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scripttorture · 5 years

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(1) Long ask here! I think you'll need context before the anti-torture character can be made, here's where story will be at time of introduction. Chromain is the Arch Mage in the Imptulan royal court, a high ranking official. When my character Sab Sab starts causing trouble, he sees it as his personal duty to put a stop to this "Muse of Anarachy". He eventually corners Sab Sab and Myrn (Sab's friend, not actually part of her stuff). In the scuffle, he grabs Myrn rather than arrest Sab Sab.

(2) Chromain begins by leaving a message that he will release Myrn if Sab turns self in/reveals the rebel group she's with. He threatens to hurt him in her stead until she does. Carries out his threats. Chromain escalates as he more desperate to make Sab Sab reveal herself. Tries getting Myrn to reveal secrets, but a.) isn't the kind to divulge secrets b.) doesn't know anything . Sab stops responding to the messages. In spite, Chromain leaves Myrn in a stress position until he dies.(3) What might be some ouch methods? Its a fantasy world, with steampunk elements, mostly sword&sorcery, renaisance-esque. Myrn doesn't die permanently (key story point, old gods stuff), but intents and purposes,this kills him. Long recovery even with magic, lasting nerve damage in at least 1 arm and hand, chronic pain, bad limp will be there for the rest of his life upon return. I was wondering what u think could cause that.(4)how long someone be left in stress position before they for sure are dead? Cause he gets left until after he's showing no signs of life. Lastly, mental issues. Chromain (who both employs poorer people and gets his own hands dirty) I was thinking would have suicidal thoughts, and develop alchohalism as a means of coping that got out of hand.

OK,I’m taking this to mean that you want some suggestions for torturesthat will cause the kinds of long term injuries you’re looking forbefore the character actually dies. I’m also assuming the characterdoes actually die and doesn’t just look dead.

Ifyou want something to make the character look dead then a stressposition isn’t a good choice. That’s because due to the way itkills a person can be taken out of a stress position and die days orweeks later from the injuries they sustained.

I’mnot sure I can make a good suggestion for a torture that would make acharacter appear dead. Some of them might, but only for a period ofseconds or minutes. Most torturers would stick around that long andtry to revive the victim. And- since I’m not sure you wantsuggestions for things that could make a character appear dead I’mgoing to leave that there.

IfI’ve misunderstood the ask by all means send another so long as theask box is open.

Forthe record torture does not work as an interrogation technique evenon the rare occasions when victims doknow useful information. The situation you’ve outlined here, wherethe victim doesn’t know anything and is being tortured primarily toinstil fear in other people, isrealistic and reflects the circumstances and motivation behind a lotof torture.

Thesymptoms you’ve chosen for the torturer seem plausible to me. I’vedefinitely read interviews with torturers that seemed to suggest boththose symptoms. If those are the symptoms you feel fit the characterand story best then there’s nothing wrong with choosing them.

Theway I’m going to handle this is by suggesting tortures that mighthave caused the injuries you wanted if the character had been rescuedbefore being killed. I’m going to assume the magic is as good or alittle better then modern medicine.

Ithink the best way to treat the tortures isn’t as an ‘escalation’but as abuse continuing past the bodies point to recover from it. Thejudgement of which tortures are ‘worse’ is subjective. Some ofthem are more likely to cause particular lasting injuries. Some ofthem are more likely to be fatal. But our judgements of what’s‘worse’ often underestimate the amount of pain torture causes andthey usually also ignore the fact that we process pain differently.

Theworst possible pain means different things for different people.

Goingback to the injuries-

Thecauses of chronic pain can be complex and aren’t always obvious. Itcan be caused by direct physical injury that can’t be repaired. Butit can also be psychosomatic or a combination of the two.

Asan example of how that combination can work in reality I’m going tosummarise something I read in an account from an abuse survivor. He’dbeen subjected to standing stress positions fairly regularly. Laterin life he found that he’d often get shooting pains in his calveswhen he was under a lot of stress.

Eventuallyhe and his doctor found the cause: when he was stressed he’d changethe way he stood and tense his calves. This posture and theinstinctive tension of muscles put additional pressure on his calfmuscles and caused the pain.

Thesekinds of subconscious reactions can be almost impossible to stop.

Andthey mean that whatever the torture there’s a chance of chronicpain. Some tortures do seem to be more likely to cause it becausesome are more likely to result in physical injuries that lead tochronic pain. But there’s always a chance there.

Fornerve damage in the hands and arms I think your best bet is asuspension torture.

Forhopefully obvious reasons I’m going to focus on the ones thatattack the arms.

Themost straight forward suspension torture is when the victim’s handsare tied in front of them and they’re hoisted off their feet. Afterabout twenty minutes that starts causing permanent nerve damage.

NowI don’t know if there’s a way to limit that damage to one arm ifthe character is suspended from both arms. With this form ofsuspension the character could potentially be suspended from one arm.Although this would mean there’s a chance he’d be able to freehimself and that could mean he’d sustain injuries from falling.

Ifhe was suspended a significant distance (several meters off thefloor) you could use that to cause the injuries that result in thelimp. Being suspended and then dropping could result in broken bones.Complex or untreated breaks could result in a permanent limp.

Anothercommon suspension torture is tying the victim’s hands behind theirback and suspending them that way. In some cultures victims weresuspended like this, dropped and then suspended again.

Icall this ‘strappado’ which is the Italian name, but it was alsoused in Japan and a number of other countries historically.

Thistype of suspension dislocates the shoulder as well as causing nervedamage in the hands and arms. It can’t be done with one arm. Onceagain the drop can cause injuries if it’s a long enough drop.

Bothof these suspension tortures can cause chronic pain via long termphysical injury.

Thetechnique the British call ‘dorsal flexing’ could alsopotentially cause nerve damage but my understanding is it’s lesslikely then it is in suspension tortures. Dorsal flexing involvedpinning or restraining the victim and pulling their arm up behindthem.

It’sessentially putting someone in a painful armlock and keeping themthere. It can damage the joints and ligaments which can result inlong term chronic pain.

Ifyou wanted to have chronic pain in both arms but would prefer to onlyhave nerve damage in one arm dorsal flexing could be a good fit forthe story.

Thereare other tortures that could cause nerve damage to the arms andhands, butI’m struggling to think of tortures that are both deliberate andwouldn’t also come with a significant risk of losing the limb.(Restraint tortures can sometimes cause nerve damage but this isn’tguaranteed and it’s not a deliberate injury, it’s more likely tobe the result of something going ‘wrong’).

Thefirst thing that comes to mind for the limp is a badly treated brokenbone somewhere in the leg or foot and there are a lotof ways that could happen in a torture scenario. I describedaccidental injuries from drops during suspension and there areprobably a lot of other ways breaks could occur accidentally.

Torturers(more often historically) did sometimes inflict deliberate breaks.This was usually done with a heavy object like a hammer.

Anotheroption would be scarring falaka.

Falakais beating the soles of the feet with an object, and depending onwhat the object is it can be a clean torture, it can be scarring orit can be lethal. Something like a hard wooden cane would bescarring. That would likely cause cuts on the feet and could causebreaks or fractures in the bones of the feet.

Thatcould end up causing the limp. Falaka is also one of the torturesthat often causes chronic pain.

Amuch rarer torture that could result in difficulty walking would becutting the soles of the feet, filling the wounds with alcohol soakedcotton and lighting it. The cuts themselves can potentially be deepenough to cause the limp and burns to the sole of the foot can shrinkthe skin, resulting in difficulty balancing and walking.

