Matt parked his car in the driveway and got out. It was late, dark too. He squinted at his watch, 8:32 PM. He sighed; he usually fed them by 8 on the dot. He rushed inside through the back door and got out a large pot, putting water in it and lighting the stove. While the water boiled, he went upstairs to change quickly. He took off his jacket and pants and threw on a top and shorts.
Matt marched down the stairs with a tray of the usual soup and a tired look on his face. Georgie was sleeping, and so was Charlie. Matt placed the tray down and put the bowls on the ground, gesturing for Georgie and Charlie to be woken up. He yawned as he got up and left the room. Ozzie shook Georgie, but he didn't wake up. He was actually kind of hot. He called Davin over. He was always told to tell Davin or Charlie if he was too hot, and now Georgie was.
Davin came over and Ozzie pointed and Georgie, he was also starting to sweat. Davin tapped his shoulder, but Georgie only groaned. Davin sighed and looked around. He got up and looked back down at Ozzie.
"Sit right there, okay?" he ordered. Ozzie nodded. Davin walked over to the steps and climbed up them. He stopped at the door and hesitated for a good minute before knocking. He quickly went back down the stairs and picked up a bowl of soup for him and Ozzie, going back to him and Georgie. Just as he sat down, Matt opened the door. He stood in the doorway for a moment before going down the stairs. He leaned back on the railing, folding his arms and turning to the trio.
"That's new. What's the problem?" he rose his eyebrow. Davin and Ozzie stayed silent, so Matt addressed one of the personally. "Davin. What's the problem?"
"Georgie's sweating and hot." he pointed at the still sleeping Georgie, the sweat more apparent. He walked over and kneeled down beside the sleeping boy. He checked his neck with the back of his palm. He sighed and threw his fist on the ground. Ozzie flinched. Matt lifted Georgie into his arms and got up, trying his best to balance.
Davin watched his movements closely. Matt looked down at him and tsked under his breath. "I won't be in the house for a week, so fend for yourselves." he growled. Davin sighed and nodded. Matt walked, still with Georgie, and went up the stairs, using his backside to close the door. He was starting to get tired; Georgie was heavy for a 6-year-old. He went up to the second floor and walked down a long hall until he arrived at the end.
There was a final door standing on its own, and Matt flipped Georgie over his shoulder and opened the door. He entered the room and took a few steps to a corner with a single bed. He laid Georgie down and sighed. He turned around and left the room, quickly going back downstairs to lock the basement door and then going into the kitchen and getting the thermometer and a glass of water.
Georgie opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurry. He yawned and his vision cleared up. He saw Matt at the edge of the bed, sleeping while sitting up, it seemed. He shifted and got up and that must have woken him up. Matt looked at Georgie and sighed again. Georgie moved backwards to the bedhead. On impact, he flinched and turned around.
He turned back and saw that Matt had gotten closer. He had a thermometer in his hands. He gestured Georgie to open his mouth. Georgie did, and Matt put it in his mouth. He took it out after a minute and handed him a glass of water. He checked it and puffed his cheeks. 103.42. Concerning. Matt slapped his forehead. Georgie remained silent.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, sounding defeated. Georgie delayed answering.
"Uhm, okay." he mumbled, shrugging. Matt gritted his teeth.
"Don't give me that, kid. If you're feeling sick, just say it." he almost shouted. Georgie whimpered, looking down at the glass in his hands. Instead of answering, he started gulping down the water. After finishing, he removed it from his lips and hiccupped. Matt groaned, facepalming. Georgie looked down again, then he hiccupped. Matt took the glass and went outside, closing the door behind him.
He went downstairs and got him another glass of water. He went back upstairs and back into the room. Upon entering, he saw Georgie standing by a window. He could see a blue house across the street with trees behind it. He turned around and froze when he saw Matt.
"Goodness, kid! What are you doing out of bed?" he sounded annoyed.
Georgie stuttered. "I-uhm...was looking outside." he pointed at the window, which Matt could see was slightly open. He squinted his eyes and sighed.
"Alright, kid. Just get back on the bed." he ordered. Georgie nodded, a bit fidgety, and got back on the bed. He gave Georgie the glass and told him how to drink it before walking over to the window. Georgie's eyes watched him intensely. Matt closed the window fully and locked it, glaring over at Georgie. The window was one of those slide down windows. Georgie looked away and gulped down the water again.
Matt grabbed the glass from Georgie and held him, glaring at him. "I'm not an idiot, alright? You try screaming for help, or escaping, I'll know, and you'll be in for it. Do you understand?" he said in a threating monotone. Georgie nodded, profusely intimidated. "Say it with words, Georgie."
"Yes sir." he blurted.
"'Dad.'" Matt hummed.
"Dad." he corrected himself. Matt nodded and got up. Still having the empty cup in hand, he went outside the room and locked the door. He entered into the kitchen and washed the cup. He unlocked the basement and went downstairs. Davin looked at him, surprised he was there. He turned to Charlie, who was awake now.
"C'mon Charles, I've got to leave soon and it's your time to bathe." Charlie nodded and got up, following Matt upstairs. They went to the door of the small bathroom and Matt handed him clothes, gesturing him inside. He went in, and Matt closed and locked the door behind him, sitting down beside it.
"Y'know Charles," Matt started.
"Please just call me Charlie, dad." he muttered back. Matt hummed.
"I think not. You don't get a nickname, creep." He smirked to himself. Charlie sighed and got in the bath. "So anyway, you and Davin are friends, right?"
"Yeah." he turned the pipe on.
"Well, since he's turning 16 soon, I was thinking about taking him out, you think he'd like that?"
"Going out with you? He'd rather die." Charlie chuckled to himself. Matt frowned, then smiled.
"What a funny joke, Charles." he chuckled too. Charlie paused; a shiver being sent down his spine. He tried to take the rest of the bath in silence, but Matt had other plans. "So, you're saying he wouldn't want something done for his birthday?"
"What kind of special activities do you even have in mind?"
"Would you know what I was talking about?" he smirked. Charlie tsked loud enough for him to hear.
"Davin hates you, you know that right?" Charlie hissed.
"Does he now? After everything I've done for him? That hurts." Matt said in a fake sad voice. Charlie quieted down after that. After he finished showering, he put on his clothes and knocked on the door. Matt unlocked the door, and he opened it. Charlie stormed out and Matt blinked. He caught up to him and held his shoulder. Charlie glared and shook him off.
"Stop acting like you care about Davin or any of us! You're not our father!" he shouted. Matt grabbed hold of his hair and drew it back.
"So what? Your mother's been more of a parent to you for the past 7 years? Huh Charles?" he gritted his teeth. Charlie stayed quiet. Matt let go and pushed him forward, walking in front of him and opening the door. "Go. And don't expect dinner, even when I get back!" he slammed the door once he went inside and locked it.
He marched over to the mini table beside the door, opened the door, then marched out, slamming the door behind him.
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...
