Missing
Chapter Four: Alternative Loss
"We won't be leaving your room this time," Vicky told her captive with out a care for his outlook.
"Why not?" he decided to ask against his better judgment, though be it in a manner that was only looking for circumstance, not reason.
"I told you already," she snapped, "I'm hiding out!"
"Forgive me," Timmy apologized ahead of time, "but you said that you were sure no one else knew about this cave, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I was being followed too."
"Followed? By who?"
"Not a human, that's for certain," she rubbed the back of her neck while looking off to the side, "My name as a suspect was cleared off your case file a long time ago, in case you were wondering. So as far as the human world is concerned you are long gone and I have moved on to study abroad."
"Wait," the young man asked politely, wondering where all this knowledge of how to avoid punishment was coming from, "So no one is looking for me? Not even my parents?"
She considered his question for awhile; apparently it was important enough to delay their lesson so she could dwell on it, "Your parents don't want you to be dead, but considering the circumstances they pretty much have come to accept that they most likely will never see you again. Uh, well, your father anyway. I think your mother has lost her mind when it comes to you. She showed up at my parent's place, that is to say my father and his whore wife, and was telling them you had to come home because you had school the next day and haven't even tried on any of the new cloths she got you, as if I was still babysitting your sorry ass!" She laughed at the expense of his family's anguish.
This caused a pang to rupture in his already overburdened heart. His poor mother, who he loved so dearly despite her air headed ways, was stuck suffering with in a never ending spiral of denial, and in all probability, a great unrelenting grief as well. Timmy wanted to cry, wanted to scream out at Vicky to let him go, if only to ease his mother's pain. Yet as these notions erupted inside, a cool calm told him it was pointless, to just deal with it on his own time, least she hurt him more than he already was.
Vicky seemed satisfied with his internal struggle, so she got back to business, "I'll need you to hold onto me again, or else it might not work."
"Do I really have to? I mean when I time traveled on my own I never ha-" Swat! A flash of white athwart his vision told him he had been struck across the face.
"You know not to argue with me! Now shut up and do as I told you!" Oh how could he have let himself think he had earned leeway with her? She was still the same after all, and this seemed to hurt him more than her hand. A small part of him was hoping there was something like care growing with in her deep enclosed heart, but now he was wondering if that was all just his own wishful thinking.
He did as she asked of him, though begrudgingly. His facial expression earned him a flick on his ear, which was sharp in its prickle of pain, but otherwise all too easy to bear. With his arms around her middle she slid her hands between their bodies and onto the belt, making Timmy shiver slightly as the knuckles brushed through his thinned cotton shirt against his skin. He wasn't sure if it was something he all together enjoyed or despised.
Either way the world began to vibrate, began to fly away from the two of them. However this time he experienced something he was not familiar with. He had gone forward in time before, yes, but it always felt like the path was set on a strait line, like being pushed forward in the way he was facing. Now, however, the direction had changed; it was first backwards, and then forward and to the side. The closest explanation he could come up with was it felt like he had been forced diagonally away from the right path. The blurred images and sensations, most he no longer recognized, began to slow until they became a coherent version of themselves. He had arrived, but where, and just exactly how?
"We're here, hope ya can figure it out," Vicky announced as she forced the boys' arms off of her. He was angry because of this but decided not to show any sign of it for her to pick up on.
"Figure what out?" Timmy asked as he tried to recognize the area. It was much like the world he knew, or at least remembered now, though something was off. The skies were overcast with dark silver clouds, probably signaling the coming of a rain shower. It seemed fitting, as if it added to the mood. But what mood was that? He couldn't quite tell. He felt inwardly conflicted if it was happy or sad. They were standing in what he assumed was a park; they were on a cement path which cut ornately through a wide stretch of neatly trimmed grass. Benches of iron and stained strips of uniform wood appeared systematically along the stony course. Some of them were occupied, but the people weren't very noticeable, nothing stood out about them. There were many trees too, large and flush with dark leaves, though he could never name their species; it was something he never took the time to learn. Well, he knew what a palm tree and a pine were, so that was something, he guessed, even if none of those were here.