Ifyou want the limp to be deliberately and intentionally inflicted thiswas often done by cutting tendons in the leg, either the achillestendon at the back of the heel or one of the tendons at the back ofthe knee.

Ifyou want the character to die because he was left in a stressposition, well the chances of death increase if a victim is in astress position longer then 48 hours. But the exact time of deathwould have quite a bit of individual variation. Considering that thischaracter has been tortured for quite some time before this attack,well his health would probably be pretty poor and he’d probably diemore quickly then someone who was fit and healthy at the beginning ofthis ordeal. Somewhere between 48 and 72 hours should be a realistictime frame.

You’vealready got quite a few options to pick from here. But you might notwant to use all of them. If you wanted to add in more the most commontortures globally are beatings, sleep deprivation and starvation.Poor prison conditions and neglect are also incredibly commonglobally and many cultures used a form of whipping historically.

Idon’t recommend using every torture I’ve suggested in your story.Pick something like 3-5 to use based on what you feel comfortablewriting and what fits the story.

Youcan also take a look at my posts on National Styles herefor modern torture and herefor torture during world war two. They might provide someinspiration or have something you could link to the culture yourfantasy culture is based on.

Ihope that helps. :)

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#tw torture #tw scars #tw death #tw addiction #scarring torture #suspension #strappado #broken bones #falaka #chronic pain #causes of chronic pain #dorsal flexing #stress positions #rosavirgoart

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narrans · 4 years

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One Shot | September Prompts

ONE | Idiot

Neither Virgil nor Patton weren’t quite sure what to expect once arriving. After Remus and Roman gave them the spiel of who they were and what the mission behind the Tiny Shelter, they escorted them to their room. It was more spacious than their previous home, but not as large as the cage. There were already nails embedded in the walls near the entrance and what looked like a sink made from the base of a plastic cup. There was even a set of washcloths and what looked like memory foam on a popsicle stick frame in the corner.

“I know,” said Remus. “Absolutely drab. I told Thomas to bring us some paint or chalk. Something to spruce up the joint but…”

“It’s perfect,” interrupted Patton accidentally, speaking more to himself than the others. Roman’s grin reached his ears.

“Excellent. See?” said Roman as he slapped Remus’ shoulder. “I knew they’d like it. We’ll leave and let you two get settled. Logan. Jay. Your rooms are a little farther ahead and up on the next floor. Sorry it’s a little way up, but it’s a good problem when the closer rooms fill up, right?” The four of them nodded, still adjusting to the idea they were finally free – at least, free in Thomas’s home. Just as Roman and Remus turned to leave, Roman snapped his fingers, remembering something.

“Oh, one quick thing. It’s certainly not mandatory or anything, but our resident medic will probably want to take a look at your leg,” said Roman as he pointed to Patton’s injured leg. “Don’t worry. She’s really sweet and gentle. Knows practically everything about science and all sorts of random tidbits, but not braggadocios or arrogant.”

“Yeah,” agreed Remus, interrupting his twin. “She’s worked some serious miracles with injuries. From broken to dislocated, she’ll get you back on your feet.”

Roman sighed and continued his initial thought. “You can go see her tomorrow or, if you want, we can come back and you can meet her today. Whatever you feel like.” Virgil and Patton exchanged unsure glances, torn between getting some well-earned rest and helping Patton’s leg get back to normal. Even Jay and Logan seemed interesting in meeting this magical physician.

“Could she just come by later tonight? After we get settled?” asked Virgil. Both Roman and Remus bit their lower lip simultaneously, looking reluctant.

“That’s going to be kinda hard, you see, because she’s human,” said Remus. At the word human, all four borrowers flinched, a static tension enveloping them for several seconds.

“Way to be smooth,” muttered Roman. “Anyway. Yes, Ali is human. She’s a paramedic by night, resident medical professional and material provider during the day. She even fills in as chef when Thomas is busy.”

“She’s really good about the ‘no touching, holding, grabbing’ rules we’ve set in place,” chimed in Remus. Their positive spin did not negate the fact the borrowers absorbed first. Human.

“Look, we know the last thing you want to do is go reveal yourselves and talk to a human, but, like I said, it’s not mandatory. She just likes meeting newcomers and will do basically anything to make adjusting easier,” said Roman. “You don’t have to show yourselves if you don’t want to. My brother and I were going to get some supplies anyway and thought we would extend the invitation. Just think it over.” They all glanced nervously at one another.

“We’ll talk it over,” said Patton as he leaned into Virgil’s shoulder. Logan and Jay simply nodded. Remus and Roman nodded before pointing up the wall.

“You two are up this way,” said Remus. Finally, after months of torment and captivity, Virgil and Patton were alone in the privacy of the walls of a place they could call home. Virgil helped Patton to the bed. It was soft and smelled like fresh laundry. The Christmas lights which hung in the room provided a warm, homey feeling to their one room.

“So… what do you think?” asked Patton as he tucked his good leg up to his chest to remove his shoes. Virgil felt a rush of emotions simultaneously.

“If I never saw another human for the rest of my life, I’d be good,” he muttered, yet his eyes locked on Patton’s injured leg. Patton wasn’t a complainer. Even in captivity, he often refrained from bringing up the negative or would remain silent to keep Virgil from thinking about every possible negative scenario available to them. Could the human help?

“I agree with you there,” said Patton. He adjusted his glasses before leaning down and removing his other shoe, wincing and letting out an involuntary yelp of pain when he turned his leg the wrong way. “But…” he continued. “Thomas is human, and he helped us. So were the others who brought us here.” Virgil, too tired to feel frustrated, admired Patton for a moment. After everything, he could still find something to believe in.

“Let’s just sleep on it,” said Patton finally. “Roman and Remus said we didn’t have to talk to her; and they didn’t seem to be bothered by going to see her.” Virgil nodded, shutting their makeshift door, removing his shoes, and slipping onto the bed. They were out within minutes in a peaceful slumber they had not known for months.

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Roman and Remus brought Logan and Jay to the two vacant rooms on the second floor, ensuring they were settled, before heading off to Ali’s room. They were in a heated debate as to whether they should have brought up meeting Ali so soon after the new arrivals were freed. Roman argued it was a good idea to mention her and that Remus shouldn’t have immediately brought up the fact that Ali was human while Remus argued the newcomers should have been settled and that he was just being honest. They continued their heated discussion even as they exited from the door behind the plug and onto Ali’s desk. They hadn’t checked whether she was there or not, which she was.

Ali, after pulling another late night, had only been awake for a few hours. She was still in her oversized pajama shirt with the sleeves cut off and was sitting at her desk with a cup of warm coffee while taking inventory of her supplies. Her long, brown hair hadn’t been brushed, remaining a fluffy mess parted carelessly onto one side of her head. Both legs were in the chair, one propped up against the desk and one crisscrossed under to make a suitable table for her list. She listened to her playlists passively, always keeping one headphone out just in case someone needed her attention in a hurry. Even before they entered, she could hear Roman and Remus arguing. The side of her mouth tugged into a cocky grin as she watched the twins exit from behind the electrical cover and onto her desk. She refrained from laughing, though she didn’t know what they were arguing about except that they were arguing. Both Remus and Roman jumped in surprise when they noticed she was sitting only a few feet from them.

“Criminently! I didn’t see you there!” exclaimed Roman. Remus, trying to compose himself faster than his brother, played off the incident.

“I just… wanted to get you reaction, brother dear,” he said with a wink.

