Getting It Together

Piece of Cake

The bakery was empty.

Jory watched as the last of the rush hour customers filed out the door, the bell above ringing merrily as they left.

Klaus had left a few minutes ago, only planning to go to the store and get more flour. Jory was the only employee left. Talia, Jory's mom, and his aunt were all out at the farmer's market, to get more ingredients and stock up. Jory's father was out delivering orders, and his uncle was doing errands.

Everything would have been fine, if the flour for the day hadn't run out. Jory and Klaus had sold more cupcakes and muffins than they were expecting too, and the breads were almost sold out. So, Klaus had to head out since Jory still couldn't drive. He should only take ten minutes, it wasn't that big of a deal. They certainly couldn't leave the bakery empty.

Jory carefully moved around to each table, grabbing the small tips left behind and depositing them in the tip jar behind the counter. He wiped down all the tables and swept the floor under the tables. Next he goes to collect the plates and cups. Taking them into the backroom, he puts them in the sink.

The bell rings once more. There's a soft sound of shuffling feet as the person entering walked up to the counter.

It couldn't be Klaus; he would have said something.

"What can I get for you?" Jory smiles as he heads out of the kitchen and into the front of the store.

His face falls as he sees Pascal, cheerfully looking at the cakes and cookies under the glass.

"Ohh, don't act so surprised Jo-Jo, you know I have such a sweet tooth!" Pascal grins with a playful wink.

Jory freezes in place, staring at him. Pascal stares back, a curious look in his eyes like he was trying to gage what Jory was going to do next.

"You need to leave." Jory manages to force out. "There's employees in the back. I'll scream?"

"Is there?" Pascal asks lightly. "I didn't know your mother shopped so fast! Normally your cousin, Talia, was it? Yes, Talias' always asking for this and that, and slowing them down. And I thought for sure your dad-"

"Stop." Jory grits out. "Don't talk about them, you-you don't get to talk about them." His last word cut off in a soft cracking lilt.

"Jojo." Pascal says sadly. "Don't cry. Come here, Jory. Don't you want me to hold you? I can make all of this better. You poor thi-"

"I'm not-!" Jory yells, not meaning to be so loud. A few angry tears stung at the corners of his eyes. "I'm not a poor thing, you, you-" His hands shook under the counter with fear, his knees buckling.

"It's okay. It's perfectly normal to be feeling this way-"

"I hate myself." Jory sobbed, frantically wiping at my eyes. "I'm disgusting, I-"

"No, no, Jory. Listen to me. You spent a year in contact with just a few people, it's understanding you clung too-"

"I'm not supposed to "cling" to my kidnapper-I--I'm not supposed to miss him, and want him to help me, and h-hold me, it's disgusting-"

"Take deep breaths, you're alright. You're alright right now, in this moment. I'm not judging you. Plenty of people feel the way you do, Jory. And plenty of people feel shame for it too. It doesn't make you a bad person, you're not broken, you've gone through trauma-"

"Jojo." Pascal looked pleading as he slowly made his way around the counter. "I know-I know I might've made some mistakes, but I can fix everything. I'll keep you safe-No one will ever stare at you again, no one will bully you, or hurt you-" It was when Pascal was reaching out to touch Jory that he finally reacts.

Jory turns on his heel and begins to run.

He only makes it out the back door and into the alley behind the bakery before Pascal catches up to him. Pascal grabs his arm, yanking him backward and making him fall.

Jory turns at the towering man and punches him in the chest as hard as he can. Scrambling to his feet, he fumbles for his phone in his pocket.

Pascal hits the phone out of his hand and it floors to the ground. Grabbing both of Jory's hands, he pulls them behind his back. Holding them in one hand, he covers Jory's mouth to muffle his screams.

"Jory? Jo? Shut up!" Pascal hisses.

Jory sobs, still struggling against Pascal's hold as his voice died in his throat.

"Who's that?" Pascal asks creepily, staring down at Jory's upturned phone.

The lock screen was a picture of him and Klaus.

"No-" Jory whines into Pascal's hand.

"I'll make this very simple, okay Jory? You are going to quietly come back home with me, or you can watch me slit his throat."

Jory chokes out a sob, his tears burning his cheeks.

"Okay?" Pascal growls.

Jory nods, sniffling.

"Good! Let's go, kiddo." Pascal suddenly brightens, dragging him over to a van and pushing him into the back.

Klaus grunts as he hefts the bag of flour in through the back door, letting it crash down onto the floor.

"Aww, really Jor-bore?" He groans, seeing the pile of dishes sitting untouched in the sink. "It's your turn!"

Hearing no answer, his brows furrow, and he peeks out into the café. Nothing.

"Jory? Yo babes, where'd you go?" He calls.

Nothing.

Outside, forgotten in the alley, was Jory's phone.

Words: 886