Fearing the Dead

5// The Rich

I stand against a wall in the doorway of the kitchen with Travis and Maddy sitting at the table, as they talk to each other about getting Liza and Nick back.

"I gotta go" Travis says as he places two coffee mugs down on the table.
"I'm just going to go talk to Moyers, so and jus-"

I feel someone walk toward us behind me and wonder if that's why Travis has stopped talking. I turn around and see Chris walk in putting on his jacket.

"Hey" Travis says making Maddy look up from the table to the boy who is putting on his jacket.
"Get any sleep?"

"So what's the plan?" He states ignoring Travis' question.

"Oh we were just talking about it" Travis tells him causing Chris to look agitated.
I look to my friend and see him looking angry to his dad.

"Shouldn't I be part of the discussion?. I mean Angel is and she isn't even part of this family!" he says with a glare. My mouth opens as I am shocked from the comment that left my friends mouth. I look to Maddy and Travis as they look to me with an apologetic look and I just smile to them.

"Excuse you?" I say looking at my friend confused.

"I just think someone should be looking out for mums best interest" he says almost sarcastically.

"I'm looking out for everyone" Travis says eyebrows furrowed together. I look from one man to the other feeling the tension in the air.

"Are we?" Chris asks with raised eyebrows.

"We know your upset Chris bu-" Maddy tries to say kindly but gets cut off by Chris.

"Madison will you please not interrupt me and my father when we are talking about family matters okay?" He spits as Maddy looks at her coffee ashamed.
I grab the boys hoodie and drag him behind the kitchen wall.

"What the hell was that?" I spit anger laced in my voice. But before I can rage at him for any longer Travis grabs his arm and pulls him further away from the kitchen, as I follow angry with him.

"Dad get off me, get off me!" Chris spits being pulled backwards by his father.
"If that was her you would be chewing through the chains the get her back!" Chris spits at his father pointing to Maddy still in the kitchen. I cross my hands over my chest looking at my friend with a strange look.

"What the hell is with you?" His dad asks and as I look to him I see Chris' face contort into sadness tears in his eyes.
"Chris look at me" Travis speaks.

"Mum she just got in the truck dad" Chris says upset tears about to spill.

"We, we don't know no"Travis tries but gets cut off by Chris.

"No one forced her, no one took her, she just got on the truck, willingly" Chris says tears now streaking down his face.

"Because she wants to help people. Nick, Griselda the others that's just who she is" Travis tells his son sympathetically.

"Well what if she-" Chris starts but I cut him off

"Hey Chris don't think like that" I tell him softly.

All my anger towards my friend fades as I see him being hugged by his dad, crying. My heart pounds as he lets go of his dad and looks at me with sad eyes. I quickly walk over and pull him into a hug, his face in the crook of my neck and myself on my toes with the height difference.
After a few seconds, I let go and stand next to Travis who has a small smile on his face but that slowly fades.

"I need you to be strong now okay? I can't hold us together on my own. Do you understand?" Travis tells Chris looking at his son sternly.
"Now, go apologise" He tells him.