"Where we are of course, dumb ass!" she scolded him, "Jeez, it's like you want me to beat the stupid out of ya!"
He took her reprimand of him with out aggression, which had a fleeting whimper of protest to it, but that voice was fast becoming not but a wisp. Another scan of his surroundings yielded new results. There was a statue some fifty feet away he had missed before, probably due to the fact that it matched the sidewalk and sky so well in all its mineral glory. Timmy pointed at the monument and looked toward Vicky for confirmation. She nodded and led the way in approaching its stand point. They had not even arrived at their destination when he realized who the statue depicted; Dictator Vicky.
Comprehension came crashing down about his mind. They were in her beloved future! The one he and his alternate adult self worked so hard to decapitate! His no longer future self's home! Was this Dimmsdale? No, it must be one of the major first world cities, probably New York, Los Angeles, or perhaps London. There was a golden plaque bolted to the base of an adult Vicky's likeness, which the captive read aloud, taxingly, "Vicky is law, you are crime. Victoria Valentine."
"Kinda has a nice ring to it, no?" Vicky mused as she towered over her smaller incarcerate from behind. How was it that she could still send such cold shivers down his spine?
"Umm… it is unforgettable," he managed to say.
"It damn well better be!" she shouted aloud, hurting his ears. Everything else was so quiet for some reason, "Ugh, I don't want you forming any opinions yet about any of this though, understand? Come on; let's take a look around the place. I want to show you why this future is the right one for us."
"For us?" Timmy asked, though making sure there was not a hint of defiance in his tone.
"Yeah, you dork, I'm training you to be my lieutenant, remember? You'll always be by my side, always be able to back me up and support me. And vice-versa too, don't forget that."
"You'd back me up?" the boy wondered aloud, though again careful to show no opposition against her authority.
"When you're right again, then of course! Wouldn't that be so much better than now? Where I have to hit you every few minutes because you make a mistake?"
The young man had to admit it did seem better than the present situation he was stuck in. No! He shouldn't give in like that. Sure, the lesser of two evils appeared more appealing, but nothing could be better than freeing himself from Vicky and her misguided delusions of right and wrong. After all, didn't Presence say that what someone believes is only true for them? But did that not in turn make his views on right and wrong just as invalid as hers? No, more people in the world shared his scrutiny, not hers. So he had to be right! Right?
Vicky led the pair out of the park. It was a long trot, but eventually they found their way into a cityscape Timmy did not recognize. There was hardly any color at all, just deep dark grays, blues, and browns. Cars of the same variety crowded the streets, while pedestrians frocked in similar attire shuffled across the sidewalks in every which direction.
"So what do you think?" Vicky posed aloud, probably not even thinking about what would happen if Timmy didn't see eye to eye with her fascination.
"I, uhh…" If he lied then she would be able to tell and another series of beatings would commence; but if he told the truth then the prospects looked just as dim. He felt stuck, and rightfully so. Perhaps he could just explain his predicament to her? Couldn't end up any worse off then he was, right? "Umm, hey Vicky? Is it alright if I ask you a question?"
"Huh? I guess," she raised an eye brow and wore a stoic mouth, but other wise seemed open, "Just don't let it be a stupid one, got it?"
He nodded, "I don't know how to answer your question with out getting punished. If I lie to you then you would know, but if I tell you the truth then I think you'll get mad at me… Umm… What do I do?"
Her steady inquisitive look melted away into a more annoyed one. She sighed with a burden and placed one hand on her forehead, "What the hell am I going to do with you? As my lieutenant I want you to come to me when you feel jammed, but I also want that to only happen on really difficult things, not answering a simple yes or no question."
Again he hung his head in shame, only to be flicked hard on the nose, which made him look up again in the short pain.
"I'm not done talking to you, so don't look away from me. Feh, and this was your question too."
"I'm sorry, Vicky."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved her hand about in the air, "Anyway, I'd rather you were just honest with me. Nothing can be helped if all you do is lie. Is that clear?"
"Uhh… Well, kinda…"
"Kinda?!" Vicky shouted, "What do you mean, 'Kinda'?!"