“Usually you two knock before coming in,” she said, keeping her tone lone and quiet as to not pierce their ears with her voice. She removed her headphone and paused her music before drawing in her arms as to make sure the borrowers felt secure with enough room. Even though she knew Roman and Remus for the past seven months, it was imperative she demonstrate appropriate behaviors in case other borrowers were watching to establish trust and mutual respect.

“Anyway, what were you two discussing?” she asked, slowly moving to grab her coffee cup on the edge of the desk. Roman and Remus exchanged wary glances before Roman spoke up.

“We had four new arrivals today. Two from pets, two from the lab, all four from that wretched relative of Thomas,” said Roman.

“Yikes, that witch has had one too many doses of her own psychotics. At least they’re here now,” remarked Ali.

“And fancy pants over here let it slip that you’re the medic and that you’re human,” chimed in Remus. Roman glared at his twin before nodding and walking over to the drawers of materials Ali kept stored on the desk.

“I said that you like welcoming the newcomers and that it was optional for them to come see you,” explained Roman as he opened the band-aid drawer and sat on the compartment lip. Ali took a moment to absorb the information, keeping her features as neutral as she could, though her concern showed in her disgruntled eyebrow.

“Well, that’s alright. They don’t have to come if they don’t want to. I’m sure they’ve had more than enough of doctors, let alone humans,” she replied, slightly disappointed she wouldn’t get to meet the four new additions.

“Yes. But the problem is one of them has a really bad limp from an injury the witch probably gave him. He’s obviously uncomfortable walking on it and if it goes untreated it could very well be permanent if it isn’t permanent already. It’ll affect his quality of life. I guess…” Roman quieted himself in his thoughts. “I guess I wanted to get him here so you could help. I guess it didn’t occur to me what it might sound like. ‘Here. You’re free. Go talk to the humans now. Obviously, months of trauma are overridden the moment you walk through the door.’” Roman moaned and buried his face in his hands. Ali sighed.

“Don’t sweat it, Roman,” Ali said gently. “If they want help, or need it, I’ll be here. Do you have any idea of when you were going to bring them here to show them where some of the supplies are? I’ll make myself scarce.” Roman gazed thoughtfully at Ali, a smile radiating from his face. Though all of the other humans were fantastic, Ali certainly never let the borrowers’ constant apprehension and fear weigh on her.

“Maybe tomorrow; and I know they’ll warm up to you. I shall make it my life’s mission!” declared Roman. He stood as tall and as proud as he could.

“How will you do that, Sir Sing-Along?” asked Remus. “You saw the look on their faces.”

“We shall let them see what kind of person Ali is! Surely they would not be so callous to disregard personal testimony from the others. Their words shall be the foundation of their trust for you,” stated Roman, sounding as though he could conquer the world with a single swipe of his sewing pin sword. Ali felt herself smile and giggle at the thought of Roman running for office or, at the very least, becoming a motivational speaker.

“Regardless, I’m in no rush, and they shouldn’t be either. They probably just want to be left along for a while. Actually,” a thought occurred to her. “They probably don’t feel like borrowing at the moment. They might be too exhausted to leave for the next few days.” Ali set her cup delicately on her side table before dashing over to some of the borrower friendly shelves which lined the room. She thought quickly as she pulled out four of the borrower sized satchels she and Hickory had been working on and began slipping small odds and ends into them. Remus and Roman watched Ali curiously, relatively unaffected by her quick, darting movements around the room.

“You said there are four of them, right?” she asked.

“Yes, but two of them are a couple so really we only used three rooms,” replied Remus. Ali nodded, her mind moving faster than her body as she collected a few other materials. Simple things. A small matchbox, bottle caps, a tea bag, a couple of safety pins, a thread filled bobbin, and a couple of small, a pinch of tin foil, and glass jars with lids she obtained from her last craft store visit. She mentally praised herself for spending the extra five dollars.

“What are you doing?” called Remus, now growing impatient to see what Ali was up to. She returned with the four draw string satchels, each slightly overflowing.

“Housewarming gifts,” she said quickly. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner. They need supplies to get started. Usually we just leave them out, but it might be nice to have them brought to their doors.” Remus and Roman both quickly saw what Ali was saying, yet possessed two different reactions.

“Brilliant! You’re right. Usually we would just leave these things out for the newcomers to borrow or to ask. This gives them a head start. We’ll need to bring them a few fishhooks, but I know where those are,” Roman said, pleased with Ali’s intuitive thinking. Remus, on the other hand, stared at the bags slightly displeased.

“You want us to carry those through the halls? They’re heavy!” complained Remus as he heaved one onto his shoulder. Ali, suddenly remembering the strength discrepancy, bit her cheek in frustration.

“No worries!” Roman chimed in. “Ali, if you take them to the nearest entrance, we can get them the rest of the way. It’s not too far if we don’t have to pack them up and down and across.” Ali smiled gratefully at Roman.

“Thanks,” she grinned. “Just, one thing. Don’t tell them it was from me.”

“What?! Why not?” asked Roman.

“If you tell them it was from me, it’ll seem like I’m trying to earn their favor.”

“Isn’t that the point?” asked Remus. He stood in the top drawer, rummaging for the things he and his brother had come for in the first place.

“No. The point is to make them feel welcomed,” replied Ali. “All they need to know is that they’re safe and they don’t need to worry about the little things… sorry, wrong phrasing…” Ali rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Just, say it’s from you. From everyone here. If they want, they’ll figure it out.” Roman grinned.

“I didn’t get a goodie bag,” whined Remus after landing lightly with a sash of rubber bands and wire.

“You don’t need one. Now, come on! We have some deliveries to make. Ali, would you take these to the top of the second-floor stairs and the other right behind the fern.” Ali nodded and hastily gathered the satchels, leaving Remus and Roman in her room alone.

“You know, she’s not so bad for a human,” muttered Remus. Roman smacked his brother playfully on the shoulder before grabbing some supplies himself.

“We knew that already.”

They delivered their personal borrowings to their shared room before retrieving the packs Ali created. Jay seemed grateful, but also suspicious. Logan too seemed grateful, satisfied with the materials inside the pack, but also seemed skeptical. While Remus and Roman didn’t see Virgil or Patton’s reaction, they received one the next morning at breakfast when Patton hobbled out of the room and hugged them. Patton spent the entire morning going through the bag’s contents and could not feel more welcomed or grateful.

“Just a little something to get you all started here. Some of the others had supplies when they arrived, and you seemed worn out from yesterday,” replied Remus. Patton, though still weary, was already regaining his signature spark back in his eyes. Logan arrived next, joining in the conversation as needed but more often than not made silent observations. Jay was the last to arrive. After they exchanged pleasantries, Roman and Remus led the way through the kitchen, showing off the stocks and supplies. Where things were. Where to avoid if they didn’t want to interact with their human allies. How to request supplies. In short, the morning was an interactive open house. The twins provided a map drawn onto a folded Index card of the different rooms of the home as well as entrances and exits they could use as quick getaways. They shuffled through the vents and hallways, meeting a few other borrowers along the way. Though they didn’t stop to talk for long since they could see Roman and Remus were giving a tour, they welcomed the newcomers and offered to show them some of their favorite places to borrow as well as have them over for dinner once they felt up to visitation.

Patton could not feel more pleased, seeing so many new faces. His excitement overrode his exhaustion and apprehension of their new home. Even as his leg pained him and his limp grew worse every few steps, he could feel this was the right place to be. Virgil, on the other hand, would rather rest alone. Seeing so many faces. Being with so many new people. The information was overwhelming. He found himself shrinking further and further into his patched poncho, hunching closer to Patton, who held his arm reassuringly. Jay seemed disinterested at times, almost as if he wanted to go off and explore on his own. Logan, on the other hand, absorbed every piece of information he could as they traversed the halls. Before they knew it, they were at the final room of the house.

