Where The Wind Blows

Chapter 20.

Slugsdale.

I've never been there but I've heard of the place alright but I wish that it were good things. It's the place where the worst of the worst resides, if that makes any sense. How could anyone who has a heart let a kid live there, what is wrong with people these days. Even I can't live there and that's saying a lot. All sorts of crimes happen there, from pushing drugs to theft and the criminals too. It is like their freaking headquarters.

Hailey was still trying to snap out of the shock she was in as she placed the plate of food she got for him right in front of him.

"She lives there too?" He didn't say a word, he just gave a nod. He was afraid of her, too afraid to even talk about her. He was probably scared that she could be somewhere around, that she could hear him.

"Have you ever been to Slugsdale, Hailey?"

"Um, yeah. Once."

I was indeed surprised.

"Why?" I and Arturo said at the same time. She didn't seem like someone who would have anything to do with the people over there.

"It's a pretty long story that I don't wish to discuss right now, besides Arturo is the one that matters now." She paused, then said "All I can say is, it's a really terrible place for anyone to be in and it's definitely no place for kids. Whoever that your aunt is, she's crazy. Too damn crazy." Hailey said furiously. She was beginning to feel my anger, good.

"Yeah, she is."

"I'm going to let you guys be now, it's getting a lit bit busy in there. You'll be fine my little man, okay?" She said pulling Arturo into a hug and then she left.

It was quiet again. I soaked the cotton wool with hydrogen peroxide and applied on his wound again.

"This will hurt less." I said and to this, he gave no reply.

"Where are your parents?" It was evident I had hit home as he immediately looked at me and this time his tears fell. I didn't want to hurt him, but to help him, he had to tell me all I need to know.

"I don't know."

"Your don't know what?" I asked, still pushing him even though I shouldn't. I used the cotton wool on the bruises on his lips, his cheek and some parts on his arms.

"I don't know where they are but," he paused and took in a shaky breath. "Whenever I ask, my aunt tells me they are dead but she never says how they died or when. But I want to believe that they are alive."

Okay. No parents, crappy aunt. I took another cotton wool and dipped it in Iodine. I applied it on the wound and asked another question, one I hoped he will answer.

"So, this redhead, you refer to her as 'aunt' but is she actually though? Are you related by blood? Or you just call her that because she is your guardian."

He stayed quiet for a long time, so long that I had applied the Iodine on the wound and all of his bruises. Yet, he didn't say a word, he didn't even stare at me, he just stared past me. I was about to apply a plaster on it when he spoke,

"No. No plasters please."

"Why? It's going to help the wound by preventing it from external infections."

"I know that but she won't like it. You've done enough, just leave it as it is. Thank you."

I sighed and put everything I used back in the box. Picking the used cotton wools, I threw them in the thrash bin that was just by the corner.

"Are you going to answer my question or no?"

He sighed but then he spoke,

"We aren't related by blood. She isn't my mum or dad's sister or anything like that. She is just a lady who was supposed to give me a better life, a better education. She lied to my uncle to let her take me, that I'll have the best of the best. He didn't even want me so it wasn't hard convincing him.  But now, all she does is make me do terrible things and really dirty work. If I don't or if I don't do it well, she hits me." He was crying already. I should stop, I should let him eat. I should give him a break, he is hurting and I shouldn't break him even more but I can't help myself.