Page 55 of Two for Joy

Chad loved the companionship he had with his dog, Toby. Toby meant more to him than his mother, or any other person for that matter, and in Chad’s mind, that love wasn’t normal, wasn’t accepted, it made him …wrong.

Chad had a functioning mind, full of emotions, and morals, and goodness, but permanently felt wrong. Romeo had few emotions, no morals, and no goodness, and he felt wrong, too.

Two wrongs definitely made a right.

Romeo walked up to his bars and hung his arms through. “Will, you there?”

“Can’t be anywhere else, can I? What’s on your mind?”

“I need to get out of here.”

Will laughed. “Everyone needs to get out of here.”

He pressed his face into the bars. “But there’s got to be a way.”

“You could try to jump Paul and Fred again.”

“That didn’t end well last time.”

“You should’ve asked Justin for tips.”

“Justin who despises me? And even if I could knock them out, I wouldn’t get through the doors.”

“You could try tunneling through the wall. I saw that in a movie once.”

“Exactly, you saw it in a movie…”

“Well it must have come from somewhere. I don’t hear you coming up with ideas.”

“If I had an idea, a solid one, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to share it with you.”

“Why not?”

“Can’t have you messing it up.”

“You wouldn’t take me with you?”

“Hell, no.”

“Fuck you, Romeo.”

“Has anyone got out of here?”

“Yeah, loads of people.”

Romeo frowned. “How?”

“They died.”

“That’s a great help, thanks.”

“All you’ve got to do to escape for good, is die.”

“You’re in a cheerful mood.”

“Well… I’ve not had my fix from Naughty Nicki.”

Romeo grimaced. “Look, I’m sorry, they’ve banned my mail. That’ll make the next letter even more satisfying.”

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