"I don't want for you to always have to hit me," he was proud of how he worded that, sounded natural too, "but what if I tell you the truth and it isn't something you would like to hear?"
`"Ugh!" She growled, scratching the top of her head and facing into the sky, eyes closed, "Then just deal with it! Besides! If you had paid more attention then you'd have probably realized I would eventually stop punishing you for unpleasant answers. Got it?!" she looked back down on her stolen subordinate, "I hate pussies, so don't you end up like one!"
"Y-yes Vicky!" Timmy stood strait up, "I promise!"
They shifted their way through a monotonous mass crowding the sidewalks. Timmy noticed that the people were solid against him, not an image that would pass through the mismatched pair like some ghostly vision. Yet at the same time whenever one of the two time travelers bumped or knocked into one of the hoard, which was often, the recipient did not seem to care.
"Can they see us?" Timmy finally asked after building up the courage.
"Huh? Oh, the citizens. No, not really. How should I say this? Well, we exist here, but we aren't noticeable. Understand?"
"I guess so…" Timmy responded, though not altogether truthfully.
"I like it better this way," Vicky stated, "Sure, we can't walk through walls like last time, but we can at least interact with our surroundings. If I get thirsty then I can have a drink. If something looks interesting then I can touch it. Besides, we would stand out too much if I didn't make this precaution."
"Stand out too much?"
"Yeah, you know, we are wearing too much color."
"Oh…" That seemed like a horrible thing to stand out for, but he did not voice this opinion. Though he wanted to say something still, if anything, to break his thoughts away from rebellious temptation, "So, where are we going?" the boy asked, then noticed that his captor became too quiet, not a good sign, "Um, if you don't mind me asking, that is."
"Feh, you'll see soon enough," the woman exhaled with a swirling air of importance about her.
But she was not lying, for it was soon enough that the crowd seemed to diminish and the cityscape mold into a much cleaner and lighter cast. The buildings all seemed to be made of marble and gold and the trees were full of pinks and greens. Could it be springtime? Timmy wondered. Ah, there was more to the buildings though. They hardly resembled the skyscrapers of downtown at all. No, they were more like the constructs of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome.
The people were all now decked out in business suits, mainly three pieces with dull ties around their necks. They appeared more lively then the ordinary folk walking about the streets, all on cell phones or ear pieces, chatting up a mild buzz that seemed to compliment the dreary sky above.
"Lawyers," Vicky said to an inquiring Timmy, "Well, what is left of them anyways. There is little need for a high class lawyer in this day and age because all violations of the law are recorded."
"Recorded?"
"Yeah, you know, transmitted, submitted. All that sort of thing."
"How?"
"What do you mean, 'How?' Can't you put two and two together?"
"I… I'm not as smart as you…"
"Watch it, twerp, I can tell if you are avoiding pain with buttering me up," yet she still did not seem to mind the compliment.
"So… so how are all crimes recorded?"
"Microchips implanted into all people at birth."
"What?!"
"You're pushing it!" She struck him upside his head, "Do I really have to spell it all out for you? Ugh! Okay, I'm only going to say this all once, so pay attention. When I gained full power over the world I implemented a law where all babies born are to be implanted with a series of special microchips that would monitor all aspects of their lives. Not only would these chips record data such as blood pressure and heart rate, but also current GPS location, chemical and toxin levels, and certain wave lengths in the brain. They were a way of both helping people stay alive and healthy, and also to keep them under control. With out one of these chips you could not surf the web, use your cell phone, shop at a store, or even open up your house or start your car. The chips hold your identity, you see. And with that all people who didn't want to be a homeless bum had to register and get the implants as well.
"So you see all those lawyers out there? Hardly any of them are defense attorneys; they are mostly prosecutors. But even then their jobs are becoming obsolete. All the information is there, black and white. If something illegal happened and your chip data matches the data at the scene of the crime, or whatever, then the judge will throw you away as he or she sees fit. Oh, and if you have the wavelength in tune to that of a pedophile then there is no reserve for you what so ever. You're dead, no ifs, ands, or buts. But not just any kind of dead, oh no, it's a public execution for you!
