The Phoenix Club (written as CJ Bishop)

CH 9: "Stay the Night"

"S T O P. I don't want to do this anymore." the boy shoved at the man's hands as he groped his body.

"Like I give a fuck?" the guy grabbed his hands and twisted them painfully behind his back and shoved him face down on the bunk. His heavy body pressed down on the boy, pushing the air from his lungs as his mouth hovered at the kid's ear. "You're gonna keep taking it, you little bitch, for as long as I say so."

The man shoved the boy's face harder into the coarse blanket and suddenly he couldn't breathe. "Get off me!" he choked, muffled into the blanket, struggling for air. But his lungs were compressed and his airways blocked. "I can't...breathe..."

♦

"Get off me!" Abel fought the hands that grabbed at him, crying, wrestling to get loose.

"Abel!" Cole's sharp voice cut through the dream and jerked him back to consciousness. He gasped for air, his lungs tight from the vividness of the nightmare. "Abel – it's me." Cole held his wrists to keep from getting hit in the face. "Calm down, babe. It's just me."

Abel was shaking, tears streaking his face as his eyes focused. Cole and Gabe stared at him, concern tightening their brows. As soon as he calmed, Cole released him. He drew back and shifted on the sofa, pulling his eyes away from theirs. His hand trembled as he wiped the tears from his face.

"What the hell were you dreaming about?" Cole asked.

Chewing his thumbnail, Abel shook his head slowly, staring at the floor. "Nothing." he whispered.

"Seemed like something to me." Abel closed his eyes and fresh, warm tears seeped out. Cole's arm went around him and hugged him close. "It's okay, Abel." he said softly. "Whatever it is...it's over. You're right here, with us. You're safe."

Gabe moved around and sank to his heels before Abel, resting his hands on his knees. "You don't have to be scared, kid. It was just a dream."

Just a dream. But it wasn't just a dream. Gabe's baby blue eyes held his and more tears rose up. "No." he trembled. "It wasn't."

Gabe frowned with uncertainty and glanced at Cole.

"What do you mean?" Cole asked.

He wanted to tell them, knew he could trust them...but it hurt too much to speak it out loud, made it too real again. "Nothing." he mumbled and started to move, then gasped when the pain in his back halted him. "I just...need to go to bed." His face pinched as he pushed himself up off the sofa.

"Easy there." Cole took hold of him and slipped an arm around his waist for support.

"I'm not crippled." Abel murmured. "I can walk."

Gabe stood and stepped out of the way as Cole ignored Abel's protests and helped him to the bedroom. He pulled back the blankets and laid him down on the sheet. "How soon can you take more of your pain meds?" Cole asked and unfastened the snap of Abel's pants then slowly pulled them off.

Glancing at the digital clock on the nightstand, he said, "Maybe an hour or so."

"Does your back hurt bad?"

"Kind of." he said quietly.

Cole pulled the blankets over him then sat on the edge of the bed. Gabe had followed them in, and walked to other side of the bed and sat down, leaning back against the wall. "We'll stay." Gabe said. "At least until you can take some more meds and get some sleep."

The thought of going back to sleep made Abel's stomach hurt. While working at the club, he was usually exhausted by the time he came home. His sleep was deep and dreamless most of the time. But now, with no physical exertion to wear him out, his sleep was lighter and the dreams found their way in.