The Treatment- Chapter 3

The next morning began with a familiar, sickening chime. Mikane's alarm was set to 6:00 am, as usual. Havaj jolted upright as if pricked by a needle. "Really, Mikane? 6:00 on a Sunday?" He grumbled. Mikane had already showered and was halfway dressed; apparently his internal clock had beaten the alarm.

"Hey, little H," he said. "You know what they say: early to bed and early to rise makes you a cool guy... or something like that."

"It's Sunday. You don't work Sunday mornings anymore."

Mikane shrugged. "Well, getting up early is a hard habit to break."

"But look, you didn't even need to set your alarm. Why did you make us get up too?"

"Hey, when you're the one paying the rent, you can set your own alarm." He flashed a grin at Havaj, who smirked and shook his head. "Besides, don't you like beating the morning rush?"

"Yeah, that's right," Havaj said. He began to think about telling Mikane what happened the night before. He doubted Mikane would be angry with him- Mikane getting angry would be like a building sprouting wings and flying- but Havaj was still apprehensive about confessing his first brush with the law.

As if reading his mind, Mikane said, "So, why did you get home so late anyways? Been causing some trouble?" Havaj sighed and told his brother what had happened. He relayed each detail of last night's adventure, from the vandalized Eumenfield billboard to the OCLER and signet ring. Mikane walked over to Havaj, resting his meaty hand on Havaj's shoulder. "You know, I used to be a rebel kid like you once." He chuckled, his eyes wandering to some bittersweet memory. "I got my first warning when I was seventeen, too. You remember that?"

"Not really," Havaj muttered. He was loath to recall any memory from when his mother was still around.

"Well, it's just a phase we all go through." Mikane walked over to the mirror, taming his unruly dark hair with a comb. "Eventually you'll realize that 'The Man' isn't such a bad guy after all."

Havaj rolled his eyes. "You don't even follow the news," he said. "Haven't you heard about all the horrible things they do?"

"You mean the crazy rumors those good-for-nothing little punks spread around the district? No. You're better than that, Havaj. You and Symon stop listening to that nonsense. Once you get a job, we can save up enough money between the three of us to get out of this dump. Then you'll change your point of view, I promise." Havaj glanced over at Symon, who was still fast asleep; he had managed to escape the wrath of Mikane's alarm."Well, let's get ready to head to the Station," Mikane said. "Beat the morning rush."

~~

The "Station" was only five minutes walking distance from their apartment building. Symon yawned loudly as they left the building and started down the street. The sun, sitting at the top of the buildings, cast long shadows on the ground. As they walked, Havaj scanned the streets, taking in every detail. It was a habit of his; even sleep-deprived as he was, he didn't want to let anything escape his sight. Two young girls dashed across the street, singing a schoolyard chant between bouts of laughter. Mikane wasn't the only early bird in the district, it seemed. A few yards down the road, a compact street sweeper was prodding at a bundle of unrecognizable trash, its driver looking quite bored. They turned a corner. A haggard and wild-eyed man was sitting on the ground, hugging a lamppost as he shivered violently. "Weaning myself off," he stammered to nobody in particular. "Gone a whole day without. Tryin' for two days. Weaning myself off."

Havaj was so absorbed in his people-watching that he did not notice the young woman blocking their path. Startled, he quickly took a step backwards. "Wow, Havaj," she said, laughing. "You're so zoned out you might as well be sleepwalking."

"Hi, Jade," Symon said, stifling a yawn.

"You too, Symon? What, were you two partying it up last night and forgot to invite me?"

"Oh, they had a party all right!" Mikane said with a sigh. "A party with a signet ring."

Jade's thin eyebrows raised. "They got caught in the act? I didn't think that would ever happen. What kind of stunt were they trying to pull this time?"

Havaj answered, "Enlightening the public-"

"Defacing a billboard," Mikane interrupted.

Jade clicked her tongue, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she shook her head. "You should have invited me anyways," she said, flashing them a grin.

As the four childhood friends walked to the Station together, Symon related his own grandiose version of their adventure to Jade, who chuckled in amusement. Havaj suddenly noticed that his older brother looked pensive. He had no idea what Mikane could be thinking about, but something was certainly amiss.

He had been let off with a warning.