Fade to Black

Jack sat alone, on the front steps of his porch. They had been here for a year now, on the island, after the destruction
of the city. Each day was filled with the same thing, get up at dawn and begin chores. Work until 7:00 or 8:00 at night,
and then shower, eat, and go to bed. Only, Jack had no one to share his bed, or his time with, which was why he worked
hardest of all. Luke and Ellie were together once again, having gotten back together, when the Mall rats freed those who
were in the prison camps. With a sigh, Jack ran his hands over his face. It wasn't that he was jealous. Jack was just lonely.
Sure, he had all his friends, but he wanted someone to love, and someone to truly love him back. Jack wanted to be happy.

A few tears fell from his eyes, and fell down his cheek, but Jack didn't wipe them away. It's not like it mattered, or like anyone
would care. No one was nearby, so he could cry freely. Jack wanted to know why he had to survive. He looked around and
wondered if anyone would even care if he died. "I would..." Jack jumped, when he heard the voice. He turned around to see
Ram standing there, staring at him. "What?" Jack asked, quickly wiping away his tears. Ram smiled. "I said, I would care, if
you died. Because I don't want you to. You're really smart, look good, and can carry a conversation, which is more than I
can say for the rest of the Mall rats, who are all busy sucking each others faces all the time." Ram said, smirking at Jack.

Jack stared at Ram, as the older man took a seat by him. "Why are you up?" He asked curiously. Ram chuckled. "You
are not the only one who wishes they weren't alone." Jack's mouth dropped open in shock. He had just been thinking
about that, and now, here was Ram, talking about it, as if he could read Jack's mind. "Ram, how do you deal with it?"
Jack asked softly. Ram shrugged his shoulders. "I deal with it the only way I know how, by surviving." He answered
honestly. Jack nodded, as he thought about it. "But, don't you ever just want someone to be with? Even if it's only
for a little while?" He asked softly. Ram nodded. "Yes Jack, I do. But I know, someone is out there waiting for me."

Ram paused, and then spoke again. "I just have to let nature run it course and what will come, will come." He said,
turning to face the younger man. Jack nodded. "Ram, where are we going with this? I mean, you come over here
every night, and we make love, and make out and it's good, but I want more." Jack admitted, wondering how Ram
was going to react. Ram stared at him, making Jack feel like he had done something wrong, even though he hadn't.
Getting up, he said, "I though that you understood how this worked, Jack. You will do as I say, when I say it. I am
in control of this, this relationship." Ram said angrily, glaring at Jack, daring the younger man to try to challenge him.

The younger man sighed softly, and got up, walking over to Ram, he slipped his arms around the older man's waist,
wanting and trying to calm him down. "Look, I'm sorry Ram. I... I don't feel comfortable hiding our relationship from
everyone. They are our friends, and I'm more than sure, that they will understand, if we just give them a chance."
Jack said. Ram pulls Jacks arms from his waist, and he stared at the younger man. "You know something, Jack. For
someone who's smart, you are really stupid." He said, rolling his eyes. "What do you think the Mall rats are going to
do with us, when they find out that we are just a couple of useless f*gs?" Ram asked cruelly. He smirked at Jack.

Jack flinched at the harsh word. He had always heard people getting called that, even if they weren't gay, when
someone was angry, they shouted out, calling the person who was angering them, f*gs, and now, here was Ram,
his boyfriend, his lover, or whatever they were, calling him a f*g, and it hurt Jack so bad, that he swallowed, not
liking how Ram was acting. Ram however, only continued to smirk. "What's wrong Jack? Afraid to face reality? Are
you scared, that your little loser Mall rat friends won't be as understanding as you once thought they would be?"
Jack wanted to break down, but he couldn't, not here, not now, not with Ram acting the way that he was acting.

Maybe something was wrong. Maybe one of the others had seen them, or had started to notice something going
on between the two of them, so Ram was putting up his wall, the only way he knew how, by trying to get rid of
him. "Ram, why are you acting like this? Did someone see us? And if so, who, and why do you care?" Jack asked,
as he tried to slip his hands around Ram's waist once more. Ram ripped Jack's hands off of him again, and swung
the other man around violently, to face him. Moments later, he slammed Jack into the wall, face first, holding the
younger man's hands behind his back, and whispering in his ear. "I can make this easy, or I can make this hard."

He growled in Jack's ear. "It's your choice, but let me tell you, if you even try and tell any of the others about
this, then I'll kill you." Ram said, and he slammed Jack into the wall harder than the first time, and when he saw
the younger man's bloody nose, he smirked again. Moments later, Ram began to kick the younger man in the
ribs, and did so many times. He heard Jack whimper in pain, after getting kicked about 20 times. Then Ram
stopped, and as Jack continued to groan in pain, Ram kneeled next to him, and then kissed him on the cheek.

Speaking softly he said, "You understand why I had to do that, right? I had to let you know who is in charge.
I've got to keep you in line, and this is the only way I know how, where I know you will listen." Ram said. He
kissed Jack on the cheek once again, and then he walked away, going back to his room, so that he could go
to bed. Jack stayed where he was. He was in so much pain, from Ram's actions, and several tears fell down
his cheek. He laid there for the rest of the night. When he heard a noise the next morning, Jack didn't open
his eyes, for fear that it was Ram. Last night wasn't the first time Ram had beaten him, but it was the worst.

"Hey mate, you okay?" He heard an unfamiliar voice ask. Jack opened his eyes slowly, and saw a green
haired guy standing over him, a look of concern on his face. "You don't look it," The guy replied, and he
leaned down, and gently and slowly helped Jack up, who's body was screaming in pain. "Come on mate,
I'll take you out of here. You got the cr*p kicked out of ya. But Krista, she will help ya, clean ya up real
good. Come on, it's only a little further to the boat. By the way, my name's Chris." The guy said. "What's
yours?" Jack swallowed, as a wave of pain came over his body. "J-Jack" He stuttered out. Chris nodded,
and as they both board the boat, a woman with blue hair apprached, and she helps Jack onto the boat.

"What happened to him?" Krista asked, as she helped Jack into one of the rooms on the boat. Chris only
shrugged. "Dunno, mate got the crap kicked outta him, is my guess. That right, mate?" He asked, looking
at Jack. Jack could only nod, and stare at Krista, as the woman helped him. Moments later, he looked up,
and Chris had disappeared. Jack looked at Krista in surprise, and she laughed. "Don't worry mate. He's
only going to start the boat up, so that we can get out of here. Right nasty place this is. Not too safe."
Jack nodded, and he sat there, thinking of Ram, as Krista took care of him, but suddenly, he began to
feel woozy, and his eyelids began to droop, from the medicine that Krista had given him. The last thing
Jack saw, was Ram's face swimming before him, for a moment, then he felt everything fade to black.

The End.