Chapter 9
Michael drove me back home. Afterward, I sat in the living room, deep in thought. Michael sat next to me, trying to read my thoughts.
"I know you well, Andrew. I sense that you're worried about something you're not telling us." Michael said.
"Yes, you're right." I admitted.
"...Can I help you navigate your worries?" he offered.
"Thank you, Michael, but... No." I replied.
Michael seemed as though he was going to push further, but we both got distracted when the front door opened. It was Ashley. She entered the room with a light wave to us both as she took a seat opposite us.
"Sup," she said, folding her arms.
Michael chuckled and lightly elbowed me, “Trying to get Andrew to talk about his past.”
Ashley looked intrigued, “Oh, what about his past?”
“That’s just it, we know nothing about it. He asked AI to not even look into it.”
Ashley looked at me for several moments, trying to read my thoughts.
“When you’re ready, Andrew, we’ll be here to listen.” She finally said with respect.
AI appeared on the TV, “Yes. I don’t know why you want to hide it, but I know you well enough to know you have your reasons.”
I shook my head as I looked at the floor. I felt a lot of pressure coming from them all, on a topic I felt I had very clearly expressed a desire to not speak on.
“I don’t know if I will ever want to talk about it. It’s so… It’s a big deal for me and I am worried… Nevermind.” I looked away in frustration.
Michael realised from my tone, that my past was a seriously important issue to me. He stopped pushing then and there.
The hours passed by without me talking, I was deep in thought. Ashley cleaned her pistol while Michael and AI watched. She did it rather quickly as well. It was an odd thing seeing a gun be broken apart so easily. It made me think about how complicated things are always susceptible to falling apart.
Oliver finally got home, after what seemed an impossibly long afternoon. He took off his smart black Rose blazer and took a seat next to Ashley. He looked at me with a sorry face. I thought I would cut that off that time, as I knew what he was worried about.
“It’s ok Oliver, you did what you had to when I was panicking. Before you even try… You don’t need to apologise nor feel bad. Thank you for helping at an emotional time.”
Oliver was surprised by my direct address. He looked down for a moment before he spoke.
“How long before you tell them?” He asked emotionlessly.
I leaned forward, “Tell them what?”
He looked me straight in the eye, “I know your past, Andrew. It was hard for me to find it, but I had to know it, to take care of you the best I can.”
I froze on the spot. I should have realised Oliver would have looked into my past. He never mentioned it, but then again, why would he? What was there to say?
“When the time is right.” I weaselled.
“Right. Well, it’s becoming harder and harder for me to keep my mouth shut on this. I can only play ignorant for so long, especially when it comes to 88 billion pounds…”
“I didn’t know that you knew, Oliver. I’m sorry to be a burden to you… That’s all I am at the end of the day, a burden.” His impatient tone shattered my confidence in one swift strike. I looked at the floor as a wave of shame washed over me.
Ashley and Michael jolted from me saying that.
Ashley looked me in the eye, “You’re not a burden, Andrew! Why would you even think that?!” Her impatience was growing.
Oliver coughed loudly, getting her attention, “There are reasons Ashley. This time, he’s not being defeatist… Hopefully you will understand why sooner rather than later.”
I finished that sentiment, “Hopefully nobody will ever need to know...”
Oliver looked at me with a combination of sadness and irritation as he shook his head in disapproval. Why should I have cared, what he felt? What on earth did he think he knew about that topic?
“Andrew, I know the truth of your past. It never once stopped me from respecting you. It never once made our friendship less meaningful. In fact, I think that’s why our friendship is as strong as it is. The sooner they find out, the sooner you will escape your loneliness.”
I shouted at him, “Loneliness is all I’ve ever known, Oliver!”
Oliver slightly jolted from my attack before he regained his composure.
He tried to defend his argument, “Are AI and myself not at your side? What of Michael?”
“It’s not the same and you know it! This is different, this is a lifetime of-” I stopped myself.
Oliver looked down sadly, for he knew how significant it was. He couldn’t argue that it wasn’t a big deal. It was a big deal, maybe even a huge one. Every decision I had ever made was made as a consequence of my past.
Michael was frustrated, “What am I supposed to do in this situation? You’ve stonewalled me out of something incredibly important to you, Andrew.”
“Just promise me… You won’t abandon me.” I said as a single tear fell from my face.
“Why would I abandon you?”
I shouted at him, “A question I've asked my entire life!” I couldn’t stop the anger from coming out.
Oliver put out his hand, “Shush Andrew, be calm… Don’t make friends into enemies.”
I looked away as more tears flowed. This is too much… I couldn’t keep talking about it.
I shouted at the ceiling, “No more on this, not one single word more!”
Michael and Ashley were stunned. They had never seen me behave like that. I could see they were trying to make sense of it, but they simply didn’t have enough to work with. They looked at each other with deep concern. A few moments passed before Oliver changed the topic.
He smiled, “Therapy time.”
Ashley did a double take, “What… Now? After this?”
I ignored Ashleys concern, “Let’s go mate, ask away.”
Oliver rubbed his hands together, “So you’re a billionaire!”
I sighed to show irritation, “I suppose I am.”
Oliver looked at me incredulously, “And this is a bother… Why?”
“Because I don’t want money! I never wanted money, and now that I have it, nothing will change… Nothing of any importance at least.”
Ashley spoke, “Really, nothing at all? Don’t you want to buy something?”
“Like what Ashley? A yacht? A private jet?” My tone was sarcastic.
“No, but something you really care about, but you couldn’t have before?”
I thought deeply about it and a thought occurred to me.
“AI…”
AI responded immediately, “Yes Andrew?”
“Even though you classified my medical bi-”
“No, Andrew.”
