c.o.m.m.u.n.i.t.y. is {family} -crystal-

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden nodded and took his head, giving it a firm shake. "Braden," he said. "What did you do?"

[~echo~]

The man stuck his hands inside his pockets. "I tried to leave on several different occasions."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"How far did you make it?" Braden asked, a small grin spreading on his face.

[~echo~]

"Varying amounts. One time, only to the front lawn. But now I know everything there is to know about this place. We can work together on a plan, yeah?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden considered and then nodded slightly. He might have a better chance of getting out if he had a partner. Assuming this guy was smart enough to be useful rather than a hindrance. "You slow me down, though, I'm ditching you," he said.

[~echo~]

"Believe me, you'll be slowing me down if anything."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden snorted. He seriously doubted that, but he didn't argue. "I'll talk to you next time. I'm working on something."

[~echo~]

Two guards walked in and gestured to Max. He grinned. "See you later," he said, strutting off to the guards.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden didn't respond. Instead, he started lifting some weights. When his muscles were too tired to do any more, he started jogging around the perimeter of the room.

[~echo~]

After an hour, two guards came and retrieved Braden, taking him back to his cell.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden walked silently with his hands behind his back. His eyes took in every detail of the route they took. The place had changed since he'd left, but not as much as he would have thought. The layout seemed the same from what he could see, which hopefully meant escaping would be simple. He'd helped design this compound, after all.

[~echo~]

The guards shoved him into his cell and dropped some food on the ground- a crust of bread and cheese- without a plate.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden eyed the food and sighed before picking it up. This was how Mark treated his old friend? The man had fallen farther than he'd thought.

[~echo~]

Three or four guards were stationed outside to guard him, and one noticed how little food he had. Although he didn't really pity Braden- he had done the unthinkable and left the community after all- he did think that he deserved a little more food than that.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Braden ate the meager meal, chewing each bite thoughtfully. Getting past all the guards would be the hardest part of this. He didn't want to hurt anyone--they were just following orders, after all--so he'd have to find some way to knock them out instead of killing them, which would make his job more difficult. He wondered if the man he'd met earlier would have any such reservations. He doubted it somehow.

[~echo~]

The door opened suddenly and in strode Mark. "Have you changed your decision?"

(What if Braden decided to join the community again to get past the problem of the guards?)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Ooh, that's a good idea. Didn't think of that xD But he should hold off for a little longer. Mark wouldn't believe he'd changed his mind so soon)

"No," Braden said, raising his head to meet Mark's eyes. "Sorry."

[~echo~]

(Yeah, ok Cool)

Mark grit his teeth, getting frustrated. "You're a fool."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Perhaps you're the one who's the fool, for thinking you can starve me into joining you," Braden said coolly.

[~echo~]

"If you saw how much food you would get if only you would join us, then you would know who the fool is."