FARSIGHT

By: Slang of Euphoric Rush

 

Author’s Note: Hello again Michael Berg. If you are still reading this story than I commend you for your patience with it’s length and the amount of time between updates. Thank you for sticking with it. If you, Michael Berg, have any questions, comments or suggestions about what you would like more or less of in Farsight then I implore you to e-mail me at [email protected]. I enjoy and value your opinions more than you know, Michael Berg. Anyway, this chapter is like a continuation of the previous one and they go hand and hand. On a side note I apologize for the sloppiness of the previous chapter’s format. There are some references to Euphoric Rush’s Enigmatic Consciousness and I would recommend that you read that first if have not already. That is all that needs saying, so until whatever then befalls us, live well Michael Berg.

 

I wish I could be the one

The one who won’t care at all

 

Confided in me was your heart

I know it’s hurting you, but it’s killing me

 

-M. Shadows

 

Chapter 5: Unholy Confessions

 

Josh paced frantically across the small office. The empty chair in front of him was in no way desirable, he was uneasy. He had been waiting for almost an hour. This had gotten way out of hand. First Jake had found out and now his mom was suspicious. She thought that he had joined a gang. He almost laughed at the prospect of that; lower middle-class white kid becomes a thug. If she found out what this really was, well, he didn’t know what she’d think. His mom would probably be pissed, or freaked out. Josh thought he might end up at a shrink’s. AJ’s mom was most likely worried too. It was out of control, but Josh was going to change that.

            He became still as the door behind swung open allowing a much needed draft into the stuffy room. A single man entered, looking somewhat exhausted, as though he had been in a rush. The entering man quickly reformed himself to become more presentable. He then walked around Josh to the other side of the desk that was situated in the middle of the office and took a seat in the chair on his side. Across the desk were scattered pictures and papers none of which had any immediate relevance to either party. Upon taking his seat he considered Josh with expecting eyes.

            “Sit down.” He beckoned Josh into the chair that was in front of him.

            “I think I’ll stand, Louis.” Josh replied, only barely hiding the animosity in his voice.

            Realizing that something was on the other’s mind, Louis again stood up, walked to a small fridge in the corner and retracted a bottle of vodka from it. He raised it up as an offering to Josh, who declined. He took a swig for himself and again observed Josh.

“Relax, man. What the hell’s wrong with you?” Louis laughed at Josh’s anxiousness.

“My mom,” Josh started slowly, “She knows something’s up. She doesn’t know what, but she’s wondering. She’s convinced I’ve been shanghaied into some gang.”

He was interrupted by Louis’ laughing; apparently he found it funny too.

“I’ve gotta cut back, Lou, or someone’s gonna find out what I’m doing here.” Josh continued.

“What do ya mean ‘someone’? Anyone else wondering what you’re up to?” Louis asked after he took another drink.

“Yeah,” Josh replied hotly, “my friends all wanna know what I’m doin’ and my cousin is suspicious as hell. It’s not like all this money I’m getting just fell from the sky.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?” Louis asked as he too became increasingly upset.

“I told you Lou; just give me some time off.” Josh said, exasperated.

“You know I can’t do that.” Louis responded defensively, “Besides, you’re everyone’s ‘favourite’. You’ve got like five times the hits of everybody else.”

“I don’t care about that.” Josh said as though he had been insulted by the fact that Louis had thought such a thing would matter to him.

“Well I do. A hit equals money, simple math tells us that means more hits means more money. That’s the same money that keeps you employed.” Louis was getting frustrated.

Josh began pacing again, deep in thought. Louis watched him, apparently in the same state of mind.

“What if I could find somebody else?” Josh asked after a few minutes. “Just to take like one of my shifts. I could still come in once a week and they could come in to do my other one. Just for awhile.”

“Got anyone in mind?” Louis asked.

“Yeah, I think I know a guy.” Josh lied. He was just excited that Louis seemed to be into the idea.

“I’ll tell you what,” Louis said after considering it. “You bring in this ‘guy’ of yours in and if he’s any good then you got yourself a deal.”

Josh was just about to thank him when there was a loud knock on the door.

“What?” Louis called.

A bearded young man in a cowboy hat walked into the room hastily.

“What’s up buddy?” He asked nodding at Josh.

“Not much Shawn.” Josh replied as he got up to leave. He had a feeling their meeting was over.

