Repentless truth

Security guards usually have quiet shifts. Richard and Otis like their jobs as security guards at the nuclear power plant. The two walk along the fence with flashlights and, as always, talk about all sorts of things.

"No. Boas aren't venomous snakes, they're constricting snakes." said Richard. "Let's see. You let one bite you voluntarily." said Otis.

"And why do you think it's called a boa constrictor? Can you please explain that to me?" said Richard sneakily.

"Hey, wait a minute." said Otis.

"I expected it. You don't want to admit you're wrong."

"No. There's a hole in the fence." said Otis, shining his flashlight on the hole in the fence. Richard drew his gun. Otis picked up his radio.

"This is Otis. Someone cut a hole in the west fence. It's been broken into." Otis said into his radio.

"Roger. We're calling for police reinforcements." said the voice over the radio. "Who's there!" shouted Richard.

Searchlights, which are on the building, were switched on. The whole nuclear power plant was lit up brightly. The light was so bright that the red flying lights on the edge of the cooling towers could no longer be seen. Richard and Otis both waited, guns drawn. After five minutes the first police car came. Fifteen minutes later, a large contingent consisting of seven police cars arrived. Many police officers got out, handguns in hand.

"Here." called Otis.

A policeman came to them.

"That looks like environmentalists." said the policeman.

"Who else? Do you search everything?" Otis asked.

"Yes. The whole area is surrounded and a helicopter is on its way." said the policeman. Richard looks at cooling tower one, and points to it.

"There. Somebody scrawled graffiti on the cooling tower." said Richard.

On the cooling tower is a black skull and crossbones with yellow lettering next to it.

"Nuclear energy is suicide. Those miserable assholes." said Otis.

Rita and Alison walk across the bridge by the main road. The two do not want to be caught by the police.

"How far is it to Royal Woods?" Alison asked.

"I guess two kilometers." said Rita.

"Why don't you dare?"

"I don't know if you've seen my mother. But she's strict and expects a lot from me. And when I tell her I'm pregnant, I don't know how she reacts."

"She's your mother. She'll probably be shocked, but she'll support you."

"I don't know. I mean, we're talking about Constance Judge here. And she's always been a good mother to me. But she can also be unpredictable."

"What do you mean unpredictable?" asked Rita.

"My mother has Bipolar Disorder. Her emotions can change in minutes when she's stressed." said Alison.

"Alright. Even though I have second thoughts, we should tell your mother a little later. And when do you want to tell Patrick?"

"I think I should tell him first. And then my father. He's taking it better than my mother."

Rita and Alison arrive at the Louds' house. Rita unlocks the door and the two enter the house. Lynn senior is sitting on the sofa in the living room. The television is on, the volume is set very low. He looked at Rita and Alison.

"Where have you been Rita? I was sick with worry." said Lynn Sr. "I watched the forest at night with Alison." said Rita.

"Wow. And what did you two really do?" asked Lynn Sr.

"Yes, we were in the forest."

"Rita, for the first time I don't believe you. So please tell me where you are." said Lynn Sr. "Rita is telling the truth. We were in the woods." said Alison.

"Alright. You know what? I'm going to bed now. I was up all night." said Lynn senior, and went into the bedroom.

The two are sitting on the sofa. Alison takes off her glasses and leans back. Alison falls asleep. Rita watches some TV. When it was six o'clock in the morning, the first news came on the television. Katherine Mulligan was in the studio.

"This is the 6 a.m. news, I'm Katherine Mulligan, good morning. The first time in the history of the Royal Woods Nuclear Power Plant there has been a break-in. Karen Scott is reporting on the spot."

A light blonde woman, wearing a light gray suit and a blue shirt was seen on the TV. Her hair was wavy, reaching down her back and chest. She was standing in the nuclear power plant parking lot, holding a microphone.

"Shortly after midnight, the police were alerted by security guards from the nuclear power plant. The police arrived in large numbers. It is not yet known who the perpetrator is, but the police found hair and pieces of cloth on the fence. The incident is classified as INES 1. According to the operator of the nuclear power plant, Royal Woods Power Corporation, there was no impairment of operations."

Katherine Mulligan was seen again.

"Thank you Karen Scott."

Rita gently shakes Alison on her shoulder. Alison wakes up.

"What is?" Alison asked tiredly.

"They found traces of us." said Rita. Alison was instantly wide awake.

"I... I can't go to jail. I can't do this." said Alison panicked.

"If it gets serious, I'll say I broke in alone. You shouldn't give birth to your child in prison." said Rita.