“Now this,” said Roman as he pointed to the back of an electrical cover. “Is the entrance slash exit to Ali’s room. She’s the one we told you about yesterday.” While they had gone by Thomas’s room and the rooms of the other shelter workers, something seemed different about knowing where Ali’s room was. Maybe it was her knowledge of medicine combined with their experience with human scientists. Maybe it was because of the twin’s comment about meeting her. Sensing the tension, Roman gave a confident smile and stepped to the cover.

“Here, I’ll see if she’s in.” Without another word, Roman pushed the cover open and stepped out onto the desk boldly. Remus trailed behind him. “Ali! Are you home! Ali!” The four newcomers glanced hesitantly at one another.

“I don’t know how I feel about this,” hissed Jay, shying away from the lamp light through the crack in the cover. Logan, stiff as a board and as hard to read as ever, barely managed a nod. Patton could have sworn he could see both Jay and Logan trembling slightly. He knew Virgil was apprehensive by the way he stepped behind him and placed his arm across his chest. Patton was frightened. There was no question; but it wasn’t him who was shaking. He tried to help Virgil’s breathing by focusing on steadying his own and tapping lightly on Virgil’s hand. After a minute, Remus peered back through the opening.

“She must’ve pulled another double shift. You can come on out. Ali isn’t home yet,” smiled Remus reassuringly. The four could not bring themselves to step forward. “Look, this is the last room with all of the medical supplies. We’ll be really quick. Pinky promise.” Logan straightened, shaking himself out of whatever daze he had fallen into, and stepped forward.

“Very well. Quickly,” he said. The others followed his lead with caution through the electrical cover. The moment they entered, they found themselves completely stunned.

The other rooms, which were set up in the traditional human fashion with the addition of borrower friendly furniture, were vastly different than the room before them. They stood on a wooden desk aglow with a lamp with a gentle white light. There were books ranging from size and subject propped up around the room by plastic and wooden devices holding the pages apart. There were shelves illuminated by Christmas lights all around the room filled with books and small drawers filled with what looked like rubber bands, band-aids, thumb tacks, and other essential items borrowers would need. Some of the shelves were attached to the desk; but, something that was surprising about the shelves was the stairs. Borrower sized stairs with handrails connected all of the shelves at some point or another. There were nails in the sides of nearly every piece of furniture from the desk, the chair, and even the bed. To a human, these nails would be an inconvenience. To a borrower, they were built-in hook holds. Some of the nails seemed to have permanent lines attached for quick access to the floor. The room itself was tidy and well organized. A curtain hung around what they assumed to be the bed.

“Yeah,” Remus interrupted the silence. He stretched his arms behind his head, resting them there as he took in the newcomers’ reactions. “These things were sort of her idea. She knows we like our privacy and want to continue borrowing, but this makes it a lot easier. You don’t have to worry about losing your hook here at the very least. Plus, these stairs make it a lot easier to carry things back to the panel.” Jay shifted uncomfortably as did the others. To think someone, a human, put this much effort into accommodating for them was odd. There were things, from a borrower’s perspective, that she accounted for which a normal human would not have thought of – the embedded nails as easy hook holds being one of them.

“Right, I can point out what we need from here,” said Roman. He began pointing to different shelves, naming where different items resided. Thankfully, like items were already placed close to one another – yet another thing an average human would not have thought of incorporating.

“Did Ali come up with all of this?” asked Logan, his curiosity peaked. Roman and Remus glanced simultaneously. They thought about the question for a moment.

“Well, yes. For the most part, she came up with the designs. She and her roommate Hickory,” replied Roman.

“Hickory?” piped up Patton.

“She came here with Ali. They’re kind of an odd box set,” explained Remus.

“Why odd?” asked Virgil skeptically.

“They’re not an odd box set,” retorted Roman.

“You could’ve fooled me by the way they interact,” muttered Remus under his breath. Roman glared at his brother before continuing.

“Ali is human and Hickory is a borrower. That is what Remus is referring to. They came here together,” said Roman. The four found themselves oddly curious at this piece of information. “Yes, they interact differently than you or I would with Thomas for example, but I think it’s just how they show their friendship. It doesn’t make them odd.” Remus rolled his eyes as he walked to the nearest Post-It note.

“Whatever you say, brother dear!” he called.

“Ignore him. Hickory and Ali are close friends and interact as such. Sometimes it involves teasing and pranks,” explained Roman before making eye contact with the back of his brother’s head. “It might be a bit of a shock for some, but I promise it’s just how they interact. Anyway, that is all we have to show you unless you have specific questions. If not, let’s get you all back for some lunch and well-earned rest.” This seemed to ease the rising tension until they heard a few quick, soft knocks on the door. Virgil and Patton froze. Jay made a dash for the electrical cover while Logan could only force himself a few steps backwards before freezing. Roman and Remus both turned to the door before moving to their fellow borrowers’ sides.

“She’s here…” said Remus, his voice eerily sing-song like.

“Remus! Stop it. You know she always knocks. It’s just Ali,” scolded Roman. He quickly jogged to the edge of the desk. They heard him inhale deeply just as the door cracked open. “ALI! Hold up! Don’t come it yet!” Roman’s shout was surprisingly loud and, to the astonishment of Virgil, Patton, Jay, and Logan, the door stopped opening and quickly shut again.

“H… hurry…” stammered Jay. “We need to get out.” He turned back toward the outlet just as Roman turned back around to the group.

“There’s no need to hurry. You can leave if you want but know that Ali is one of the good ones.” Something in Roman’s voice was endearing, ringing true within each of them. Jay nodded, yet continued his retreat to the walls.

“I understand that, but would rather take a moment to observe unseen,” said Logan, still unnerved, while walked calmly to the electrical wall cover. Virgil, still clinging onto Patton, watched as Patton turned around, cupping his face for a moment, before offering the smallest of smiles.

“It’s okay. I know you’re nervous. You can go, but I want to stay.” Virgil could hardly believe what Patton was saying. He was stunned to say the least. “I know. I’m terrified. But just on our little walk around, my leg has gotten worse. If she can help…” his voice trailed off.

“We were going to talk about this,” hissed Virgil under his breath.

“We still can, but I don’t see the harm in talking with her now. Virge, I don’t want to be a burden. I want to help. A new start. A new life. I can’t do that if I’m injured.” Patton knew it hurt Virgil to hear because he blamed himself for Patton’s injuries. “Go. I’ll be okay.” Virgil stared into Patton’s eyes.

“Like I’d leave you to face a human on your own,” he muttered. They turned back to Roman, steeled and as prepared as they could be. Roman smiled kindly, but it was Remus who spoke up.

“You know, if it makes you feel better, you can wait just inside of the cover and let her introduce herself,” stated Remus plainly. “She knows not everyone enjoys waiting in the open. Just, come out when you feel comfortable. That’s what she’d say.” Hesitantly, Virgil and Patton agreed and stepped off of the desk back into the wall with Jay and Logan. Virgil only now noticed how bad Patton’s limp had become, agitated by the exercise they were deprived of for months. A wave of guilt and resolve swirled in him. He was going to help Patton, even if it meant going out and meeting a new human so soon after they were freed.

