The Disappearance of Tommy

Misdirected Anger

"There...now your all clean." Phil handed Tommy one of techno's shirts that he knew would be too big for the boy, but it would have to do. He nodded and watched Phil leave the room. 6208 left the room with the purple shirt that had some weird logo that looked like it was spray painted on.

"Great." Phil said and clapped his hands together, The boy flinched and moved his hands to cover his head. Phil gasped and raised his hands up to show that he wasn't going to try anything.

"Im sorry...for frightening you. I was just- showing I was happy." Phil smiled and watched the boy slowly move his hands away from his head.

"Here...you can actually sleep in that room there." Phil pointed to the room he came out of.

"I'm sure Techno won't mind."  Tommy nodded and walked back, Phil followed behind and waited to turn the lights off and close the door. As soon as he did he heard screaming from behind the door, Phil grimaced and opened the door and flicked the light switch on.

"What!? What's wrong?"

"..."

"Oh- okay I'll leave the door open." Phil left again and let out deep sigh, he made his way to his own bed and crawled in. He raised the sheets to his chin and rolled over to see a shadow in the dark. He screamed and scrambled out of the bed.

"6208?...what's wrong?"

He lit a match and held the burning candle in his hand to illuminate a small portion of the room.

"S...stey."

"Stay? You want- oh...okay." Phil slipped his slippers on and held the boys hand as they went into the hall and back to Techno's room. Phil sat in the nice comfy chair in the corner of the room and the boy went back to his bed.

"Get some sleep."

When Phil woke up he heard soft breathing from down on the floor. Sure enough, that same little boy laid on the floor of Techno's room. Rolled up into a small ball and squeezing the shirt he was given.

"Who is that?!" If Phil was barely awake before he sure was awake now. In the door was was one of his sons, he was still a teenager and... what not. So Phil knew this was bad news.

"Techno! When did you get back?"

"Just now, who is this?!" 6208 woke up and it only took him a second to realize that he was a threat. The boy scrambled and ran over to Phil, he hid behind his legs just like before.

"Uh.." Techno looked at Phil who wore a confused, but welcoming smile.

"This is 6208."

"What does that mean?"

"That's his name."

"That isn't a name." Phil could hear Will giggle from outside the room, he rolled his eyes and reached back.

"It's okay...no need to be afraid." He ruffled the boys hair and smiled, the boy squeezed the green robe and shook his head.

"You frightened him."

"What- he was sleeping in my bed! In my room!"

"Yeah well- things got complicated."

"You aren't adopting-"

"I don't have a choice."

"What does that mean?" Techno messaged his temples and placed his glasses on his nightstand.

"The- whoever he was with.." Phil's words stopped, he looked down at the boy. He was littered with scar tissue and new cuts or scratches that were still healing.

"He will stay with us from now own." Phil started walking away and 6208 raced to stay by his side, desperately trying to remain hidden from the two older boys. Techno watched Phil walk out with his chin up and his eyes closed, like he was proud of himself. Meanwhile the two older boys stood their confused and motionless.

"You must be hungry." Phil grabbed an apple from the bowl and started to cut it into bite size pieces.

"Try this." 6208 took the apple from Phil's fingers and bit into it. He hummed and nodded while chewing the slice.

"What is happening?" Techno whispered to Will who only shrugged.

"He tried to rob us last night."

"What? Did Phil-"

"Nope." Techno held a hand over his face and shook his head.

"Phil...we can't do this again."

"Why not?" Phil faced the two boys.

"Well-...because..." Wilbur struggled for words so Techno helped him.

"Because we didn't agree."

"I'm the parent."

"...that is true." Techno whispered to Wilbur who punched him in the stomach with his elbow.

"Whatever." Wilbur went into the kitchen and grabbed one of those apple slices and sat down at the table.

"Why don't you go sit down with him?" Phil whispered to the boy who shook his head and reached up for another apple. He couldn't reach so Phil held it in front of him.

"Just try it.." Phil grabbed a napkin and placed it on the counter, he dropped three or four slices and pointed to the chair. Hesitantly everyone watched the boy walk to the chair, he pushed himself up with his arms and adjusted himself to sit in the large chair. Wilbur sneaked a few looks at the boy who snarfed the food down, Techno took his seat in front of 6208 and folded his hands.

"What are you?"

"Yeah...why do you have horns?" Wilbur rested his head in his palm and whispered. The boy closed his eyes and let out a shallow breath, his long red tail wrapped around his legs.

"S-..six-"

"That's your name...or your number." Wilbur cut him off.

"I'm asking what you are?"

"He doesn't know." Phil said setting a bowl in the center of the table and sat beside Techno.

"He can barely speak...what makes you think he'll know how to tell you?" 6208 lunged for the bowl and chewed away at the food.

"Bad things...happened to him, we shouldn't rush him to talk. If he even knows what happened." Phil and everyone else went silent.

"He's one of us now." Phil looked at the two older boys who reluctantly agreed.