Fields of Iris

The Hayward House

12 years ago

As I ran up the steps, I tried to keep the bag in my hand quiet. I pulled open the attic door, swinging it down and climbing up to see Ray laying on his bed reading a comic book with a few pages missing. I pulled the ladder back up, and ran over to his bed, dumping the bag of sweets on him seeing his eyes widen.

"Where did you get this?" he asked as I smiled wide.

"Gally let me help him on the dock today. He said I could help pick up the trash up front a few days a week and gave me 5 dollars for doing it!" I remarked as he opened up one of the candy bars, devouring it almost whole. "And even better, I asked if I could bring a friend to help and he actually said yes!" I chirped as he smiled wide.

"And I thought he was an angry old man! This is so good. I am not a fan of eatin' the burnt part of the pot anymore," he said as I nodded my head in agreement. Soon we were going to leave this house and run away together. Wherever it was, it would be just the two of us. Suddenly we heard footsteps and the attack door pull down. We looked back and forth before stuffing the treats in the bag and throwing it under the bed just in time for Hayden and Heidi to waddle up and smile at us.

"What's so funny, huh?" Heidi asked, crossing her arms.

"Nothin," I responded simply, hoping if we didn't antagonize, they would go away. Hayden walked up and grabbed the comic book tearing out a page.

"Reading is for smart people with momma's. Not orphans like you," he spoke as Ray just looked away letting him do whatever he wanted. I narrowed my eyes, getting angry as they continued to pick at him.

"Homo's can't read either!" Heidi remarked as Hayden laughed, hi-fiving one another. I angrily couldn't stop myself from swinging my arm and striking her across the face. I instantly stepped back with wide eyes knowing I'd done it now.

"Oh, you're dead," Hayden said as they grabbed my arms and dragged me down the ladder, throwing me to the hard floor. I coughed as the wind knocked out of my chest.

"Mickey! Get your butt over here!" he yelled as Mickey came running down the hall looking wide eyed at the scene in front of him. I tried to fight the grip of the giant twins, but they were holding my skinny arms much too tight. "Go turn the bath on hot!"

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I suddenly felt my body being pulled up out of the tub as I took a deep breath, coming out of the warm water. "Jeez Iris, what the hell is going on with you?" Ray asked as I bit my lip pulling my knees up to my chest.

"I'm just... tired," I argued as he sat on the toilet, fixing his hair in the mirror.

"Well maybe you should see if Jerry and Rusty can handle the supply run themselves so you can get some rest," he said as I shook my head, grabbing the towel and getting out of the tub.

"No, I like going. I'll be fine, I'll just grab an energy drink on the way," I said as he huffed, looking a bit down himself.

"Is something wrong with you?" I asked as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I guess I'm just a little shaky about today. I haven't seen them in a few years, but I heard Lydia keeps sending the workers home for a week now and Hayden's temper has only gotten worse. Oh and Heidi has blown up like a whale," he said as I raised my eyebrow, wondering how he knew all of this information. "Mickey and I have been talking a lot more, lately," he remarked as I raised my eyebrow, knowing what he meant. "Just as friends," he added.

"Ray, if you want to go to this thing because Mickey asked, you don't gotta explain yourself," he said as Ray rolled his eyes, following me into my bedroom as I got dressed.

"It's not just that. I think we both could use some closure. I mean he called me numerous names for gay every day, and while he wasn't as horrible to you, he still allowed the twins to torture us," he said as I stopped for a moment, trying to avoid Ray's gaze so he wouldn't see my reaction. He was horrible to me. It was just that no one knew...

"It's all in the past now, and that is where it's gonna stay after today," I said as he nodded his head. I just had to get through today and I would never see any of those miserable Hayward's again. Especially Toby...