The Dying Generation

Chapter Fourteen

It has now been about a week since the store incident, and the argument. I was curious about what did Cedric say to Alton that made him behave that way. Alton had showed signs of being a little protective over me but after that one little argument, it seemed that his whole attitude had changed over me.

It seemed to have been still having an effect on him now as it is since he hasn't spoken to me since. He's been ignoring me and wouldn't at least look in my direction, and if he did, the same glare would be shown in his eyes. I've been starting to hear more arguments between the Father and Son more often. It was always a little unclear to me though, they never get into it in front of me. They always try to take it to the other room where I could barely make out the words that was said but I could still hear the frustration and anger that laced their voices.

I looked over to the other side of the room, from my prison to see a very small window, up high that it was barely out of reach for a normal giant to see out of. On some occasions, when Alton would come home, I would sometimes see red and blue lights flashing through the window.

I grabbed my worn out blanket that always remained in the glass box with me and bundled up into it. Pushing myself up into the cold corner of the little space, covering my whole body with the blanket from the cooler temperatures of the room.

My sight got a little blurry, feeling something run down my cheek.
I wiped it away with the rough blanket. Why does Alton hate me now? What have I done wrong?

I could hear a door open but didn't bother to look in it's direction. I just kept my eyes down to the ground. I could hear the foot steps that approached and feel the very slight tremor in the ground from the being coming closer to me.

In my peripheral vision, I could see a dark shadowed being standing in front of me. He calmly unhooked the latch and the wall in front of me fell down. I didn't even move or react to it.

"Come along, Clay." The familiar voice of Cedric calmly told me, holding his hand right in front of me. 

I didn't follow his command right away, I just remained still, lost in my own mind of worry.

"Clay." His fingers tapped me, pulling my attention to him now. 
I slowly looked up to him, seeing him waiting patiently for me. At the same moment I was just giving in by removing the blanket from me, he got impatient and brought his hand closer, scooping me up.

I laid on my side in his hand while he marched up the stairs into the brightly lit room. I turned my head away, groaning at the bright lights that burned my eyes. I held onto his thumb to help keep myself secured. Until he had reached his destination and tilted his hand for me to slid off.

"Alright, let's see that ankle of yours." He began to unwrap the make-shift splint that was wrapped around my right leg. I avoided eye contact with him, staring blankly at the table beneath me. 
It bothered me, is there something else I can do to make Alton better? To be like how he use to be?

Cedric gave me a few looks then broke the awkward silence.  
"No questions for me tonight?"

I shook my head to respond to his question.

"What's wrong?" He asked, starting to pay more attention to me than what he was doing.

I debated over and over in my head if I should let him know what was bothering me, practically eating me alive.
Before I could even come to a well thought out conclusion, I blurted out:
"Did I do something wrong?.. Why is Alton mad at me?"

Cedric looked down and sighed, shaking his head slowly.
"You didn't do anything wrong. That's just... That's just how Alton is.."

"But he never acted like that towards me before.." I fiddled with my fingers than looked back up to him.
"What did you say to him?"