Behind Closed Hearts

Chapter 12

One week later

James walked home. Yes, he walked. He didn't have practice that day, which he'd forgotten until the moment the buses left.

Also, he still didn't have a phone to call up Lily, Nathen, or one of his friends. But he was fine with it, really. It was a nice day out and he only had to walk a little over a mile to get home. No big deal.

He smiled to himself. Aleks had promised to get a job with him this summer at the amusement park and Jordan and a couple of the others were interested too.

James was looking forward to it and he kinda wanted school to hurry up and end so he could start. But, that also meant it would be closer to the end of soccer. It was a dilemma really.

James neared his house and he walked a little faster. Lily had promised cookies and his favorite dinner. Nathen, on Sunday, had been holed up in his room for the whole evening.

Lily said he was sick, so she was staying home from work all today and would go back on Tuesday. James hoped Nathen was better so maybe the three of them could watch that movie Nathen had talked about.

He slid his key into the lock and pulled the front door open, throwing his shoes off at the front. "I'm home!" James called, hurling his bag from his shoulders onto the rug by his shoes.

Silence.

"Hello?" he called a little more timid. His stomach plummeted, immediately feeling something off in the air. "Lily? Nathen?" He went to the stairs immediately and it took all he had not to sprint his way up. He edged up and around the corner to the door across from his own. He leaned forward and knocked lightly. "Nathen?"

No answer.

He frowned, biting his lip. "Hello?" He turned the knob slowly and pushed it open to look inside.

It looked normal. The bed was unmade, the closet stood open, and warm light filtered through the lilac curtains. It was just as it should be. James closed it again and looked around him in confusion. Where could they be?

He turned and went back down into the foyer, heading for the kitchen. "Guys?" he called, as he entered the kitchen. The lights were off but there was an adequate amount of light streaming in from the window above the sink.

James glanced at the counter and then at the fridge. There was no note left for him. He also checked the phone on the far corner of the counter. It wasn't flashing, meaning no new messages. "Where are they?" he whispered to himself as he went to the window.

He peered out at the small lawn. It was surrounded by a high fence with a little shed in the corner by a single tree. It occurred to James that he'd never been into the backyard and he still had no interest in doing so.

He turned back the kitchen and sighed. Maybe they went out. Surely they would have said something or would have appeared if they were lurking somewhere in the house. James slumped down onto a stool by the counter and stared at the oven. He guessed Lily hadn't made those cookies after all. He felt a twinge a disappointment.

Suddenly, he heard a small knocking sound. It was faint and muffled. James glanced around, trying to locate the source. "Hello?" he said again.

The little noise returned and he zeroed in the kitchen closet. What if... What if there was some animal loose in their house?

James wouldn't know what to do if a rabid animal popped out of there as soon as he opened the door. The thought of it caused him to hesitate in his seat, just watching the motionless door. The knocking didn't continue.

Finally, James pushed himself upward and approached the closet. They usually kept canned foods and cleaning supplies inside... Maybe something fell?

So he went forward and opened it in one jerky movement and screamed when something large fell out of the closet with a THUMP! James stood frozen for a moment, shaking with fear, as he stared at the scene before him.

"Lily?" he whispered brokenly. Then it dawned on him. "Lily!"

He fell to his knees by her body and turned her over, putting her head into his lap. She didn't have any wounds, but one eye was ringed in a heavy black and blue that matched her arms.

He felt relief when she looked up at him, tilting her chin just slightly. She smiled weakly. "You're okay," she said through a rough voice.

The sound of it had James pulling down the collar of Lily shirt and he brushed away her black hair. It revealed bruises along her neck. "Christ," James whispered in horror. "What happened?"

Her smile disappeared and suddenly she was using him as a support to push herself into a sitting position. "It's nothing to worry about," Lily said, trying to sound reassuring.

James glared at her. "Yes it is. Was it Nathen?" She looked up at him with teary eyes.

"It was," James said, completely defeated. "But I thought-"

"He stopped taking it. He stopped taking his medication a few days ago and then yesterday the symptoms were coming back."

She began to cry. "I should have known this would happen but I was so blind. We were so happy. This week..." She trailed off, crying softly into her bruised hands.

James sat back, staring at the floor, trying to process this. What did this mean for them? What was going to happen to him?

Suddenly the two both snapped their gaze at the garage door as they heard a car pull in. "Shit!" Lily cried, stumbling to her feet. "James, you have to go up to your room. Lock it!"

"No," James growled as he stood, looking at her with his worst glare. "I'm not sitting around anymore while you get yourself hurt just for me. I'm not worth it!"

"Yes you are," she replied desperately, clutching at the counter top to stay steady. "You're my son now."

James worked his jaw. "I'm not doing it. You go upstairs and lay down. I'll just pretend I didn't see you, okay? Then maybe... Maybe Nathen won't do anything."

They stared at each other for a moment. They heard the car switch off. "Go!"

Lily looked conflicted but then suddenly she lunged forward to the counter and grabbed a small, thin kitchen knife from the wood block.

"If you are going to do this, you'll have to protect yourself," she said fiercely, turning back to him. She laid the blade in his palm. "Hide it." And then she turned and stumbled out of the kitchen.

"Dear God," James whispered to himself as he slid the knife into his long sleeve to disguise it. "What have I gotten into?" Then he turned just as heard footsteps approach the door. He braced his self.