Unstoppable Force

I remember the first time I saw the Monroe house, how in awe I was, how frightened. You look at it and it seems like a place where the inhabitants like an idyllic little life, content in their perfect little days. Something you'd see in a fifties sitcom, or one of those 'perfect home' shows on TV. How could anything be wrong with such a beautiful place?

It looks different as I stand in front of it now. I can't see the beauty, or the joy, or the charm. Within its white picket fence aesthetic, all I see is a monster. A monster that consumes the happiness of those who enter it, and returns only pain and betrayal. I look at the sign on the gate that says 'welcome' and can't help but think 'abandon hope all ye who enter here' would be more appropriate.

"You scared?" Rouge asks me, as I gather the nerve to enter the property. I'm glad she came, I think my eyes for revenge were larger than my stomach for it... Which just reminds me that I haven't eaten... As if I didn't feel at enough of a disadvantage right now.

"Absolutely." I answer honestly.

My sister snorts at my candour, putting a hand on my shoulder. "That's why I'm here. Let's give them something to escape from." She chuckles. Something tells me Rouge is going for the bad cop option. Makes sense, there's few scarier. She takes the lead, opening the gate, with me following close behind to the front door, but doesn't knock on it, instead gesturing for me to. I get it, some things I still have to do for myself, I wouldn't want it any other way.

I rap my knuckles loudly on the door, and await the sound of footsteps. I can hear them, but it's taking an eternity for them to reach the door. It's actually about five seconds, but time isn't my concern right now. At long last, the door opens, and the remorseful face of Camille is stood before us.

"Hi Camille! Quick question, what the fuck!?" Rouge asks. I don't know if Camille fully understood the words, but the meaning was perfectly clear. Without a response, she turns and heads down the hallways to the living room. Yeah, not like she's got much of a leg to stand on anyway. We follow through the open door and reach the living room. There he is, William the Bastard.

"Aah, girls, wonderful to see you, can I get you a drink?" He offers, grinning merrily.

Bastard.

"Cut the shit, Charlemagne, how in the living fuck can you stand there and smile after what you put your daughter through?" Rouge again takes the initiative to ask. The smile slowly fades from William's face, until he looks as guilty as Camille, who's retreated to the corner of the room, pouring herself a drink.

"She's told you then... In that case you should know I'm not forcing Elise to do anything, it's her choice." He retorts, sitting down in his chair, and gesturing for us to sit. Smug piece of shit.

Rouge takes advantage of the offer, but decides to hop over the back of the sofa instead of walking around. It's actually quite an impressive jump, but it can't distract from the warring auras in the room.

"Bullshit." Rouge states. "You know full well she hasn't got any options, if you leave she loses everyone she's known her entire life, it's not a fair choice if you've got your finger on the scale." She argues. Her voice isn't angry, quite the opposite, it's cold, merciless, she's not looking to debate reality, she's seen the facts, and come to the conclusion.

William sighs at the accusations. "I don't have a choice either, the move is part of my job. I don't get a say in the matter, I have to go, Camille has chosen to come with me, Elise has the same decision to make." He replies. "I know I've done bad thing, unforgiveable things, but I'm not a villain. This isn't my fault."

Isn't his fault.

Isn't...

"Shut the fuck up." I finally yell. Not his fault? Whose is it then? "What is it with parents? Why can you never take responsibility? Why can't you ever just... Just stand and fight? You always have to take the easy way out. Tell the truth! You can't do anything about this because you don't want to. You could turn down the job, stay here, maybe work somewhere else, but you won't. You won't take that chance, instead, you put it all on Elise. You pass the buck. You run away. Anything other than taking a risk." I unload on the shocked faces of the Monroes.

"Well, I'm done, I'm done with you, I'm done with this place, I'm done with all of it. I can't control what's going to happen, but I'm going to go back to the love of my life, hold her tighter than I ever have, and hope she chooses to stay, not just for me... Well, definitely mainly for me. But also to make sure she's rid of this insane game of intrigue and politics you insist on playing. Because she's better off without you." I continue, my anger overflowing into every word, every breath, every look.

I begin to move towards the door, this was stupid, there was no point in coming here. Rouge follows suit, but I halt for a minute and turn back to William and Camille. "Oh, and in case that wasn't clear." I add. "Fuck off and burn, you miserable sack of pus and shit."

With that I make my exit. I learned that one just in case I ever ran into William, it turned out to be more satisfying than I thought. Rouge shuts the door behind us as we exit onto the street, and head toward the bus stop.

"See, doesn't that feel better?" Rouge smirks, as I begin to calm down.

"You know there was no way we'd change their minds, didn't you?" I surmise. She's too smart to have not come to that conclusion already. It was idiotic to even try to talk to them.

"Well, yeah, but that wasn't the point. They needed to hear the truth, and you needed to tell it to them." My sister explains. I'll add it to the list of things I owe her, because she's right. I feel a lot better, right now I just want to go to Elise, they don't matter. "Besides, your little assault on castle Pleasantville gave me an idea."

I suppose that's something, if Rouge can salvage something from this catastrophe, she's welcome to it. "Good idea or bad idea?" I enquire. This was definitely a bad idea, I'm curious to see how Rouge would improve on it.

"Oh, a very bad idea, the worst idea. Such a bad idea, it might be my best idea yet. That's how bad it is." Rouge smiles. "I'll tell you all about it if it works... Or if it doesn't."

As much as I'd love to hear about that, it's more than my brain can comprehend right now. Now is Elise time. We get on the arriving bus and begin our journey home.

If hatred doesn't work... Love is all I have.