(Tw for PTSD and panic attacks)
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The Revolution of 5496
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For almost a decade, the Neo-American Base #5496, now commonly called “The Den,” was controlled and ruled by the tyrannical base #5555. The Den had tried to declare its independence before by using small rebellions (see The Electric Boycott of 2985), but nothing seemed to free them. They declared war. It was a bloody war and many were lost on both sides, but in the end, The Den claimed victory and freedom. They are currently known for helping runaway citizens with trauma from tyrannical bases (see #5555). It is often a runaway destination for escapees of tyranny.
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Millie and Estelle stared at the computer screen for a solid ten seconds before Estelle spoke. “Is that it?”
“I haven’t found anything else.” Millie scrolled further, only for nothing else about 5496 to be seen. “Is this really all they have?”
“Well, at least we have a lead.” Harley put in. He was positioned on the bean bag that was next to the desk Millie was sitting at. Millie couldn’t help but notice that his hands were shaking as he scrolled on his phone. “I’ll go tell the others about that.” He got up and left without a word.
“Where is The Den, anyway?” Estelle asked, slumping against the wall next to her, her blonde hair flowing with her movements. “Wasn’t that the first Neo-American base?
“Your history classes are proving themselves useful.” Millie smiled. “It was the first Neo-American base. And we’re the last. That’s bound to be a hell of a trip.”
“So we’re actually going there?!
“You got any other ideas?”
Estelle didn’t reply. She only glared at her with her blue eyes.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Qfi4H1Qy
“The plan is that the Den is our destination, unless we get a better option. I, for one, am glad that it’s so far away, since it’ll make it harder for the authorities to find us. Makes sense, right?”
“I mean, yeah, distance is great, but not across the entire neo-country!”
“As of now, we don’t have any other choice.” Millie looked at her alarm clock, which read 10:34pm. She sighed. “It’s getting late. I think you and Cynthia should be getting home now.”
“We both let our parents know we were spending the night. Is that fine with your mom?”
“I’m sure she won’t mind. Should we tell the others to get ready for bed?”
“Yeah, that works.” Estelle straightened up as Millie closed her laptop. They made their way to the living room, where Dionysius, Tristan, and Cynthia were sitting in various places, their faces glued to their screens.
Millie smiled at that thought. Jeez, I sound like an old person. “I think it’s time for us to sleep for now.”
Dionysius raised his head to see them, then tilted it with a puzzled expression on his face. “Where’s Harley?
Millie’s smile faltered. “I thought he was with you.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow. “We thought he was with you.”
“He was,” Estelle said. “He went to go tell you guys we had a lead.”
“We have a lead?” Tristan asked.
Millie’s heart was pounding. Where on Neo-Earth is Harley?! “Estelle, you tell them about the lead. I’ll go look for Harley.”
As Estelle began to talk about what they read about the Den, Millie walked down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door. There wasn’t a reply. She opened the door, and no one was there.
Her panic only got worse. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she ran to the kitchen, hoping that Harley would be there. “Harley?”
She knew it was pointless to try and call out to him. When he would have an episode, he might as well have been deaf and blind.
Millie almost broke the kitchen door open when it finally gave out. She burst into the room, and there he was
Harley was doubled over the kitchen counter, his back facing Millie. His knuckles had turned white as he gripped the edge of the table. He was trembling, for reasons Millie didn’t know, but she was too relieved to care.
“Harley!” She ran to him, placing her hand over his. In a matter of seconds, Harley wrenched his hand away and turned to face her, his face pale and gaunt as he backed away.
“Harley, please, it’s me.” Millie pleaded. She knew getting closer would only scare him more, so she stayed planted on her feet. “It’s me, Millie. Your fiancée. I’m not him, Harley. He’s not here.”
She knew who him was, but she never said his name. Saying it would strike a fear in Harley’s heart that she knew she wouldn’t be ready to face. But despite Millie’s confirmations that she wasn’t the cursed man, Harley didn’t seem to be any less scared.
She saw his eyes flash toward the knife box with terror, and it started to click, the awful realization dawning on her.
“Harley…” Tears rimmed Millie’s eyes as she approached him, slowly and gently taking his hands. “I’m not gonna hurt you, okay? I would never do that.”
Harley only looked at her with fear in his eyes.
She knew what he was thinking. That’s what he said, and now look at me. It seemed as if the same thing always happened when Harley had a moment like this. Millie’s brain dug for a way to calm him down, but nothing seemed to resurface.
She couldn’t imagine the panic that Harley was feeling at that moment, and the memories that were going through his head. Well, she could imagine one of them, and it was the reason he couldn’t look at the knife box without having a panic attack.
“It’s okay, Harley. It’s okay.” Millie knew it was a futile effort, but she slowly raised up her hand to cup Harley’s cheek. As she expected, he flinched away. But she persisted, and he eventually gave into the touch, his clouded eyes starting to clear.
“You’re safe here, Harley. You’re safe.”
But she couldn’t even say that anymore, could she? Harley wasn’t safe. He could be Exiled at any moment. Blake could spill Harley’s secret any time he wanted. No, Harley wasn’t safe. He was in a state of constant, life-threatening danger, and there was nothing Millie could do to help him.
But she knew she had to help him. She knew that if she didn’t help him, he’d be in that dark place he was in when they first met. She had to persist. For Harley. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
The only response she got was Harley’s ragged breathing that turned into tears. “Millie…”
“Harley.” She pulled him into an embrace, and Harley started to sob, his tears soaking her shirt. They stayed like that for a while, neither of them saying a word. Millie began to let herself cry as well. It hurt to see Harley like that, delusional and terrified, thinking that anything he saw could be used to hurt him. It was like watching him become 10 years younger. And in a way it was, as Harley seemed to mentally be in his old apartment whenever he had moments like this.
They held tightly onto each other before pulling away, their foreheads pressed against each other. “Let’s go meet with the others, okay?” Millie asked gently.
Harley nodded. “Yeah, okay.” He hesitated before kissing her, and though she and Harley had kissed multiple times, it still sent butterflies into Millie’s stomach. They pulled away and left the kitchen as they held hands.
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