"Umm," Timmy was struggling to keep his rage under control, "So, even if a child has the same thought pattern as a pedo, then they will be killed too?"
"Huh… Let me amend that. If an adult has the pattern, then yes, they die. If a child has it, then they are treated and educated. If not enough progress is shown for a change in the right direction by a certain age, then they are put down. Get it?"
"I… I guess so…"
"No guessing is needed, twerp, what do you not understand?"
"Well… at a certain age… I guess about my age now, you start feeling attracted to girls. So-"
"I never felt all that attracted to girls at your age."
Timmy tried not to laugh, but seeing her smug face made it all in vein. How could she be able to make a joke like that in a time like this and manage to make him bust out in laughter? Was it maybe because the joke was completely unexpected, but totally in character? It took him awhile, as far as laughing goes, to regain his composure.
"I… I mean attracted to the opposite gender, geeze." Timmy still chuckled; it felt weird for him to have experienced such a happy sensation from someone he hated so much. "And it's usually with someone your own age, right?"
"Ah!" Vicky exclaimed, "I see what you're getting at. Don't worry, I looked over the laws on consent and corrected them too. Hell, when I was fourteen I was such a horny little devil and I felt it was so fucking unfair that it was illegal to be able to explore my sexuality. So yeah, I made it so that once you hit puberty you can take a test to get your sex license. Kinda like getting your driver's license, only more fun!"
"S-Sex License?!" Timmy nearly screamed.
"Yeeeup!" Vicky confirmed, "We can go check that all out later though. Come on, I want to go see one of the trials, it's supposed to be a very important one if I remember correctly."
Up a large flight of stairs they climbed, past gigantic doors engraved with ornate relief sculptures depicting epic stories from the long forgotten past, and thus they entered the deep, spacious caverns of the marble courthouse. It was well lit, and so beautiful even to the youth's untrained eyes. The setting reminded him of a museum, or perhaps grand cathedral. Vicky seemed to know the way, so Timmy asked no questions as he followed her lead, deep into the depths of this monstrous icon of justice.
After awhile the crowd thinned, the lights dimmed, and the air grew heavy and thick. The echoes from their foot steps recoiled off of the polished stone walls, creating a staccato that weighed down on the boy's eyelids. He was growing tired. His mind began to wander again, away from this deep dark corridor. Timmy was seeing random faces, hearing clips of familiar voices from a life time he had just about forgotten. He was sad suddenly, and very cold.
"We're here," Vicky announced, snapping the captive out of his distant reverie. They stood before two enormous doors; much like the ones permitting entrance to the courthouse, only steeped in harsher shadows and made of black granite… when had all the white marble become granite? "Help me push open the door, will you?"
They put their entire combined weight against one of the doors, thus causing it to eventually slide inward just enough for the pair to slip inside. As the duo did so Timmy first noticed that a room full of heads where looking in their direction, then, for what he assumed was the influence of Vicky's belt, all looked away with out a care as the door sealed its self shut by means of its own mass.
"Okay," Vicky let out a hushed sigh of relief, "good, it's not over yet. You should pay attention to this trial, twerp, you might recognize a few people."
It wasn't until the pair had found somewhere to sit down, which was fairly close to the front row, that Timmy was able to really take in his surroundings. There was a single chair on the main floor; it looked small and only mildly comfortable, which could not be said of the disheveled man wearing a grey suit whom sat in it. In front of him, high above behind what appeared to be a large alter pedestal, existed a statue of a judge. He was strong jawed, white haired, and wore thick black robes. And beyond him, even higher still was a barren throne composed of a harsh old granite carving and adorn with red velvet cushioning. Timmy noticed a giant letter V was also part of the stone carving decorating the throne.
A door creaked open and slammed shut. Upon this forced crashing, as if on cue, the room lit up, but not by means of projecting light. There where no light bulbs in here, nor even a torch. No, this light seemed to emanate from the very stone which compiled the court room. The judge rose and commanded in an overpowering callous voice, "All rise for the Imperator, Overlord Victoria!"