“But I have the ch-”
She put me down, “No.”
“Why not, you can’t stop me from giving you that much.”
“Yes I can, we can simply refuse to take the money.”
“But why?”
“Because it was a gift to you and a form of repayment.”
There was a pause as I sat there irritated, Ashley jumped in.
“Really Andrew? Why are you so against this kindness?”
“Because nothing in life is free, and gifts are a form of control.”
“Yes, if this were outside the Roses, I would completely agree… But this is the Roses we are talking about here! Have you not noticed that we do things differently?”
She had me there. Everything about the Roses was indeed different. Their integrity, honour, truthfulness and determination to do the right thing… How could I have possibly questioned that, after their kindness had been given to me so many times before?
“You’re right Ashley… It’s just hard to start to trust, after a lifetime of being betrayed…”
She read my body language, “You’ve lived a brutal life, even before your sacrifice, haven’t you?”
Oliver instantly responded, “Probably harder than anyone else in the whole Roses…”
Michael and Ashley both shot a terrified look at Oliver.
“Even more than the Black Roses? I find that hard to believe…” She crossed her arms.
Oliver said nothing as he simply stared at her with a cold face.
She shouted, “Fuck off! No chance is he harder than the Black Roses! Look at him, does he look streetwise?”
I instantly cut that off, “I couldn’t give a damn what you think, my past is behind me and my hardships are hopefully over. I just want to use my money and remaining energy to try to help the Roses get people off the streets.”
Ashley said nothing, I could see the disbelief on her face, it was completely understandable. The dream of the Roses was built by the hands of the weak and abandoned. Orphans, veteran soldiers, destitute and beaten people… They are the ones the Roses lent their hand too.
The Roses were composed of hundreds of people who had an unfathomably hopeless life. To say my life was harder, was like claiming to be a badass in a prison… There’s surely always someone tougher.
Oliver took the silence as an opportunity to resume my therapy.
“Andrew, I hope today, Aisling managed to convey to you just how massive your sacrifice was?”
I looked into the distance thoughtfully, “Yes, she did. I’ll be honest, I knew I saved their lives, but I never thought about it anymore than that… I never thought about the waves it created.”
Michael spoke humbly, “We’re not exaggerating when we tell you, none of this would have happened without you. You were the ultimate deciding factor, there is no argument about this.”
“And that is why I took the money, even though I really didn’t want to. I won’t spit in the face of what the Roses care about, no matter how much I may disagree with their solution.”
Oliver nodded with a smile, “Good. Try to remember their perspective. They… We realise the immensity of your sacrifice and we want to do you right for that.”
“You already have, more than you could possibly know.”
*
Oliver rubbed his chin, “Do you have anything else you want to talk about?”
I leaned forward, “Actually yes, who the hell are the Black Roses? You said I should ask them myself… There wasn’t a single Black Rose anywhere today!”
AI spoke, “Andrew, the Black Roses are our bodyguards. Think of them as our ‘Royal Guard’. Their sole purpose is to protect the angels and me. They do their job best, when you don’t know they are even there.”
“Right… So how am I supposed to learn who they are then?”
AI’s eyebrows furled, “They are… A subsection of their own in the Roses. They have their own priorities and they choose their own company. I can mention you to them and I'll inform you if they want to talk.”
I tilted my head to the side, “Why would you, one of the founders of the Roses… Need to ask permission from members?”
She shook her head, “Andrew, we are not an authority, we respect freedom of choice. Nobody orders anyone to do anything. We always ask, we never tell. However, the Black Roses have loyally served Aisling, Nadia and myself since they formed their group. They work better when we don’t meddle with them.”
“Ok, now I am really interested in them.”
“I will keep you informed on their response.”
I leaned back on the sofa.
“Hopefully today ends the rollercoaster of drama I seem to keep generating.”
AI smiled at me, “Personally, I have found it all fascinating. I am seeing your actions with my own eyes now… And I am very impressed.”
I folded my arms, “Really? I feel like I keep causing issues for everyone.”
She beamed a glorious smile, “You never cause me issue, Andrew.”
Ashley spoke up, “I’ll never get used to the way AI talks to Andrew…”
I looked at her, “Why not talk to her right now?”
Ashley turned to face the TV, “Sup?”
AI smiled, “Ashley, did I ever tell you… You’re my favourite agent?”
Everyone did a double take after hearing that. Michael burst into laughter and Oliver chuckled too. Ashley was totally stunned as she said nothing for a good long moment.
“Thanks… Why though?”
“Your energy, your smile… The way you inspire all the women in this organisation. You wouldn’t believe how hard some ladies work, just to try to emulate you.”
“... Wow” Ashley was blown away to hear this.
Michael contributed, “When you walk into the foyer, I see all the ladies look up. You are their inspiration.”
She looked away, “I… Stop, i’m going to cry if you keep going…”, She was trying not to tear up.
AI gently spoke, “I also want you to know, I chastised Michael for how he treated you after Andrews panic attack. In truth, I felt guilty that I also allowed it to happen. When Michael snapped at you, he snapped at me too. I just want you to know, you didn’t fail us… You didn’t fail me.”
Ashley broke down into tears. She kept wiping the tears away, but more kept coming. Oliver wrapped his arm around her to comfort her. This was a lesson for me… No matter how strong someone may seem, deep down… We all still crave acceptance and forgiveness. I realised Ashley felt guilty, yet I never realised that she still felt that way though.
Ashley finally managed to speak, “Thank you AI, that means the world to me to hear you say that…”
Once she regained her composure, I yawned. It was time for bed. I bid farewell and excused myself to my bedroom. As I climbed into bed, I found myself feeling grateful for the others who chose to visit me and I hoped I would never lose their friendship.