With the others waiting in the wings, Roman turned back to the door and called out. “Alright! We’re good! You can come in!” There was a pause before the same knock wrapped against the door. There was a pause before they heard the door creak open. Ali poked her head into her room, spotting Roman and Remus on the table as well as the ajar electrical cover door. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail and there were dark circles forming by the lids of her eyes. She had a backpack slung over one shoulder, but refrained from letting it drop to the floor to avoid making more noise than she already had. She wore a dark navy blue uniform resembling scrubs.

“Good morning,” she said. Much to their relief, her voice was vastly different than their captor’s voice. Though it was pleasant and smooth, it was also upbeat while being soft. So far, the only alarm bells were that she was human and she worked with medicine.

“Morning!” called Remus and Roman one after the other. “Sorry to keep you out. We’re just leading the grand tour.” Ali’s smile seemed to illuminate the room all on its own.

“That’s great. I hope you haven’t bombarded them with too much information,” said Ali, keeping her movements slow as she moved to sit on her bed and lay her backpack on the floor. From where she was, the other four had a perfect view to evaluate her facial expressions and body language. Roman chuckled.

“No, I don’t think we have anyway. Your room was the last place on the agenda before heading back for lunch,” said Roman. “Did you want to introduce yourself?” Ali pulled her shoulders back from their original exhausted position.

“Um… sure. I mean, if they want me to. I now not everyone is keen on meeting new people on a good day,” said Ali. Patton couldn’t help but smile up at Virgil. The description fit him well. Roman glanced through the door, gauging each borrower’s reaction. So far, so good.

“Go ahead,” stated Roman. “The floor is yours.” Ali’s eyes fixed on the electrical cover for a fraction of a second, swearing for a moment that she caught a glimpse of them all huddled by the entrance. She looked away, not wanting the borrowers to feel uncomfortable with her staring at them. Instead, she folded her hands in front of her and elected to stare at them, only glancing up every once in a while to see how Roman and Remus were reacting.

“Alright. Hello, my name is Ali Jefferson. I’m one of the residence and workers here at TS. I also work for an emergency response unit tied to some of our hospitals here in the area That’s where I just came from. I came here about seven months ago with my current roommate Hickory. Um… anything else?” Roman and Remus shrugged, forming identical creases in their foreheads and clothes.

“Alrighty. Well, I like butterflies and reading. I try and leave books propped up in case anyone likes reading; and, usually, I rotate the books so there are new works available. So, if you are reading a book, you can take one of those sticky notes and use it as a place holder and I won’t move or touch the book until you’re done. Same with materials you might need. I try and keep everything well stocked but if you need something specific, you can ask Roman or Remus or, if you can read and write, just leave a note on my desk. Um… Right. I know the last thing you probably want to do it talk to a human; but, as resident medical professional, I might be able to help. I know injuries are no joke and they can become more serious if they’re not looked after. I have tons of medical supplies around, Roman and Remus should’ve shown you the drawers on the shelves, so you should be good. If you don’t want to talk to me, you can talk to Roman or Remus or my roommate Hickory, wherever she’s hiding, and I can pass along some advice on treatment and stuff like that.” Ali paused, glancing around the room.

“I think that about covers it,” said Roman cheerfully.

“How boring. You didn’t incorporate anything fun,” teased Remus as he walked back toward the electrical cover. Ali looked away, grinning and shaking her head.

“What should I have included?” she asked.

“I don’t know! How to best hide in your room? Weird collections of socks in your drawers? Secret secrets? Something juicy.”

“Don’t say that word. You know how it bothers me,” muttered Roman. Ali caught herself chuckling at the brotherly banter.

“I don’t really have any secrets. You can ask me pretty much anything and I’ll answer as best as I can. My door is always open, any day, any time,” replied Ali. Before Remus could take her up on the offer, Roman interrupted him by pulling him toward the door cover. Roman glanced at the other four borrowers.

“Well? How do you feel?” he asked simply. Patton glanced back outside to Ali. She seemed nervous, but also genuine. Those nerves might be just because she didn’t want to mess up, much like Virgil’s nervousness. He glanced back at Virgil, whose resolve had not wavered even as his anxious nature crept higher and higher. Patton knew it wasn’t easy for him – for either of them – but he needed to be back to full health if he was going to help at all. He couldn’t leave the burden of taking care of them both on Virgil. It plagued him while in captivity and now in this moment more than ever. Still, Virgil had been so brave all day. He had interacted more in one day than he had in their nine months of captivity. Patton pulled back into him with a smile.

“Let’s just wait and see. Maybe I just need to rest,” he said. Virgil looked relieved and exhaled his held breath. His body immediately seemed less tense. Roman smiled at them before turning back to Ali.

“Thank you, Ali, for that introduction. I think we’re going to head back for the day. You ought to get some rest. You earned it,” said Roman. Ali returned Roman’s smile and gave a thoughtful nod.

“Yes sir. It was a pleasure meeting you and, like I said, if you need anything, the door is always open,” she said. With that, Ali began prying her shoes from her feet and laid down on the top blanket. The group watched for a minute as her breathing slowed and she fell asleep. Roman and Remus closed the electrical cover and began leading the way back to the kitchen in time for lunch. Patton, who leaned heavily on Virgil, lost himself in thought. He thought about his impressions of Ali. Who she was. The things she said. From what he could tell, she was being completely honest and seemed disappointed but understanding when they didn’t come out to meet her. He was still nervous about interacting with a human, but Thomas wouldn’t let her stay if she weren’t trustworthy. His limp ached and sent a jolt of pain as he landed on it wrong. He winced, which caught Virgil’s attention.

“You okay?” he asked. Patton shook off the pain with a quick shudder before smiling back.

“Just landed wrong. I’ll be alright.”

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Despite his best efforts, Patton was not getting better. His leg had gotten worse. After lunch that day nearly two weeks ago after meeting Ali, he and Virgil had a long discussion about letting Patton rest but not letting his skills go to waste. Patton spent a full week simply walking around their room organizing various borrowings Virgil brought back. The rest seemed to help as long as he didn’t try to move too quickly; however, Patton found himself more and more incapable of making long climbs. Even short runs to the kitchen became excruciating. His times of being immobile were useful, however, because he was able to speak with other borrowers and get their perceptions of Ali.

Patton sat through hours of conversation with other borrowers from around the home and had come to the same conclusion each time after bringing up the humans who lived in the house – Ali was, indeed, one of the good ones. Nearly all of the borrowers had some sort of interaction with Ali at some point or another. Some spoke of injuries she was able to help with. Others simply had a conversation with her. Patton listened to how Ali was respectful of boundaries, her always knock policy, and her overall pleasant attitude. Logan, who came by from time to time, spent time observing Ali from the secrecy of the air vents and could find nothing negative about his observations. Even Virgil spent some time observing Ali and found nothing overtly alarming about her presence other than the fact she was human. Patton hadn’t had a chance to meet her roommate, Hickory, but felt certain she would say the same thing. He knew Virgil wouldn’t like it, but it was decided in his mind. He needed to go see Ali.

That afternoon, when Virgil came home, bag over his shoulder and hook on his hip, Patton sat him down and explained his thought process. Virgil seemed more reluctant than before but listened patiently until Patton was finished. Virgil’s counter argument resided in that he didn’t mind borrowing for both of them; however, Patton pointed out that he needed to contribute to feel productive. The point was he wanted to go with Virgil, not sit on the sidelines. Patton reminded Virgil that he promised to wait and see whether he would heal on his own, which he hadn’t. Reluctantly, Virgil nodded and agreed to go with Patton to meet Ali.

They met Roman and Remus on their way. Both were pleased as punch to see Virgil and Patton out and about and offered to go with them to meet Ali to help break the ice, to which they agreed. Remus was on his way to greet another round of rescues and prepare for their arrival, so Roman along accompanied Virgil and Patton to Ali’s room. Before they knew it, they were outside of the familiar electrical cover.

