Mindtease

Chapter 7

Kirk inserted the key card, and swung open the door, his hands busy with all the plastic bags of his purchases. The room was dark, with only the light on the nightstand between the beds on...even the television was off.

With an effort, Kirk got into the room, closed the door behind him, and put the purchases down on the coffee table, desks. Kirk glanced around, wondering where Josh was, or if his friend was there. After a few moments of searching around the dark, Kirk spotted his friend.

Josh was in bed, the covers thrown back at the foot of the bed. Josh was sleeping in his boxers under a single sheet. Kirk could see his puffy eyes, even closed, so Josh had done his share of crying from the beating...and the black and blue bruises Kirk could see were an unpleasant reminder of the pain Josh must be in...even asleep.

Kirk sighed, and went to one of the plastic bags, which had a case of beer, a dark lager. Twisting the top off, Kirk slammed it down, the beer somewhat pungent and acrid as he drank. Sitting down on the couch, Kirk positioned the case of beer for easy reach, and put his legs up, thinking and contemplating.

How do I tell or ask Josh about it?

Kirk shook his head again, hoping to jar his thoughts, and perhaps see a solution to his dilemma. But there was no obvious solution, no simple answer. Kirk drank more beer, wondering and considering.

The psychiatric meds, Josh's story about going to an orphanage, then to kiddie prison, well he'd not mentioned a trip to a psychiatric institution. But Josh did not seem unbalanced or even psychotic. The only extreme thing was the shower prank that Josh had freaked out...but that was understandable. But now...

Kirk drank more beer, trying to calm his churning thoughts.

A sudden realization hit Kirk. Kirk loved Josh, cared about him like a brother, so whatever Josh had not yet told really didn't matter. Josh wanted him in his life, and was his closest, best friend from when they were both kids. So whatever Kirk thought, it didn't matter.

Kirk drank another beer, smiling at his conclusion. It...whatever it was, doesn't matter.

Josh matters more to me than anything else.

After finishing the remaining beers in the case, Kirk stood, stretched, and decided to get some sleep. He'd talk to Josh tomorrow, and if anything about anything came up in their conversation...well Kirk would talk to Josh about it then. There was no point in confrontation...Josh would talk about it eventually, or not.

Sitting on the bed and pulling of his clothes, Kirk felt relieved at his decision. Turning the light off, Kirk clambered into bed, pulling the sheets up, suddenly tired. But the weight of his discovery was now off his shoulders and Kirk felt soothed by his realization that Josh was more important than anything about his friend. Yawning, Kirk pulled a pillow to one side, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

# # #

Kirk found himself standing in a dark forest on a moonlit night, the foliage partially obscuring the savage, starry sky. A shock of terror and panic went through Kirk, as he felt lost, abandoned.

Kirk shivered, feeling a chill, and then he noticed he was naked.

"Terrific," Kirk said in mild surprise. Kirk rubbed his hand against his chest and abdomen...caressing his flesh, and surprised that his body was solid...as if he were awake, or was he but didn't know it?

A sudden need, a compulsion drew Kirk into the woods, and he walked on the damp earth that was carpeted with leaves...going someplace, somewhere, but he did not know where. Treading lightly upon the ground, Kirk heard the leaves scatter, the breaking of twigs, and the footfalls as his bare feet moved him with purpose...even if he did not know his destination.