Defend the Darkness

Somehow, he had already known.He’d felt it. But that didn’t make it any easier to hear.He hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye. Ever since the accident,his son had been unconscious and Gold had been getting his own wounds looked after– despite his insistence that hewas fine and wanted to see his boy. The doctors seemed to thinkthat his ankle was permanently damaged, that he’d likely have to usea cane when he finally got out of this cast. What did he care? What did it matter? He would have given both ofhis legs for his son to be alright. No, he would have rather died. If oneof them had to, he would have preferred it be himself and not the childwho was barely a teenager.A limp. He could handle a limp. He didn’t know if he could handle t h i s. They’d been too cowardly to tell him themselves, eh? To tell him that despite all of their promises to do all they could, they had failed and Bae was dead.He wanted to rage at them, to shout and curse and threaten to evict every one of them, and perhaps later, he would. For now, there was only onethought on his mind.“I want to see him.” He was surprised at how even his voice sounded, howc a l m. Inside, he was screaming. “You go back, and you tell them that I want to see him now.”

By the time they reach Dove’s car, his shoulders are shaking with silent sobs. It should be him lying dead in that hospital room. Not Bae. Anyone but Bae. He says nothing more to Dove. He doesn’t have to.

He opens the car door with one hand as he continues to wordlessly hold out the handkerchief. He’ll help his employer into his car and then he’ll take him home. Not to the salmon house. No, Mr. Gold doesn’t need to enter his house and see all the signs of young master Bae. He’ll take the man to his own home, as inadequate as it is. It will be easier anyways, what with being a first floor apartment. There will be no stairs. He thinks it might help, at least for one night. He doubts Mr. Gold will put up much of a fight, even if he does fight it a bit. It will be for the best.

“This is torture…” ”They said it’d only take one operation… but I’m still here and that was three years ago.” ”Welcome, you’re never going to see daylight again.” “I just want to get out. I don’t care whether I’m better or not.” “How do I know you’re real?” “What have they done to me?!” ”What have they done to you?!” “I want this to stop! I want to go home!” “Sit still and count to ten, it will all be over soon…” “Take your medicine and you’ll feel better, I promise.” ”I don’t think the ‘cure’ they keep talking about exists… I think we’re doomed.” ”Now, look at me and stay calm. This’ll only hurt a bit.” ”Why are you strapped to this fucking bed?! What are they doing to you?!” ”Look at me. Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?” ”I thought so, you definitely need more surgery.” ”We’re just very curious… and you won’t live to see another day anyway, so you might as well give it a shot.” ”Something went wrong… I think you’re blind.” ”There are rumours going around that you’re next.” ”If I’d known this was what I was signing up for, I would’ve rather died at home.” ”So, how long have you been here for?” ”For this treatment you’ll need to undress first.” ”Why don’t you just let me go? We both know there’s no cure for this.” ”Open up wide and let me look inside.” ”I’m not going to lie, this will hurt a lot, but it’s the only way to help you.” ”You almost didn’t make it… but I saved your life.” ”Look at the light. Ah, I see… I think I’ll need to do something about that look in your eyes.” ”No, anaesthetics won’t work on you, that’s why I don’t use them. I’m very sorry about that.” ”Let me see what happens when I do this….” ”Can you handle more? I really want to try something else…” ”Maybe you’ll have visitors next week.” ”What happened to your arm? What did they do this time?” ”Oh my god! I can’t even look at you… What happened?!” “They say I’m in here because I’m crazy, I think I’m crazy because I’m in here.”

“Yes,” he answered, though he couldn’t see the other man. They were both restrained to the table, and Archie couldn’t move his head enough to see his fellow prisoner. “Are … are you okay?” He hadn’t been able to see what they’d done to the other man, and had been far more preoccupied with what they’d been doing to him. But he was concerned about the other man’s health. And, discovering a way out of this place. Maybe, together, they could escape.

“Yes,” he answered, though he couldn’t see the other man. They were both restrained to the table, and Archie couldn’t move his head enough to see his fellow prisoner. “Are … are you okay?” He hadn’t been able to see what they’d done to the other man, and had been far more preoccupied with what they’d been doing to him. But he was concerned about the other man’s health. And, discovering a way out of this place. Maybe, together, they could escape.

Somehow, he had already known.He’d felt it. But that didn’t make it any easier to hear.He hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye. Ever since the accident,his son had been unconscious and Gold had been getting his own wounds looked after– despite his insistence that hewas fine and wanted to see his boy. The doctors seemed to thinkthat his ankle was permanently damaged, that he’d likely have to usea cane when he finally got out of this cast. What did he care? What did it matter? He would have given both ofhis legs for his son to be alright. No, he would have rather died. If oneof them had to, he would have preferred it be himself and not the childwho was barely a teenager.A limp. He could handle a limp. He didn’t know if he could handle t h i s. They’d been too cowardly to tell him themselves, eh? To tell him that despite all of their promises to do all they could, they had failed and Bae was dead.He wanted to rage at them, to shout and curse and threaten to evict every one of them, and perhaps later, he would. For now, there was only onethought on his mind.“I want to see him.” He was surprised at how even his voice sounded, howc a l m. Inside, he was screaming. “You go back, and you tell them that I want to see him now.”

