Midnights strike

J E D

3 : 5 7 PM

"Yo Jed you coming over to Morts' house tonight. There'll be booze and bitches!" Islah announces through the empty locker rooms. I'd never considered Islah as a friend, for one it'd be idiotic on my behalf since he always has something to say about me behind my back and not to my face, Secondly, he's plain annoying with no sense of courtesy.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his overexcited attitude towards getting drunk, "Nah. Sorry, bro, I've got a lot of work to catch up with, got a late shift in the diner, you know?" I shrug and pull on a grey shirt.

"Come'on dude, why you always stallin'?! Is there a hoe? come on you know how it is. Bros before hoes for life"

I was starting to get rather irked by his tone of voice when it came to addressing the opposite sex. If I did have a girl I'd most likely punch him in the face at this particular moment.

I paste on an amused smile in contempt of being the absolute opposite. "No man, if I had a girl I'd definitely tell you. You know that"

"Yeah dude but make sure to drop by Morts'." He sounds unconvinced and I know I'll be in deep shit if he gets more suspicious. He may even start following me around.

I nod and sling my bag across my body, ready to get out here and away from further confrontation.

"See you tomorrow mate" I awkwardly give Islah a bro hug and leave the locker room, glad to be out the stuffy place.

I may be well known in this school with girls asking me out frequently but it's not a life I'd desire for myself. I guess when people realise you exist; they either want to involve themselves in your existence in hopes of gaining recognition or they want to snoop their abnormally large noses in your existence to give out some good gossip for self-recognition.

I push the school doors open and walk through the carpark, towards the shady corner where not many people park; For fear of being jumped, I would be scared if I weren't able to fend for myself. Since I was sixteen I lived in an abandoned warehouse, but now, with the money I make I was recently able to buy a two bedroom apartment, one room decorated for a child, remains locked up while the other belongs to myself.

I click the button on the car key remote to unlock my blue ford fiesta. I slide into the right side of the car and breath out, for too long a while I've been having restless nights. I'd say it was because of The midnight visits to Axel but that'd be a lie, I've been visiting him for two years now. I'm bound to be used to the sleepless nights.

I pull out of the parking spot and trail behind the other cars as they leave. Usually, I'd speed past these cars but today I had nowhere, in particular, to be which meant I could take as much time as I want, to think, to observe and to plan.

A plan on how I'll visit Axel today. It was an everyday solemnity so I could see my brother without getting arrested. And they say there's no greater love than that of a parent. Bullsh*t.

The sound of a car horn sounds through the carpark and I'm brought back to reality where no more cars stand in front of my own. I hurriedly press my foot on the acceleration and speed out the car park.

1 1 : 5 5 PM

The gloves on my hands keep my skin from tearing as I climb up the walls with the help of the English ivy that has been growing up the hospital walls for several years.

Axels' window- on the second floor- remains open but with the curtains drawn as per usual.

As I reach the ledge I yank a thin rope which pulls the curtains open, allowing me into the room. I pull myself in and balance myself.

"Jed! Hey" Little Axel whisper yells as I walk his way. I grin brightly but he doesn't return the gesture. Instead, he looks worried stiff as he wheezes slightly. 

"Axel, are you okay? El what's wrong?" I rush to my younger brothers side and massage his shoulders and remove the pillow from under his head. 

"Mum...And dad...Are here- They know you're here! They're angry that...you'll get eaten...by the dragon" Axel wheezes and I sink to the floor with a pale face and slack body. 

"Shi-pit!" I quickly correct myself before the curse leaves my mouth and carry on "How did the find out?" 

"They-they found my collection of beanies, that you gave." Little Axel admits innocently. 

I manage to crack a slight grin just so he doesn't  think there's anything to be stressed about. He finally grins back and despite the bluishness on his lips and the bags beneath his eyes- I still find him adorable. 

I shrug carelessly though deep down I'm anything but that "What's the worst that could happen?" 

"I have three more operations and the doctor is thinking of moving me to the E ward, If I'm up there then you can't visit me."

"Why?"

"The windows are kept locked and are nearer to the ceiling than to the ground. It's also on the fourth floor" 

I sigh in annoyance. God really hates me doesn't he, He really wants to separate me from the only family I have left. 

"Well I'll think of a plan, don't stress too much... When will you be transferred?" 

"Thursday morning at the latest." 

I shake my head and clench my jaw, Axel would be too naive to understand what my parents would do to keep me away from him. He thinks I sneak in every night because there's a dragon outside and my parents don't want me to get eaten by the dragon in daylight. 

"What book would you like me to read?" I finally say.

"Augustus and his smile, Please?" 

"Sure" I smile at him and flip through the collection of books that stayed under Axels' bed in a colourful square box. 

Many of the books we read together were written in Czech since that was where we originated from and Axel being the root-proud kid he was; always asked for books that were written in Czech. 

I begin reading to him, occasionally using hand gestures and weird facial expressions which made him laugh or grin. Once the book was finished, we both decided on making a shadow puppet show, looking through Axels' beanie collection and modelling them on our heads in weird ways, all until he fell asleep. 

"Dítě na dobrou noc..." 

I walk to the window and climb out, I leave the premises with the hood of my jacket up and the gloves once again on my hands. Making my way to the car, I drive towards Morts' house. I'll regret it in the morning. 

A U T H O R     N O T E

How was the first chapter? Gimme your feedback, and please bear with me, the slow updates are sole because I'll be moving back to Birmingham in two months and it was done recently. 

Love you guys. 

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