy, plain and simple.
Finally she unfroze and immediately protested.
"No, you can't do this; I-!"
"Silence!" Alyssa cried. "You will learn not to talk back against your betters, now...pay attention, the screen."
Violet swallowed at that before the first picture came up on the screen; her horror spiked again as she recognized Brody, a picture taken of her at school, walking into the building. The next was of Ruby, also at school, later in the day, then the two of them.
'This is...fuck, the other girls said they felt someone was stalking them...Minerva and Sophie commenting on seeing someone in their yard the night of the party, taking pictures...this was…'
Her thoughts were cut off as she screamed, feeling the sharp jolt that she had been told about.
"Yes, that is the pain your disgusting attraction to girls causes." Simon remarked. "You must repent."
She couldn't believe it; her father built this chair, it might as well have been him doing this to her. She saw so many pictures, even some from the party, and the pain, it just got worse and worse as more and more jolts shocked her system.
XXXXX
That night, long after the session had ended, the 'big five' were seated around the table in the main dining room in the central building of the homestead, Markus' own home as well as the church.
"It's worse than we thought." Alyssa remarked. "She showed a general arousal to pretty much all the pictures, all the girls…"
Simon glowered at that. "I still can't believe she'd react that, even the fat one got a reaction from her."
Markus nodded slowly. "Was there any...other, reactions. Larger?"
"Two." Simon confirmed. "Those redhead twins, the one with short hair, she had a somewhat larger reaction to her than the others...but the biggest reaction was to the brunette girl, the caramel skinned one with the baseball cap."
Markus stood. "Very well, our task is clear, we must work harder to deal with this issue. It is imperative that we straighten Graham's daughter out, before it's too late for her soul."
They all agreed to that, ready to continue with their 'grand work'.
End of chapter, poor Violet gets her first taste of the true side of the youth camp, read and review please.