video; ~5 pm

[momchester]

[Mary looks... well, alive, which is a bonus, but also frazzled and exhausted, with pale skin, dark circles under her eyes, lips chapped, hair falling out of her ponytail.

But more than that, she looks haunted.]

I'm back. I'm alive. [Her lips press together in a thin line. She bows her head and talks to her knees.] No thanks to those monsters.

I don't know if anyone else made it out... there were no- [sniffing hard to avoid tearing up.] -shelters. Nothing Darkness proofed. [Head still bowed tightly.] I don't know if any of those people I fought with made it out alive, but if they didn't, I'm going to tell you all right now.

[She finally looks up, eyes welling now with tears she refuses to cry.]

They hunted us. They bound us, put collars on us, they put us in cages. They chased us and hunted us down like we were fucking dogs and we couldn't-

[she claps a hand over her mouth, breathing hard to rein in her emotions. When she opens her eyes again, there's something chilling and deadened in her eyes.]

When I died at home- the first time, before I came here... it was a demon. A demon pinned me to the ceiling and burned me alive in my baby's nursery, and I didn't feel as violated as I did those two days. In that cage. [She shakes her head intently, looking away.] Those monsters kidnapped children. They wanted to see every one of us die like dumb fucking animals.

I wonder what would happen if I prayed for them. [There's a weird look in her eyes. Something you wouldn't leave your children alone with.] It's the Christian thing to do.

Would I get their souls into Heaven, or their heads on a plate?

[With a last ugly look at the NV, she turns the public feed off.]

[Private to Jinx]

I found a plus one.

[Private to the angels]

Did you hear my prayer? [The one she whispered as she lay dying.] Please, tell me none of you- tell me you didn't go there. Please.

Comments

[magnetic_magpie]

It's worse than the schools.

And we should 'get uppity'. They do not treat the Outsiders like this.

[momchester]

I remember when they integrated. Mom used to tell stories- jesus christ, at least that was illegal, even back then.

I wanna try using the right process. Doing it right.

[magnetic_magpie]

I remember it. That is nothing, compared to what will happen here.

You see, Mary, the Hunting Grounds does not allow people to be hunted.

[He'll let that sink in a minute.]

Good luck. You'll need it.

[momchester]

...But.

[But that could mean two things.]

So, is what happened legal, or not?

[magnetic_magpie]

Depends on your definition of "people" doesn't it?

[The bitterness in that is almost painful, even to him.]

Technically, it should be illegal but I haven't been watching the legal code the last couple of months.

[Or seven really.]

[momchester]

Then it's what I figured.

It's technically illegal but nobody will care unless we get really, really loud about it.

[magnetic_magpie]

Or they will simply declare us not "people" and things will get worse.

[momchester]

That would clash with the slavery reform, though.

[magnetic_magpie]

Not necessarily.

[Calmly.]

As only people can be slaves.

[momchester]

[What he's saying makes complete and utter sense, and that's the precise moment she stops being able to deal with this.]

No.

They can't. They can't just declare us anything. It's not-

No. They can't do that.

[magnetic_magpie]

[He's rather the poster child for that being able to happen.]

They could. I doubt they are that foolish, as it would be a very grave mistake.

[momchester]

I- I can't do this now, I'm sorry. This is too much.

[magnetic_magpie]

I understand.

When you can, I have something I'd like to give you. Just whenever you can do this.

[momchester]

Fine.

Later. I can't.

[magnetic_magpie]

Later is fine. Go make yourself a cup of tea or coca, all right? Coffee won't help.

[For the first time, he doesn't sound angry or defensive, merely concerned.]