Freaks: Year Two

Ten Minutes

"What are you afraid of?"

"N-Nothing..."

"I am going to tell you a secret, little Odair," Christopher said in a low voice. "I can sense when anyone is lying and you...are lying." There was a pause as Edgar stared at him. "And I will tell you another thing; everyone is afraid of something and you are afraid of one particular thing, what is it?"

"I am not going to tell you."

Christopher rocked back, laying his palms on his knees, making a cracking noise, thinking that this kid was trying his best to muster as much bravery and confidence to say those words. He had to admit, he was impressed, but he knew stubbornness would get them nowhere.

"We have ten minutes, less than that, to get somewhere," Christopher told him. "And you being a stubborn little brat is not going to get us anywhere. I know you're scared, but you can't keep denying yourself from getting better because of them. Once you admit it, once you really admit and accept it, it will get easier. I can promise you that. It won't be perfect, but it will get easier, even if it is just a little bit."

"I-I already told Jasper what was wrong, I already said that I was scared of hurting others and scared of what dad and mum would think," Edgar said, wanting Christopher to leave him be. "I told him that!"

"And that is all well and good, but there is still something else," said Christopher. 'There is still something else or there is something more and you are scared to share it, what is it? Time is ticking."

"I am...I am not going to talk to you!" Edgar exclaimed and his jaw was set and Christopher could not believe just how stubborn this seven year old was. I'm blaming Odair for that one, he thought, thinking of Jasper's own stubbornness.

"Oh, yes you are," Christopher said, sternly. "We need to figure out the problem!"

"There is no problem!"

"Oh? Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Yes," he said in a mocking voice.

Edgar gave him an odd look. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?"

Edgar stared at him, getting frustrated. "Stop mocking me!"

"Stop mocking me!"

"You're being like Ethan, it's annoying!" Edgar yelled, thinking of the times he had mocked him as a joke to aggravate him. "You're supposed to be m-mature!"

"Blah, blah, blah..." Christopher said in a nasal-like tone because he had a theory and the only way to test it out was to annoy the hell out of this kid.

"Stop blahing!"

"Blah!"

"Stop!"

"BLAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"STOP IT!" Edgar screamed, the noise annoying his ears and Christopher was not stopping. In fact, he was getting louder and it was too much for Edgar's brain. All he could hear was unintelligible screaming, an annoying sound that was aggravating to his ears, and no matter how overwhelmed Edgar clearly was, Christopher would not stop and the feeling in his stomach was getting worse and worse and worse...

"BE QUIET!!!" Edgar yelled out.

Everything seemed to.

But the horrible feeling didn't go away.

"Alabaster, where are we going?" Harry called for what he thought was the fourth time during his chase to follow the first year who knows where.