The Starved

Chapter 6: Only When it is Spoken

Conner stared out into the pit of the unknown (In this case it was a small trash can that he stared at). He searched endlessly for some sort of knowledge that he could obtain. Perhaps, this was wrong of him. Perhaps, he shouldn't look for answers. After all, the answers he might obtain might only confuse him more, or just terrify him. Conner glanced down. What am I doing? Conner thought. While he waited for Abby to return with Lewis, this question seemed to often appear in his mind and it only led to more questions. Not only ones where he questioned himself and his motives, but also ones where he wandered on a dark path to inquiry of the monster. Yes, the monster... To be real or not to be. Conner chuckled slightly at this. Who are you? Shakespeare, now? Conner laughed again. "To be or not to be?" He mumbled, only slightly loud enough for him to be able to change his voice into a more theatre appropriate voice.

Conner turned his head towards the door that was placed left of him. He questioned his motives behind interrogating Lewis. To Conner's slight dismay, he worried that Lewis would not come with Abby. But, for a strange reason he could not truly understand, he trusted that Abby would get Lewis.

As if on cue, Abby opened the door at that moment. Conner felt an interesting relief flood him as he saw Lewis in tow with Abby. "Ah, Lewis." Conner smiled at the boy, he smiled back. There was a new aura about the boy. Before, Lewis appeared to be very cold with Conner, but it now seemed that Lewis was more gentle and calm with Conner. Conner explained this new attitude to himself on the fact that he lied in a hospital bed and was showed to be less of a danger to Lewis. Conner raised his arm and waved, "How ya doing?"

"I'm good." Lewis replied with a small wave back.

"Hey, Abby?" Abby turned her head to Conner. "Can you give the two of us a second. Is that allowed?"

Abby looked towards the door and back at Conner, clearly torn. "Well, I don't think I'm allowed to do that. Her thin eyebrows came together in confusion. "But," She thought for a moment then smiled at Conner, "I'm sure that Lewis would be happy to get a man to man conversation. That way he's not talking with a girl too much." Abby came down to eye level with Lewis. "Right, you don't want to just talk to me right?"

Lewis glanced at Conner, and a strange face fell over Lewis. Still looking at Conner he said, "Sure."

"Alright, very good." Abby turned her head to Conner and gave him a look that said to not screw up this chance to get information. He shrugged it off as she left the room. The door closed with a click.

Almost directly after the door closed, Lewis asked a question that Conner was not really prepared to answer. "What happened to you? What made you in that bed?" His voice was quiet and slightly concerned.

"You know, I'm not really sure." Conner smiled, then upon seeing Lewis not satisfied with the answer continued. "Well, I know why I got in this hospital but why I did that thing is a different story."

"So, you did this to yourself?" Lewis asked quickly. Damn, for an eight year old that was really sharp. Conner opened his mouth and was going to instinctively lie to Lewis, but suddenly he stopped himself.

"Yes," Conner paused and glanced down. "Yeah, I did this to myself." Conner regained himself and continued to fulfill his motive. "Look, I have to ask you. What did you see? When Mark was ki.... attacked... what did you see?"

Lewis turned his head away from Conner shyly. "I... already gave you my drawing."

"I know, I know. I saw it. But, can you describe what you saw?" Conner shifted in his spot on the bed. Lewis didn't turn his head back to Conner.

"I really don't..." His voice became so quiet it was almost impossible to hear him. He brought his left arm to his right and held it in such a way that showed his discomfort. Conner realized immediately that he was failing miserably.