“She came in a while ago and should be awake now. Do you want me to go check?” asked Roman. They both nodded. Roman smiled reassuringly before knocking loudly on the cover and stepping out onto the desk. Virgil felt his heart pounding in his ears. His hands trembled, anxious as to what Ali may ask or request of them. His mind flashed back to his captor, the Witch, telling them what to do under penalty of punishment. “Ali?”

“Oh, hello Roman. How are you?” they heard the two conversing on the other side of the wall.

“I am well. You?”

“A lot better after some sleep. Where’s Remus? Aren’t you two supposed to be on the welcoming committee today?” Paton felt himself shaking involuntarily. He steadied his breath with the knowledge that he needed to stay calm and confident for Virgil’s sake.

“We are on the welcoming committee. I’m actually here to help break the ice. You have some people who would like your professional, medical opinion,” said Roman. “I assume you’re free at the moment?”

“Yes, of course. Are… are they…”

“Yes, they’re just inside,” Roman replied with a quick point to the electrical cover.

“Great.” They heard Ali say before hearing shuffling on the other side of the wall, most likely from a chair being moved backwards. “Uh… whenever they’re ready I suppose.”

With a quick squeeze to his hand, Patton limped to the door.

“You sure?” asked Virgil, slightly resisting Patton’s press forward. Patton nodded. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. The others seemed to like Ali or, at the very least, trust her. Virgil moved quickly to help Patton back down onto the desk.

Ali watched as Roman stood back and two new borrowers she hadn’t met stepped out from behind the electrical cover and onto the desk. The first, much taller borrower, wore dark clothing and a patched black and purple poncho. The second leaned heavily on the first and dressed contrary to him with his light blues and greys and he wore glasses, something Ali had rarely seen.

Roman leaned over to them as they took a few cautious steps forward. “You two alright? Do you want me to introduce you?” Patton shook his head. His heart pounded dangerously fast in his chest, yet he didn’t feel as though he were in danger. Ali was maybe three feet away from the desk sitting in a chair. Her hands were folded in front of her and resting on her legs and, rather than sitting at what Patton assumed was her full height, she was leaning forward slightly. Ali smiled, thankfully not revealing any teeth, and glanced quickly from Virgil, to Patton, then back to Roman.

“Well, if you two are alright here, I need to get back to Remus. Hopefully Thomas and the others haven’t arrived yet. I’d hate to think Remus was their first impression of the place.” With a quick bow and a dashing smile, Roman ducked back into the walls. Now Virgil and Patton were left alone with Ali. To Virgil’s surprise, Patton was the first to break the silence.

“H… hello. I’m Patton, and this is Virgil,” Patton felt himself leaning against Virgil’s front for support. In response, Virgil placed a protective arm across Patton’s chest. Patton could feel him shaking, but continued to smile as confidently as he could.

“Pleasure to meet you both,” replied Ali. After another moment of silence, she continued, but averted her gaze so she was not staring at them. “Roman said you needed a medical opinion. Is that right?” Patton felt Virgil’s grip tighten. Just being asked a question by a human was chilling, even if her tone was pleasant and soft.

“Uh…” Patton forced a calming breath before speaking up again. “Yes. Um… we… er… before we came here, we were with this doctor…” Patton couldn’t help but shudder. “A…an… anyway. She… um… broke my leg. I thought it was fine, but it’s been getting worse recently.” Virgil watched Ali’s eyes dart up from her hands to survey Patton. It was quick. It was precise. Almost calculating. Much like the doctor they were rescued from. Virgil’s breath quickened as did his pulse.

“Your left leg?” asked Ali. She suddenly shook her head slightly as though trying to shake away a thought. “Sorry, I should have asked if you’re okay with answering my questions. Is it okay? If I ask you questions about your injury?” Patton felt himself smile. The way she shook her head reminded him of when Virgil was trying to negate something he was thinking.

“It’s okay,” replied Patton. He felt a little more relaxed. At least she was asking for permission. “How did you know?”

Ali smiled before responding. “You’re putting more weight on your right side and leaning back into Virgil for balance.” For a human, she was very astute at picking up on their interactions. “One other quick question. Are you two okay with eye contact? Or should I look somewhere else? I know being watched isn’t the best feeling, especially by a human.” Virgil bit his lip, but could only maintain his guard.

“Uh… eye contact is okay. But, maybe not for too long?” suggested Patton. Ali nodded respectfully before glancing back at her hands.

“I’ll keep that in mind. How long have you had that injury?” she asked.

“A couple of months actually. We thought it was getting better, but it it’s only gotten worse,” replied Patton. Ali’s brow raised.

“That’s impressive you’ve managed for so long without needing assistance. So, does it hurt more when you’re active or when you’re sitting? Like, on a scale of one to ten, how much pain or discomfort is it causing? One being a mild inconvenience and ten being you can barely walk on it?” Ali asked the questions slowly, giving Patton time to think about the answer.

“Um… Me just standing here is… uh… a three?” Patton felt himself shrinking back, not quite sure if he was responding correctly. “Walking is maybe an eight?” Ali nodded, somehow able to compute this interesting method of measuring pain without making physical contact, a feature Patton and Virgil were exceedingly grateful for at the moment.

“So, just standing it is causing pain. Okay,” Ali muttered to herself. “Is it a sharp pain? Like a jab or a punch? Or more like an ache or a throbbing?” Her eyes flicked back to them.

“Uh… both? All? It’s a bit of all of them, especially if I accidentally hit it against something,” replied Patton.

“Was the break higher on your leg? Or lower? Like, below the knee?” Ali gestured to these parts on herself. Patton pointed just below his knee to the top of his shin. He didn’t realize how many questions he needed to answer. Ali nodded and sat back in the chair slowly and placed her clasped hands over her lips. She looked pensive, but also something else. Cautious? Reluctant? Virgil couldn’t quite place the emotions on her face, but he didn’t like not being able to read her. She sat up cautiously and looked back at them.

“Would it be alright if I saw where the injury occurred?” Virgil’s arm tightened again against Patton’s chest. Patton didn’t realize how tight Virgil’s grip had gotten. Heart accelerating. Mouth slightly dry. He didn’t like the idea of another human touching his leg. “You can say no if you want. It is whatever you are comfortable with. It may help, that’s all. No pressure.” Ali’s statement was reassuring, but not calming.

“You’re not going to touch him, are you?” asked Virgil, speaking for the first time to Ali, who shook her head.

“Not if you don’t want me to,” said Ali. “Like I said, it may help, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Virgil leaned closer to Patton.

“What do you think? Are you… good… with that?” he asked just barely above a whisper. Patton glanced back to Virgil before slowly nodding.

“Alrighty. If you could sit over on the lamp base and pull up your pants leg, that would really help. Also, is it alright if I get closer to the desk?”

“Yes, it’s okay,” said Patton. They felt Ali’s eyes on the as Patton hobbled to the lamp, Virgil assisting him every step of the way. Ali stood and pushed the chair closer once the two were settled. Virgil kept close to Patton’s side, hand on his hook for security measures. He watched Ali like a hawk, even when she kept her hands behind her back, as her eyes analyzed every aspect of Patton’s injury. There was bruising and swelling, but also a slight misalignment of the bones. However, for an injury which was much older, Ali was impressed Patton hadn’t collapsed in pain much sooner.

“Did you set this break?” she asked Patton, intentionally keeping her voice lower than before. Virgil tensed and geared himself up for a glare.