As he exited the room, he could here the two begin to speak behind him.

“There’s something you need to see.” Shawn told Louis quietly.

“Dude, I don’t care right now. I got to get back to the place, some guy wants to talk about some new, uh, stuff. So just deal with it.”

“Fuck that.” Shawn said angrily. “I think this is something you’ll want to see.”

“Well, what do you want anyway?” Louis asked.

 Shawn stared at him and said “Only your thoughts on what to do with this kid we found outside.”

Dustin lay in is bed wide awake. It was reaching wake up time, but that mattered little to him. He hadn’t slept at all except for when his runaway thoughts had become short dreams. His mind had been overwhelmed by this new… love, or perhaps desire. Dustin was not yet sure of what to call his ‘whatever’ for diapers. All he knew was that he was really enjoying the one he had on him. It was a deeper than some bizarre fetish. It just felt right, the regression back to his childhood. He wanted to go back, he wanted to a baby again. All night thoughts of this had consumed his mind. If only he could reverse time, but that was impossible. Dustin’s only solace was this diaper. He couldn’t explain why it had brought up this want inside of him, but it did and he would not deny his desires.

A lack of a clock or watch left knowing the time to one’s speculation. The sun was up, but that meant nothing as it usually rose at about six a.m. and the wake up siren was at eight-thirty, so it was somewhen between then. Dustin guessed about half past seven, but the time passed slowly against the waves of confusion in his cranium. His thoughts were then abruptly interrupted by the waking Quinn. His early rise was probably a result of his farm life, or so Dustin reasoned. He watched from his top bunk as Quinn sat up and yawned. There was suddenly a look of shock on the other boy’s face, which passed quickly as if he was accustomed to whatever phenomenon had swept over him. Quinn scanned the room and Dustin feigned sleep. He was certain that his being awake would provoke conversation between the two of them and he didn’t want that presently. After Quinn looked to have confirmed that everybody else was asleep, he stood up. Dustin saw that like himself Quinn had removed his shirt to cope with the treacherous heat during the night. He arose from his bed and stood in the middle of the room clad only in a diaper. Dustin observed this through half closed eyes in shock. Quinn’s diaper was absolutely soaked. The thick white diaper had swelled an extra one-half of its size with urine, the scent of which became more imminent in the room now that the diaper was not concealed by his blanket. Quinn waddled across the room with more difficulty now that his diaper was full. He opened the window in an attempt to waft out the smell. Returning to his bed, Quinn opened his suitcase and pulled out a small plastic bag. He stripped off his drenched diaper which squelched with this action and placed in the bag. Wrapping a towel around his nude self and tying the bag, Quinn left the cabin, seemingly for the shower as he had also collected a toiletry bag.

How strange was it that Quinn had used the diaper? He asked himself. Maybe he needed the diapers too. Though what he had just witnessed had shocked him, Dustin was much more surprised at what happened next. He developed an erection. He was somewhat appalled. Had he just found Quinn attractive? He didn’t think so, but there was something about seeing the other boy in a fat wet diaper that was simply fantastic to him. He wanted so badly to wet his own. The thought had previously occurred to him during the night, but he dismissed it. If the other boys discovered that he had wet his diaper, well he wasn’t sure what they would do. How he longed to use the protective underwear that was wrapped tightly around his groin. He had already reached one stage of his journey back to his childhood; that would be the next. Dustin wanted to reach that destination more than anything. It all seemed unreal, but he knew what he desired. He had questioned whether or not this was just a phase, but it didn’t feel like it. It felt like it was a deep part of him that had just been unearthed. Dustin slowly began to nod off again, the hours he had been deprived of sleep had begun to catch up with him.

As soon as his eyes had shut, they had been torn apart by the trumpeting call of the camp siren. It was wake up time. The first alarm signified a wake up call while a following ring which would go off in a half-an-hour would mean breakfast. Dustin bolted up at the alarm, shaking his drowsiness off easily. He saw that the others did so, some with more difficulty than others. Josh was most notable, looking wide awake but quite skeptical to actually get out of bed. Carson climbed out from his lower bunk, still in his diaper, which was dry. He quickly dispatched of it and threw on some shorts.

“Well,” he announced while grabbing his towel, “I’m off too the shower.”

