Just like what was promised, the three women began their work on the little flower, but he dared not let them lay a hand on him. As soon Jenna left, Tyler pranced around the room, refusing to be touched.

Fauna and Ilse watched the child and tried to plead with him, while Rani stood by the cot and held a cigarette in her hand. She had a laughable grin on her face.

"Sweet flower, please let us help you." Fauna pleaded.

"We only want to help." Ilse added.

"I know what Josh wants!" Tyler cried. "He wants to turn me into a Bandito!"

"My dear child, I understand this is hard to take in, but we have been asked of Josh to do this." Fauna said.

Ilse added in again.

"It is the best thing he can do to protect you-"

The boy screamed.

"I DON'T WANT IT! I WANT TO GO HOME!"

Tyler hid himself away and covered his ears. Rani watched and chuckled.

"That little fool. There's no way you can change him."

"Rani, you shut your mouth." Ilse told her.

Fauna attempted to approach the child, but he resisted.

"Don't touch me!"

"Please, Tyler, at least allow us to bathe you."

The boy remembered the first time he had a bath. Josh helped him into the tub and washed him until he had the scent of fresh flowers.

When he was locked up in Dema, he was forced to bathe in freezing cold water that was covered in moss and stank of decaying flesh.

Tyler wanted so badly to bathe in the women's tub of steaming water, but did not feel comfortable with Fauna doing it.

"I-I want Josh to bathe me."

"I'm afraid he is very busy at this moment." Fauna told him.

"Jenna?" The boy asked.

"She's helping Kai and Linh guard the perimeter."

Tyler wanted that hot water, so he agreed to let Fauna bathe him.

~

The boy approached the two women and allowed them to remove his ragged Dema uniform. When they took off the clothing, they saw the marks and bruises that covered the child's naked body. Every whipping mark, burn, and bruise that colored Tyler's beautiful nude frame.

The women remembered when they endured beatings by the leader while Ender and Wren held them down. They remembered Jenna, when the leader beat and raped her upon arrival.

And, of course, their beloved Lilac Stasiuk, who was Linh's wife and their friend. Her beating led to her death, and they promised themselves to never let anyone hurt them again.

Fauna and Ilse took the boy's hands and walked them into the tub. Once his feet hit the water, they feared it would burn him.

"My child, it's too hot." Ilse said.

Tyler ignored them and slowly dipped his bruised nakedness into the piercing hot water.

He was expected to scream in agony from the bruises and marks left on his body, but to him, this was his first sigh of relief from the abuse he sustained while being held captive in Dema.

While in the water, Fauna and Ilse also undressed themselves and started washing the boy, while pouring in different salts and minerals to make him smell like a flower.

As they washed him, they began to question him about his life.

"Where are you from?" Fauna asked.

"From the garden." Tyler told her.

"Have you always lived there?" Ilse asked.

"For the first 15 years of my life."

"Do you remember anything before that?"

Tyler tried to think about his life before he was born as a human, but couldn't.

"N-No. I-I don't."

Ilse started rinsing off the cloth, then began to work on Tyler's abs.

"Josh and Jenna tell us that you bloomed months ago, and didn't understand how to live a normal life until you met them."

The boy chuckled.

"You can say that."

Fauna had her whole body buried in the water; laying her feet at the tips of Tyler's toes.

"Do you love Josh?"

Hearing the question made him smile.

"More than anything."

"Are you afraid of changing?"

Tyler turned away; looking out into the distance.

"I'm afraid of changing back into a flower. I don't want my life to be wasted."

He turned back to them.

"I want to live."

Before the women could ask another question, Rani stepped in.

"Then, become a Bandito so you don't have to end up becoming a flower again, if that's what it takes to stay with your pathetic boyfriend."

"Rani!" Fauna shouted. "This boy doesn't need to be tormented by your ugly words!"

"It's the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts."

Tyler started to become afraid.

"I don't want to be one of you."

"Josh only wants to strike back at the ones who captured you." Ilse said. "We have already sworn to do it."

"You are wrong! Dema is too powerful, and you all are putting yourselves in danger!"

"Our lives were already in danger when the last leader was in power." Fauna said. "He instructed pain and suffering just to get what he wants. Josh believes in justice, and he doesn't want to lose you."

Tyler understood that the Banditos risked their lives to save him from Dema, but his hold back was the fear of losing Josh and Jenna.

If he was to become a Bandito, he would be giving up his identity as an innocent young flower.

But, all his life, he had longed to stay human.

He looked at the three women.

"If I become a Bandito, Dema won't get me anymore?"

"We promised Josh to protect you, and we stand by that promise. You swear your oath, and you'll be safe." Fauna said.

Tyler closed his eyes and recalled a memory of when he was living in Josh's house. He was just bathed, and had made love to Josh for the first time. He was sleeping in the guest bedroom, until he woke up from a nightmare.

(Flashback)

Josh ran into Tyler's room as quickly as he could, only to find the child laying on the floor in his own pool of tears. His body was hot and shaky. His heart was racing.

The child was sad.

"Flower."

The boy looked up to see Josh looking upon him. He touched his cheek; rubbing away the remainder of his tears.

"It's me, flower."

When Tyler saw that it was him, he buried himself in Josh's arms.

The boy cried. All he could do was cry. Josh kept him close; kissing his burning hot forehead.

"I'm here, little flower."

"I'll always be here."

(Present)

When the boy opened his eyes, he still could see the three women surrounding him, but he kept his mind focused on Josh.

He was happy to know that the man he loves is in control of this group of people, and he's willing to fight to protect his precious flower human life.

It terrified to know that he needed to change identities to protect himself, but he realized that it had to be done so he could live.

He looked at Fauna and Ilse, and agreed to become a Bandito.