He emerges from the room at long last with his eyes downcast and his hands gripping the wheels on his chair so tightly that his knuckles are white. “Take me home,” he says to Dove, and then falls silent.

Mr Gold emerges from the room and Dove feels like he got stabbed in the heart. He cares about Mr. Gold’s well being more than anything else and seeing him like this hurts. He silently moves behind the wheelchair, taking the handles there. Usually he’d expect Mr. Gold to argue with that, but he doesn’t think he will today. Or at least he hopes he won’t. He’s too depressed and exhausted. Dove hopes his employer will let him do this one small thing for him. He waits patiently for him to either let go of the wheels or order Dove to just lead the way. Whatever he says Dove will listen. But he hopes Mr. Gold will let Dove feel useful. Because right now he feels completely useless, powerless to help the grieving father of a precious little boy who by all rights should still be alive. Today is the worst day of his life, and he can’t imagine how much more terrible it must be for Mr. Gold. He wishes this would all just end, but he doesn’t have the power to do that. So he just does his job and waits to see what his employer will do.

“You belong to me now, do you understand?! I don’t want to hear a single complaint!” “How dare you speak up to me?!” ”At the market they told me you were well behaved, you better not disappoint me now.” “How dare you complain while I provide you with food and a bed?” ”I paid good money for your pretty face. It’s not too much to ask you to do this for me…” “You don’t get to decide what happens to you. I own you!” “I don’t care whether it’s hard work. You do it because I paid for you to do it.” “If you oppose me, I will punish you so much you won’t even dare to speak again.” “Your personal feelings don’t exist anymore. You obey. Nothing more.” “You can’t take it anymore? Then I must bring you back. Broken products should be returned.” “Tell me who you belong to. I like to hear you say it.” “I do with you whatever I want from now on.” “Work through your hunger. You will get fed when you deserve it.” ”I think you’ve deserved the evening off. I know you’re overheated, go bathe.” ”You’ll need to get used to things around here, but I expect no complaints.” ”I don’t treat you half as badly as some out there. Aren’t you grateful?” ”I am not supposed to feel affection for you, slave, but I have no one else around to talk to.” ”I wouldn’t have slaves if I didn’t need them. Now do your job and don’t look at me like that.” “You can work harder than this.” “Don’t disappoint me, slave, or you’ll get punished.” “I expected you to be done with this this morning already. Have you been slacking? You know what happens when people don’t work their hardest, don’t you?” ”You serve me well, slave. I’m very fond of you. Now, keep this up another few years and you might even see your freedom again one day.” “Your tears mean nothing to me.” ”I’m not satisfied with your work. Try harder.” “You are supposed to fear me.”

[text] Where are you? And who are you? Can I come get him?

But, he was starting to wonder if the man really did mean him harm, when suddenly, Pongo trotted back over to him, licking the hand that was resting on the hilt. Archie stared in shock. “I, Pongo likes you.” Pongo didn’t like people who hurt him, like Hook or Cora. Of course, the dog might not realize Moe was dangerous. Still, Pongo was right a majority of the time, and Archie wanted to trust him.

“Yeah I’m glad he likes me,” Moe says with a smile. “Actually I kind of need his help with something. If that’s alright with you of course.” If Archie says no he’ll probably have to use force. He doesn’t want to. He hates force. But he needs the dog to help him, regardless the cost. He just hopes the owner agrees.

[text] Where are you? And who are you? Can I come get him?

Just to make sure the stranger knew he got the message. Archie rushed toward the forest, relief filling his face as he saw Pongo, with a stranger. Still, the man didn’t stop Pongo as he rushed to Archie. “Hey boy!” he greeted, petting his dog. In his joy, he almost completely forgot about the stranger. Pongo was alright, everything would be okay.

“Hi,” he says, hand subconsciously moving to rest on his sword. “I’m Moe. It’s nice to meet you.”

[text] Where are you? And who are you? Can I come get him?

Not that Archie could trust the stranger’s words, but … he didn’t have much of a choice.

He feels accomplished that the spelling is correct even if he did have to hit the back button a few times. Hopefully that will be enough for the man and he’ll just come. Otherwise he’ll have to fumble his way through more texts. He sighs a bit, rubbing the dog’s head and admiring the pattern of white and black covering the animal. It’s more white than black but it’s almost a balance. He’s not going to complain. “Good boy,” he says as he waits for the dogs master to either respond again or come here. He can’t wait to actually see this guy and stop with the stupid texts. He’ll come across much better that way, he’s sure.

“Thank you,” he states. Because while he doubts that his employer would get him in serious trouble he’d be angry that Belle was left on her own. Scared for her really. And Dove hates seeing Mr. Gold upset in any way. Maybe he should let Miss Belle know that. He doesn’t want her to think badly of his employer after all. So against his preferences he decides to utter more words than normal with her, at least for the moment. He has to get his points across. “I wouldn’t be in that much trouble. Mr. Gold is just concerned about you.”

[text] Where are you? And who are you? Can I come get him?

He hits send and then sighs as he sees all the typos. He hates technology. Which is why, even though he knows that was probably not enough information to ease the psychiatrist, he leaves it there. He’ll be able to explain everything much better in person.