Helen

The Administration #4.5

by Manna Francis

Another short story in The Administration series.

Helen was someone that Toreth interrogated 12 years before. But now she found him again. And she doesn't want to leave him.

Genres: M M Romance, Dystopia, BDSM, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Romance, Abuse

13 pages

First published May 20, 2009

About the author

I'm the author of The Administration Series, a near-future SF dystopia published by Casperian Books. You can find the series in paperback, e-book, or (partly) on line at the Mannazone website.

I've been writing original slash since 2002 — or homoerotic fiction, m/m romance, yaoi, as you prefer. Original slash is my personal term of choice because I feel it best represents my writing in terms of style and what readers can expect to find there. Individual stories may or may nor be sexually explicit.

Reviews

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally we get something more about the interrogation part of Toreth's job. Finally Warrick is force to stop ignoring it and stare it in the eye. Warrick finally gave thoughts to his feelings about I&I.
My problem with it is that I was left wanting more, it didn't fully satisfied me and so I hope they explore this again in the future with more deepness. I think it is necessary for their relationship to continue advancing (although I am starting to wonder if it's ever going to get to a define place ).



My reviews of The Administration series’ books:
Book 1: Mind Fuck - 3 Stars
Book 2: Quid Pro Quo
Book 2.1: Unlucky Break - 2 Stars
Book 2.2: Friday - 3 Stars
Book 2.3: Pancakes - 5 Stars
Book 2.4: Surprises - 4 Stars
Book 2.5: Family - 4 Stars
Book 2.6: Mirror Mirror - 4 Stars
Book 3: Games & Players - 5 Stars
Book 3.1: Game, Set - 4 Stars
Book 3.2: As Long As It Lasted - 3 Stars
Book 3.3:Fuck of the Day - 3 Stars
Book 3.4: Wine, Women and Cushions - 2 Stars
Book 3.5: Playing with Fire - 5 Stars
Book 3.6: All Work and no Play - 3 Stars
Book 3.7: Gee - 2 Stars
Book 3.8:Shopping & Fucking - 5 Stars
Book 3.9: Pool School - 3 Stars
Book 3.95: Without the Game - 4 Stars
Book 4: Control - 4 Stars
Book 4.2: Wait For It - 4 Stars
Book 4.3: Caged - 5 Stars
Book 4.4: Unaccustomed as I Am... - 3 Stars
Book 4.5: Helen - 4 Stars
Book 4.6: Shopping, No Fucking - 4 Stars
Book 4.7: Losing It - 4 Stars
Book 4.8: Coming from America
Book 5: Quis Custodiet - 3.5 Stars
Book 5.2: Gratuitous Kink - 4 Stars
Book 5.3: Then and Now - 4 Stars
Book 5.4: Friends in the Right Places - 2 Stars
Book 5.5: Smoke & Cameras - 4 Stars
Book 5.6: Sunday - 3 Stars
Book 6: First Against the Wall - 4 Stars
Book 7: For Certain Values
Book 7.1: Family Values
Book 7.2: Boy's Toys - 3 Stars
Book 7.3: Make it a Surprise
Book 7.4: Prodigal
Book 8: Blood & Circuses
Book 9: Corpora Delicti
Gratuitous Epilogue

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago my grandma died. I went over to her house to support my mum and family, and not much later had to open the door to two young men who would wash her body, dress her and do all the things to make her look appropriate for viewing. When I let them inside the house I couldn't help but notice that one of them was rather attractive. He offered his condolences and was very correct of course. But when they were finished I noticed him looking my way several times.

And that's when I asked myself if I could do it. If I could be in a relationship with someone who handles dead people - sometimes already in a state of decomposition - during the day and then would come home to me after work. And touch me.
Back then, I didn't think I could. And I still think that. No matter how much respect I have for people who are in this business, to actually be with someone who has a job like that would still freak me out.

Which brings me to Toreth...

Warrick states that he fucks Toreth and not his job and therefore doesn't want anything to do with The Administration. In the end, I don't think it works that way. Yet, I am very much like Warrick. I just pretend to be blissfully unaware of the more unpleasant aspects of Toreth's personality as well. It's not that hard a thing to do. Since Francis created such a ridiculously exciting character, it's really pretty easy to just gloss over his ugly profession and instead appreciate the convenience his expertise adds to those glorious sex scenes.

But of course Francis does nothing better than to fuck minds...so here we have Helen and Friends in the Right Places. Stories that make me feel like a hypocrite all over again.
And still I wouldn't say no to Toreth. So, yeah... I'm with you Warrick!

[Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that this one freaked me out!

It’s been alluded to that Toreth’s behavior past and present might come and bite him in the ass at some point. I hadn’t, however, expected Helen. I felt a mix of being creeped out by her insanity yet sympathetic to what she’s been through.