At most camps, the boys would not be concerned about showering, but as they were the oldest ones there and they wanted impress the few girls that were there, the shower was the most flattering form of attraction they could accomplish. AJ yawned to announce his arrival into consciousness.

“I’m awake.” He declared.

“Hey.” Dustin greeted him.

“Where is everybody?” He asked after observing the half-empty cabin.

“Both off to shower.” Dustin answered as he swung his legs so they could hang off the side of the bunk, a position that left him exposed to the world in only his diaper. He was not embarrassed; he wanted AJ and Josh to see. The idea excited him. AJ watched Dustin with interested eyes, though the latter was unaware.

“What’s the matter?” AJ asked Josh as his gaze fell upon the forlorn face of his friend. “You feeling’ alright?”

“I, uh…” Josh struggled.

“What, did you wet your diaper?” Dustin questioned jokingly.

Josh looked across to the pair with a painful stare. His eyes gave away the feeling of a kid who had lost something combined with a sad guilt.

“I didn’t mean too.” Josh admitted quietly.

Both AJ and Dustin were shocked. AJ and Josh had often discussed how cool it would be to be incontinent. To have to rely on diapers; it would be incredible. But now as AJ stared at his friend’s devastated face, he knew only a strong sense of pity. Dustin, on the other hand, had become wildly aroused. Again he had experienced another using a diaper. He wanted to join in, to experience the sensation of wetting himself, but he couldn’t. Not then.

“Hey man,” AJ said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s probably just your head thing, you’ll get over it. That’s what you had ‘em for anyways.”

“It wasn’t me that was supposed to have them.” Josh corrected him.

“Still…” AJ trailed off unable to argue the point.

So the diapers had been for Quinn, Dustin concluded. It didn’t actually matter, Josh had used the thing.

“Nobody’s going to find out.” Dustin comforted him. “We’re not telling nobody, and it’s not like Quinn or Carson will either. We all wore them, so we’re all in the same boat.”

“Thanks guys.” Josh said wiping a developing tear from his eye.

“Come on,” AJ said, “We should get ready for breakfast.”

Josh entered the small sitting area after exiting Louis’s office. He was surprised to find that AJ was standing against the far wall, waiting.

“Hey.” Josh greeted as he sat down on a near sofa exhaustedly.

“Dude, we gotta go.” AJ said impatiently.

“What are you talking about?” Josh asked.

“You mom sent Jake to go find you. I decided to give him a hand. We’ve been looking for like the past hour man. She’s worried and Jake’s pissed.”

“Damn it!” Josh cursed loudly as he stood up and pulled his hand through his hair in a state of anxiety. “You didn’t bring him here, did you?”

“Who, Jake?” AJ asked. “Nah he’s still at the beach waitin’ for me, or us I should say.”

“How long has he been there?” Josh asked as he rocked back and forth on his heels.

“I don’t know, about ten or fifteen minutes.” AJ responded. Josh nodded and AJ continued, “Why’d you come down here anyway?”

“I had to get away from my place. Me and my mom had this big fight. She thinks I joined a gang.” Josh paused so AJ could laugh. Freaking peanut gallery he thought. “I also wanted to get some time off, ya know? I was thinkin’ that maybe I could get somebody else to do half of my shifts. “

“You mean Lou was thinking.” AJ guessed correctly.

“Pretty much.” He sighed, “Ya know anybody interested?”

“How about Jake?” AJ suggested.

Now it was Josh’s turn to laugh. Jake had spent the last week virtually hating Josh about this whole damn secret job. He imagined how that conversation would go and chuckled to himself. He was certain that would never happen. It’s funny how wrong some people can be.

A short while earlier yet not directly pertaining to the actual series of ‘flashbacks’…

Jake was carried into a small storage room that was really more of a glorified closet. His two captors discarded him onto the cold cement floor and walked back toward the door. Jake got up to follow them but the bearded one pushed him back down onto the ground forcefully.

“Now if you stay put and keep quiet things won’t have to get nasty.” He said looking directly into Jake’s glaring eyes. The latter did not move as they left him alone.

Jake could not here anything through the thick door that separated him from freedom. He didn’t struggle to escape nor did he scream; he knew it would be useless. He had seen that this was the only occupied building around when he had arrived there a short time before. This contributed to the helpless feeling that had enveloped his heart. Jake was terrified. He didn’t have a clue what this place was or why he was dragged down into the smelly basement of a crappy old building. Jake’s only hope was that either Josh or AJ would find out he was there and save him. But maybe they would be too pissed off he thought. What if they got angry because he had followed them to their ‘secret hideout’, so to speak. Jake began to shake as he hoped against hope that he would make it out of there soon.