And all did rise, and all greeted their Overlord with Vs from their arms crossed over their chests. Then from around the throne Timmy saw her, proceeding high above the entire court, embellished in all her green military glory, the adult form of Vicky. She too crossed her arms into a V over her chest. The audience took their seats, and then Overlord Victoria did the same. Her rose pink eyes, illuminated by the glowing stones, were transfixed on the broken little man shivering in his tiny chair far below. A sick smile was spreading across her smooth lips.
"Robert Henderson!" The judge boomed, "You are accused of conducting twenty charges of lewd acts with a minor, thirty-five charges of first degree pedophilia, and forced sexual intercourse with a minor! The latter being a five year old girl! You have admitted guilt to the charge of sexual intercourse with a minor, and have been proven guilty on all other counts! What have you to say for your self?"
Robert?! The same Rob that violated Vicky when she was a little girl? Yes, Timmy could recognize the jaw and nose, hell, most of the face was still the same, only older now, with graying hair. He looked broken now, and he held himself up with no dignity as he stood to his feet and began to speak.
"I have only ever hurt children when I was much, much younger, and I have already served my time for those mistakes and made amends-"
"In a court system riddled with corruption and unjust laws!" the judge interrupted, "Your so-called time served was an unfair mockery to the faces of the people who had to suffer by your hands! And were served insult on top of injury once you were released for what those old systems of law referred to as 'good behavior!' The Imperator has seen to it that true justice shall be served, especially with the most heinous of criminals! Mind your tongue!"
"Those other charges never happened!" Rob screamed with a cracking voice, true terror gripping his eyes, "Vicky! I swear to you that you were the last one! I swear it! I have changed! I have donated all of my time and money to helping the victims of child abuse all of my life! Please! Forgive me! I'm so sor-"
"ENOUGH!" Screamed Overlord Victoria, now standing to her full height as Rob fell to his knees, "What you have done is absolutely unforgivable! The crimes you are charged with are well documented by your sensor chip and the sensor chips of your victims! You will accept the judge's verdict and sentence, so plead he takes mercy on you!" Then Victoria reclaimed her throne, Rob only hung his head, "Judge, enough of this, cast your verdict."
"Yes, Imperator," The judge bowed, "Robert Henderson, by the powers vested to me, I hereby find you guilty of all charges," his gravel gave a series of heavy crashes, "As punishment for your disgraceful atrocities, I sentence you to be disposed of by means chosen by your only surviving victim, Overlord Victoria Valentine."
Robert looked up to Victoria once again, tears falling down his sunken face, he was still shivering. The Imperator had her eyes closed, she seemed emerged in thought. Then they suddenly and violently opened, a fierce gaze burning through. She stood to her feet once again. Timmy half expected her to shoot Rob right on the spot, but instead she calmly removed her hat and jacket, setting it behind her tenderly.
"I speak to you not as a ruler of nations," the Overlord spoke softly, yet grew ever stronger with the passing of each word, "but as a human being, a person like all others out there who have been deeply scarred by not only your actions, but the actions of your ilk. Those who hide amongst us, looking like us, working like us, and laughing like us; but you are anything but us. You are monsters who have stepped out of our oldest nightmares to prey on our children. You are diabolical beasts who derive pleasure and satisfaction from our most innocents' pain. You are not a human being, you are evil; true, purified evil. And it is my duty as a human being to smite you, to make an example of how we humans will not tolerate monsters! Robert Henderson! Your punishment shall be public execution! Stoned to death by victims of your craft, I being the one to cast the first stone!"
It seemed the world had erupted in cheers. Robert was quickly ushered away by two beefy looking guards. Overlord Victoria dawn her military style hat and jacket once more then formed the V sign over her chest. She proceeded to exit the courtroom by means of her private door just as the present Vicky stood up and motioned for Timmy to do the same.
As the pair made their way into the hall it was apparent that the entire courthouse knew of the proceedings. Everyone was cheering, shouting in glee at the top of their lungs. Vicky was wearing the biggest smile Timmy had ever seen on her, only this wasn't full of a malicious hunger, but genuine happiness. She was practically beaming! Out of the court house they came, into the large colorful gardens. Timmy could tell now that the entire city was celebrating. The sound was nearly deafening!
