Cruel Laughter [Sequel To "Because He Lived."]

{Chapter 8} Someone To Help

My father and I talked for a few more hours, but it was mostly just him asking me questions. From what he had told me, he hadn't completely forgiven me, but couldn't bring himself to hate me. He said my sentence would be brought out, regardless of him being my father and Aphmau being my mother. That was alright though, it was about time I paid for my crimes. My father acknowledged the fact that I hadn't tried to use my powers at all.

Once he was done asking questions, he called the guard back and left. And once again I was alone again. I enjoyed the silence so it didn't matter to me, but it felt a bit lonely. Usually I had Arsen next to me, or someone, I usually wasn't alone. I glanced out the window, and noticed that the sun had finally gone down. In the house I could see the candle lit, and shadows moving around. Letting out a sigh, I turned away from the window again. From my cell, I could hear shouting from somewhere else in the prison. I couldn't make out words, but I could tell the voice was getting louder, it seemed as they were getting closer.

Finally the back words were clear, loud, and the voice was... familiar?

"--don't care if you are trying to protect me! Father, I want to see him, he turned himself in. He can't be that dangerous!"

The other voice yelling back was familiar too. "I know! But I don't want you getting hurt, he's still dangerous. What if he turned himself in so he can kill the whole village, gain our trust again and then betray us, again."

By then I knew they were talking about me.

"I just want to see him! I don't care what you say."

The shouting stopped, before someone stepped around the corner, approaching my cell. I walked up the the bars to get a better look, and took a sharp- intake of breath.

He looked the same. Same blond hair, loving green eyes, same face... same everything. After six years, he hadn't changed much. I shook my head to get rid of the lingering thoughts.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself, before breathing out, "Alexander."

Alexander gave me a small smile, before unlocking the cell with a key--I had no clue how he got--and stepping into the cell. The second he was in the cell, he pulled me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me tightly. "James." I stood their shocked.

He pulled back, resting a hand on my shoulder and smiling sadly. "I missed you. It's been so long."

"Y-yeah." I had missed him too, in the early years, back when I had just left Phoenix Drop. But eventually just like everything else, I stopped remembering  everything, Alexander along with everything else.

Back when I was a child, and a teenager, Alexander and I were as close as we could be. He balanced out some of my insanity and helped me control myself. Alexander had been there for me. Until one day, his fathers sent him off to some guard school in another town. I was fine at first, receiving letters from him. But then they stopped, and it felt like I was all alone again. That's when I snapped. And the worst of it began. The last time I had seen Alexander was when I was on my way out of Phoenix Drop. He had been returning that day and I had no idea. My eyes glazed over, remembering the old days. Tears threatened to fall.

Instead I looked up at Alexander and smiled. "Why'd you stop writing to me?"

Alexander frowned, squeezing my shoulder. "Why are you smiling."

"Sometimes it's easier to smile than cry."

Alexander pulled me into another hug, tighter this time. "I'm sorry I stopped witting. My instructors started piling us with work and we were sent out in training missions so often. And then when I found out I could come visit, I was going to surprise you... but when I returned all I saw was... y'know."

I choked out more words. "I-I'm sorry for what I did. For everything. I didn't feel sorry until recently... I don't think I even knew what remorse and regret were. I almost killed my entire family, and I found it... exciting. Irene, I want to throw up at the thought now."

"It's alright, James," Alexander said, squeezing me tighter for a moment. "I don't blame you. I blame what's going on in your head. I know how hard it is for you to resist what you want to do so bad. I know sometimes you can't. Although I still don't understand it completely, I'll try my best to be here for you again. No matter what your punishment is. Okay?"

I nodded thankfully, and finally wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back. "Thank you, Alexander. This means more than you know. B-but don't try and convince anyone I don't deserve a punishment, because I do. That's why I turned myself in. Okay?"

"Okay." He glanced over to the door of his cell before turning back to me and pulling away from the hug. "I've got to go before my fathers throw a fit. I'll be back tomorrow. Promise."

"That's alright. See you tomorrow then." He waved at me and smiled before heading out the cell and locking the door behind him.

I braced myself up against the back wall and slid down, burying my head on my hands. Someone was here to help me again.