South Park: Dragging Me Down

Deliverance

An hour had passed since his guardians had come home.

Pip was still busy working in the kitchen, tiredly stirring random ingredients together in a bowl over a saucepan on the hob. He was so busy that he didn't notice his sister's boyfriend enter the room, smoking a cigarette.

"Hey buddy!"

Pip stiffened. The man's voice was calm, suggesting he was in a better mood than earlier.

"How's the food coming along?"

Pip just nodded, too scared to do anything but that.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. We have guests coming over tonight."

Pip nodded again.

The man stood behind the teenager and tugged at his collar, casually dipping his cigarette butt into Pip's lower neck. The teenager was so used to it he barely winced at the intense burning pain.

"We're gonna be playing poker, and since you're so good at playing the maid, I figured you could wear that skimpy little outfit of yours and serve us later. My friends would really appreciate that."

Pip paled. He felt sick. "B-But... I..."

"Thanks, I knew you'd understand." the boyfriend span around to leave.

"I-I don't want to." Pip forced out. The wooden spoon fell to the floor.

The man stopped in the doorway. "What did you just say to me?"

Pip bit his lip. "I-I don't w-want to wear it. It makes me u-uncomfortable. Y-Your friends might-"

The man turned around.

"They might-"

The man grabbed him by his neck, pushing him against the wall. "And I'll let them too, if you keep this up!"

Pip winced as his sore back connected with the wall. His eyes met the floor. It seemed there was nobody in his life willing to protect him or fight for his honour. Did he really mean that little to people?

He cried out as he was dropped and he landed on his bad arm, hard. He cradled it and was yanked to his feet by his hair.

"So it would be wise to do as I say. You got it?"

"Y-Yes... sir."

~~~~~

Mysterion squatted in the wardrobe, trying to garner feeling back into his legs, which had gone dead after staying in the cramped space for so long.

Standing up and straightening his back, the hero paused as he heard the quiet steps of somebody making their way up the stairs. The hero paused his movements, not wanting the wardrobe to creak and give away his position, and watched as the solemn shape of Pip entered the bedroom through a gap in the wardrobe.

Mysterion saw him making a beeline for the king-sized bed just to the right of the wardrobe. The teenager knelt down against it and threw his arms over the covers, trying to get his breath back. His breathing was significantly laboured.

Once he'd gathered the strength to stand, Pip wobbled to his feet and started removing his suit jacket and bow tie. Mysterion looked away at this point, not wanting to invade his privacy, but his interest was piqued when he heard a little moan coming from his friend.

Turning back to him, he froze, eyes wide.

His back!

Pip's naked form was littered with ugly bruises and deep crimson gashes. There were long lacerations running the length of his back, some faint and some recent, but more apparent was the fact his body was completely caked in semi-dry blood.