The Truth Behind Levi Benson

Chapter 4

By the time Sunday rolled around Charlie had done enough research to come up with his own theories.

It was dawn when Charlie had left the house with a cup of coffee and a mossy coloured backpack,

the thought of spending money on something he could easily make at home was atrocious.

Why waste money on something as simple as coffee when there were people who could barely pay to put bread and butter on the table.

Slowly but eventually he made his way downtown, the dirtier part of the city where it was bare but crowded at the same time.

The street lights were flickering and the light breeze brushed Charlie's fringe in the opposite direction, as the sun was still making its way the top of the sky.

After walking around for 15 minutes he found himself at a old door made of what looked like rotting wood, the wooden door was an entrance for a building that looked like it would collapse any second.

After a second of observing, he raised his knuckles and tapped twice and waited.

Within seconds the door had opened and stood there in the doorway was a figure he had learnt to despise.

"Benson" Charlie acknowledged, rather harshly.

Orion remained his slouch, his eyes tired and a five o'click shadow gracing his face.

His eyes scanned Charlie for a while and within seconds burst into tears.

"I'm sorry" he sobbed as he engulfed the scrawny boy into his embrace.

Charlie wasn't one for affection, so as he pushed the human mess away from him, he shot him a dirty look.

"Don't pity me" Charlie scowled.

Orion gulped, for the person in front of him was a stranger.

He remembered all the times Charlie would barge into Kylie's room just to show him a new toy he got.

He remembered all the times he'd come over and Kylie and him  would take him to the park.

Oh Kylie....

Orion sent the boy in front of him a humourless smile and invited him in.

Charlie sent a sadistic smile in return and declined.

"The walls look like they'll collapse any minute" he says, "Shame they haven't really."

Orion stared at him emotionlessly, making sure that all feelings he had in the past five or so minutes were not to be seen again.

"I doubt you came here just to make me feel guilty" he snarled.

Charlie was thrown back about how fast Orion's mood changed, but like the man- if he could even be called that- was glaring at him.

"I'm actually here for your brother" 

"He's dead"

"I know"

an unsettling silence was brought upon them.

"When was the last time you saw your brother?" Charlie asked, getting straight to the point,

something Charlie wasn't particularly known for.

Orion scowled. "If you're going to question me might as well come inside"

Charlie accepted with hesitance this time even though his nerves were on edge due to the fact the house was creaking by just a gentle breeze.

Orion disappeared into another room while Charlie took his place on the ripped and stained  couch with a rigged posture, observing his surroundings.

Minutes later the tall figure came back in holding two cups of what seemed like coffee and placed it on the coffee table covered in visible splinters.

"Roughly a month ago I'd say" there was a pause "He was furious about this girl I think, I don't remember her name though." 

Charlie pondered for a minute "by any means was it Jessica?" 

"No, no I've met the brat, seems a bit to much like an insufferable know-it-all if you ask me.

Charlie agreed.

For a second he thought over some names, leaving an awkward silence to fill the lack of noise.

Remembering the backpack that was set near his feet he slipped a book out.

The yearbook.

He passed it over to the hunched figure and Orion got the hint of what he was supposed to do as in the next few seconds he briefly flicked through the pages.

Silence once again had taken its presence, for the window panes rattling only remained a background noise and was insignificant but gave Charlie some sort of reassurance that he was still alive.

The pages stopped.

Charlie held his breath with anticipation.

"That's her" Orion said pointing to the blue haired girl scowling in the class photo, looking anything but impressed.

"Charlie Wright"

"Yeah"

He snatched the book off of the man and stuffed it back in his bag.

He was about to exit the house in a rampage trying to find as much information he could by the end of the day when he was stopped by a cracking voice.

"I'm sorry" 

Charlie turned around and looked over at the rugged frame and the unclean house which was probably a safety hazard to anyone who bothered to come near.

"Me too" Charlie responded as he turned once again to exit the building, tempted not to turn to the building once more.

"Me too"