After a short wait the door was opened. The bearded guy walked in followed by another slightly older man. The second looked to be in his early twenties. The bearded guy stood at the door while the other came and sat down on the ground next to Jake as though they were old friends.

“Do you know what Bedlam is?” He asked abruptly.

“W-What?” Jake stammered.

“Do you know what Bedlam is? Not the actual definition or concept, either. Are you aware of the deeper meaning of what I’m talking to you about?”

Jake shook his head from side to side, he didn’t want to speak.

“You checked him right?” The man beside Jake asked the other.

“Thoroughly.” The bearded guy replied flatly.

The questioner didn’t look convinced. Turning back to Jake he asked “How is it that you ended up with the cast and the cuts on your face?” He asked almost caringly.

“I… I got jumped by some gang down by the pool hall.” Jake answered slowly.

“I heard about something like that actually.” the bearded man commented.

“Good news for you then.” He said to Jake, “I’m Louis; this here’s my brother Shawn.” He finished nodding at the bearded one. He extended his hand which Jake shook reluctantly, not sure what to think.

“I’m Jake.” He said quietly.

“Well Jake,” Louis continued, “It’s good to meet you, even if it is under such, uh, unfortunate circumstances.”

Jake was silent. There was something about this Louis guy that made him instantly likeable; the kind of guy you want to be around. Despite his current condition, Jake found himself almost trusting this new stranger.

“Jake, I’m not going to lie to you; it seems to me that you and I have a dilemma.” He proceeded as he looked down at Jake, “You’ve stumbled across something that you probably shouldn’t have. That can’t be changed. Now I could just take you out to the dock and shoot you in the head.” He paused as he saw Jake begin to panic. “Relax, it was a joke, but we are going to have to solve this most precarious problem.”

“I won’t tell nobody.” Jake insisted nervously.

“Tell anybody what Jake?” Louis asked, “What exactly did you see here tonight?”

“Not much.” Jake stated this more like a question, hoping that it would be the answer that his interrogator wanted.

“Alright then,” Louis proceeded “Why were you here tonight?”

“I was looking for my cousin.” Jake responded simply.

“And why would your cousin be here?” Louis wondered aloud.

“I dunno,” Jake shrugged, “You’re the one he was talking to.”

A look of understanding spread across Louis’ features.

“Ohhhhh,” Louis said as he began to realize “You’re Josh’s cousin. Or rather, Josh is your cousin. It doesn’t matter either way but it is interesting nonetheless.”

“Does that mean you’ll let me go?” Jake questioned him hopefully.

“I don’t see why we would keep you locked in here so yeah, I guess we could let you out.” Louis said as he stood up. “Shawn could you go deal with the guy at our place? I’ve got some more pressing matters.”

“Whatever.” Shawn apparently agreed and went on his way.

He helped Jake to his feet and the three of them left. They entered into a short hallway that opened up into a much larger square room which was full of sofas. There was a single door on each of the three walls that compromised the rest of the room. Josh and AJ were standing in the middle of the room deep in a conversation. They were oblivious to their arrival until the other of Jake’s original abductors came in through the door on the left.

“What, we letting the captive free already? I didn’t even get to torture him yet.” He said as he flung himself onto one of the couches.

“Jake?” Josh asked nobody in particular but more in a state of shock.

“In the flesh.” Jake replied.

“What are you doing here?” AJ and Josh asked simultaneously.

“You know him?” The boy on the couch asked the pair,

“Well, as fun as ‘twenty questions’ is I would like to speak to you Josh… privately.” Louis added as he directed the flabbergasted Josh into his office which was behind the door on the right.

“So what are you doing hear?” AJ asked once again.

“I figured I’d come find you since you were taking so damn long.” Jake responded smartly.

“You shouldn’t have come here.” AJ told him.

“Why not?” the other boy asked, “Don’t you like our happy little family?” He got up and shook Jake’s good hand, “I’m Zack.”

“Jake,” he replied “I’m Josh’s cousin.”

“I’ve seen you before.” Zack reconciled as he and Jake sat down.

