Hold Me Close

Chapter Four.

On the sixth of February, in the west end of a small town called Havanbrooke, the town gathered for the burail of another person found on the side of a road, another victim of the government's evil and strict ways, there was no news report on him, nothing in the papers, jesus they didn't even mention it in school, but still the whole town turned up to bury him.

I stood in the back, I could see the wooden casket topped with roses and photos, the gold plate at the end with his name and date of death, I could see the fear in everyone but I couldn't see the fosters.

I didnt blame them for not coming, they're son had still not been found, Chris wasn't home, but for now, we didn't know if he was dead or alive, but still, where there is mystery, there is hope.

My breath hitched in my throat as I watched his coffin lower down, his family had chosen cremation for their son, they wanted to keep some remainder of him at home.

I didn't know the victim, he was the son of my fathers boss, and as a show of respect, my self and my family attended just like every other scared person in Havanbrooke.

As his coffin hit the bottom and the crackling of wood burning filled the silent chruch a woman fainted. A short, chubby blonde woman fell to the floor, her hair spread out like a carpet against the blood red tiles, people ran to her aid, gasps filled the stuffy room, but none of that mattered to me at that moment, what did was my brains cruel imagination.

Standing on the opening of the cremation drop I seen none other then Chris, I knew it wasn't real, it couldn't be, but yet, in my mind there he stood.

"I need to get some air".

I didn't give my parents a chance to reply, I walked straight out of the doors and fell against the wall, I couldn't stop the tears from falling or the sobs that catched in my throat before coming out of my shaking mouth in loud and shrieking gasps.

"are you ok?" a deep voice questioned, I wanted to give him a hard stern look and sarcastically say duh but I didnt have the will or heart to do it on this day, out side the church where a funeral was being held, so instead I just shook my head, and what a choice that was.

My throat began to burn and soon I was bending over, releasing my stomachs contents onto the ground, and all over the strangers shoes, I wanted to apologise but everytime I attempted to lift myself up straight the more vomit came.

Two hands snaked under my arms and lifted me so that I was standing straight, the vomit kept coming until I felt weak and started to black out at moments. The strangers face was a blur as I began to fall into unconsciousness, all I could make out was chocolate brown hair, just like Chris' hair.

"Chris?" I cried, the stranger shook his head, "no, my name is Derek" thats all I remembered before passing out.