“I did. What about it?” the words came out as an unfriendly growl unintentionally. Ali glanced up into Virgil’s brown eyes.

“Nothing. You did it perfectly actually.” Virgil’s expression softened in a mix of confusion and pride at Ali’s statement. “Really. This is excellent. Patton would be in a lot more pain if you did it incorrectly. Good job.” Patton beamed at Virgil’s praise while Virgil himself looked unsure as to how to receive the human’s complement. With a quick nudge from Patton, Virgil glanced away shyly.

“Thank you,” he muttered.

“Alrighty, I have a few ideas to help,” she said. “One of them does involve using a brace. You would put it on and keep it on for the next few weeks to avoid accidentally twisting it. Keeping it immobile is important so it can finish healing. Rest is also really important as well as stretching. I can show you some effective stretches if you want.”

“Will the brace hurt?” asked Patton, not sure he knew what a brace was.

“Not at all. It’s like tight fitting pants that will keep your leg from bending unnecessarily. Here,” Ali stood and retrieved a cylindrical device about the size of Patton’s leg. The sides were held together by straps and it looked uncomfortable. She held it as close as she dared without frightening the borrowers further. “You would set your leg here and tie the straps. This way, your leg won’t bend at the joints and risk further damage.”

“Did you make this?” asked Virgil, noticing how the straps were significantly smaller than Ali’s hands.

“My roommate Hickory helped design this. She’s a bit reckless at times, so we’ve based a lot of designs from getting her healed,” replied Ali. “Do you want to try it on? See if it fits or if I should make a new one?” Patton wanted to recoil, but was also curious about the device.

“How will I walk if I have this on?” he asked. He almost wanted to avoid the answer.

“You would use crutches,” replied Ali. She reached up to a different drawer and retrieved two popsicle sticks which were cut into an odd triangular shape. “It’s like a walking stick you put under your arms. You’d use this instead of your leg. If Hickory were here, I’d ask if she could demonstrate,” Ali sighed as she set the crutches onto the desk near them.

“What if we don’t want to use these?” asked Virgil. He didn’t like questioning the human or potentially provoking her, but the thought of a forceful restraint seemed too much like being constantly held and touched. Ali nodded.

“That’s okay too. It may take longer and will keep you in bed for longer since you shouldn’t move around too much with your injured leg, but it is possible. There are some stretches which could help keep your muscles loose around the area. You would need to help Patton with this.” Virgil stared at Ali for a moment.

“What stretches?” he asked stiffly. Ali began describing different stretches and where to apply pressure. Virgil practiced on Patton’s good leg a few times, following Ali’s instructions and taking in Patton’s reactions, before attempting it on his injured leg. Though the exchanges were tense between the human and borrowers, it was manageable. Ali’s praise was reassuring, unlike their captor’s praise which was demeaning and condescending. By the end, the tension between them seemed to ease, even if it was only by a little.

“Any questions?” asked Ali once they went through the stretch sequence a few times.

“Um… yes, actually,” piped up Patton. “Do we need to come back to see you if the stretches and the brace and those… things… are working?” Ali shook her head.

“No. I mean, I won’t say no to a visit, but you don’t have to come back if you don’t want to. If you have any questions, you can always stop by,” smiled Ali. Somehow, Patton and Virgil felt at ease with this smile. “Did you want to try on the brace?”

“HEY! CATCH!” a sudden, piercing female voice from above them. Ali’s eyes filled with sheer panic. Instinctively, Ali looked up and stood, left hand extended, palm up. Virgil and Patton both flinched at her sudden movements. Something glinted in the light and, in a flash, Ali managed to grab it from the air. The instant she did, however, she winced. Her right hand slapped over her mouth to stifle a muffled yelp of pain. Virgil and Patton stared dumbfounded as they both caught a glimpse of a thumbtack embedded in Ali’s left palm. Frantically, they looked up and spotted a borrower they hadn’t met before standing on one of the ceiling fan blades. She had short, light dirty blonde hair and an elusive grin spread from ear to ear. Ali looked up, a disbelieving and frustrated expression on her face.

“Hickory!” Even Ali’s scolding voice was not as loud as a human’s normal speaking voice. She sounded annoyed more than anything, much to Virgil and Patton’s relief. “Gosh darn it, that hurt.” Ali removed the tack and curled her hand to keep pressure on the puncture wound.

“I’ve got to keep you on your toes,” called Hickory. She craned her neck and spotted Virgil and Patton, both looking apprehensive and on guard. “Oh! Are those the new guys? Heyo!” Ali glanced back at Virgil and Patton apologetically.

“Sorry for the sudden movements. It’s okay. Don’t worry. It’s just my roommate, Hickory,” apologized Ali who turned back to Hickory. “Where did you even get one of these? We’re out. They’re on my list.”

“And how do you think you ran out? Huh?” retorted Hickory. She stood boldly on the fan blade, hands on her hips. “Now, be good and hand it over.” Ali rolled her eyes as she cleaned her blood from the end of the thumbtack.

“I’m not giving this back. You chucked it at me,” countered Ali. She turned back to Virgil and Patton. “Do either of you want or need a thumbtack? I hear they’re good for daggers, climbing, and coat hangers.”

“HEY!” Hickory shouted. She knelt down on all fours as far as she could over the edge without falling. “You can’t give that away.” Virgil did like a good thumbtack, but was still caught up in measuring the dynamics of Ali and Hickory’s relationship that he timidly shook his head. Patton was too stunned to utter a single syllable.

Hickory, at this point, stood once again and backed up out of sight. Any rational borrower would have assumed she was going back into the ceiling to come down or to leave. This Hickory seemed far from rational, however. “I’m coming down! CATCH ME!” This was the only warning Ali received before Hickory took a running leap off of the fan blades. Virgil felt his knees weaken. Patton gasped as he clutched Virgil’s hand. Ali, however, was prepared. In a breathless moment as Hickory entered a freefall, Ali’s reflexes kicked in. Ali reached out with her uninjured hand and caught Hickory. Rather than a quick stop, however, Ali timed Hickory’s descent and kept her palm open. Without injury. Without so much as a bruise, Hickory turned onto her back and simply burst into a fit of laughter.

“You should have seen the look on your faces!” she said between bouts of laughter. A smile of relief spread over Ali’s face.

“You ought to be ashamed, scaring our guests like that,” scolded Ali gently after a sigh of relief, her voice returning to it’s original, quiet and even tone. Hickory sat up cross-legged on Ali’s palm.

“Ashamed? Me? I’m doing you a favor. Now, put me over on the desk so I can give a proper welcome,” instructed Hickory. Ali sighed and, much to Virgil and Patton’s surprise, obeyed. Hickory stood up the moment Ali rested her hand on the desk and walked toward Virgil and Patton.

“Hello,” she said cheerfully, her eyes bright and her tone pleasant and alarmingly loud. “I’m Hickory. Pleasure to meetcha.” Patton and Virgil stared, eyes as wide as saucers, at Hickory. Never had they seen a borrower behave in such a way. Hickory, seeing their expression, turned back to Ali.

“Now look what you’ve done Ali. You’ve gone and spooked them. Go and sit on the bed!” commanded Hickory. Ali let out a breathy chuckle.

“Me? I’ve spooked them?” she asked. Patton snapped out of his stunned stupor, eyes switching from Ali to Hickory. His heart pounded in his chest and he hadn’t realized he was holding his breath. Virgil was also stunned into silence.

“N… no, you d…don’t need to…” Patton managed to stammer. Ali shook her head and smiled.

