Nick Jackson (throttle_jockey) wrote in x_2012, @ 2010-11-28 13:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | hermes |
Who: Hermes
What: Nick arrives in Mutant Town.
When: Sunday afternoon
Where: Sisters of Charity Homeless Shelter
Almost two years ago, Nick had never known what hunger was. He'd been the son of a Senator, a Navy fighter pilot, and a commander. He'd been destined to be an Admiral to have a seat on the board of the Annapolis Naval Academy married to a Senator's daughter or the daughter of some other well heeled and well connected family. Hunger had not been in his vocabulary. Not until he'd been suddenly dishonorably discharged from the Navy and tossed into hell. His hell had no fire, no devils but there had been evil there. Strapped to a table, writhing in pain he'd had to listen to the 'scientists' as they detailed the effects of whatever they'd just injected into him with cold calculation. He'd wanted to scream at them, "I'M RIGHT HERE!" They hadn't cared that he was a human. He'd been nothing more than a glorified lab rat. Now that was true evil.
But he'd won. He'd escaped them and now he was free. Just a slip of inattention, a slight miscalculation of sedatives and he'd been able to smash his way out of his cell and gained his freedom. It didn't matter that he'd been flying almost nonstop for the past few months. He'd flown over most of the world in order to get them off his trail. It might have been overkill but he didn't know how extensive their intelligence was or if they were tracking him by some other means. Only when he felt somewhat safe did he head to New York City to lose himself in the masses right under their noses. They wouldn't be looking for him here, he was fairly certain of that.
It was four in the afternoon when Nick walked past the homeless shelter in Mutant Town. A quick glance inside gave Nick the impression that the place had a new sort of feel to it. The plastic chairs weren't completely beaten up, the paint looked fresh, the fixtures new. Nick had never been to Mutant Town but he'd read enough papers about it that he knew if any place needed a shelter for the socially or literally orphaned, it was Mutant Town. Two years ago he would have had too much pride to go into a shelter to ask for help. Now it was a matter of fear that they'd be too full to let him stay for dinner or the night.
The line was long but Nick got at the end of it anyway. More people of all shapes, sizes and skin tones came up behind him. Would he be able to get in? There were more people than he would've imagined in line but much to Nick's relief, the shelter volunteers waved him in but stopped after him. He'd been the last to get in. Nick felt bad for the people who were being waved away but at the same time his stomach was unrepentant and didn't care. Taking up a tray, Nick waited patiently in line for his first meal in days. It occurred to him, standing there in the long line feeling light headed and weak, that he might not even make it to the end. Now that'd be embarrassing, fainting in line.
He didn't though. He made it to the end and sat at a table, keeping to himself. Instinct was screaming at him to eat as fast as he could but he kept a tight rein. Eating quickly would only make him sick so he forced himself to eat normal sized bites at a normal pace. Even with that self control he was finished quickly but fuller than he'd felt in a very long time.
With a sigh of contentment, he looked around at the Sisters who were making their way through the crowd handing out smiles and encouraging words. Having been so long immersed in the scum of humanity, he'd forgotten that there was actual good in this world. The Sisters brought a small measure of hope to his heart that there would be a place for him in this world again. It was just a matter of finding it.