Charlie glared at Matt from where he sat, and he stopped throwing the foil up and down, hiding it. Matt came down the stairs and looked at Georgie and Davin sleeping. He scowled but turned to Ozzie. He pointed at his arm. "How's your hand?" he asked in a disinterested, monotone, tired voice.
Ozzie froze before nodding. Matt rose his brow. "It's fine, dad." Ozzie muttered, looking away. Matt didn't have the energy to shout, so he sighed and stared at Charlie. "And then there's you." he said in a deep voice, which Ozzie learned after a while meant trouble was ahead. Charlie froze, and only his eyes moved to Matt's direction. He straightened himself against the wall.
Matt walked over to him and crouched behind him. "So," he started, Charlie gulped. "I heard you were harassing Oswald again." Charlie's eyes widened and he glared at Ozzie, who flinched. Matt slapped him. "You're looking at me, not him. Got it, Charles?" Matt had always had an intimidating way of speaking, and it was all the way up right now. Charles nodded.
"Sorry dad." he muttered. Matt scowled. "The next time I get a complain like this about you, you're in big trouble, alright?" he wagged his finger in his face like he was a dog. Charlie nodded slowly, receiving another slap. "Words, Charles."
"Yes dad." he said, shamefully. Matt got up and walked over to Georgie and Davin. He kicked the top of Davin's head lightly, which frightened him awake. He sat up, though Georgie was still asleep, just slightly further down on his body. He turned and saw Matt glaring at him.
He flinched, waiting for Matt to say something. "There are separate beds for a reason, so Georgie doesn't need to and shouldn't be sleeping on you." he said bitterly. Davin nodded and patted Georgie awake. Georgie whined but opened his eyes slowly. When he saw Matt, he squealed and moved back immediately.
Matt looked at him and rolled his eyes, sighing. He then left the basement without another word. Davin looked back at Georgie, who was shaking a lot. He went up to him and hugged him.
"What's your problem, kid?" he tilted his head and asked. Charlie was sulking in his corner, face turned away and Ozzie was ignoring them. Georgie looked down.
"He's so scary, I don't like it here!" Georgie exclaimed, tears rolling down his cheeks. He sniffled, and Davin sighed.
"If you're going to stay here, you can't be such a crybaby. You've had too many crying fits in your few days of being here." he said, rather cruelly, but with pure intention. Georgie sniffled again and nodded.
"Will I ever go home?" his voice cracked as he looked down meekly. Davin shook his head and shrugged.
"Probably not. Your parents will probably spend the rest of their lives searching for you to no avail." Georgie flinched. How could Davin say something so mean, so nonchalantly. He looked back up at him and stuck out his tongue. Davin blinked and chuckled. "How cute, but don't let dad see you like that." he pat him on the head. Georgie frowned.
"...How have you gotten so used to this?" Georgie asked, tilting his head. Davin didn't have an answer, so he just got up and went to Charlie's mattress. Charlie was still on his, grumbling to himself and wallowing in self-disgust. Davin lied down behind Charlie and cuddled him.
Georgie looked towards Ozzie, who was huddled in the corner doing nothing. He went over to him. Ozzie looked at him, but quickly turned his head away. Georgie whimpered. "Are you okay, Ozzie?" he tilted his head. Ozzie nodded, still without looking at him. He sighed and got closer. "Ozzie, are you okay?"
He asked again, and Ozzie nodded again. Still not quite convinced, Georgie hugged him. Ozzie used his right hand to hug back, but he didn't really seem there. "What're you thinking about, Ozzie?" Georgie asked. Ozzie turned his head and looked at him, staying silent for a few moments.
"You and Davin are friends?" he asked, looking at him with wondering eyes. Georgie was amused and confused by the question.
"I think we should all be friends, if we're going to be down here together." he smiled, resting his head in his hands. Ozzie's eyes sparkled for a moment, before he looked down.
"I don't think you should be friends with Charlie." he whispered. Georgie looked at him, a little irritated.
"Why not?" in his mind, Ozzie was being mean and trying to exclude Charlie from their hopefully friendship circle-or triangle-with Davin.
"He's mean. Like really mean. And aggressive too!" Ozzie whisper shouted. Georgie wasn't convinced and internally berated Ozzie for being so mean. He sighed and nodded. Ozzie sighed too, sensing he wasn't believed. "So, you figured out your ability yet?" he changed the subject. Georgie shook his head.
"I don't know how I'm expected to, I have no clue what it could even be! And at this point, it might as well be something stupid and useless if it hasn't even appeared yet." he huffed. Ozzie looked at him in agreement, though he did harbor a twinge of doubt.
"Maybe you could just wait a little, something ought to appear, no?" he smiled, trying to be optimistic. Georgie didn't seem to accept it though. He nodded in defeat and stared at the wall, which was patched up haphazardly. He pointed to it. Ozzie blushed in embarrassment a little.
"Last night dad woke me up and made me do that. It looks bad cause I'm left handed." he muttered. Georgie chuckled a little.
"Did he stay with you?" he teased. Ozzie nodded.
"He slapped me too, I was doing too bad of a job." Georgie stopped smiling and looked sad.
"Sorry for asking." he mumbled, looking down and playing with his thumbs. Ozzie looked at him and smiled softly.
"You don't need to...apologize..." he patted Georgie's head. Georgie felt encouraged by that and rose his head.
"Is Matt-uh-dad, always this harsh?" he asked, looking down at the cast. Ozzie smiled.
"No, only if we misbehave. We're left alone most of the time." he shrugged. Georgie nodded.
"Hey! Would you like to play the board game with me?" He smirked, his eyes lighting up at the thought in his head.
Ozzie was shocked for a second, but he happily accepted. Just then, the door to upstairs opened again, and this time, Matt brought food!
YOU ARE READING
The Recruits
Mystery / Thriller'Everyone seems normal, but we all have secrets.' The year was 1986. All Georgie wanted to do was get to school, but he never made it. Instead, he was kidnapped and forced to live out the rest of his years in a basement surrounded by people with sim...