*
I had another night of improved sleep. The memory/nightmare started with me lying next to the angels, but then I woke up…
“Morning AI.” I slowly sat up.
“Morning Andrew. I see you slept better again, that is a relief.” Her avatar showed a thumbs up on the tablet.
I looked at the time above her, 7:12 AM. Well… I still got exceptional sleep, so it was no bother that I woke up early. I got dressed and went to wish Oliver good morning. He was sitting in the living room, putting paperwork into his plastic folder.
He turned to face me in surprise, “Oh, Andrew! Morning mate. I heard you slept better!” He said as he put the plastic folder into his backpack.
“Oh, AI told you?”
“No… I literally didn’t hear you scream.” He chuckled.
I scratched my head in mild humiliation, “Right… Fair enough.”
“So, so what’s on your agenda today? Are you going to the cafe at eleven again?”
“Um… I was actually hoping to go now, with you, if that’s alright?”
He smiled, “Haha, excellent. I’m really happy to see you are keen to go there. You know, when I’m there, it doesn’t feel like work, did I ever tell you that?”
“No, but I can tell when I watch the stream. You’re always smiling in that hall… Nowadays at least.”
He looked at me humbly, “Andrew… Now that they have met you… It feels like everything is going to be alright.” He beamed a huge smile at me.
I nodded, “It’s good to come out of the shadows, at least partly.”
He picked up the car keys, “Anyway, let’s go. Headphones please.”
When we arrived, I walked into the foyer and took off my headphones. There were seemingly hundreds of Rose members sitting down or standing around talking to each other. I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to talk with a few of them.
I looked around and I saw that shy girl from the day before, the one who realised I was hiding things about my past. She was sitting as far away from others as she could. She was the perfect person for me to talk to. I sat next to her, she looked at me and then immediately looked away. She truly was surprisingly shy.
“Morning.” I calmly said.
“... Hi.” Her voice was so quiet.
“What’s your name, if I may ask?”
“Um… Ruth.”
“Ruth, it’s a pleasure to meet you properly.”
I offered to shake hands, expecting her to ignore it. I was surprised when, after a short moment, she quickly put her hand there, squeezed it ever so gently then pulled her hand away. It was actually quite adorable.
“Andrew… Shouldn’t you be talking with people… More important than me?” She said looking at the table.
“I’m not a snob. I'm really excited to talk to normal members, like you.”
Michael took a seat opposite us at the same table. I could see her visibly curl inwards from shyness, for Michael was an immense presence.
“Morning Ruth.” he said politely.
“... Morning, sir.” She quietly responded.
I wasn’t going to let her sit there, feeling uncomfortable. I needed to get her talking about something she cares about.
“Ruth, may I ask what your job is, here with the Roses?”
Ruth looked at me for a split second then looked away.
“Nothing important…” Her face was sad.
I tried to cheer her up, “Nonsense, everyone matters here.”
“... I am a cleaner…” she stared at the table.
I tilted my head sideways, “How’s that not important? Imagine this building operating if it were a mess…”
“All I do is mop the floor and clean the windows, Andrew… hardly worth caring about.”
I nodded, “And all I do is have emotional breakdowns and cause the leadership to flail around in panic. Trust me, your role here is far more important than mine.”
She smiled and chuckled. Thank goodness, I didn’t want people feeling unwanted or like they were a bother. Everyone there had an equally important part to play.
“Ruth, I want to thank you for doing a fantastic job here. From when I first took a step into this building, it’s been spotless. Everything is always so clean and tidy. I now know it’s you I have to thank.”
She looked at me, but that time she didn’t look away, “Really? That means a lot coming from you, Andrew.”
It was then that Ashley took a seat at our table, next to Michael. If you could see the look on Ruth's face… I could see the stars in her eyes. AI was right, Ashley is a very real inspiration to most women here. Ashley elbowed Michael as a greeting and Michael nodded in response.
“Sup.” She said to both Ruth and I.
Ruth was so starstruck, she could barely talk, “I um… You… I mean… Sorry.”
Ashley winked at Ruth, “I don’t think we’ve met, what’s your name?”
Ruth glanced at Michael and then to me, like she wanted some help, “My name… Is Ruth.”
“Ruth? My sister's name is also Ruth, that’s a good name.” Ashley beamed a smile.
Ruth smiled back, “Thank you.”
A moment went by in silence. Suddenly, the room loudly beeped hundreds of times, as everyone's orders appeared on their phones. There was a chaotic wave of movement and voices as people talked about what their orders were. I listened to the table next to us.
One young man quickly spoke, “Right, I'll be caring for old man Berty again. Someone please tell me he doesn’t still have the shits…”
“Sweet, I'm on litter duty at a nearby park! Should be easy, it’s a rich neighbourhood, so they don’t really litter in the first place.” a deep voiced woman said.
“Aw mate, I got to sweat in the kitchen with Heartly today! Pray for me, friends!” An Irish voice stressed out.
I sat there listening to peoples’ chats as they stood up to go do their given job for the day. I hoped they were grateful they had a working body to do work. I was almost disabled in my current state.
“I wish I had a job to do” I looked down at the table.
Ruth looked at me with a smile, “Heal first, Andrew… Then you can shine for us.”
I looked at Ruth and then her phone, “You didn’t get a task?”
“Andrew, my task is always the same… AI probably didn’t tell me what I already know I have to do. I just get the mop and clean the floor after everyone leaves.”
AI appeared on Ruth's phone, “Not at all Ruth, there is a reason why you never received orders.”
Ruth jolted and accidentally dropped the phone onto the table after being surprised. She scrambled to pick it up.
