Finding Dad

Runaway

It has been nine months since Jonas received to news his father had left him. Hermit had become more angry with Jonas every time he opened his mouth. Cammy sadly died of a lung disease, Jonas was alone. Lily was in the girl cabins with the other orphans that had a chance Jonas saw her once ever since they got there. 

"Wake up Kings! What is wrong with you?" Jonas saw a snapping fingers in his pale face. He let out a loud cough and continued to wash the morning dishes.

"How is this legal?" Jonas's trembling fingers scrubbed at a large stain. His hands where stiff, cold and hard from the cold and the work.

"It's not, now shut up and work!" barked Hermit as he took another swing of beer and slapped Jonas on the back of the head, making Jonas cough again. Jonas looked over beside him and noticed Ben was also scrubbing pots. Ben had light brown hair and brown eyes, he was only twelve and had a bad case of the flu, so he to was coughing all the time.

"Ben what does he mean when he says that this isn't legal. A hospital won't send young children to a illegal orphanage." Jonas asked the hacking Ben.

"I-I don't k-know w-why Jonas." Ben was shivering and coughing like crazy.

"Ben, are you feeling okay?"

"I-I'm f-f-fine J-Jonas." Ben dropped the sponge in the cold water and the plate he was washing fell out of his hand because of his shivering.

"I'll get it don't worry." Jonas reached to the bottom of the cold brown water in the filthy kitchen sink. Ben's fingertips were a light shade of blue and dark purple. He was wearing worn out old knitted green gloves and the fingertips were missing.

"Oh my God Ben your hands! You can't scrub plates in freezing water if your hands look like this!" 

"D-don't tell H-Hermit p-p-please Jonas. H-he'll kill m-m-me." Ben let out another cough and blood came out this time.

"Is that blood? Ben go back to the room I'll meet you there." Jonas lead Ben to the door and pushed him out.

"Hey you! Get back to work you big ball of ugly!" Hermit grabbed Jonas by the collar of his old worn out tee shrit. He pushed Jonas into the side of the sink and gave him another swat on the head. Jonas knew the only way he would be able to go to the room is if he was literally throwing up and hunched over. 

"I have to Ben is not going to die, alone at least." Jonas mumbled to himself and stuck his cold dirty fingers down his throat. His warm hot breath felt good on his numb frozen fingers. Jonas coughed up the little food in his stomach and Hermit started to swear and pushed Jonas out the door onto the floor.

"Now I have to clean up your... vomit! Or should I get Kelly to do it." Hermit smiled to reveal his brown and yellow teeth, that's what colour the one's left were. Jonas picked himself up and walked over to the room. Ben was sitting in a chair with a pail on his knees, he was coughing more then ever.

"J-Jonas! H-how did you g-get out?" 

"I wasn't going to leave you Ben." Jonas walked over to Ben and lead him over to his bed. He tucked Ben in a left the bucket beside him. 

"There that should help the shivering." Ben nodded. Jonas sat on his bed and started to read the writings on the walls, like he always did. It was about nine when the others came back from their work. Everyone was tired no one ate anything, the only time they do eat is once in the morning. Jonas was fast asleep so was Ben. 

Jonas closed his eyes to see his sister, Victoria. He missed her so much and to see her was a big relief. 

"Victoria!" Jonas ran over to hug his beloved sister. Victoria just stood there she didn't hug him back or say anything. She looked like she did when she was in the coma, thin and pale. 

"Vic? What's wrong?" Jonas studied his little sister's face it looked haunted and frail. Jonas shook her yelled her name and she just stood there keeping her straight face.

"Jonas, help, me!" Victoria finally spoke but had Ben's voice, she let out a loud cough. Jonas woke up to see Ben on the floor beside him coughing and struggling for air.

"Jonas, help." he struggled to say, Jonas knelt down beside him and tried to calm him. Jonas knew Ben wouldn't make it but he wanted Ben to be calm when he died.

"Ben it will be okay, tell me what do you see?" Jonas held Ben's hand as he spoke.

"I see a park, there's children and my parents! Jonas they waited for me." Ben managed to wheeze out.

"Go Ben go see your parents." Ben smiled and gave Jonas's hand one last squeeze.

"Thank you Jonas." Ben let out his last words then peacefully died. Jonas carried Ben to his bed and closed his eyes. Jonas gathered the few things he had into a bag and left.

The night guards in the 'Orphanage' weren't very good they normally fell asleep on the job and let people come and go as they pleased. Jonas passed two sleeping guards on his way to freedom. He walked out the doors into the cold winter night no one was on the streets and everyone was asleep. Jonas blew warm air onto his cold hands and walked his way towards the town he didn't care where he ended up as long as it wasn't the place he had left.