A Silent Cry

Chapter Twenty-One: Good News

A/N: Way back when I first started this story, I originally planned to have Cheyenne as Felix's "rival". I'm not so sure that's a good idea anymore... especially since I've mentioned an ex-girlfriend already. (I might go back and change Red's name to something else considering the context of the break up in this story. Double oof). Anyway, I just needed to express that. Sorry for the long note...

By the time lunch rolled around, Cry felt a little more optimistic about everything. He saw Scott with a smile on his face for the first time in a long while; it seemed as if he was actually willing to interact with them now, though he shied away from Russ still. It was a work in progress and that's all that mattered to Cry.

Before he joined everyone at the lunch area, he decided he needed to pay someone a little visit. He walked straight into the computer lab. Minx sat at her usual computer, alone, typing away. If anyone would have any idea about secret identities it would be her.

As soon as he tapped on the desk to get her attention, she dropped whatever she was doing. She closed out all programs and turned to him with a large smile. However, Cry didn't even get the chance to consider saying anything before she spoke first.

"Cry! You're just the person I needed to talk to today." She stood up to be at his level. An action she hardly ever did. If the great Minx stood up in your presence then you were very special indeed.

But Cry didn't need to be seen as special. He wanted her to listen. For what wouldn't be the last time, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it after remembering nothing would come out. Instead, he tried to grab her attention by gesticulation. It didn't work.

"I have some very important news to tell you."

Yes. Very nice. But could it wait a bit? He had half a mind to take out the paper and shove it in her face.

"Keith just got caught!"

Cry froze. A sound fell from his lips that might have been, "what?" if a full voice was there. Instead, it came out more like a raspy sigh. How the hell could he have gotten caught? Why now? He successfully dodged all authority for weeks -- Cry feared all those days. But now he was just gone? That couldn't be true.

Minx appeared oblivious to the turmoil. "Police found his hideout earlier today. He was getting ready to leave the state, but they got him. It's all gonna be over soon. Isn't that great?"

That seemed too simple. It couldn't be over just like that. It was too easy. Keith made it an art to not get caught. And if the papers were anything to go by, this wouldn't be his first crime. There's no way he'd be able to walk so freely after all those charges. Something else had to be happening. A reason Keith had gone so long without getting found out.

"Of course, there's always the trial," Minx mumbled as an afterthought. Cry wondered for a moment if he got good at hiding his panic or if Minx was terrible at reading emotions. "But that's the final hurdle before Keith is gone for good. After that, you'll never have to worry about him ever again."

Too simple. Far too simple. Cry spent days suffering under Keith's torment, and one night in total agony. It couldn't be this easy. All that hurt -- all the trauma -- over and done within a few measly hours? It wasn't right. There had to be more. He went through so much -- too much for it to be finished like this. Like a closing to a chapter. An ending of an awful story. But this wasn't something that would be able to end as easy as that. This was something he would take with him for the rest of his life. Physical and emotional scars that would never fade. An ever-present reminder of what he had been through. It could never be over.

Keith had won.

Whatever he wanted, he got. Cry wouldn't ever be able to forget what was done to him. Keith would forever be immortalized into his subconscious. So no. After the trail, Keith won't be gone. He'll be a worry that Cry will have to carry forever.

Cry brought up a smile for Minx, though. It didn't matter how much his chest constricted or his limbs trembled. Because Minx needed to believe that something good was happening. Good was happening. Everyone Cry knew would be affected by this. They would all be safe as long as Keith can be prosecuted. That's all that Cry wanted in the first place.

So why couldn't he be happy?

"I'm sure your mom will go over the more intimate details with you later," Minx continued. "But I just couldn't wait for you to find out."

Cry nodded. He didn't know what else to do. His cheeks started to hurt from forcing a smile.

"Well, you must have come in here for something. What is it that you needed?" An easy smile made its way onto her face. She couldn't tell how much Cry wanted to turn and run.

Cry waved his hand as if to dismiss something. The paper felt heavy in his pocket.

Minx raised a brow. "Just came in to say hi, then?"

He nodded.

"Alright, you weirdo. It's good to see you again." She sat back down in her chair. "If that was all, then feel free to leave. I'm expecting someone else to come in. If not, I'll reschedule them."

Cry shook his head. He idled a bit before giving a small wave and turning the other direction.

Minx watched him go with a frown. She made sure to send Russ a text about checking up on him. It looked like he needed a friend.

The moment Cry exited the computer lab, he booked it down the hall. He needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere with no people. Somewhere he could breathe.

He squeaked once he ran into someone.

As an instinct, an apology made its way up his throat, but it didn't make it all the way out. A sad wheezing sound is all that escaped.

"Cry?" Felix. "Where were you? Are you okay?" He steadied Cry's shoulders. Concern etched every detail of his face. "Do you need to sit down or something?"

Cry didn't know how to answer. He didn't know if he could get his fingers to form a proper sentence. Everything felt like too much. The lights were too bright. The slightest noises were too loud. The hallway felt both narrow and wide at the same time.

He couldn't follow anything.

He blinked and he was sitting against the wall with Felix kneeling beside him. He let out a shaky breath and suddenly Russ was rounding the corner. His words didn't register in Cry's head until the moment had passed.

"Cry? Is he okay?"

Russ kneeled in front of him. Concern also made its way onto his face. His tired, tired face.

Then Cry noticed that his hand tightly clasped Felix's. He didn't know who initiated it or when it happened, but he wasn't going to complain. A tether keeping him from falling. A warm, comforting tether that he owed his life to.

Russ also noticed this. He looked between Felix and Cry and said something that Cry almost missed, "Um, maybe I should go."

Go? No, no, no. He couldn't leave. He couldn't. Cry reached out as fast as he could to grab Russ's wrist. A small whimper left without his meaning to.

Though it seemed that this sound convinced Russ to stay. Still holding Felix's hand, Cry threw himself onto Russ, using his free hand to grip onto the back of his jacket. Tears started to make their way down his face before he could stop them. It's not like he made much of a sound, anyway.

It took Russ a moment to wrap his arms around Cry. They weren't affectionate friends -- at least not this way. They always stated their appreciation rather than showing it; it was just how they were. How they always had been. Simple words could go a long way.

So this was new. Considering the circumstances, it probably wasn't something to be seen as good.

Russ shared a look with Felix. Neither knew what to say. All they could do was sit there and be silent support, ignoring anything that happened between them before. At least for right now. Right now Cry needed them. Both of them.

The two people he trusted more than anything in the whole world.