"Thanks." Alison said, giving Rita a side hug. Alison begins to breathe deeply and rapidly. "What's happening?" asked Rita.

"I feel sick." said Alison.

"Come with me! Quick!" Rita said, taking Alison's hand.

They quickly go up the stairs and into the bathroom. Alison leans over the toilet and throws up. Rita holds Alison's hair back down her back. Her hair shouldn't be hanging in the toilet.

"It feels so bad." said Alison.

"It's normal. It's normal in pregnancy, Alison." said Rita in a calm voice. The two hear a voice.

"What are you doing?"

Rita and Alison are easily startled. It was Lucy.

"Oh hi Lucy. Alison has food poisoning." said Rita.

"No she did not." said Lucy. "Yes. It's true." said Alison.

"I know when someone is lying." said Lucy.

"Lucy! This is bad timing." said Rita sternly.

"I. Alright. But remember, I'm watching you." said Lucy, and disappeared. "You won't do that!" said Rita angrily.

"Is that normal Rita?" Alison asked.

"Yes. That is quite normal." Rita said in a soothing voice.

Alison sat on the floor and leaned against the bathtub.

"Is it worth it?" Alison asked.

"What do you think?" asked Rita.

"Is it worth having children?" Alison asked.

Rita looked at Alison. She only knew one answer.

"Yes, in any case." said Rita.

"Alison, how did it happen?" asked Rita.

"What do you mean?"

"How did you get pregnant?"

"Well, Patrick and I wanted to take the next step. And I distinctly remember using birth control. Maybe we weren't using it properly. That was a month ago. Two weeks ago I realized something was wrong. I took a pregnancy test and the result was positive." said Alison.

Rita sits next to Alison. She notices that Alison put her right hand on her stomach. "I already love it." said Alison.

"I believe that." said Rita.

Lucy sneaks into Lori's room. She climbs onto Lori's bed, and goes to her head. She shakes Lori's shoulder. Lori is startled, but Lucy covers Lori's mouth with her hand so she can't make a sound.

"Lori, if I take my hand off your mouth, we'll both talk. Quietly." whispered Lucy.

Lori nodded. Lucy took her hand away.

"Lucy? What's that about?" Lori whispered angrily.

"Lily's new friend is in the bathroom with Mom and is throwing up. And they're both lying to me." whispered Lucy.

"Is she all right?" whispered Lori, and wanted to get up. Lucy held her back.

"They will lie to you too. I'm sure of that."

"And what should we do?" asked Lori.

"I don't know exactly what. What I do know is that there's something very wrong about those two."

"Let's listen. Maybe we'll hear something." whispered Lori.

Lori got up and walked to the ajar door. Lucy sneaked after her. The two heard Rita's voice.

"You never know if you are one."

"I don't know. Maybe I'm failing completely." said Alison worried.

"You won't. I didn't know if I was a good one either. And look at me. Everything's fine with me. Sure, you're younger, but that doesn't mean you're going to fail."

"What are they talking about?" Lori wondered quietly.

"I don't know. Mom has never been so mysterious." whispered Lucy. "It's something we shouldn't know. That's for sure."

"Mom mentioned to me that Alison is up to something. Maybe that's it."

"What else do you know?"

"I do not know more." whispered Lucy.

"Then we need to find out more." whispered Lori.

"Alison, come with me." said Rita.

The two got up and went down the stairs to the kitchen. Rita started making pancakes and bacon.

"Ms. Loud, you don't have to do this for me." said Alison.

"You should eat though. You need nourishment for two." said Rita.

Rita finishes cooking, and puts the plate of pancakes and bacon in front of Alison, and puts a maple syrup bottle next to it.

"Good Appetite." said Rita, sitting down across from Alison.

Alison starts to eat. Only now does she realize that she is very hungry.

"You're hungry." said Rita.

Alison nodded.

"Do you want to sleep in?" asked Rita.

Alison shakes her head. Alison has finished eating and puts the cutlery on the plate.

"We have to go to Patrick." said Alison.

Rita and Alison leave the house. Lori and Lucy come down the stairs, all dressed up.

"We will pursue them." said Lucy.

"We should remain inconspicuous." said Lori.

"That's my specialty."

The two also leave the house. They follow Rita and Alison a hundred feet away. The sun is just rising. It seems to be a beautiful Sunday. A police patrol drives through next to them.

"I've never seen a police patrol on a Sunday morning." said Lucy. "Neither do I." said Lori.

"What do you think these two are up to?"

"I don't know. Maybe she'll accompany Alison home."

