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Melissa and Zack have been interns at Danville’s Monster Containment Facility for just over a month. It has been the hardest month and a bit of Melissa’s life.
She had been so excited. And she expected it to be hard! Oh, she expected a challenge, but she is always up for a challenge. She was excited, ready.
And then she found Milo. Trapped in a cage, terrified and traumatised, a shadow of the boy that she knew before. A shadow of that bright, brave, brilliant kid whose disappearance haunted her childhood.
So her internship became hard in a new way. The work isn’t too hard- fetch Brick and Savannah their coffee and paperwork, deliver their paperwork around the building. Fill out a checklist, fill up food bowls and jugs of water.
The hard part is the emotions. She has to fill out a checklist about the condition of her best friend, her best friend trapped in a cage, emotionlessly record injuries from keeper’s cruelty and from accidents that she knows that he could have avoided if they would let him move. She has to fill up food bowls with sludge that is all her best friend is allowed to eat, because they won’t even give him utensils. In case he uses them to escape, they say, or attack keepers. Her blood boils. She is tempted to use her own utensils to attack certain keepers in the canteen.
The hard part is seeing her best friend’s mistreatment, and not being able to do anything about it.
One day, she is sitting in Brick and Savannah’s office. She gets the idea that the pair of them are pretty high up, considering skilled and important. She also gets the idea that they hate being assigned to Milo, they see it as being given someone else’s leftovers.
At least they aren’t deliberately cruel. They follow protocol, which is cruel enough to make Melissa ready to punch someone over it, but they don’t go farther than that. Some keepers definitely do, but Brick and Savannah don’t seem interested in hurting Milo just because they can. According to Milo, they have even broken protocol to give him medical attention. He seemed to think that this argument would persuade her not to rescue him. After years of mistreatment, his sense of normality is so skewed that he doesn’t realise that all this story did was anger her by showing her how cruel the protocol is.
Savannah’s radio buzzes. Melissa and Zack turn their heads to look as she picks it up. “Ma’am, J2.”
“On our way.” Savannah stands immediately. “Come on, kids.”
Melissa is already on her feet. She has practically memorised everything to do with sector 005. A J2 means damage to the cage, possibly injuries. She wants to get to Milo right away.
Obviously, the amount of airlocks means that right away isn’t really possible, but she wants to get there as soon as possible.
A small team is already there. A different keeper is holding Milo tightly, dragging him to a tiny cage at the other side of the room. The actual cage is extremely damaged, it looks like a meteor hit it. The only reason that she immediately disregards the meteor idea is that the ceiling is fine.
“Right, let me know what’s going on. Has someone called the builders? And why not? Hurry up, you lazy excuses for keepers!” Savannah marches around, taking control immediately. Melissa and Zack are more concerned by Milo.
None of his injuries are new. His face is screwed up in pain, but that’s probably due to being handled so roughly. He is practically tossed into the cage, making Melissa wince. She marches over and crouches next to the cage. “Hey Milo. You alright?”
Milo meets her eyes. He looks frightened. “Don’t call me that.” He mutters, casting a nervous glance at the keepers and guards all around. “Not when other people are here. And remember to call me it. If you get overheard…”
She knows what he means. If they are overheard breaking protocol so blatantly, they will be reassigned at best, killed at worst. Milo is scared for them, after what happened to his previous keepers. She gets that, she understands that.
But god, she can’t call Milo a monster. She can’t call him the jinx, a name that makes him flinch after years of it being spat at him. And she can’t call him it.
But she has to.
She nods. Milo smiles gratefully.
They sit in silence for a while. She can’t act too friendly, too affectionate, or they could be suspicious. She has to follow protocol. She and Zack keep exchanging looks, extremely uncomfortable with the whole situation. She hates this. She hates this so much.
And Savannah seems to notice. “Melissa, come help me with this paperwork. Zack, go help Brick. Stop sitting around making the place look untidy.” She chuckles at her own joke.