“It’s okay, Patton,” said Ali. She moved backwards slowly and sat on the edge of the bed.

“All the way! Lay all the way down!” called Hickory. Ali partially rolled her eyes, but once again obeyed and laid backwards onto the bed. Hickory, beaming with pride, turned back to Virgil and Patton. “Sorry about that. My roommate means well, but…” Hickory was cut off by Virgil, who finally managed to find his voice.

“Are you out of your mind!” he hissed, steadying himself on Patton’s shoulders. “You’re purposefully antagonizing a human!” Hickory folded her arms and leaned on her hip.

“I don’t appreciate your tone. First, Ali isn’t just a human. She is my roommate and my friend and I can antagonize her as much as I want. It’s just the kind of friendship we have. Second, you don’t have anything to worry about. She won’t hurt us,” replied Hickory.

“W… wh… what makes you s… so sure?” asked Patton, nerves catching up with him. Flashbacks of his captivity with Virgil sent chills down his spine. He and Virgil both stared at Ali, who laid on her bed and seemed to be waiting patiently for some kind of cue to come back.

“Think about it. I can pull random stunts like jumping off of ceiling fans and throwing thumbtacks at her and all I get is a grimace,” said Hickory plainly. “I’ve pulled those stunts for months. She wouldn’t be here as an ally if the others, like Thomas, didn’t approve of her. If anything, she would get angry with me; but she won’t, because she’s Ali. Now, I don’t think we’ve properly introduced ourselves. I’m Hickory, and you are?” Patton and Virgil seemed unsure of whether to trust this new borrower or not.

“Oh, come on. Here,” Hickory reached down and picked up the thumbtack Ali left on the desk. “Here’s a peace offering. A housewarming gift. You can’t say no to a good thumbtack.” Virgil reached out and took the thumbtack from Hickory. Still, it took Patton and Virgil a minute to collect themselves as Hickory stood, arms folded, and waited for their response.

“Well… I’m Patton, and this is Virgil,” said Patton quietly. His eyes left Ali to look back at Hickory.

“Patton and Virgil. That’s nice,” Hickory held out her hand for them to shake, which they did hesitantly. “So, what brings you here? Talking to our resident idiot for medical advice?”

“Yes, actually,” responded Patton. He stroked Virgil’s whitened knuckles on his shoulders as if it would calm the dagger filled glare he held at Hickory. “Ali suggested using a brace and those… things… I don’t remember what they’re called, and bedrest.” Hickory grinned and pulled the brace over, holding it up and sizing it against Patton’s leg.

“Yeah, that sounds about right. Have you tried it on yet?” asked Hickory.

“Uh… no,” Patton said.

“Ali just suggested it when you showed up,” growled Virgil under his breath, surprised he preferred Ali’s interaction to someone of his own kind.

“Well, do you want to try it on?” asked Hickory. “You’ll need to know how to adjust the straps and someone’s fingers are too big to handle it.”

“Uh… yes. Thanks,” said Patton, now realizing his role as peacemaker. Patton winced as he lifted his leg and slid it into the brace which Hickory positioned strategically. She showed them how to adjust the straps and how to use the crutches before surrendering them to Patton to try. Nearly twenty minutes passed from Hickory’s first interaction to Patton being able to move easily with the crutches and the brace. The entire time, Ali lay on her bed staring at the ceiling remaining quiet and patient.

“Well, unless you have any questions for the resident idiot, I think we’re all set here. And look, all kidding aside, Ali is pretty great. She is human, but she’s on our side.” Hickory’s hushed voice contrasted greatly when clapped her hands together and walked to the edge of the desk. “Did you want me to invite Ali back over?”

“You know this is my room too, right?” Ali said after her extended silence.

“Hush or I’ll make you stay over there all night,” Hickory called. Ali raised her hands over her head in a motion resembling her surrendering, but made no further comment. Patton watched their interaction, confused. Ali was kind and sweet while Hickory seemed rather brutish at times. He saw how Ali obeyed. It reminded him of when he and Virgil were ordered to act or perform while in captivity. Something rushed over him as he hobbled to the edge with his crutches and braced leg.

“Thank you Ali! I hope we see you soon,” it wasn’t until Patton said it aloud that he realized he meant it. Virgil gathered up their belongings and joined Patton on the ledge.

“Uh… yeah. Thanks,” said Virgil before pulling Patton along.

“You’re welcome,” they heard Ali say before they ducked back into the walls. They could hear them continuing their conversation, but they couldn’t quite make out their words. It was Virgil who spoke up first.

“What a complete moron! Provoking Ali like that. And while we were there too! Who does she think she is?” Virgil was fuming and slightly trembling in an effort to shake off the experience; though, Patton picked up on something Virgil said. He called Ali by name. Not just “the human.” Patton elected not to bring it up and simply tucked it away in his mind.

“Well, at least talking with Ali was nice,” Patton muttered. “She was really helpful and listened.” Virgil’s steps faltered for a moment when he turned and smiled at Patton.

“It wasn’t the worst thing we’ve ever done,” he said with a wink.

Meanwhile, back in Ali’s room, Hickory began walking along the shelves of books. Her hand brushed the spines of each novel. She knew how to read the important words at least and the massive library surrounding her didn’t possess a lot of the important words. Hickory did, however, enjoy the smell of the paper and the look of the Christmas lights above her.

“You can get up now,” she called after a minute. Ali sat up and watched Hickory for a moment.

“What was all that about?” she asked, her tone still low and soft, yet slightly annoyed.

“You know the drill. I have to show them you’re not dangerous. I have my own way of doing things just like you do. What’s the big deal?” replied Hickory, pausing in front of one of the many series of books Ali possessed. She admired the artistic spines and how they created a mural of a sunset.

“Yes, and be that as it may, you need to be careful.”

“Yes mom.”

“I’m being serious. They were from the lab and that Witch scientist,” Hickory paused and glanced at Ali.

“Those two?” asked Hickory.

Ali nodded. “Yes, and I’m not trying to baby them or treat them differently; but, it took them two weeks just to come by. I’m a big enough hurdle as it is.”

“You are pretty tall,” muttered Hickory.

“You also need to be careful with yourself,” encouraged Ali. Hickory rolled her eyes and continued walking along the bookshelves. “I don’t want you to get needlessly hurt. Yeah?” Hickory glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin.

“Aww you must like me a lot to feel so protective. You should just say it. You really like me,” Hickory began her typical teasing, beginning with the lines from Miss Congeniality. “You want to hug me. You think I’m gorgeous.” Hickory recited the lines over and over until she reached the bedside table.

Finally, she stopped and stared long and hard at Ali. “That’s cute that you think you can tell me what to do,” she said finally. Ali rubbed her tired eyes, a breathy chuckle catching somewhere in her smile. “Now, if you would be so kind as to give me a lift over to my shelf over there.” Ali nodded and extended her uninjured hand. Hickory stepped onto it, laying against her palm as Ali transferred her over to an imbedded wall shelf next to her bed.

Before hopping off, Hickory sat in the center of Ali’s palm. Her usual, jovial expression sank into one of sadness and regret. Before Ali could ask what was bothering her, Hickory looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry for throwing the thumbtack at you. I’m… I’m sorry I hurt you.” Ali smiled her familiar half grin followed with the smallest shrug.

“It’s okay, but thanks.”

With that, Hickory slipped off to her bed while Ali slipped off of hers and back to her desk. Her reading wasn’t going to do itself. But first, she needed the peroxide. She refused to get tetanus or an infection from some janky thumbtack Hickory borrowed.

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