Chapter Three

The Cookie

They managed to make it back to the orphanage before dinner was over. Taking a seat next to each other in the dining hall, they kept their voices as low as possible. Easy to do thanks to the chatter of the other children. Cap and Dorothy agreed not to use specific words just in case someone was eavesdropping.

“Good idea, we should hide it in different locations,” Dorothy said, as she elegantly ate her meal. She and the rest of the girls were supposed to be proper young ladies so were watched pretty closely by the nuns. The boys were watched as well but for different reasons. Specifically provocative reasons, after all in their eyes boys couldn’t be trusted. “Then again there’s just so much, luckily for us it’s pretty easy to get more if it was stolen.”

“Says you, I’m running on fumes already. My sores have sores. If tomorrow night turns out the same I’m screwed.”

“We’re screwed, I’ll be there too. More importantly, where do you think it’s coming from?”

“Probably ghosts,” He said nonchalantly.

“Nope, shut up. Ghosts give me the creeps. It’s more likely to be aliens.”

“You’re afraid of ghosts but not aliens?”

“Well yeah, ghosts are always creeping around corners, popping up out of nowhere, and watching you while you sleep. You know, acting all creepy. With aliens, you at least know what they’re up to. They’re practically ugly proctologists,” She made a single pop sound with her lips as she pointed her index finger up. “A little butt probing, and then they’re gone.”

“Eh, why do I even eat next to you?” He said, scanning the room, seeing sister Mary wheeling a tray of food out of the dining room. His mood sank a little when he remembered some of the kids were sick so had to eat in the sick room. “Maybe we should go buy some medicine for the orphanage.”

Dorothy glanced at the nun leaving the room before focusing on her meal.

“Nah, it wouldn’t work. They’re being poisoned,” She said casually.

“Wha, how do you know that?”

“I don’t know, nobody truly knows anything a hundred percent but what’s one thing all the sick kids have in common?”

Cap’s gaze traced the table for but a moment as he thought.

“They’re teens?” He asked.

“Exactly,” She said, pointing her fork.

“Okay sure but there’s only two. Who probably got sick from touching ass.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants, Capo. But old Ms. bible-thumper has a problem with it. Anyway, I don’t really knoooow anything, I’ve just read a book where rat poison was used to slowly kill someone.”

“Or they could just be sick? Sister Mary wouldn’t poison us,” He said.

“Says you. I don’t personally trust any of them. I take that back, I don’t trust anyone older than me.”

“At least they like you,”

“They don’t hate you,” She cooed. “They fear you. You’re smart, tough and the others look up to you. I don’t call you Capo for no reason.”

“You shouldn’t call me that at all,” He protested while staring at his empty plate where a few cookie crumbs remained. “We should go visit the poor bastards… and take their desserts for compensation,” He said casually while rising from his seat.

“Sure, I’ll take Mabel.”

“Don’t eat it though. We’re gonna put both your theories to the test.”

She stared up at him with question in her gaze.

“Both?”

Sister Mary exited the boy’s sick room where Jack had been kept for a few days. The moment she stepped into the hallway, her sharp gaze darted down towards Cap who stood with his back to the door frame.

“If you have enough free time to stand there, you should go to the kitchen and help wash dishes before bed,” She scolded.

“Sorry, Sister Mary. Normally I’m first to help wash but I figured Jack could use some company since he’s been eating alone. If that’s okay.”

“… No roughhousing of any kind, is that clear?” She asked as she began walking away.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Slipping into the room, he closed the door behind him. The room was large enough to hold at least ten boys if or whenever they got sick. A room Cap slept in a few times over the months. Jack sat propped up in bed with a bed table hovering over his lap.

“Cap, lost another fight again?” Jack asked, giving him a sickly smirk.

Cap noticed the teen’s face was a tad paler than the last time they spoke and he seemed in desperate need of a haircut. Normally people got better after a few days or at least showed signs of getting better but not in Jack’s case. Cap felt a small sting of pain for Jack even though he didn’t personally like the arrogant prick.

“Yeah, something like that,” Cap answered as he took a seat in a chair next to the door.

“No shame in losing. As long as you don’t lose the drive to keep trying.”

Cap blinked, using every ounce of willpower not to roll his eyes.

“Right… What’s up with you and Mabel?”

“Who’s asking?” Jack asked, furrowing his brow.

“… Me?”

“… Oh I see what’s going on. It’s alright, you can look but don’t touch. She’s my girl, and don’t forget it. To be honest I kind of took you as the type that swung the other way. My girl is an angel after all so it’s understandable that all types would want her.”

“Mabel is an ugly pig-bitch!” That is what Cap wanted to say, even if it wasn’t true. “You’re a lucky kid.”

“I’m a lucky man. You’re still a virgin,” Jack said while lifting his frosted dessert to his lips.

“Men eat cookies?” Cap asked, causing Jack to pause, furrowing his brow once again.

“Why wouldn’t they?”

“Kids love cookies. I figure once you become a man you have to act like one.”

“Where does it say men can’t have a cookie, Cap?”

“Calm down,” He held up his hands. “I’m just trying to help. You said so yourself, Mabel is an angel, and the last thing I’d want is for you to lose her because she learned you ate a cookie. Men have to look out for each other right?”

“You start being a man once you stop being a virgin,” Jack aggressively explained as he placed his dessert back down. He stared at it long, and hard before picking it back up and holding it out to Cap. “Here, don’t say I never did anything nice for ya.”

“Thank you.”

Cap stood and moved closer to the bed. When he reached out to take it, Jack yanked it back.

“That’s, thank you, Sir.”

“… Thank you… sir.”

“Good, now get out so I can enjoy the rest of my dinner.”

Without another word, he took the frosted cookie and left. Doing his best not to crumble it in his hands, he boiled with built-up rage. Wanted nothing more than to sock Jack in the jaw; Sickness be damned.