"Mom was kind of suspicious of Alison. Maybe her suspicions were confirmed." said Lucy.

"I hope it's nothing serious."

"If mom makes her breakfast? Please, then it really isn't a bad thing. In that sense."

"What do you think?"

"Perhaps Alison is seriously ill. That would explain why she threw up today." said Lucy.

Rita and Alison arrive at a townhouse that has an ivory colored facade. Alison stops at the entrance to the front yard.

"Everything okay?" asked Rita.

"Not at all. I don't know what's going to happen. What will he think. Maybe we'll argue." said Alison panicked.

Rita grabbed Alison by her shoulders.

"Listen. It will probably be the most difficult situation of your life. But if Patrick loves you, then it can only be good."

Alison is silent. She turned towards the house. She tried to take a step. She didn't make it. She tried again. For minutes she tried. Then she made it. She slowly walked towards the door. She was in front of it. She tried ringing. Minutes passed. Then she put her fingers on the bell. She tried to push. Then Alison rang the bell. There was no turning back. She heard footsteps. The door lock was opened. The doorknob was pressed. The door was opened. And it was Patrick standing there.

"Hi Al. What are you doing here so early?" asked Patrick.

"We need to talk." said Alison.

"That sounds serious."

"Please come with me." Alison said, taking Patrick's hand. She pulled him to a tree. "Patrick. I don't know how to begin." said Alison.

She takes a deep breath. "I'm having a child."

Patrick looks at her confused. "Please, I do not understand." "Patrick."

"Al, is that true?"

"Patrick."

Patrick grew restless.

"Please do not."

"Patrick."

Patrick went down.

"Please do not."

Alison sat next to Patrick.

"It must be a dream. That's not possible. You can't be pregnant." "It's not a dream." said Alison.

In all of human history there was rarely this one facial expression that Patrick now had. Edward John Smith when the Titanic hit the iceberg. Jim Lovel in the Apollo 13, in a nearly destroyed space capsule. And Robert Oppenheimer At the Trinity Test, when he saw a light like the sun had fallen from the sky.

"No." said Patrick. "Yet."

"No."

"Yet."

"No."

"Yes. It's true." said Alison.

Patrick put his face in his hands. Alison hugged him. Patrick now understood that it was reality. The cruel reality.

"I'm going to be a father. I'm going to be a father." Patrick said softly.

Patrick looks at Alison.

"Al, we're both 14. That means... That means..."

"I know what it means." said Alison.

"We're way too young to be parents."

Alison gently rubbed Patrick's back.

"I will do everything possible to make the child comfortable." said Alison. "I... I still can't believe it."

He takes a deep breath.

"We are still children ourselves. We..."

Tears run from Patrick's eyes.

"I don't even know if I can be a good father."

"I think so. It's our child. Patrick, on our first date, you treated me like royalty. Every time I'm around you, I feel the love you have for me. And when you're our child give the same love as me, then you are on the right track."

Alison takes Patrick's hand.

"I love you." said Alison.

Patrick looked deeply into Alison's eyes.

"I love you both." said Patrick.

Alison and Patrick hear sobbing coming from the bushes. It was Rita.

"Rita?" said Alison.

"I thought I saw everything, but this is beautiful. What you say to each other, what you two feel. Beautiful."

The two heard Rita sobbing. "Who is that Al?" asked Patrick. "A friend." said Alison.

Alison looks at the bush.

"Come to us, Rita."

Rita got out of the bush and sat down next to the two under the tree. A sparrow chirped in the tree.

"When there is enough love, a child is happy." said Rita.

"I have enough love for both of them." said Alison.

Patrick continued to hold Alison's hand. He never wanted to let go of her again. "Alea iacta est." said Patrick.

"The die is cast." said Alison.

"And the dice fell well." said Rita.

"I hope so." said Patrick.

"You will be a good father." Alison said, kissing Patrick on the cheek.

She laid her head on his shoulder.

"You took good care of Lily. I think you will make a good mother." said Rita. "You're Lily's mother?" asked Patrick.

"Yes she is. The sweetest girl I know." said Alison.

"This is Lily. The cutest girl." said Rita.

Rita takes out her phone and opens the photo app. She taps on a picture of Lily. "Here. This is Lily." Rita said, giving her cell phone to Alison and Patrick.

"She's really cute. I hope our child turns out to be as cute as Lily." said Patrick. "I hope that too." said Alison.

The three look at the picture of Lily. The sparrow in the tree continued to chirp. It was a day that started out difficult but ended happily.