Her voice was panicked, “Oh no… I’ve made AI angry… I’m so sorry.”
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AI smiled, “Not at all Ruth. Please relax, I want you to know that today is a rest day for you.”
She began shaking in terror, “Oh no… Please AI, I need the money to pay my rent, things are really hard, please don’t punish me, I'll clean the whole HQ, just don’t do this to me…”
Ashley reached over and held Ruth's hand, “Rest days are paid fully, Ruth, don’t worry.”
Ruth was panicking, “You’re only saying that because Andrew is here and she doesn’t want to make him angry.”
I felt a wave of different emotions. I was hurt that Ruth thought I was pampered by AI… But most of all, I was deeply concerned that a member of the Roses was struggling with financial difficulty.
“Ruth, I promise you… You will be taken care of. I know the Rose leadership, they won’t ever punish you unfairly, you have my word.”
She looked at me, reading my face as she slowly breathed and calmed down. She was no longer shaking.
AI gently spoke, “Ruth, please forgive me. I seem to have given you the wrong impression. I merely wanted to give you rest after you stayed up till 2 AM last night, mopping the floor. I wanted to say thank you, for your dedication.”
Ruth looked at the phone silently, as she tried to process what AI said, “So you aren’t… Punishing me?”
“Of course not, I have no reason to do that at all.” AI gave a thumbs up with her avatar.
Ruth smiled, “Ok… Sorry I freaked out.”
I intercepted, “Don’t apologise, we have each other's back here. AI, please send Ruth an entire month's salary, out of my money.”
Ruth looked at me in disbelief, “What… You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes I do Ruth. I know the terror one feels, to be uncertain if you can keep a roof above your head. I want you to feel secure and happy in this organisation.”
AI beamed a smile, “Money sent, now please put it out of your mind, go to the cafe and relax. Thank you for everything you do for us Ruth.” Ruth's phone beeped as her banking app sent a notification of £1800 being received to her account.
“I… You didn’t… this means so much to me…” She started crying as she covered her face with her hands.
Ashley stood up, “Come Ruth, I'll get Heartly to cook your favourite meal and you can tell me more about yourself.”
Ruth stood up slowly as she wiped the tears away. She looked at me before leaving, “Andrew, I truly see now, that you really are a blessing to the Roses. Thank you so much.”
Ashley patted my shoulder as she walked past. Her way of saying, ‘Good job’. Michael looked at me, as he was clearly very impressed as well.
“I could hardly think of a more honourable way, to first spend your fortune.”
I looked out the tinted window, “It felt right, it felt good… That’s the angel's dream Michael, to create hope, a safety net where nobody is left behind.”
AI spoke to me through my hearing aid, “You saved that situation, thank you so much my friend.”
*
I went with Michael to the Cafe. Ashley and Ruth were sitting there, talking with Heartly. I could see Heartly pause the conversation to yell something to the back of the kitchen.
I took a seat next to Ruth. She was surprised to see me again in such a short time. I waved at Heartly and he gave me a thumbs up.
“Well well well…” He crossed his arms.
“We appear to be in the presence of rich youth.” He smiled at me.
I shook my head quickly, “Please sir, please don’t refer to me like this. It gives the image of a hooligan, blowing millions on sports cars and prostitutes.”
“Ah… Right, my apologies son, I meant it in a good way” He humbly smiled.
AI appeared on the tablet on the counter, “Andrew, did you know, you are now the 12th richest person on the planet?”
I looked away down the counter. I didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment from this. I didn’t feel I had earned it, and I couldn’t care even if I were the richest in the world.
Heartly looked me in the eye, “Son… Don’t you think you deserve it though? You were tortured so awfully…”
“Sure, I think I deserve some pay, I wouldn’t argue that. Just… Not all the money the Roses have made.”
“If they gave you a million, wouldn’t that be insulting though? If they have 88 billion, but give their saviour 1 million… That’s spitting in your face.”
I nodded, “... Yeah, I suppose. Why not… A percentage instead? 33%, with interest… That’s more than fair.”
Ruth spoke, “I voted for all the money made, Andrew. You are the reason we have that money in the first place, anything less would be unacceptable.”
“Ruth… Didn’t you think about the consequences that would follow from the Roses losing that much money?”
“No, and I still don’t. I watched as Michael and Aisling gave their reasoning… And I agreed with them entirely.”
Heartly interjected, “To be fair son, Aisling told us the banks were all willing to lend us, interest free should we do this. Our credit score is impeccable apparently.”
I looked at AI, “Is that really true AI? Or was Aisling bluffing?”
AI instantly responded, “It is entirely true. All four major banks gave written commitments to us that they would lend interest free for the first year. We still would have paid interest, out of honour and integrity.”
“So what you are all saying, is that I overreacted?”
Everyone said at the same time, “Yes!”
I looked down at the counter, “Boy… I sure do know how to screw up a good’un.”
Everyone laughed out loud. Michael put his hand on my shoulder and Ruth put her hand on mine. As much as I failed, I still felt the outcome was better for everyone. They didn’t end up needing to take the loans, so all is well.
AI spoke to me, “Andrew, can you please come to the hall?”
“Oh no…” I felt a wave of worry come over me.
AI smiled, trying to reassure me, “No do not worry, there is someone I want you to meet.”
“Ok, I'll head there now.” I glanced at the time, it was 8:40 AM, I still had plenty of time before break time.
I walked out the cafe, through the foyer and into the hall. Everyone rose for me as Aisling and Nadia waved at me with their stunning smiles.
“I’m here AI, I sincerely hope this is not another ‘pleasant surprise’” I said as I walked to the middle of the hall. Michael and Ashley walked past me and took a seat with the other agents and agent Will gave me a wave.