So Melissa does help. It mostly consists of holding things and confirming the damage that Savannah writes down. It’s a good thing that it isn’t too difficult, because she can’t stop looking at Milo. Huddled in a cage barely bigger than he is, arms wrapped around himself, making himself as small as possible. She feels sick.
When one of the keepers kicks the cage, Milo winces, curling in tighter. And Melissa’s eyes flare. She turns sharply towards the asshole, a yell on the tip of her tongue.
“Hey.” Savannah grabs her arm and yanks her back. “Leave it.”
“She kicked him!” Melissa hisses, rage boiling.
“I know. I saw.” Savannah keeps her voice low. “But she’s allowed to. Protocol allows that. I can’t say that I like it either, but it’s allowed, so we can’t stop it. Trying to will just make them suspicious of you, and you can’t afford that.”
“But-“
“Melissa Chase, you need to follow my orders or I will have your internship ended.” Savannah leans closer to her, glaring. “And I’m sure that you don’t want that.”
Fury boils in her. She wants to push Savannah away, scream bloody murder at anyone who even thinks about hurting her best friend.
But if her internship is cancelled, she can’t do anything for Milo.
So she swallows down her fury and nods. “Yes, ma’am.” She practically spits.
Once the cage is fixed, the guards and other keepers leave. As soon as they are alone, Melissa rushes to Milo. “Are you alright? I’m sorry, I saw that asshole kick you. I wanted to do something, but-“
“It’s fine.” Milo interrupts her, with that little half smile he always does to try and reassure her. “It’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad!? Milo, it’s awful. You get that, right? That’s not how you should be treated, that’s not how anyone should be treated. There are laws to protect even actual monsters, and you’re a kid! I’ll-“
“Shh. You’re being too loud, the surveillance will pick you up.” Milo lowers his own voice. “Guys, it’s ok. I’m used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to be.” Zack says, voice low and serious. But also gentle. He noticed how Milo flinched when Melissa yelled at him, something which she is now utterly ashamed for. She should be helping Milo, not making it worse. “But if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine.”
They help him back into his cage. Melissa hates doing it. “Can’t he stay out for a bit?” She asks Savannah. “You know that he’s not dangerous.”
“I’m aware, but we can’t break protocol.” Savannah says simply.
Protocol. Melissa hates that word.
“It’s fine.” Milo assures her. “I don’t mind. I’m used to it. I kinda prefer it in there.”
Of course he does. The keepers and guards treat him horribly, all in the name of ‘discipline’. Of making him behave, of making him docile. Milo refuses to tell her exactly who, but she has read all of the files, all of the reports. Once Milo is safe, she knows who she has to deal with. She has sworn enemies in this facility.
So Milo goes back in. He curls up against the bars, rubbing his eyes. He looks tired and just done. Melissa wishes that she could do something to comfort him properly. She can’t. All she can do is be here, be kind in the ways that she is allowed to be.
“We’d better go.” Brick says. “You’ve already missed the bus, we’ll give you a lift.”
“Oh, will we?” Savannah asks him.
“It’s my car!”
“It’s my car too.”
While they bicker, Melissa and Zack focus on Milo. “Ok, we’ll have to go.” Zack says. “But we’ll back back tomorrow.”
Milo smiles. Almost brightly, but not quite. “See you.”
As soon as they are dropped off, Melissa punches the nearest wall. Pain flairs through her hand, which becomes a brilliant red. “I hate them! I hate all of them, they’re all horrible! If it wasn’t for Milo, I would-“ She growls and punches the wall again.
“Melissa! Hey, your hand.” Zack grabs her hand and holds it gently. Tiny drops of blood are beading on her knuckles, and a bad bruise is sure to be bruising. She is too angry to feel it. “Mel, I get it. I’m angry too. I’m furious, I hate them. But you can’t hurt yourself.”
