SPASE

SPASE: CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The moment Maddie grabs for the little boy's hand, they know they are one in the same. Maddie doesn't really know what that exactly means, but they know it means something profound.

As soon as their hands met, Maddie feels their my stomach pull outward. They know they aren't going home, like, to the hospital, but somewhere else. Eli, Reynolds telepathically tells them his name is Eli. Eli leads them to a place where it is easy to break any form of ice for a kid; the last place Eli had control and felt safe: the playground.

No matter what, if a person has nothing to say, which Maddie frequently doesn't, that same, introverted person could always find something to talk about or bring up on the playground. Whether it is on the teeter-totter or the jungle gym that Maddie always manages to fall off of, a person can always find something to laugh at or talk about on the playground.

Reynolds sprawls out on the cool, green grass adjacent to the twisty slide. He closes his eyes and lets out a low growl that almost sounds like a sigh of relief, as he drifts off.

You got this, don't worry. I'll be right here, he relays.

Maddie feels abandoned and exposed, standing with their boots in the gravel. They scuff their boots by kicking the gravel as they wait for Eli to make the first move. They walk to the swings and sit, barely fitting their bottom in the seat.

Eli is this little boy. Hell, he could be Maddie's little brother if their family wasn't shattered into pieces. Maddie always wanted a younger brother. Someone who they might actually be able to share hobbies. Someone they might be able to talk to about what was good music versus bad music. Someone who they would always love unconditionally, even though they hated each other at times too. They would feel the same way about me and even without mom and without any good part of their dad, they wouldn't be alone, but they'd be together.

Maddie touches the palms of their sweaty hands to the chains of the swing. Maddie thinks, "I'm probably going to snap the chains and break my ass."

"The swings have always been my favorite too!" Eli exclaims, running to meet Maddie. He sits in the swing next to them and immediately begins to pump his legs. He swings back and forth like a pendulum.

Maddie smirks. They try to smile back, but for whatever reason Maddie doesn't know what to say back. All that comes out is a smirk.

"What's your name, like your real name?" Eli asks, looking at Maddie as they swing.

"Maddie. I'm Maddie," they smile back.

"I've been waiting a long time," Eli says under his breath. It seems that his smile would get bigger and bigger with each back and forth motion of the swing. Eli stretches his arms, looking at the world upside down as he swings and lets out a scream. Maddie watches him as they swing slowly next to him. Maddie can't believe the fun that this kid is having. Maddie can't help but smile and laugh just looking at him.

"So, what are you?" Eli says as he keeps on swinging.

"What? What kind of a fucking question was that?" Maddie thinks to themselves. Maddie imagines rocks being thrown at them on the playground all over again. Maddie gains their composure. After all, he is only a kid, probably six or seven. He doesn't even know what he is talking about.

"Well, I don't know what you mean," Maddie replies back.

Eli slows down. "What do you mean you don't know? How do you not know?"

Maddie looks over at Reynolds, feeling a bubbling in their stomach as if they are going to throw up all over this kid. Maddie kind of wants too, (not going to lie). The little shit deserves it for that comment he just made. Reynolds opens one eye and then closes it really tight. Obviously, he thinks that Maddie can handle the question on their own without busting this kid's ass.