Through The Darkness

Chapter 2- Maybe Poppies...

"Stop it, Ray. STOP IT!" Jack screamed as he was hurled into a wall by his boyfriend. He was sobbing as Ray pulled him up by his shirt collar and forced his lips onto Jack's. He could taste the alchohol on him and tried to push him away, but couldn't. Ray threw him to the ground and smashed his head into the wall. He kicked him once, twice, three times, and walked away. Jack struggled to pull himself up and onto the bed, curling up in a ball, and sobbing. Jack wished it to be over but knew that Ray wasn't that easy. He came back too soon and laid down beside Jack.
    "You know i never meant it, baby. Come here, kiss me." Jack turned slightly around to face Ray. He pulled Jack towards him and into a kiss. Jack shoved him away from him in disgust. "You don't get to refuse me, bitch. You live in my house and sleep in my bed." "Please s-stop, Ray." Jack struggled out. "You are mine and I'll do whatever I want with you." He said as he straddled Jack. He started lifting the hem of his shirt and all Jack could do was cover his face in shame because he knew that if he struggled it would only lead to worse consequences. Ray unbuttoned Jacks jeans. "Ray, I don't want to do this." "I don't care what you want!" He yelled at Jack. Jack reached for Ray's hands to try and pull them away but one of his hands flew to Jacks neck, holding him against the matress and restricting his oxygen intake.
    Whenever Jack tried to make a sound his hand only got tighter. He screamed and screamed for him to stop but the clothing only lessened and the pain kept growing to the point of air struggled sobs. Jack took whatever came to him because he was to weak to get the man's body off of his. By the end of it all he was a crying, bleeding mess who felt dirty and used. A feeling he had grown accustomed to.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Mark sat in the uncomfortable chair, looking out of the window listening to the steady beeping of the heart monitor. "So this boy, Jack, with green hair works at the florists now. He's really cute and small. Like, he's only a little shorter than me but he's just very scrawny and not muscular. He has a very petite attitude which makes him seem even smaller too. He's kinda shy. I think you'd like him. Once we get you out of here, Mom, I'll take you to him." He sat there longing to hear a sound come from his mothers mouth but hearing nothing but the annoying beeping noise. He stood up and walked over to his mother. "I'll be back later. And if not then, tomorrow. I love you, Mom. Bye."
    He strolled out of the room and down to the lobby. He let out a sigh as he walked through the big doors to the outside world. Fresh air has never been so refreshing than after being in a hospital for hours on end. People swarmed around him too busy with their own lives to think about anything but. Because people were unknowingly, unwillingly, unthoughtfully selfish like that. Except for the small Irish boy that Mark had met just the other day. For he spent his every waking hour for others. For the customers that came to the shop. For the earth that supplied his beautiful flora. For the boyfriend that used and abused him. For the blue mess of hair that he had seen once in in shop before.
    Mark lazily sauntered down the street, pushed and shoved by those who rushed by in a frenzy of business. Then he saw it. The little flower shop nestled between the bustling coffee shop and the gargantuate library. He thought of the mesmerizing blue orbs of the childish boy and decided that he'd like to have some poppies to set on his kitchen counter. Once again greeted with the overwhelming freshness of the shop, he walked to the counter where the Irish beauty sat.
    "Back again I see... More tulips or something different this time?" Jack greeted Mark with a huge overly happy smile. "Someone's giddy today." Mark returned. "Just glad to see the sunshine, that's all." That's exactly what Jack reminded him of. Sunshine. Because when he was around him, the area seemed to light up. "Don't you think its a little hot for a sweater? Especially one that covers your neck like that?" "I-I... I just, like sweaters. Why i-is there... Is there something wrong with it?" Jack panicked, tugging at the sleeves secretly checking for blood on it and pretending to scratch his neck to pull the collar up, hoping that Mark didn't see anything suspicious. "No it's just a thirty-two degree May afternoon. Seems a little hot, but if you're fine then i guess im fine as well." Mark said as he eyed the side of Jack's face that was caked with concealer and a busted lip. He contemplated asking but seeing as they weren't that good of friends, it'd probably make Jack uncomfortable.
"I've come to pick up some poppies for my kitchen counter." Mark ended the short awkward silence with. "Oh. They're over by the peonies. Want me to show you?" "Yeah, I'd appreciate it." Mark seemed just captivated by his flower boy. Wait, woah. His? He liked the florist but had no right to call him 'his'. Jack probably had a partner already. Even with their short friendship, Mark would love to call Jack his.
Mark looked over to see Jack staring at... His hair? "Is there something in it?" Jack was snapped back into reality. "Oh no, it just... Reminds me of space. Like a galaxy." Jack rushed out. "Galaxy boy..." Jack mumbled to himself. "Galaxy boy?" Mark giggled. "If I'm galaxy boy that means that you're the flower boy." Mark stated.
    "I'd like that."