"Vicky!" Timmy tried to scream over it all.
"What is it?!" Vicky shouted back.
"How did word spread so quickly? I didn't see any microphones or cameras!"
Confetti began pouring through the air, "Oh! Timmy you idiot! This is the future! Things like that can float through the air unnoticed! C'mon! We have to get a good view!"
"A good view?!"
"Yeah, dork, for the execution!"
Only now did Timmy notice that the path they were walking on was devoid of people. There where police men and women surrounding the edges of the stone walkway, keeping the rambunctious crowd behind their sturdy human barrier. This went all the way up to a massive stage, constructed with skilled masonry. On the front face, far below where a subject would make themselves a spectacle, protruded four large metal rings. All this coated in splatters of a dark crusted substance and chips in the wall and ground.
Vicky led them to the side of the stage, just out of the view of all spectators. There was a gathering of people here, young people between Timmy and Vicky's age, looking anxious. They all were wearing colors too!
"Vicky! Why are they wearing color?" Timmy asked of his captor.
"Because they were born after I took over the world… or at least after me, anyway, and have proven to have the right to stand out."
"Have the right to stand out?"
"You got a problem with that, twerp?"
"Uh! No, I mean, kinda… Umm, wait! Let me explain! I was just saying that I don't understand why they get to stand out."
"Hmm… I suppose you don't really understand this world much at all, do you? Okay, they have never violated any of my laws, spoken against me, or loved a world with out me on top. They are my ideal youth, the future of my world. They can wear whatever they want because it's alright. They can stand out because they aren't some boring adult running back and forth only caring about how much money they can make. Don't get me wrong, I love money, but I'm not going to waste my youth away for it. Rather it should waste away for my youth, get it?"
"I guess so…"
"Yeah, you get it. Ah! Now listen up, the show is about to continue."
The front doors of the court house swung open. Not soon after a shackled Robert was being led out of the building with eight formidable guards, who escorted him along the open path. Boos and hisses suddenly filled the air. Some people screamed swears and curses at the broken man, others spat at him. Once he was close enough Timmy could tell that all hope had left this man's being. He was chained to the large metal loops, where he was released to just hang there lifelessly.
As the crowd began to calm down a slow rising chant sung out from all over the city, perhaps even the world for all Timmy knew, "V, V, V, V, V," it went. The youths around him were chanting it too, and forming that same sign over their chests, slamming it into their bodies every time the letter V was pronounced, almost like a heart beat.
On and on it went, growing louder and stronger with time. Until from the air about them a chorus rang, as if an invisible orchestra had suddenly filled his ears. Cheers erupted again almost immediately, though they were no match for the powerful anthem. It was full of strength and wisdom, this score, and Vicky told him it was the New Victorian Era Anthem, her anthem for her world. As a loud clash rang out in the middle of the song, fire works exploded up from the stage, signaling all to behold their leader, Overlord Victoria. She was decked out in her full military attire, which Timmy had to admit did make her look very sharp and in control, while at the same time emphasized all of her perfect female curves. She raised her hand and all immediately fell silent.
"Today we have captured a true monster, my people. A monster whom has fed on our fears and promoted his filthy ilk into taking after his lead. A creature who has been raised with the idea that children are fair game, and to elude capture by avoiding our laws and tampering with our precautions was perfectly just. Well it is not! Nor shall it ever be again! My citizens! I have personally risked life and limb to capture this predator with my own hands! To bring to justice his crimes and to make an example for all the world to see that we will not, can not tolerate monsters!"
The populace all screamed out at once with approval, and would only quiet when their Imperator signaled for such.
"This filth of the earth, Robert Henderson, is one who I vowed long ago to capture myself. And I did just that! He avoided my sensors and knowledge of his presence by means of bodily mutilation and endangering the lives of others. I found this disgrace to life hiding out in the run down islands of the South Pacific, where he had changed his name and hid his face. He had four children in his care! And even though he swore that they were only helping him with the house maintenance, the looks on their faces told me differently! Capturing Robert Henderson not only signified a great victory for myself and the people he has harmed, but it also was the start of my plan to now liberate those filth infested fourth world isles and add them to our great empire!"