“On the first day of school,” Jake said, “Remember? I almost hit you and your friends with my bike and one of you guys yelled at me and then chased a bird around. Your friend gave me his skateboard.”

“Oh, right.” Zack nodded, “Well, sorry about the whole ‘drag you into the cellar’ thing. Necessary precautions considering…”

“Quiet.” AJ commanded.

“What’s wrong mom?” Zack asked AJ with some underlying hostility in his voice, “Do we not trust poor Jake here?”

“No offense Jake,” AJ said as he turned to him, “But the less you know the better. Trust me.”

Louis came back into the room right then.

“Jake, why don’t you go talk to Josh for a bit. I think you two have got some stuff to work out.” He suggested.

“I agree.” Jake said as he walked into the office.

“Shows what you know,’ Zack mocked AJ.

Jake’s heart was just about to erupt through his chest. The collogue of emotions he had experienced over the past day had taken a tremendous toll on his well being. He figured that he had lost about a year off of his life just from the stress. But he was excited at the same time as he entered the diminutive office. Jake was finally going to get the answers he wanted.

The last day of camp had come so shortly that is it was almost as though it had not been a week in the wilderness at all, but rather a few short days. While the others wear out around camp bidding farewells, Dustin remained in the cabin, citing that he needed to finish his packing while everyone else had already completed this task. The full suitcases of his cabin mates lay on their respective beds. For the most part it had been a lie, but the truth was he planned to pack a little something ‘extra’. A half-empty package of youth diapers was situated on the unused councilor’s bed. This was the third pack that the boys had gone through, having each worn one to bed each night. The diapers had been resupplied by the nurse at their awkward request for more. With the exception of Quinn and Josh nobody had used them. Everyone in the cabin was aware of both their night time problems and this had lead to no confrontation. Things had, however, become a bit more awkward for Quinn when Josh regained control of himself part way through the week, but it had still been no issue. Dustin grabbed the entire package of diapers and crammed it into his overflowing pack with some difficulty.

Like a sickness the desire for diapers had consumed him that week. All his thoughts revolved around them. He wished that he could regress back to his early childhood. Dustin absolutely adored the firm squeeze of the absorbent padding around his privates. The feeling of freedom he got of not needing to rush to the bathroom but being able to go right there at any time was amazing for him. Dustin craved the diapers when we was without them, and when he did have one secured around his waist he was blissful. He knew that he couldn’t bear to be separated from them after camp so he had decided to take them home. Dustin was certain that the others wouldn’t notice, except perhaps Josh.

Josh had appeared to have been aware of Dustin’s infantile attachment. He hadn’t come right out and said it, but the look in his eye when he regarded him was all to knowing. It was because of this that Dustin should have been able to for see the following confrontation he would experience.

As Dustin struggled with the zipper of his suitcase he heard the door open behind him as Josh walked in.

“Oh, uh, hey Josh.” Dustin greeted him nervously as he fumbled with his luggage.

Josh sat on his bunk and stared from the empty councilor’s bed to Dustin.

“You really like ‘em, huh?” He asked.

“No, I was just, um… what?” Dustin responded in a state of alarm.

“Come on man, don’t play dumb.” Josh went on, “We both know what’s in there.” He nodded at Dustin’s suitcase.

Dustin was quiet. He had nothing to say. It wasn’t like he could just come out and admit his love of diapers.

“It’s called a DL,” Josh said, “Or maybe a TB for you. That’s diaper lover and teen baby, respectively. You were pretty easy to figure out; you were always so interested in the diapers and you kept staring at Quinn and me when we woke up wet.”

“How do you…” Dustin began, “What are you talking about? Like, how do you know all this?”

“Well,” Josh replied, “Maybe because I like diapers, too.”

“Really?” Dustin inquired.

He was astounded. He had led himself to believe that he was probably the only kid in the world who liked diapers, and here was his newest friend admitting he had the same passion. Dustin wondered how many other kids shared their secret.

“Well, me and AJ both to tell ya the truth. We both used to wet the bed and we each wore diapers, well, goodnites for him, to bed every night. Then we found out about each other and we agreed that it was nothing to be ashamed of and we could have some fun with it too. AJ was kinda into it first, he got me to use them when I was awake. I liked it. I don’t know why but I did, and I still do. We just sort of explored it, ya know? There’s some cool websites you can check out and stuff.”

