The Midnight Within

Chapter 12

It didn't take Daniel long to feel like shit and descend down the ladder to the foggy ground below. Zakk had made it pretty clear from the beginning of their friendship that he wanted something more. That was Zakk, always open to it, even if it made the other person feel uncomfortable. Daniel on the other hand had been raised to keep his feelings to himself. Boys didn't cry or show emotion and although she had recently drifted, his mother had tried hard to instill her own catholic beliefs into her children. Horror and dark things were of the devil and you sure as hell didn't talk about what was going on behind closed doors. It was yet another reason to get as far away from that house as he could. leaving Disdain and it's narrow mindedness behind forever. What worried him was Jessie and what might happen to her if he did leave. Would Nick start hitting her if Daniel was not there to be the punching bag? Walking with his head down he shoved his hands deep into his pockets, he had some time to reflect on the recent past and some of the things he had done. Without thinking he stopped, lifted his head and looked out into the corn. The fog was thick here, his eyes wanting to play tricks on him. Was that a shadow man or a prop? And why was it moving? Spooked he picked up his pace, no longer comfortable being out in the corn alone. His thoughts went from the spooky landscape to the night he had brought Kate out here to make out in the Haunted House. He had a lot of memories of spending time with Britt in the hay loft of the barn and his regular visits with Zakk to the light tower and no matter how hard Zakk tried to push him, he was not ready to admit, even to himself that he was not straight. Most kids would label him as Bisexual but Daniel hated labels. Besides, had been in love with too many women to give them up completely. It could be worse he supposed, he could b e attracted to dead animals.When he reached the parking lot he found Zakk sitting cross-legged on the hood of the car with the empty bottle at his feet. He looked like he had been crying but Daniel was not going to mention that. Pulling the car keys from his pocket he held them up." Your going to need these if you want to leave me here. "" I would if I could drive. " Zakk huffed as he slid off the hood, swaying a little while waiting for Daniel to unlock the passenger side door. Once inside, with feeling returning to his fingers he dug out his favorite Youngblud CD, Replacing Type O." I'm sorry Zakk. Would it help if I told you I was an asshole? "" You said it, not me. " Zakk mumbled, sinking down into the worn seat." Zakky you know how much I hate this place. How much I want to take off, head to New Orleans or New York. I can't take much more of Nick's crap. "Zakk fixed him with an angry stare as the car roared to life. " What happened to you and me against the world? Wasn't it supposed to be US that was leaving together or did that slip your mind as well? "" And we would do what? Sell our bodies? " Daniel was trying to lighten the mood as he backed the Stanger up and turned the car around, for a second the headlights caught the shadow man again but Daniel was too distracted to care. Zakk remained sullen with his eyes downcast, his pudgy fingers toying with a hole in his bondage pants." We could find work in lots of places and I have my savings. " Zakk was grasping at straws now and they both knew it. " Or we could murder Britt and make it look like Nick did it. " There was the tiniest hint of hope in Zakk's voice.The trees now marched in silence on the opposite side of the road as they headed back to town. Many of the lit up houses' now dark." Please don't tempt me. " Daniel snorted, lighting up a fresh clove. They drove the rest of the way in silence both of them lost in their own thoughts. Even Zakk's house was dark as Daniel pulled the mustang into the driveway. He got out, walked around to Zakk's open window." I'm sorry. " It wasn't easy for him to say and he knew a simple sorry would not easily fix this one. He had clearly wounded his best friend yet he wanted to make Zakk understand how he was feeling, how trapped and unhappy he was. Everyone in this town was money oriented and fake and if you lived on the wrong side of the track then you pretty much didn't exist." I don't want to talk about it. " Snapped Zakk, fixing Daniel with an angry glare. " And don't even think about showing up at my window any more either. "Feeling like the biggest dick ever, Daniel sighed heavily, turned his back to Zakk and walked down the drive. Crossing the street he walked into the darkened park as he made his way towards home. There was one person who truly understood how he felt. Mia had this uncanny ability to know how we was feeling at any given moment. He has spent endless hours on her couch pouring his heart out to her. She listened when he ranted and held him when he had gotten stupid drunk and puked his guts out. She was the one who had been there when he slit his wrists after thinking that Britt was pregnant. Of all his friends, Mia had never judged him and he loved her for that. He just hoped she would have his back when shit really did hit the fan at home.