Fort Oakley | Part One

22 | There Are Crazies In The Woods

I hadn't even known Jacey had a brother, and now the little dude was in danger.

I wanted to know who was going to kill him and why, but I already knew the answer: Jacey's parents.

Were they going to sacrifice a child?

Without wasting another second, I hooked my arms underneath Jacey's shoulders and struggled to drag him towards the house with all the strength I had. I didn't know the extent of his injuries, but there was blood soaking through his clothes everywhere, so I dragged him into the downstairs guest bathroom, and left him on the tile with a rolled up towel supporting his head.

"Please don't bleed out and die," I whispered to his lifeless frame die hurrying upstairs to my bedroom.

I didn't know what the hell was going on, but Mason was a kid and needed help.

Pulling on a pair of sneakers, the gun Vance had given me after we emerged safely from the treehouse caught my eye from where I had hidden it beneath a stack of shirts.

Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I took it and slid it into the waistband of my jeans.

Then I ran.

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The Andino's house was the same style as Claire's house, so I knew I would be able to climb to the second floor if need be.Many a times had I snuck out of my bedroom window in the night when I wanted to go explore the woods and didn't want to wake Claire up by using any of the downstairs entrances.

The only problem was that I didn't know where Mason's room was located.

The house loomed in front of me, it's exterior casting long shadows under the faint light of a nearby street lamp. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the upstairs windows, looking for any sign of life.

The one bedroom with a faint light emanating form it caught my attention. I knew it wasn't the main bedroom, so it had to be my best shot.

I began to climb.

Gripping the window sill, I peered into the room, looking for any sign of a little boy whose parents were going to kill him.

He was curled into a little ball on the bed, his small body shaking as he cried without making a sound.

The room was barren, devoid of any toys or personal belongings, except for the bed he was curled up on.

This was not a bedroom in which one grew up in.

It was one you were trapped in, and I wondered if Jacey's room looked the same.

Tapping softly on the window, I waited and watched as the little boy who I assumed was Mason uncurl and looked over at me, his face red and puffy. I placed my finger on my lips, telling him to be quiet before motioning him closer to the window.

He walked over to me without hesitation and slid the window open without me having to ask. He stepped aside when I climbed into his room through the window. "Are you Mason?" I asked as quietly as I could.

He gave me a small nod. I sank onto my knees in front of him, but he still barely reached my shoulder in height.

"My name is Charly. I'm a friend of Jacey's. He's back at my house, and I'm going to take you to him, okay? He's really worried about you."

The little dude just stared at me, tears still streaming down his face.

"I need you to climb onto my back, Mason. That way, we'll be able to move quicker. But you have to be as quiet as possible."