Toxic Treacle by Echo Freer

accepted a bowl of homemade soup and some bread. He desperately wanted to talk to Tragic in private, but it was clear from Jane’s hovering presence and pursed lips that she had no intention of leaving them alone.
    â€˜So, you coming back?’ Monkey asked when he finished his soup.
    Tragic shook his head.
    â€˜What about graduation?’ Monkey asked. ‘And the two of us in the Breeders’ Zone? You know, like we planned.’
    â€˜Like you planned, Monk,’ Tragic corrected. ‘I never planned to graduate.’
    Monkey was stunned. ‘What... You mean you always planned to run away?’
    â€˜I haven’t run away!’ Tragic denied emphatically, but Jane put a hand on his arm as though warning him not to say too much.
    â€˜We’ve just decided to opt out of the system,’ she said, calmly. ‘Now, I’m sure you need to be getting back. Did you cycle or walk?’
    It was clear that Monkey was being given his marching orders but he wasn’t going until he had some answers.
    â€˜So how d’ya get here? When I left you that night, you never said anything.’
    Tragic’s eyes flitted from his friend to his nurturer. Again, it was Jane who intervened.
    â€˜It’s lovely to see you, Mickey, and I know Trevor appreciates you coming all this way, but it really is best if you go back now.’ She stood up as an added hint for Monkey to leave but he remained seated.
    â€˜I want to know what’s going on.’
    Jane was clearly becoming exasperated. ‘Trust me, Mickey, the less you know the better for everyone.’
    â€˜The better for you, you mean!’ Monkey challenged.
    â€˜No! The better for you, too!’
    She stared at him, and Monkey had never seen Jane looking so authoritative - not since the day she found they’d been in the basement. Slowly, things began to make sense.
    â€˜Something weird’s going down here,’ Monkey said. ‘I’ve been in your cellar. I’ve seen the freezer with the back cut out. And Security were there too - looking for you.’
    He saw her start at the news. ‘And they took away some providers’ clothes that were down there to have them tested by forensics.’ He looked from Jane to Tragic. ‘I’ve risked The Farm to find you, so the least you can do is give me some sort of explanation.’
    The fire crackled, and the distant hooting of an owl could be heard outside, but there was no other sound. Monkey looked from Tragic to Jane, waiting for one of them to speak. Finally, Tragic spoke.
    â€˜I’ll be sixteen tomorrow,’ he said. ‘If we’d stayed, I’d have been having my graduation party, then that would’ve been it. I’d have been off to the Breeders’ Zone on Sunday and just sucked into the whole world of breeding and providing. That would’ve been my connection with my family gone; ended...’ He clicked his fingers. ‘Forever.’
    â€˜We’ve been through this...’ Monkey began, but Tragic shook his head.
    â€˜Hear me out. Mum and I didn’t want that.’ Monkey’s eyes opened wide at the word Mum . It was archaic. No one called their nurturers mum . Tragic was sounding practically prehistoric. But Monkey let him continue. ‘So, we made some enquiries and found this community of people who’ve opted out.’ He looked Monkey in the eye and shrugged apologetically. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything before. We couldn’t risk it getting out and...’
    â€˜So, why’d you leave a note?’ Monkey challenged.
    Tragic shrugged. ‘I was going to send it to you, but then I changed my mind. I didn’t think you’d go to the house.’
    Jane looked anxiously at her son. ‘You wrote a note? With our whereabouts in it?’
    â€˜Yeah - sorry. I didn’t think...’
    She turned to Monkey. ‘Where is it? You didn’t leave it there,