AI was on her large screen, smiling as she spoke.
“You had questions about the Black Roses. I mentioned you, and their leader has agreed to speak with you, to answer some questions.” AI gestured behind me.
I looked behind me, the sliding doors opened and a lady confidently walked in. She was certainly a sight to behold. She had dyed dark red hair in twintails, with a black Rose on each ponytail. She wore black lipstick, black eyeliner and dark eye shadow. Her black Rose uniform was custom tailored to match her unique Goth style. On her eye was an agent monitor, except hers was black.
I instantly knew that I had never seen an agent like her. I did the cards for every agent in the Roses… Her face had never shown up. I looked at her face for a moment, when it occurred to me… I knew this person. I knew her from a long time ago, when we were teenagers. I felt fairly confident, but I could always be wrong.
She looked at me with an almost bothered look, as if I were already wasting her time.
“Greetings Andrew, you’ve never met me before, but I go by an alias…”
“Bellatrix.” I said with certainty.
She stared at me for a moment, “So you have heard of me?”
I shook my head, “No, this is my first time being introduced to you.”
She folded her arms in frustration, “Then… How did you know my alias?”
I looked at her for a moment. I was right, I did know her. She always did love the vampire gothic aesthetic. I remembered her stealing black nail polish, so that she could look more goth.
“I think… I once knew you.” I said thoughtfully.
“Really?” She looked carefully at my face.
I wrote a message on my phone, for I didn’t want anyone hearing me say it.
I showed it to her, “We were teenagers back then, I only knew you for a few weeks… I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye…”
I wrote more and showed it to her, “Sorry it’s been so long, Trish.”
She took a few steps back, her face wracked with worry.
“I have only ever told my name to three people, and none of them were named Andrew!” She was visibly uncomfortable that I had this information.
I wrote another message on my phone, “Please, don’t tell anyone who I am, but you will know me as the person you gave a nickname to, ‘Alaric’.”
I showed her the message and she looked very carefully at my face. After a moment she finally saw it. She froze for a moment, before she gave me a gentle hug.
She let go of me from the hug, “I was always worried if you were killed… Where did you go?”
I looked away, “I was taken away again…”
“Oh… The bastards.” Her face curled in anger.
We just looked at each other for a few moments.
“So, look at you now Bellatrix… You look so proud, so strong. I’m just so happy to see you safe.”
She looked over my body, “I wish I could say the same for you… Andrew.” She was trying to not use my other name.
She shook her head, “You look awful… How did you escape and end up with an even worse fate?” Her voice was deeply concerned.
“I look bad, but I’m happy… Or at least I’m on the road to that point. I think I finally found a… You know.”
She nodded in complete understanding, “Yeah, I know how you feel. This place feels like home to me too.” She looked around at the members of the Inner Roses and smiled.
“Anyway, sorry I got distracted Bellatrix… I was hoping you could tell me more about the Black Roses?”
“We are the protectors of the angels.” She said plainly.
“Does that include AI?”
“Absolutely, the trio has been our sole focus, since they first introduced themselves to us.”
“I see. Why have I not seen any of the Black Roses before now?”
“Because we hide in plain sight. We don’t show our Black Roses when we do our job. You have already met a few of us, you just never knew it.”
I made an ‘Aaaa’ sound, “Right, and why have you dedicated yourselves fervently to this cause?”
Her eyes showed passion, “Because we had nothing, but they fed us, clothed us and gave us tents for shelter. We waited for them to ask us for something in return… But they didn’t. They literally just helped us, for absolutely nothing at all.”
I nodded, “Yeah, that’s the angels… That’s the dream they got me hooked on as well.”
She stared into forever as she spoke, “We saw people attacking them, spitting on them and even… It doesn’t matter… The rules of the street, is when you find a good’un, you stay at their side. So we protected them, we fought off the attackers, we gave them the space they needed to try to make a difference.”
“Yeah, I know that code. It all makes sense now. So, you’re still here though?”
“They built this fancy HQ, they made lots of money, but still, there are those who try to hurt them. The black Roses have dedicated ourselves to protecting them, as long as they continue to be honest and righteous.”
“I see, a perfectly mutual relationship. It’s honest…” I said as I crossed my arms.
She looked deep into my eyes, “Yet, no matter how much we do to protect them, Andrew… You are their saviour. You were the first true Black Rose.”
I looked at Aisling and Nadia at that moment. They were nodding fervently in agreement. Once more, I was made aware of just how much my sacrifice caused waves.
*
“Well, thank you very much for your time Bellatrix. I respect what you do here, and if there is anything I can do to help your group, let me know.” I said as I shook her hand.
The Hall entrance door slid open and the lady from the foyer came quickly walking in. She approached me, trying to be quick and not bothersome.
“Andrew, sorry to interrupt, but a kind man asked me to give you this. He also said he would be back in about an hour, to talk with you.”
She handed me a little contact card and I read the name, “Shaun Dredge”. I instantly froze as a wave of panic washed over me. He had found me and he was coming for me…
Bellatrix instantly recognised my panic, “Andrew… Let me see that.”
She took the card from my hand and read it.
“That worthless son of a bitch again! Jesus Christ, he has some nerve showing up here!” She was livid.
“Andrew, it’s alright, you’re safe here.” She tried to hold my hand in comfort, but she couldn’t get a hold of it.
I shook my head in panic, “No… I’m not safe from him anywhere!”
I stood there as my hand shook violently… No, my entire body was shaking. I just didn’t think he would bother, I didn’t think they cared. Why were they here, what did they want?
