We're all ugly when we cry

Chapter 15: Frank

I started to drag my limp body over to Ben, my wounds gliding along the ground, picking up pebbles and muck. When a twig got caught I would flinch, but still determined to carry on desperate to reach my target. Frank seemed to of gotten over the shock of Cal leaving because he now was jogging over to me.

"Whoa, hey your gonna hurt yourself, sit still hun." His voice was deeper than I expected, his tone being soft and full of concern. How was he a part of such an ugly gang?

"Don't you think I'm already hurt." I surprised myself knowing that I had found my voice again as Frank helped me to my feet. He looked ashamed as I spoke yet kept quiet, instead helping me over to prop myself up against the tree Ben was next to.

"You were trying to reach your friend, right?"

I nodded. He flashed me a wide smile. His teeth were perfectly lined up and white, really white. He was a strange character. It all just felt a bit off. He broke the ongoing gaze between us allowing me to pull myself away from his smile. Ben, still propped up against the tree, seemed to be out cold. The blood loss affecting him more than me.

I shuffled closer, moving him so that his head could lie on my lap, facing the stars. Knowing I needed to apply pressure onto his wounds I tore a strip of fabric from my shirt, unaffected by the cold because of my jumper on top. Trying my best to avoid touching the affected areas too much I used the fabric to bandage up his leg since that was the area loosing the most blood. Since the position of the cut on his torso extended the entire way down, I wasn't able to provide any emergency bandages.

Making sure Ben was now more comfortable, I tore another strip off my shirt wrapping it around my own leg only managing to cover the half most affected by Cals blade. And managed yet another round my stomach where Katára had left one deep cut from multiply stiles against my tarnished skin.

Once content with my handy work I leant down and tapped his cheek to see if he was still conscious, although was left with no reply. Instead I planted a Kiss on the top of his forehead before resting my head against the tree, running my fingers through his hair as a sign comfort, even if he couldn't feel it.

Next to me leaves were crunching, so I risked opening an eye. Frank had sat next to us playing with a daisy in his hand. I wasn't sure what I thought of him. He held a sort of childish charm but there was something so familiar about him that it scared me. I didn't trust him.

"Who are you?" My voice was barley audible yet he turned his head to listen to me. He flashed another charming smile before speaking.

"I'm Frank, Cals second in command, although he never says so himself!" He chuckled to himself quite pleased. It sort of made sense, I mean I knew Cal had a deputy of some sort, but Frank? No, there's something else. He seemed to sense that I was unsure, letting out a extended sigh he continued. "I'm also his older brother."

"WHAT?" My response so loud that Ben shifted in his unconscious state. I couldn't believe I was hearing this. I mean sure it made sense they looked very similar in the face, but Cals' build was fairly stocky, not to mention his recent extra weight gain...  but Frank... He looked like a pencil. Their personalities also seemed polar opposites. Cal being cruel and cold but Frank came across so jolly and caring. It left me wondering if Cal had always been so cold, or if their upbringing had shifted something. As if Frank had read my mind, he spoke again. 

"He wasn't always like this... So twisted." His face screwed up, mainly his eyes, as if it was painful to speak about the troubled brother. "He used to look up to me, as all younger siblings tend to do. I was the smart one and he loved it. But it became a problem in high school when I was bullied for it. I didn't take Cal long to realise and before I knew it, he began to stand up for me. It was humiliating that my little brother fought my fights, so I would hurt him. When nobody was around. Not physically... Instead I could get into his head, twist his thoughts make him hate himself. It didn't take long before he would hurt for his own pleasure, a way of coping and a way to express this newfound love of agony. He gained friends with a couple of rough looking kids and formed a gang."

I sat in silence not sure how to react. You wouldn't have any idea about Frank, till he told you about this. I now noticed that familiar wild look in his eyes that Cal wore so well when torturing me.

"He came after me then. When he knew he had control he tore me down till he was in charge. I guess the power got to his head. He told me that if I didn't follow his orders, people worse than the bullies at school would come after me. So thats how I ended up here. As his second in command." He sighed leaning against the tree.

"The worst part is, I'm as mad as him. I don't regret what I did. If anything, I wish I could do it again. Being in charge. That's the only thing I'm used for now. When they bring people in hiding information Cal wants... Before Cal brings out the dagger. I get them. I break them, get every little secret and if they still are hiding more I give them to Cal for this own pleasure." His gaze flicked to one of upmost admiration.

"Your sick" I spat. I expected him to lash out. That's what Cal would do, but he just smiled at me. "No dear... I'm twisted, sick makes it sound like there's a cure." The familiar lump formed within my throats again.

"Frank's not my full name you know? It's actually Fredrick Sebastian Douglas, I bet you didn't know we were from a rich family huh?"

My eyes widened. The Douglas family were practically never talked about. Only that they owned most of this entire town. I guess they like to keep their fucked up family a secret. Cal had practically never spoke about his family. To be honest we all thought his was poor and that the drugs where the only source of money they were getting. I never for one minute suspected they were well off.

"Well you see, little Cal liked rebelling when Mummy and Daddy didn't give him enough attention. Poor little Caleb Christopher Douglas." He started to laugh then. Not a average laugh just a twisted noise that gave you shivers. "Of course you probably know about my mother and her psychotic tendencies. We were practically raised by her sister after that. She helped keep the money rolling in for us, till we were able to come of age." 

I pulled Ben closer to me hoping this would make Frank stop. I couldn't bare the sound of his inhuman cackles for much longer, it made you question your own sanity...