ASBO-Boy: All Cooped Up

Thursday 10th November 2016

Squeeze’s new life in number 4 Park Avenue was quickly structured into three parts, sleeping, learning and relaxing. Camping beds were set up in the basement for the Others that were living in the house and a partition was all that separated the ladies from the gents. It was basic, but it was better than the Borstal. Arc-Light and Flicker slept on one side of the room with Bark and Squeeze on the other. Flicker was the quietest of all the Others who lived in the house and even Arc-Light had trouble communicating with her. Her ability seemed to involve blink invisible but largely it seemed to be beyond her control. Bark took very well to the freedom to read and talk with Arc-Light. They were both in the same school year and Squeeze found he couldn't quite get on with both of them together. Malady was far too young for him and Flicker didn’t talk, so Squeeze took to reading whatever Bark had finished with.

Mornings were devoted to learning. Malady’s parents taught her from home which meant she could stay indoors and be out of the way. It also meant that their house could be a school for all of the Others who were in their care. The dining room in the mornings became a school-room between the hours of eight and one. After that they were allowed to do whatever they want. So long as they didn’t go outside.

Squeeze felt his fingers beginning to itch for something to do. Windows became unbearable very quickly as they too tempting. Across the road he could see Brynmill Park and even some of his own graffiti, faded and partially covered with posters for the Circus.

“What are you drawing?”

Squeeze jumped as Gwen appeared behind him on the stairs. She sat next to him as he quickly covered what he’d been drawing. “It’s nothing. Just doodling. I’m out of practice.”

“Not good enough for me to see then?” She asked.

“No. Not yet, anyway.” Squeeze replied, feeling stupid. A year ago he’d have shown all and sundry, now he just felt stupid.

“You’re settling in okay then, I take it?”

“Yeah, ‘sbetter than Borstal.”

“That good, huh?”

Squeeze laughed. He didn’t know how he felt about the whole thing. Freedom came at a price, he mused, beginning to regret every time he ever stepped out of line. All those stroppy tantrums with his parents, the sneaking out to see Nia. It all seemed so pointless. “Things will get better." Gwen said, rubbing his arm. Squeeze couldn’t quite imagine how things could. Nothing was ever going to change.

“What’s your story then?” Squeeze asked, “You must have a good job, you aren’t related to anybody here…”

“I work at the Cefn Coed Facility. I only moonlight as a rebel.” She smiled, widely. She was very pretty, he noted, her eyes were framed by a pair of slender, expensive glasses and her hair was sleeked back. “How much do you know about the Battle of Dyfatty?”

“Not much. They’re still rebuilding it, aren’t they?”

“Something like that.” Gwen replied, he could feel her closing up, as if she was reluctant to impart what she was about to say, “My work, and the work that goes on at Cefn Coed is all to do with that. Helix in particular.”

“Helix was in the original line-up of the Elementals, wasn’t he? I was never interested in the Others before I became one. Besides all the news you hear about them doctored anyway. I doubt it was even a Battle really – it was probably just a mild disagreement.”

Gwen laughed, “I can assure you – it was a battle. You can’t be much younger than Helix really. He’s sixteen – you must be around, fourteen?”

“Good guess. Rowdy adolescent, guilty as charged.” Squeeze replied. “Are you related to him?”

“No. I’m related to one of his victims.”

“Victims?”

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t really know what happened. My brother – he was in the Elementals, the original line-up too. Helix, Vue, Seraph, Core, Physic – they were a good bunch.”

Squeeze felt himself getting more and more uncomfortable as she drifted off. “One thing I’ve never understood. Why are all the Others young? I mean, Helix and those guys must be the first.”

“They are. Helix was born on January 1st 2000, just after midnight if the rumours are to be believed.” Gwen said, “He’s officially the oldest Other.”

“Where is he now?”

“Locked in an impenetrable cell half a mile below ground.”

Squeeze shuddered. He daren’t ask the obvious next question and was saved the opportunity by the appearance of Flicker at the top of the stairs.

“We-we’ve got the c-call.”

Gwen sat up and tapped Squeeze on the shoulder. “Excellent. Chin up, we’ve got work to do.”