Getting details of what Toreth has done in his career, what he ordered, allowed, and watched done to Helen…I felt a bit like Warrick…I’d rather not know…

But, as all of you TA readers have said before in comments and threads, Warrick knows what he’s involved with. His internal monologue at the end shows he realizes HIS choice…

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Administration tale is a shocking, sad, brutal, no-holds-barred look at Toreth’s work. While out and about with Warrick, Toreth bumps into Helen, a woman he interrogated early in his career. The ugly confrontation forces both men to stop, think, and even talk about the off limits subject of Toreth’s job. This time I&I can not and will not be ignored.

Once again I find myself praising Manna Francis here. She presents Helen’s circumstances, condition, and case from two sides with hard, straight forward, brutal details and emotion. Helen’s husband presents one side and Toreth tells the other. But the story truly allows readers to take in each chilling detail, digest, and decide for themselves how to feel. I never felt manipulated or hit over the head with sympathies or meaning. Was Helen a criminal or victim? Did Toreth feel remorse or regret for his actions? Does he care what Warrick thinks of his work?

Then we hear Warrick’s voice and take on Toreth’s job, Helen, and what his feelings and actions might make him. His thoughts packed quite a punch!

”I know all that, and I don’t care about it enough to give him up.”

Very powerful, thought provoking story that picked and poked at my head about Toreth, the Administration, and what we are willing to ignore or let go for love.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you read on, you dive in, you live with them, you feel with them.
It's like you fall in step with Warrick, "Out of sight, out of mind.”
And it works, for a while.

And then baaaaaammm.
And I mean
BAAAAAAMMM.

Manna Francis, in her ever so imperturbable, ever so understated, ever so brilliant way, will confront you with reality.
With what you are dealing with here. With who you have grown very close and attached with.
And, if you’re honest, it does make your toe-nails curl. It actually, seriously, chills you to your bones. It’s pretty unbearable.

Yep, she absolutely refuses to make it easy for you. It might even disturb your sleep that night.

Warrick, you sick, sick fuck, how can you still look him in the eyes? And, Dani, you sick, sick fuck, how can you still feel for him?

Manna Francis, you are simply devious. And brilliant, always brilliant.




------


All time favorite.

I can`t recommend this series enough.
Fucking smart, the most nutritious mind food, intellectually stimulating, incredibly psychologically perceptive and astute, wise and full of weary empathy ... see my raving review of the whole series here.

[Ilhem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manna Francis has a way to make you face the truth...Ouch.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Manna Francis, the original mind fucker, you. You keep having me question myself; my thoughts, my perceptions on Toreth. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, coming back on it, then cutting him slack again. Seeing myself as a good judge of character, then naive, silly and stupid. And in denial.

Helen is a very poignant and disturbing story. It makes you reevaluate everything you thought on Toreth. And then, in my case, still giving him the benefit of the doubt. Because, in my case (as in Warrick's), I simply want to.

[Irina Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heartbreakingly sad and disturbing one, because this woman likes to make me suffer.

It's pretty horrifying, and terribly insightful.
This is, basically, a story about the ugly side of Toreth's job and Toreth himself, and about how these affect his and Warrick's relationship.
And it's simply not normal that after a story like this one I just love them both even more than before.

[LenaRibka · Rating 3 out of 5]

2, 8 stars

Toreth surprised me twice:
the first time because of his reaction,
the second time because of his reaction.

A touching story with a new view on some familiar things but this sequel doesn't belong to my favourites.

[DayDreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You could've told me we were only there to help make up the numbers. I'd have brought a blanket."
Warrick decided to up the game. "Don't worry, I shall know not to ask you next time."
Cornered, Toreth shrugged. "I've had worse afternoons. Didn't you say they do evening performances in bars? That wouldn't be so bad. Something to drink..." His hand dropped below the table and Warrick felt a touch on his knee, then fingertips walking slowly up his thigh. "Nice dark seats at the back."


----
So Warrick cares just a bit more for it to not matter at all, but not enough for it to make a difference. Good to know. It isn't really a newsflash, though.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manna Francis really has way of freaking a person OUT. Consider me freaked....again!

I admit, I am just like Warrick in my response to Helen and what she represents - all the ugly that is Val Toreth. I know it, but I don't want to see it, EVER.
I hurts to face the truth and even though a reminder is probably a good thing. But still...what am I going to do with you Val? What am I going to do?

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

RE-READ 2021
Ugh. This one hurts. But we also turn a HUGE corner.
Poor Helen. Poor Michael. Poor Toreth.



WOW
Sometimes you can't help but take your work home with you.
For Toreth this can never be good.
Warrick handles it better than I imagined, better than Toreth imagined too.
Funny he keeps expecting Warrick to run and the more he dreads it, the less likely it seems Warrick will.

Kinda nice to see Toreth panic about it though. 3 years ago he would never have been ashamed or trying to justify why he has to do what he does.
Somebody's got to do the shitty work nobody wants to think really happens right?
Instead of weakening the two of them, nutty Helen might have added another link to their chain...
stronger, yes I believe this made them stronger.