“Wow,” Dustin exclaimed, “You’re serious?”

“Totally.” Josh answered.

The two continued to discuss diapers until they had to leave. Josh said that if he ever had the chance he’d give Dustin a call, seeing that they were only half a city apart. Josh later told AJ about Dustin. AJ claimed to have known all along. Josh didn’t argue. He was happy to leave camp with a new friend, while Dustin was leaving camp with a whole new perspective of life.

Jake and Josh sat opposite each other, the desk a barricade between them. The tension was brutally evident which only magnified the stress level of both. The awkwardness of the conversation they would soon have was nearly embarrassing for both boys. They didn’t speak for some time; the proverbial breath before the plunge. Jake had gone into the room excited to end all this discomfort, but he now found himself engulfed by it. He began to subconsciously question whether or not he could handle whatever seemingly unholy confessions Josh would belay on to him. Jake fought against the tides of unease that battered him, just struggling to commence with the conversation.

“So…” he finally managed to croak out.

“So what?” Josh asked.

“Can I ask you something?” Jake wondered aloud.

“Please do.” Josh requested shortly.

“So you uh, like to wear diapers, right?” Jake asked.

He already knew the answer, but he wanted everything out in the clear.

“Yep,” Josh replied quite simply, as though it were nothing. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”

“If you knew that I knew,” Jake questioned, “Why didn’t you say anything.”

“I dunno,” his cousin answered distantly as he appeared to zone out. “I figured maybe it would all just disappear. I don’t think I actually believed that, but I wanted to and I guess that was enough to convince myself that you would just forget.”

“And yet here we are.” Jake interjected.

“Right.” Josh agreed. “I’m sorry we left you out of this, but I was pretty sure that you wouldn’t get it.”

“I don’t.” Jake admitted.

“I never expected you too.” Said Josh “I can’t conceive how you could possibly understand. It’s something I like that's probably just out there to you. I just want you to appreciate that I like it, well not even appreciate it. Maybe just accept it, because I sure as hell can’t change it.”

“Fair enough,” Jake complied, “But you gotta cut down on whatever it is you’re doing because you know damn well that it’s screwin’ with your life.”

“I know; it’s just…” Josh sighed and then trailed off.

Jake looked around the room with consideration and asked, “So, what is this place anyway?”

“This is work.” Josh answered.

“What is work?” Jake asked a little frustrated by the response.

WhatHidesInside.com,” Josh annunciated slowly. “We’re an offshoot of Bedlam.”

“That Louis guy mentioned that, um, Bedlam thing.” Jake remembered, “What’s that?”

“Oh it’s a lot of things,” Josh began in a tone that indicated his dislike for the topic, “It’s an anarchistic, nihilistic radical group who believes in the removal of all boundaries in life and the true expressions of ‘freedom’ and hedonism. It’s also seriously screwed up and a waste of time. Don’t repeat any of that, by the way.”

“If you don’t like it, why don’t ya quite?” Jake asked.

“Because, only Lou is affiliated, and I guess Shawn is a little bit too.” Josh continued, “We’re just exercising our right of expression via the internet.”

“How so?” Jake questioned.

“By posting pictures of our diapered selves on the site.” Josh admitted forwardly. “Again, I don’t expect that you can accept that, but I enjoy it. I know its weird, and I’m not doing it so some pedophile can go whack off at night either. I’m doing it because I want to.”

“I’m fine with that.” Jake said after some consideration, “I’m not gonna freakin’ disown ya because of what you like to do.”

“That’s good of you,” Josh said, “Because if you hated me for it I’d be interested to see how you would treat AJ and Robbie.”

“What?” Jake asked in a state of shock.

“AJ and Robbie both do this too.” Josh proceeded cautiously.

“I knew about AJ, but Robbie too?” Jake asked quietly.

“Um, yeah man.” Josh said scratching the back of his head, “I guess he’s had to wear ‘em at night or something and I found out and, well, now he’s here. I’m not sure he likes it like we do, but he comes anyways; probably for the money.”

“How much money?” Jake asked still dazed by all of the information he was getting hammered into his skull.

“Well. We get a hundred bucks for each shoot, and there’s about one or two each week.” Josh replied, “I think that they make way more off the pictures getting downloaded but they use a lot for the rent of this place and to help fund Bedlam. A hundred bucks is great anyway.”

