Security

1

"Please sir please, you have to help me!" I heard a high pitched voice yell, before a body collided with mine, causing me to drop my keys.

I steadied the boy in front of me, who looked absolutely petrified, tears streaming down his face as he glanced behind, hands shaking.

"What's happened? Are you okay?" I asked worried, looking him over. He was bleeding slightly, from a scrape on his forearm and a nasty cut on his leg. He looked about sixteen or so, and was very dirty, clothes torn, and light brown hair looking desperately in need of a wash.

"Please, please! Don't let then take me again, please I'll do anything!"

The pure fear in his voice sent shivers down me, and I nodded quickly, reaching down to grab my fallen keys.

"Okay, quick, come in here for a bit. I promise its safe, I won't let anybody in." I told him, unlocking the door to my café and ushering him inside. He half collapsed against my side as I led him in, dropping into the closest chair.

I walked over to the alarm pad, turning off the alarm, and switching on the half lights. I didn't want to put the full ones on for fear of drawing attention to ... whoever this boy was.

"Thank you so much Sir" He said quietly, grabbing my attention as I locked the door behind us.

"Yes, yes, of course! Do you need me to grab the first aid kit?" I asked cautiously, eyeing up his leg. He'd lifted it up slightly, now he was sat down, and it looked really painful, it was bleeding quite badly, probably not enough for stitches though I reckoned.

His shoulders slumped in relief, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "Would you? I won't stay for long I promise, just until ... until they're gone."

I smiled back, he looked absolutely terrified earlier, and I didn't want him to be scared of me, especially now it was only me and him in here.

"Can I call someone for you, your parents? The police?" I asked, hoping this would reassure him I meant no harm. I walked behind the counter as I spoke, turning on the kettle and reaching under a cupboard for the first aid kit, before walking back over to him.

He didn't answer me, about ringing anybody, which immediately set off alarm bells. What if he was on the run from the police?

A quick glance at him though and I knew that couldn't be it, he didn't look like he could hurt a fly!

"Here, pop your leg up on mine." I told him, sitting across from him and helping him lift his leg up carefully, laying it down on top of mine.  He winced as I moved it, and I felt so sorry for him - he didn't deserve to be in such pain, and be so terrified at such a young age.

He fiddled with a bracelet on his wrist as I began wiping the area around his cut, after he'd hesitantly allowed me to clean him up.

It looked slightly like the paper admission bands you get at the fair, or maybe a hospital wrist band.

I wasn't sure why he was so reluctant now, maybe embarrassed or just plain scared? But I assured him I had a first aid degree, pointing to the certificate framed across the room, making him chuckle. His laugh was adorable, and very infectious.

"So ... I'm Harry." I said awkwardly after a few moments, breaking the silence and looking at the slight smile on his face. I hated awkward silences, and I realised I hadn't had chance earlier to introduce myself.

"Well hi Harry, I'm Louis"

"So can I ask what happened out there Lou?"

He blushed at the nickname I gave him, but shook his head reluctantly.

"I'm sorry, I really can't say. I just ... please don't." He mumbled, letting out a sharp gasp when I started wrapping a bandage round the cut on his leg.

"Sorry love, it needs to be tight to stop the bleeding." I apologised, finishing off quickly.

"S'okay, just wasn't expecting it." He murmured, glancing towards the door every few seconds.

His hands were still shaking, and he looked very pale. I was half worried he was about to pass out on me.

I moved his leg off me once I'd finished, closing the first aid kit.

"Would you like a drink love?" I asked him, wandering back over to the counter and grabbing two cups.

"Erm no, I should really go. I means thanks but ..." He trailed off anxiously.

I watched him get up slowly, moving the drapes near him to one side and peering out of the window.

It was relatively small this café, but cosy. It had floor to ceiling windows on one wall, with pastel yellow drapes.

I owned a branch of cafés, among other business ventures, but this was by far my favourite. My inheritance when I was young had given me many opportunities, and allowed me to open the Sunshine cafés. When I first started, I'd struggled keeping on top of everything, like the staff and the bills. But with time, patience, and a brilliant personal assistant, the business had flourished.

I was a busy man, but every Sunday morning I always came and opened this café. I loved serving the regular customers, and it just slowed down my day, helped me put into perspective what this was all about. Plus it got fairly lonely at home sometimes, with it just being me, and I absolutely loved coming here.

Definitely worked out well for Louis today!

"Look, I'd feel a lot better if you stayed here for a bit, make sure that whoever those people were have definitely left. Sit back down, pop your leg up and I'll get you something to drink." I told him kindly, and was completely taken aback when he started crying. Oh god I must have scared him.

"Lou," I started gently, taking a step towards him as he wiped at his face.

"I'm sorry! It's just you're so nice! I'm so sorry, I'm all over the place today." He told me, trying to stop his tears.

"No need to apologise, I'm not sure what's happened but I'm guessing you're probably in shock. We'll get some tea in you and I'm sure things will seem a lot brighter." I promised him, as after all, tea fixed pretty much anything.

He thanked me profusely, before half collapsing into one of the booth seats, allowing him to swing his leg round and rest it completely.

I busied myself with making the tea, looking back when I heard him let out a deep sigh.

I saw he'd closed his eyes, leaning his head back, his hands rubbing together in his lap, clearly cold.

I barely knew him but I had such an urge to go over, give him a massive hug, and just protect him from the world.

Which sounds really odd, but as a volunteer at the local youth center, I can imagine what the poor kids dealing with.