Promises

Disclaimer: All characters from Repo! The Genetic Opera belong to creators, Terrance Zdunich and Darren Smith.

Chapter 1: A Protective Truth

"But Dad!"

"No, Shi."

"You promised!"

Nathan Wallace sighs as he pushes up his glasses. He rubs the bridge of his nose in sheer exhaustion. The world is dangerous. It is also undeniably cruel. He could not allow his daughter to be exposed to this.

"I know...."

Shilo looks heartbroken. Her small frame sinks with depression. Her brown eyes... Doe's eyes. Marni's eyes. The dark locks pool down below her shoulders. The frown is clear upon her face. She looks just like her mother... He could never let her go outside. God knows what would happen if he lost her too.

"Shilo, it's not safe!"

She shoots him a knowing glare, folding her arms together. It isn't fair. She was seventeen now. Seventeenand her father refuses to let her go outside. She is practically an adult, but she has been treated like a child. She's sick of it all. She wants to live, to be free, to see the world as it is meant to be.

"I've read books, Dad," She gave a mild eye roll.

The widower is leaning towards his more defensive nature. It was far too risky for her to be out. She'll get worse. She'll get sicker if she leaves. He narrows his green eyes at what else she has to say. Books? Books! He almost wants to laugh. It isn't in his nature to do so, however. his frown grows as he tentatively strokes her cheek.

"Shilo, honey, books can't prepare you for reality. Books are only there to educate and for leisure. Books can't truly captivate what it's like. I should know. Besides, you would need-"

He is sharply cut off by his daughter.

"-my mask and meds, I know."

She knows, but at the same she doesn't. She knows she needs her meds. She knows she needs her mask to filter the impure air. She only knows the world from books and her window. She lives a caged life for her own protection. At the same time, she does not know. She doesn't know what her father truly is. She doesn't know how cold he is when it comes to being a Repo Man. She doesn't know how cruel the world is. She doesn't know the taste of freedom...

She just doesn't know.Nathan inwardly winces. He would be lost without her. He is already lost without Marni. Years.... It's been so many years. He tries his hardest to raise Shilo with the best intentions. He can't stand to lose her. He'll do anything that will ensure her stay... For her own safety. Nathan silently adds, squeezing his eyes shut. He's tense from everything.

"Dad... Are you okay?" Shilo notices the pain in her father's eyes. Maybe he's not feeling well. She thinks.

"Yes, I'm sorry. It's just- Please, Shilo. Don't do this. I've said it a hundred times. You can't go out. It's not safe. You'd need to keep track of your meds- your blood pressure. The world is a cruel place that will rip you apart. It will devour you as it jabs a knife deep inside your heart. The world ruins hopes and dreams..." The Repo Man begins to take control as Nathan sneers. He pushes away the dark side of his personality,"Promise me that you won't go out."

"I promise..."

He smiles, kissing her gingerly on the head. Nathan wishes her good-night. She sits on her bed, confused at her father's previous outburst. He knows. She does not.

She sits there, still confused.

It's a protective truth.

Note: I hope you enjoyed this short story. I was originally going to wait to write this until after I finished with Murder Is Crimson. But... I've been writing Promises nearly every day in my notebook. Also, I decided to go with present tense if you haven't noticed. ^^; I appreciate reviews/comments/reads.