“For sure.” Jake concurred and then asked “How’d you, uh, find out about this place?”

“An old friend.” Josh replied.

A short silence ensued in which both boys considered the other and what they had just discussed.

“That about all you wanna know?” Josh asked his younger cousin.

“I guess so.” Jake responded.

“So are we cool now?” Josh questioned hopefully.

“Definitely,” Jake replied, “Thanks for telling me all that.”

“After how we treated you, you deserved some answers.” Josh said.

“Yeah, well don’t worry about that…” Jake trailed off.

“One more thing,” Josh warned him, “Lou actually sent you in here so I could convince you to pose for the site. I need a replacement to cover some of my shifts, and he suggested I get you to. I’m not asking you to, so when he asks you to, don’t.”

Jake paused for a bit. His mind was entering a whole new frame of thought. What if he tried it, the diaper thing? All of is friends were doing it, so why shouldn’t he give it a try? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. He had never considered wearing diapers, but he didn’t want to be narrow-minded about the matter. The depths of his consciousness rebelled against him, reminding him that he had been disgusted and appalled by the same thoughts earlier that day. Jake ignored his gut instinct. The drive for acceptance into a new world can be a powerful one.

“Maybe I’ll give it a try.” Jake said suggestively.

“What?” Josh asked, quite surprised.

“I think I wanna do it.” Jake repeated. “I mean, I can’t bash it if I don’t try it, right?”

“You don’t have to man, really.” Josh insisted.

“Maybe I do.” Jake said as he walked out of the office.

Jake emerged into the opposite room with Josh following suite. The other three looked up as he did so.

“So,” Louis began, “Are you in?”

“Sure.” Jake replied.

“How’s Tuesday sound?” Louis asked.

“What?” Jake questioned.

“For your first shoot,” Louis clarified “How does Tuesday sound?”

“Oh, um, fine I guess.” Jake shrugged.

“Great.” said Louis. “Now would you kindly all exit the premises so I can lock up and get out of hear?”

Jake, Josh, AJ and Zack all left shortly afterward. Zack’s house was in the opposite direction so they soon parted ways. The remaining three made their way back home slowly, though they kept a mutual silence. Jake had thought that partaking in the whole diaper thing would bring Josh and him together, but his cousin hardly said another word to him that night.

Another year had passed and the Josh and AJ once again found themselves at Camp Stonewater. This time they were part of the younger group of campers as this was the senior age group. Though they longed to return to cabin 18 which held so many memories for them they had been assigned to cabin 10, the youngest boys cabin.

The boys reluctantly entered the cabin and tossed their luggage on their respective bunks, which were both on the bottom. They found that the councilor’s bed was occupied this year; another dream shattered. The door was suddenly flung open. Josh and AJ stared at the supposed intruder as he came in, finding a face that was only vaguely familiar gazing back.

“Last year when I did that you two almost died.” The new boys said.

“Dustin?” AJ asked in surprise.

“Always will be.” Dustin answered.

The once small and annoying boy had grown into a young man. He had increased to about 5’11’’ and looked his age now at fourteen. His previously spiked hair now grew straight and a fair ways down his neck. He still wore glasses, though they too had evolved into a more intelligent looking set of specs.

“Hardly recognized ya.” Josh admitted. “Ya look a bit older.”

“Still the same kid at heart.” He laughed as he placed his pack on the remaining bed.

“So, how’s life?” AJ questioned him as he unpacked some of possessions.

“Good enough.” Dustin responded, “Still in Hammer Bay, how about you guys?”

“Same deal man.” Josh answered.

“Do you guys, uh, still like to, um, ya know… where diapers.” He whispered this as though it were a matter of national security.

Josh and AJ exchanged glances. “Yep,” Josh replied, “Why do you ask?”

“I can’t say much,” Dustin continued, “But when we get back to Hammer Bay I’ll show you guys something that you’re never gonna believe, if you’re interested.”

Hints of the old excitable Dustin were imminent in his voice. This was obviously something pretty huge.

“What do ya mean by that?” Josh questioned him.

“Well, you’ll have to wait to see.” Dustin admitted. “It’ll make it more special or something.”

“Can you give us clue?” AJ asked curiously.

“Well I guess so.” Dustin agreed. “Have you guys ever heard of a group called Bedlam?”