Bondage Mansion (Ferard)

Chapter 26: Family Can Be The Healing Kind

***Gerard***

The first day was hell. The nightmare was so vivid that Gerard woke up screaming and punched Frank in the face. It took both Frank and Robert to subdue him. Robert had to call a physician and have him sedated. His mind was a blank then, but the nightmare kept looming just on the edge of his subconscious. The second and third day Gerard was feeling up to eating a little. Not much though. Robert tried to bring him strawberries from the garden, but the thought of eating anything that man helped create was more nauseating and he just brought it all back up. Frank had better luck with the bread that Jimmy made for him. Frank had a special tea that he claimed to drink himself when he was in discomfort. Gerard enjoyed the exotic blend. After the third day Frank and Robert both took to sleeping in his room. Robert shared the bed with him, but Frank insisted on sleeping in a chair in case Gerard tried to leave the room again in a panic. Having Robert's arm encircle him all night was partly pleasant, but sometimes he squeezed a little too tight and it brought back the trapped feelings. On nights like that Gerard would ease out and take one of his nightly walks. By Monday one of his walks had led him to the Library. He tried not to see Robert with those two men on the rug in front of the fire and turned towards his painting. Gerard took the wedding painting down that he restarted and placed it along the wall with Frank's painting, as it had come to be called in his mind. He crossed to the hidden closet and took out a fresh canvas. He placed it on the easel and pulled several tubes of paint out. He squeezed some of each out onto the palette and chose two brushes and tucked them behind his ears. He then picked up a third brush and dipped it in the muted blue paint. Gerard placed the brush against the canvas and got lost in his art.

***Bert***

"Shit!"

Robert was in a panic when he woke up and Gerard was gone. He thought he had a good grip on him to stop him from wandering, but he was wrong. He quickly got up and searched the room including the dressing area and closet, nothing. He walked out the door and checked his room. He checked several of the other guest bedrooms, still nothing. He hurried down the stairs and nearing collided with Frank heading to the dining room.

"Christ man, watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, Frank...have you seen Gerard?"

"What do you mean have I seen Gerard?"

Frank's voice was cool but had an edge to it. Robert stepped back a bit. Frank advanced on him. Robert went back up one stair and angled towards the wall.

"Did you not think he would go on one of his nightly walks?"

"I was holding him, so I didn't think he could get away with leaving."

Frank slapped the front of his head with his hand and ran his hand down his face grabbing his chin.

"Fine, you look in the dining room and kitchen, I will check the Library and Study."

Robert just nodded and skittered off. He ran into the dining room first and saw that the table was being prepped for breakfast. He headed into the kitchen to talk to the servants.

***Frank***

"Fucking idiot!"

Frank mumbled under his breath as he checked the Study. Nothing changed in here since Robert was there last. Frank gave himself a mental reminder to check the valise and see what business Robert was up to this week. He closed the door and wandered into the Library. In front of the fire was Gerard curled up in the fetal position. He had a paintbrush in his hair and another slipping out of his hand. The palette was resting on the floor smeared with used colors. Gerard's hands and face had paint on them as well as his exposed chest and dressing gown. Frank walked over to the canvas and looked at Gerard's work. Gerard had drawn the forest in the background and a shadow looming with a red streak across his neck. In the front were several flowers wilted and dying or dead. A bleeding blue heart was causing a river through the center to separate the forest and the flowers. A single tombstone was fashioned coming out of the river, it was cracked and a hand was reaching out of it covered in dirt and blood. A small figure was crouched there reaching out to the hand, but his face was blank. Frank studied the painting and then looked over at Gerard. The man was an open book and a mystery at the same time. Frank did not understand how that was possible. Gerard made a noise in his sleep and stretched out. The birds that matched the ones on Frank's stomach were peeking out of the dressing gown. Frank left the painting and went over to the sofa. He stood there watching Gerard. Then Gerard opened his eyes.