Bella looked at me with worry, “Andrew… Oliver, you’re his mate and his carer right? Come here now!” Bellatrix yelled.
Oliver came over quickly and looked at the card. He stopped for a moment, as he thought.
He shook his head, “This is bad. Andrew… They have to know, right now or else he will tell them.” He put his hands on my shoulders.
“I thought they forgot about me, I thought I had more time…” I said as I could hardly think straight.
“Unfortunately, you don’t have any more than an hour… I’ll help, just breathe, don’t have another panic attack on me, breathe.”
I forced myself to breathe again and again. It helped and the shaking slightly eased. After a moment, I looked at AI.
“AI… Remember when I asked you not to look into my past?”
She nodded, “Yes, I kept my word on that.”
“I need you to look into it, right now!” My voice was stressed.
“Very well, standby.” She showed screens appearing like holograms next to her avatar.
A moment passed before she spoke.
“Andrew I have nothing, I can’t find anything.” She looked at me and shrugged.
I took the contact card and put it up to Bellatrix’s monitor.
AI saw it by proxy, “Right, give me another moment.” A short moment passed.
“Oh… Yet I don’t have any information on you, Andrew?” She looked confused.
I looked away in shame, “My name isn’t… It isn’t Andrew… Look up…” My voice broke, as I hated my given name.
Bellatrix said it for me, “Aaron.”
AI went back to searching. She froze on the spot as her face instantly changed to a sad one.
AI spoke slowly, “Andrew… I’m so sorry.”
Michael stood up and walked over to me.
He crossed his arms, “Ok, let’s hear it.”
AI raised her voice at him, “Michael, this is far more sensitive than you realise, I strongly request you to be quiet and listen.”
“Ok… Ok…” He raised his hands in surrender.
Oliver was rubbing my shoulders, trying to calm me.
“You need to tell them, now…”
“I know, it’s just… Really hard Oliver…”
“I’m here, Michaels here, we’re all here for you, just tell them step by step and I'll fill in any extra details.”
I looked around the hall and saw everyone was concentrating on me with concern. I took a few deep breaths and managed to find the courage to start talking.
“When I was born… I was… I am… A foundling” I looked away as I began crying.
AI spoke, “For those who are unaware, ‘foundling’ is the term for a child discovered, without any information on who the parents are.”
The hall remained dead quiet and after a moment I continued to explain.
“Usually… Foundlings are temporary. The parents usually show up after a change of heart and then the child becomes a standard orphan… But I never got that privilege…” I shook my head trying to not break down.
Bellatrix hugged me from behind as she quietly whispered “Shhh, it’s ok”. I took a few moments before I continued.
“Until a foundling gets adopted… They are legally classified as… ‘Stateless’.” I took a few more deep breaths.
“Because… They have no evidence to prove my parents are British, or that I was born in Britain… They also have no evidence that I was born in any other country… Stateless.”
There were several deep breaths as people understood the problem.
“I… Nobody ever adopted me… I… I’m a reject…” I burst into tears as I broke down.
Oliver took over for me, since I simply couldn’t talk anymore.
“Andrew… Aaron… Since he was not adopted, he was moved from one council home to the next. Nobody took him, so he was simply moved, again and again.”
The hall erupted in shock, Aisling and Nadia were both crying then. Suddenly, my situation made sense to them.
Michael spoke, “That’s why you’re terrified of being abandoned… You were abandoned countless times… Even your own country has abandoned you.” He was also crying.
Oliver continued, “Throughout Andrew's life, his carer was Shaun Dredge. He is now an authority minister of parliament, and he’s the one who’s been monitoring Andrew throughout his life.”
“He is the one who is coming soon, and that’s a very large problem.”
Michael looked at Oliver, “Why? Andrew’s an adult now, surely he’s out of their jurisdiction now?”
Oliver shook his head, “No, because he is still stateless. He is still in a legal grey area.”
“So what? If he is happy, what’s wrong with that?”
Oliver raised his voice to emphasise, “Michael, this is why he can’t have a bank account! He can’t get NHS care, he isn’t entitled to benefits, he can’t own land… He's nobody in the legal system…”
The hall again erupted in shock. Michael took several steps back, his face was in disbelief. Oliver finally ended it on the most important part.
“It also means… They can take him away. They can arrest him and he has no rights. If they want to, they can lock him away and it won’t break any human rights… He has no human rights.”
Aisling stood up.
“What can we do? There has to be SOMETHING we can do!”
AI spoke, “There is. Someone needs to adopt Andrew, legally. Once that’s done, even though he is an adult, he will no longer be classified as stateless.”
Aisling looked around the hall for a moment.
“I can’t do this, neither can Nadia and AI… For obvious reasons… Who here would be willing to do this for Andrew?”
There was a loud sound, as nearly every middle aged member of the Inner Roses stood up. I felt so humbled, yet I still couldn’t speak. I tried to talk, but my words failed me.
Michael stepped forward, “No, it’s me… It’s definitely me…” His eyes were soft, his face showed complete certainty.
He looked at me, “Andrew, I know you better than anyone. I made you a part of myself when I researched you after the promise… It’s me…”
Everyone else sat down, for they knew it was Michael as well, he was the obvious one, none could compare. AI smiled as she started to talk.
“I am through to a council social worker, I have petitioned for the adoption, an agent is at the council office to fill in the paperwork… Standby to see if they approve.”
Minutes passed in terrifying silence as AI’s avatar silently spoke on a holographic video call. It was muted, but you could see the lady had concerns. AI was showing images and documents of Michael, his birth certificate, his social security number, his yearly income and his criminal record. Images of where Michael lived, his family line, his military paperwork and commendations. Every detail was being presented and scrutinised.