[Marlobo ♥ epilogues · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 18, 2014
I re-readed this story last night. It made me sick, again.

In no moment during my reading of TA until now I have forgotten what is Toreth, it's out of the question for me to simplify the issue here saying "it's his job". This story not only didn't allow me to forget what's Toreth but it rubbed it to me on the face.

In spite of my reaction to the story, I cannot be ignorant of the merits of a writer capable to create such havoc in the feelings of the readers; from there my rating, although I don't want nor I plan read it never again


October17, 2014
I need to think about this... I can't rate or comment right now.

My state of mind was similar when I finished The Last Rebellion by Lisa Henry.

[La*La · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read on December 18, 2014.
Re-read on July 11, 2015.

Here's the slap back to reality in case I managed to delude myself and forgot about Toreth's profession.

Creepy, sad, eye-opening..this story was fascinating and disturbing.

I still love Toreth, though.

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toreth, you're fifty kinds of fucked up. And what? Are we worried that Warrick might realize it, leave and never come back? Drowning ourselves in booze, are we?

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know what Toreth's like, how he behaves and the awful things he's done for his job but I found this shocking all the same.

[Trix · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a touching story!

I felt really bad for Helen and her husband, Michael. Maybe the truth of it lies between what both Michael and Toreth said but the lasting effects on Helen... *shudders* I don't know whether Michael stayed with her because he loves her or because he feels guilty for what happened to her. Theirs is a tragic story.

And I was surprised by the strength of emotion Toreth displayed in what concerns Helen. He may say he doesn't care but his actions speak otherwise.

This little impromptu meeting also caused Warrick to analyse his involvement with Toreth. I hope it won't cause issues further along.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy freakin' fuck--what a horror story

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sick-making. Kudos to Francis for not sanitizing Toreth's job.

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, wow. I don’t even know what to say.

[Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~~

Quite the balance between Toreth's and Warrick's evolution in this story. I can't decide at this point if they're making progress or just falling deeper into denial.

Manna has a way of causing the reader to be a part of the story and to examine personal, internal conflicts that unfortunately exist in our current world, not just some future dystopia.

~~~

Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:


http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com

[Danny Tyran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psycho Helen has found Toreth again. Ten years ago, during an interrogation, Toreth ordered her to be raped by many guards in front of her husband to force him to speak. And he f*cked her after the trial, just for the fun. A damn job!

What Toreth has to say about it?

"What else would you like me to say? I have nightmares about it? I'm sorry I did it? Well, I don't and I'm not. That's just the way it is."

He feels only sorry for the last part (f*cking her after the trial), because it left a spot on his I&I record. His only fear is that Warrick could not want to see him anymore now that he knows about Helen. But Warrick is much too addicted to what Toreth represents for him to break their relationship.

[Elizabetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you know, just when you think you’re team Toreth, dear author clubs you over the head. Damn it. On a clear and beautiful day, on a broad plaza, the worst nightmares can take shape. Toreth tortures people for a living, some of them innocents. You can never forget that.

‘Helen’ forces you to face that these two aggravating yet strangely appealing guys make their place in a scary world. What kind of place is this? What kind of a place is the Administration?

Besotted and aware, Warrick sees it all. “I fuck Toreth, not his job, he thought. My defense.” Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Warrick.

All the glittery stars.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short, we meet Helen, who is a woman, Toreth did some bad things to, 12 years ago..

Warrick and Toreth are out on a date, when she appears in front of them.. of course Warrick is a bit shocked, but Toreth leaves, and goes home drinking, thinking that the meeting with Helen, will make Warrick leave him (not that they are a couple or anything, nooo of course not ;)

but Warrick lets himself into Toreth's flat, and tells him he's not going anywhere.. Anywho.. Toreth is too drunk to have sex, but asks Warrick not to leave... Awww...

Yayyyy, Toreth!!!

[Connie Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warwick is confronted with the ugly and dangerous aspects of Toreth's job and chooses to ignore them because he doesn't want to end the relationship. I loved this story. Well written and a fascinating look at the dark side of Toreth's past. I DO think that Toreth has changed since he started seeing Warrick-for the better. Wondering when all this will come to a head...

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just sad and gross. Like Warrick, I don't want the read about what Toreth does at I & I, but in order to get to know and more fully understand Toreth we have to hear about his past. Personally I would never want to live in a world like theirs.

[Pianisuparse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 'Francis has an amazing ability to put so much into just a few pages. Here we learn more about Toreth as he and Warrick run into his past' stars.

[Simple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amped up the heat suddenly.

[Carmen-Shea Hepburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think we're all a bit like Warrick when it comes to Toreth and his job at I&I... easy to excuse it when you're actively not thinking about it. Very good reminder of just one of the many things he's done in his role as a para.