Melissa yanks her hand away and stuffs it into her pocket. Fury is pulsing through her, fury that she has suppressed all day. And it needs to go somewhere, she needs to do something with it. “Everyone who hurt Milo, everyone who let him get hurt, they’re the real monsters in that facility. Someone should stick them in a cage, see how they like it.”
“I agree.” Zack is angry too, she can tell. “They’re horrible.”
She needs to go along with them until they can rescue Milo. They need to be careful, take no chances. She understands that. But she hates it so, so much. She isn’t sure how she will manage much longer.
———
One day all of the middle school interns and their mentors are called into the auditorium. There, a speech is made about hard work and dedication, about all of the opportunities this place will bring. Once, such a speech would have had Melissa leaning forwards in excitement, her interest buzzing. Now? Now she can barely keep her face neutral. How many of the keepers in this room have hurt Milo in the past?
“As we are halfway through the program,” Melissa jolts in surprise, “we thought it was a good time to acknowledge some of the hardest workers among you. First, from St John’s Middle School, the Most Improved intern…”
Melissa drifts off into thought again. She didn’t realise how long it had been. Obviously, they need to be careful with their plan, but she realises now that they might need to be quicker. She needs to rescue Milo before the end of their internship, before she has no way to get to him.
She doesn’t listen to the awards. At least, until Savannah nudges her. “And finally, the intern of the month. From Jefferson County Middle School, Melissa Chase!”
She jumps. She stares at the stage. Brick, Savannah and Zack are looking at her.
So she did hear that right. And everyone is still looking.
Slowly, she gets up and walks down the stairs. She climbs onto the stage, where a man in a neat suit with cold eyes holds out his hand. “Don’t be shy.” He whispers, sounding compassionate. Kind. It doesn’t suit his eyes. “From what I’ve heard, this is very much deserved.”
She shakes his hand. She is handed something, something soft in plastic packaging. She tries to smile, so no one is suspicious. She thinks that she manages.
Sitting back in her seat, she opens the packet. A polo shirt, similar to what she is wearing right now. But as well as the facility’s logo and the word ‘intern’, it also says ‘Intern Of The Month’.
She wants to tear it in half.
Once upon a time, this would have thrilled her. When these people were her heroes, when this place was her dream. She would have been delighted to receive recognition like this, would have been over the moon.
Now she hates it. She doesn’t want to be the recognised by these horrible people, she doesn’t want to be the best intern at helping to mistreat someone she loves. She should be causing trouble, she should be the worst intern because she hates them! And instead she has this.
“Why?” She turns to Savannah as soon as they are alone in their office. “Why did I get this?!”
“Our boss asked us about you.” Savannah says simply. “You’re hard working and bright, everyone can see that. And you’re knowledgeable, passionate, you actually care about the work. That’s more than most of the idiots taking part in this program. No offence, Zack.”
“None taken.” Zack squeezes Melissa’s hand.
“But I don’t want to be! You know that I hate this, I hate all of it, why would you recommend me for it?!” Melissa’s voice is rising.
“Melissa, calm. Now.” Savannah sounds annoyed. “You may hate this place, and the work, and us. But you’re good. You could be as good at this job as us one day, if you don’t burn the whole place down. Really, you should be pleased. Who would suspect the intern of the month of planning anything?”
Melissa’s nails dig into the soft fabric. She wants to tear it, or burn it. But Savannah is right, it will take suspicion of of her. And refusing to wear it will only make everyone suspicious. So she swallows down her anger. It burns on the way down.
When they go to see Milo, he notices the new polo immediately. “Intern of the month? Well done.” He smiles, looking genuinely pleased for her. And she hates that. “You deserve it.”
She knows what he means. That she is good at the work and she is knowledgeable. But the compliment feels like a seam that itches. It feels like a reminder that while she may be trying to rescue him, until she does? She is complicit in his mistreatment, in his abuse. She is basically one of his captors.
She hates everyone who hurts him, and everyone who is complicit in it.