Nearly twenty minutes went by in silence and I finally stopped crying and regained control.
I looked at him, “Michael, thank you… Even if they say no… I would be honoured to think of you as family.”
Michael gave me a big hug as he continued to cry.
*
AI finally unmuted herself.
“We have done all we can on our end, however one last thing remains. Michael, you need to state your intention to adopt, to the council lady I am speaking to.”
AI’s screen was replaced by the video feed of the council member. She was looking at the screen with a smile.
“Greetings, Mr. Campbell. I need to hear you clearly state your intent please.” She said as she played with her pen in her hand. She clearly never felt rushed at all.
Michael let go of me and faced AI, the video showed him on the top right corner, to show that he was facing the camera.
“I, Michael Campbell, wish to adopt Andrew Smith… Aaron, as my own child. I swear to take care of him, as my own.”
The lady nodded and wrote for a moment on the page. She then looked at the screen again.
“Thank you very much, now I need Aaron to please confirm that he is willing to be adopted.”
I faced the camera as I wiped the fresh tears from my eyes.
“I… Aaron… Am wholeheartedly willing to be adopted by Michael Campbell… I trust him entirely.” I struggled to say it, I kept wanting to cry.
The lady's face was sad, seeing me cry.
“Sorry, Aaron, there is the possibility that you are being forced into this. I need you to repeat that, so that I am certain this is wholeheartedly what you want.”
“I apologise, I’m in an emotional state, but yes, I repeat that I am willing to be adopted by Michael Campbell and that I trust him entirely.”
The lady nodded and wrote down more on her paper. She signed a page, flipped to the next page, signed that page, passed the paper to the agent who sat at her table, and the agent signed the page. On and on, multiple pages.
Finally she compiled all the pages, looked at the screen and spoke.
“This adoption is approved, Aaron is now in relation to Michael Campbell. It is a big relief to finally resolve Aarons case. Congratulations… Aaron Campbell. Your adoption papers will be printed and available to be collected in 2 - 5 working days.”
“Does that mean I am no longer stateless?”
She nodded, “That is correct.”
“Does that mean I am a citizen?”
“Correct young man, in your adoption papers, your social security number will be included, as well as your citizenship papers.”
“Thank you… Thank you so much.” I started to cry more intensely.
“Oh, and I'll inform Mr. Dredge. I believe he has an appointment with you now?”
AI took over, “Yes, we will inform him of this, may I please have any details to confirm this took place… Maybe a case number?”
“Yes, I'll email you that. If that is all, I will bid farewell.” The video ended.
I stood there stunned. My entire life… My nightmare had really finally ended. I was a person… I finally had the right to call myself a member of society. Michael hugged me again as he rocked us back and forth.
He whispered in my ear, “I’m so sorry this country abandoned you. I’m so sorry to hear that your loneliness was throughout your entire life… I thought it was after the torture… I thought wrong.”
Aisling spoke, “You’ve been in that dark abandoned place that you spoke of… Your entire life… That’s how you’ve become attuned to depressed people… You’ve never left it…”
Nadia spoke, “That’s why you were so sceptical of us when you first met us… Life had dealt you the worst card imaginable. Our dream was impossible in your existence…”
She realised more, “That’s a major reason why you felt you deserved the torture… Because you didn’t feel you were even a person…”
And even more… “That’s why you couldn’t make a bank account… That’s why you had hoped the Roses had used the NHS on your behalf… Because you couldn’t”
Then she made the final realisation, “That’s why you wish you had died… Because you’ve been dead inside for most of your life…”
I spoke, but Michael didn’t let go of me from the hug.
“You two gave me hope for the first time in my life. I finally had something to believe in, something meaningful I could contribute towards… I was happy to die in the torture, because I would have finally have done something… I would have died as somebody who lived for something…”
I whispered, “Your dream… Was my only reason to live.”
*
Ashley got up and walked over to me. Her face was ruined from crying.
“When Oliver said your life was harder than most… I couldn’t believe it. Now I see, even amongst orphans, your life was brutally unfair.”
Bellatrix spoke, “What are you talking about? Andrew was the one we looked at, to make ourselves feel better as orphans…”
Ashley was shocked momentarily, “You were an orphan yourself… What was Andrew like?”
“He was quiet and depressed. People constantly bullied him, adults would kick him if they saw him… He had no friends and he always tried to stay away from the care home he was assigned to.”
I started sobbing again as the memories of the carers beating me until I fell unconscious, came back into my mind. I tried to run away, but my need for food forced me back. The other orphans were the good guys in my mind… It was the adults that were the monsters.
Ashley looked angry, “Why… Why would they kick him?”
Bellatrix looked incredulously at Ashley, “Because he was nothing to them? Ashley, do you have any idea what life on the street is like?”
“... No, I suppose I don’t…” She took a step back.
“Orphans would think they won the lottery, if they were adopted. Sure, most parents would be really touchy feely, or like to beat you a little from time to time… But at least you were off the street. I don’t even know what happened to Aaron after they took him away, when we were teenagers…”
I managed to get some words out, “I ran away after they moved me. I ran to a rich neighbourhood and found places to sleep, every night.”
Bellatrix shook her head, “I doubt it was any better though?”
“It was… There was nobody to beat me… I managed to get scraps at restaurants… It was manageable.”
Bellatrix thought for a moment, “You were 16 then… Did you ever go back to the care homes?”
“No…”
Michael asked as he finally let go of me, “Even until now?”
I looked at him, “Yeah.”
Aisling spoke up, “So when we met you the first time…?”
I looked away, “I was homeless…”
Aisling looked down… She said nothing and I felt deeply ashamed.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you my past was more normal. I wish I could tell you I was a healthy normal adult like Oliver or Michael… But I wasn’t… I’m not.”
