The following morning I was woken by a cacophony of noises; voices, vehicles, radio static – it might have been a dream if not for being shaken rather heavily by a strong hand that seemed determined to dislocate my shoulder. As the world began to set in again I noticed the hand was attached to a policeman who wore a very stern expression. Staring at me a few seconds longer, he turned his head to speak into his radio.
"Dispatch, this is one-one-five-nine, I have located both boys. South-southwest of Archbishop Blaise County Park. Both are safe and appear unharmed. Will bring them to the station ASAP".
I rubbed my eyes as I turned away from the officer to my friend who seemed just as confused – and abruptly awoken – as I was. Turning back, I spoke.
"Wh-what's going on? Who are you?"
"PC Adam Kirsh. You were reported missing this morning. Both of you", his eyes darted between the two of us. "You're to come with me now and I'm to take you to the police station and back to your parents".
We looked at each other before looking back at the officer. I don't think either of us knew how to feel in that moment, so we just did as instructed. My friend packed everything back into his rucksack and we followed the officer to where his car was parked by the access road. I remember a kind of fear began to settle in my stomach as we walked towards the car although I didn't know why, but it felt like there was something terrible on the horizon and I was instinctively preparing myself for it.
The journey to the police station was a silent one aside from the occasional relay message on the radio. We sat in the back seat, holding hands like we always did, and just stared out of the window. I remember it being quite peaceful as I surrendered to the tiredness in my eyes and began to fall asleep again, only to be spirited awake by a sudden bump in the road.
The green of the park gave way to the black of the roads as we continued onward, eventually navigating the concrete jungle that was our own metropolis. We were driven through an automatic barrier and around to the rear of a police station. The officer parked near the building and told us to wait in the car for a moment as he stepped out, so we did. I saw him speak into his radio again and several seconds later an older man in a dark grey suit exited the building and ambled up to the officer, said a few words and then directed himself towards us, beckoning us out of the vehicle.
"Oh, boys! Your parents are inside! Come with me and I'll take you to them".
We didn't question the man as we followed him inside, our police escort following close behind.
We were led through a series of corridors before being stopped at a pair of double doors.
"This is where we have to split you up, I'm afraid" the suited man said. I nearly choked.
"I'll take this one from here" the officer said.
My friend and I exchanged a panicked expression before he was taken away from me and walked down another corridor. I wanted to say something, and in his eyes I think he wanted to say something too, but neither of us could fathom any words. And the last I saw of him was a parting glance as he was turned left at the end of the corridor and disappeared from my life.
Not too long after that I heard a shriek that reverberated throughout the building as I was being taken somewhere else. I shuddered to think what was happening to him, or what was going to happen to him, and then I realised with horror – recoiling at the thought of it – what was going to happen to me?
With every step I took the hallways seemed to stretch and I felt heavier. I didn't know what was going to happen or what to expect; I was split between not wanting to know and wanting to get it over quickly. I remembered my mother's reaction when she found us in my room that morning and I began to hyperventilate at the thought of it because I couldn't dispel the notion that it was mild in comparison to what awaited me.
"Here we are", the man's voice tearing me from my thoughts.
Every muscle in my body tensed. I was bracing myself for impact before I even knew what that meant. And when he opened the door I was greeted, to my surprise, by my just my father. He turned to face me with a look of relief on his face as he moved towards me. He thanked the man who brought me to him and then asked if it was okay if we left. The man said something about a 'final report' and then we were led outside. I walked with my father to the car and sat in silence as he began to drive us home. I felt like I should say something, but I didn't know what. I was saved the agony, however, as my father began to speak.
"So... What happened"?
I'm not sure which struck me hardest; the calmness in his voice or the nonchalant way he asked. Either way, I sensed that it wasn't going to be an easy conversation.
"What do you mean?" I asked tentatively.
"Well, where did you go?"
"The park" I answered.
He made a noise that sounded both unimpressed and unfulfilled, like I hadn't told him everything. We had gone to the park and that was the beginning and end of his question, but somehow it seemed like he was probing for more information but didn't actually want to ask, so I obliged.
"We were camping", I offered.
"Really? You and Ben? Camping?"
He didn't sound sold, like he thought I was lying. But I wasn't.
"Yeah", I replied. "He knocked on my window and we went camping".
Thesilence rang. Whether he believed me or not, I don't know, but suddenly therewas an atmosphere and I didn't like it.
"Well I hope you had fun".
His words sounded final. And a little while later we were home. And as I walked through the door, I understood why. If there was a record for screaming, my mother would have broken it. And if sound was physical, I would have been mutilated. So many words and unearthly noises emanated from my mother as she explained that I was never allowed to go anywhere again and that Ben was to be little more than a memory. Then, after the fallout, I was ordered to my bedroom where I just sat on my bed and cried until I fell asleep. I was so tired, so scared and so confused I just didn't know what else to do; I just wanted to die.