More cheers, and more applause, to which was quieted for Victoria to continue.
"Robert Henderson," Victoria spoke, looking downward beyond her feet, "You have been proven guilty on fifty-six separate cases of child abuse and molestation. As punishment for your untenable minded crimes, I have sentenced you to death by means of stoning," the woman, obviously at the peak of health and well trained in combat, did a side flip off of the stage and landed cleanly onto the ground, "And I shall be the one to cast the first stone, you have my word. Bring out the victims and the stones!"
It happened before he could make sense of it all. The present day Vicky quickly freed Timmy from his leash and pushed him into the crowd of victims. He at once spun around to locate her, but it was no good, her belt was hiding her presence. Fear pumped into his brain. What was he to do? Play along? If he ran then he would raise suspicion and this was the last place to do such a thing. He had no choice, he was required to participate. Sweat was forming on the back of his neck, a cold sweat. He had to stay calm, had to rely on his wits. But could he actually stone a man to death? Not a chance, he didn't have it in him. God damn it! What the hell was Vicky thinking? Wait, he could just aim so that the stones didn't actually hit him. Yeah, that might actually work. Well, it was better than nothing.
They surrounded their world leader, Timmy and the victims, just as the guards returned with a barrel full of sharp hard stones. Victoria examined one of the rocks after the largest and most ornate of the barrels was placed beside her, then she lifted it up and held to the sky. She tossed it up into the air and caught it as it fell. She seemed pleased with it. As the overlord turned to face Robert, all of the victims began to shift through the stones in the barrels, Timmy among them. He only reluctantly chose one of the smaller rocks, though they were all of considerable size and weight. The sweat would not stop.
Then Victoria made a wined up motion much like a baseball pitcher and sent the stone flying through the air. It connected with Roberts mouth, cutting his lips and sending several of his teeth flying. Blood splatters against the wall behind him right before the stone bounced against that too. Whatever sounds of pain the condemned man made were lost in the cheers of the crowd. The Overlord bowed to all and walked on past the stone holding victims. Once Victoria made the sign of the V over her chest all of the victims began yelling various swears and curses at Robert. Then the volley began. A rain of sharp stones pelted the denounced prisoner, each hit very much audible even over the cheers and jeers. Timmy was panicking. If he didn't throw then everyone would surely notice him soon. And how long before Victoria recognized his face?
He was so mad at Vicky then, and mad at this man for making her the way she was. He closed his eyes, gripped the stone, and chucked it with all of his might blindly in the right direction. Though so man rocks were being flung he didn't know if it hit or not. But it felt good. It felt very good. Like a relief and a climax at the same time. He had been stuck in that damn cave for years, with only Vicky, his abuser, for any sort of human contact. And even then her visits were few and far between. He hated her! He hated himself for being so weak, for being such an easy target. He grabbed another rock and threw it with out discretion, screaming all the while. One after another, after another, after another. She wanted to control him so bad? She wanted to break him down into nothing? Fine! What did he care! She can't control this though! Not his inconsolable rage! He noticed that his rocks were striking the bloodied target the most frequent out of the other victims, and that he was making the most noise. Every time he tossed a stone he imagined it was aimed at Vicky, which made him all the more angered. His vision began to tinge with red.
Then he felt arms around his chest, restraining him. A soft female voice was cooing, trying to sooth him. He grabbed at her arms and tried to remove them, but they were too strong. He realized he was crying now, as he dropped to his knees. No, she was sitting down too, holding him against her chest from behind.
"There, there," Vicky's voice whispered into his ear, only this was an adult's voice… it was her alternate future self who was holding him, "He's dead now, it's alright. We killed him. Shhhh, we killed him. People like him will never touch you again, not while I'm here. Shhhh… its going to be okay… Shhhh… Shhhh…"
The fallen boy noticed all was quiet, and had the distinct feeling that everyone was watching the pair of them. He was scared again, stuck in yet another place where he could not escape from. Victoria turned him around to get a good look at his face. As she reached her hand to his eyes to wipe his tears, he looked up into her's. She froze. Her face dropped all emotion. Her eyes widened.
"You…"