Aisling looked up, “No Andrew, don’t you dare apologise! You are exactly the reason I made the Roses, you are one of the problems we strive to fix, every day we meet here.”
Nadia spoke, “We have nearly cleared the streets of orphans, the Roses operate nearly 8 orphanages now, across the country and the globe. It’s our hope that there will never be another Andrew Smith or Bellatrix.”
Bellatrix spoke, “Yes, when I go back to where I used to be, I see no homeless or orphans. This is why we so fervently serve the angels… They do what they claim to do.”
I looked at the two angels on their raised bench, “Thank you for that. I would have killed to have an organisation like the Roses back then… Don’t you ever turn your back on those kids.”
All three, AI, Nadia and Aisling said at the same time, “Never.”
*
AI spoke out loud, “You may enter, Mr. Dredge.”
He walked down the passageway, keeping distant from me. As soon as I saw him, I hid behind Michael. Michael put his arm out, to show he was protecting me. Shaun Dredge looked at Michael and I for a few moments, with no emotion on his face.
“I was informed a moment ago… Someone finally adopted you.”
“Yes, now leave here!” I shouted.
“I am a government worker, the Roses claim their HQ is treated as a public space, I have a right to be here, boy.”
AI responded, “And like any public space, bullying and harassment is illegal. We have multiple agents present, who are legal police officers. Government official or not, you will behave sir.”
Dredge shrugged as he looked at me for a few moments.
“I’m happy to see you finally found a home. It’s not conventional, but it’s still a place in which I can see you smile one day.”
I shouted at him, “Don’t try to act now like you care about my happiness! You were all too happy to ignore the cuts and bruises on my face when you had to visit me for inspections!”
His face changed to irritation, “You were not the only kid being abused, I saw hundreds of abused kids daily! What was I supposed to do, Aaron? Pull them from their adopted homes? We didn’t have enough space or resources to take back hundreds of kids.”
“You allowed it to happen under your watch! You were just a council worker when you started… How did they promote you in your career to MP? You’re a disgrace!” I spat out the last bit.
“I did what I could with what I had! The corporations that funded the orphanages only cared about hard numbers! They saw adoption rates go up and that was good enough for them! They couldn’t care if the kids were beaten or raped, they just needed higher numbers to show their shareholders, Aaron!”
Bellatrix walked up to Dredge and spat in his face.
“That’s thanks for the all the fuck-all you did for us, you coward!”
Dredge wiped his face with his sleeve, his breathing loud and agitated. AI must have been speaking to Bellatrix in her earpiece, as she walked past Dredge on the way out of the hall. She turned back to say one last thing.
“You stand in the hall of an organisation that did a hundredfold what you ever accomplished… And they never had a penny to their name when they started! You’re not welcome here minister, I hope the door hits you on the way out.”
She walked out and disappeared back into the shadows she chose to hide in. I felt like she said everything I wanted to say and more. It felt good to hear her say it. Dredge looked at me with sadness in his eyes.
“I’m resigning, not that you care. I know I failed and I know I don’t deserve my position. I came here originally to wish you well. At least something I was involved in, came out alright.”
He turned and walked out. He was gone… Forever this time. That monster would never haunt me ever again… He would never snatch me away from anything ever again.
Nobody said anything. I just breathed as I tried to stop my hands from shaking. So much had just happened… It was hard to process it all.
Michael spoke out loud, “It’s 10 minutes before break… I’m calling it now though. We all need time right now.”
AI nodded, “Agreed, this break will be two hours in length. Thank you everyone for your understanding.”
As people got up and started to leave the hall, they all said kind things as they passed. A few of them stopped to say things to me. Mr. Crowley stopped by me to speak his mind.
“I now understand your hesitation, son. I did find myself very curious as to why you couldn’t make a bank account. If you wish to do that now, I would be all too happy to assist you in doing so and we can move the money over now with no friction.”
“Thank you sir, but I would rather keep the arrangement we have at present. I wish to give my all to support this organisation.”
He nodded with a smile, “Of course young sir, of course.”
He walked away and Ashley was waiting to speak to me.
“I said it before and I will say it again. You are fucking unreal Andrew. You are the strongest man I will ever know. Just know that we are here for you… Nobody here will abandon you, that’s a promise.”
“Thank you Ashley, that means the world to me to hear.” I gave her a hug and she hugged me back.
She walked out to the cafe. Aisling and Nadia stood waiting to talk to me.
Aisling started, “You are this organisation's and my… Saviour… You always will be. I can’t describe how happy I am though, to see you finally get saved yourself. You needed rescuing more than anyone else. Michael is a good man, he won’t ever let you down Andrew.” She smiled gloriously.
“Thanks Aisling, I wish you knew… Just how much this whole organisation saves me every day.”
Nadia smiled, “I want to take you to a few of the orphanages we built sometime. I want you to see that we are treating them right, that they are safe and happy.”
“That would mean a lot, thank you Nadia… But also make a point of showing the Black Roses. All the members who used to be homeless, would appreciate seeing the progress you’re making.”
“Of course Andrew, I'll make it a priority.”
They both hugged me with their bright smiles and went to the cafe. My pain disappeared with their blessing. What a wonderful gift to be given after such a great victory.
I turned to Michael, “Dad?” I said with a frown.
He flicked my forehead, “Don’t even start that nonsense. I’m only 4 years older than you. Let’s just go with… Brother, for now.”
I leaned my head on his chest, “Thank you Michael… You saved me…”
Michael hugged me again. The feeling of family… Someone who wanted me. I cried some more before I got a grip. Afterwards, we both walked out to go to the cafe.