A Bell Of Juxtaposition

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Mikey and Frank no longer sit so close but Gerard stays with me, never leaves my side. It's as if there is an invisible glue holding us together physically and mentally. I just wish that we could never be ripped apart but we'll soon have to get up and leave the security of the van.

Some part of me likes surprises but my curiosity is a killer of that; I have to know where we are going. 'Gerard,' I whisper as I am not completely sure he is asleep. He rests his head against mine and he is slightly limp: this indicates that he is sleeping. He jumps awake straight away, ready to protect and defend but no danger is sighted as he looks frantically around the van he then looks softly down at my grubby face and smiles. 'Sorry I woke you but I have a little question for you.' I ask shyly. His eyes fill with uncertainness but he says, 'That's fine huney, just resting my eyes. What's your question?'

'All adults say I was just resting my eyes when the truth is that you were sleeping. Sorry, anyway, back on track...where are we going?'

His eyes set back into their normal warmness as he realizes my question wasn't the avoided one. 'Well, I have no clue which is kinda stupid.' He says with a smile and then asks the others, 'Hey, guys! Where are we going?'

'Right, yeah we forgot to say. We are off to my new house. By the way, this new house ain't too new; it's an abandoned house we found when um you were away. It doesn't smell of death anymore though! We cleaned it up good and proper. Got some nice enough furniture,' Frank answers in his cheerful giggly way. He could make anything cheerful! 'We need to keep in hiding now...which isn't great but eventually we'll get out to our normal lives. It's completely safe there and family can visit when we know for sure it is okay.'

'That sounds...interesting...it will be like one big sleepover every night! Slumber party! Makeovers!' Gerard answers and we all laugh in return.

So we have to stay in hiding now. Who are we hiding from? Well, of course Matt and Bob but they are only two men. They might have an army of haters though? I don't know, they won't tell me yet which bugs me like crazy!

The van stops.

The door slides open but I can't see Ray. The black night swallows him whole. I can only tell it's him when he speaks. 'We made it! God, I'm tired! Get off your asses and let's get inside.' Frank and Mikey get up and jump out. Jump, I wish I could jump. Gerard lifts himself up slowly, cramped by sitting so still for so long. I slide over to the door and now Ray picks me up and cradles me like a baby. They've all had a go at holding me now.

Ray takes the keys and presses the lock button for the van. He then throws the keys to Mikey who opens the door to the house.

In the night, it is just a black shape but in light, it will be different, we'll be able to see the damage.

We walk over to the house and through the door. I find myself in a dank smelling and dark looking hallway. A light flickers on. Electric! Fancy. A stairway sits in the corner. Carpet runs the floors but they have gone long past mouldy. The banister has been eaten away by termites. Note to self: don't use the banister!

Ray carries me through to the living room/kitchen if you can call it that. Two old worn sofas sit facing each other on each side of the room. A table with four chairs sits by the window. Counters line the back of the room. The so-called kitchen. There is a sink and a fridge that makes a noise that is not healthy.

'Cosy.' Is my first response to the room. Ray places me down on the sofa and crouches down in front of me so he is eye level. 'How you doin'? Everything alright in there?' he points to my brain. I'm not sure if he's being serious or not but I'll just answer with the best answer I can conjure up. 'I'm fine but how are you doing? I mean, all of you. How are you going to cope with being locked away for whatever amount of time it takes?' I look up at all them. They all stop and stare at me with deep thoughtful looks. Frank answers and it's the first time he's been serious, 'We will be fine too. You and Gerard managed it for over a month and you went through hell in that time. We have each other, no pain just friendship and love. That is how we will cope.' Good answer, I just smile. I will always feel guilt inside though. I am the reason, probably, for keeping them away from their normal desired lives. They all probably have a family waiting for them to come home but they never do.

'Where do we sleep?' A voice from the hallway calls through. It's Gerard. 'Yeah, upstairs. There are three bedrooms. Two with two beds and one with one bed,' Mikey answers, 'Me and you are sharing, Frank and Ray are sharing too seeing as we are all guys, Vicky gets a room to herself.'

'Seems fair enough but Mikey, don't start your consistent snoring again.' Gerard replies in a playful sibling way.

'Hey! I don't snore! You snore, I drool.' Mikey retorts back. Gerard just laughs and walks into the living room.

Ray sits at the table, reading a local newspaper from ten years ago. Frank is laid out over the other sofa on the left side of the room with his eyes closed, napping peacefully. Mikey is in the kitchen, preparing a meal of pasta and tomato sauce. Gerard looks around the room, content by what he sees. All his friends are safe and together again.

His eyes then rest on mine. They are filled with sorrow and regret. Tears fill his eyes and over flow. I don't understand, am I really that ugly?

I try and get up so I can reach him and hold him however I just flop back on to the sofa. I persue until I am standing on one leg and hopping over to him. I reach him and he is smiling at my effort. I fall into his arms and look up at his face that is wet from tears. 'Why are you crying?' I ask like a child even though I am fifteen. He pulls a face of concentration before he answers, deciding whether to tell the truth or make it up. 'Well, just look at you. You have been beaten down and drained for blood tests. You look so innocent and breakable but these factors didn't matter to Matt or the doctor, they took it as their advantage-,' he stops to stifle a whimper, '-when I look at you...I remember the...screams of pain...and...your face and eyes pleading for the torture to stop but I couldn't help you. Chains around my arms and legs restricted me. I'm glad you don't remember what happened. It's the only reason why you're still sane...' The truth. He lifts me off my feet as he hugs me close to his chest. He breathes in the scent of my hair and exhales warmth on my head that travels down my neck.

At first I didn't close my arms around him as I was stunned by the truth that left his lips but his breath booted me back into life and my arms, even my injured arm, sliver around him and hold him. 'Please don't let go,' is whispered in my ear several times and with each time, my arms tighten around his chest and over his back.

He gently returns me back to the floor but doesn't let go all at once, he gradually let's go. He is a broken man and I am a broken girl. We match. Maybe our broken pieces will fit together?

'Dinner's ready.' Mikey instructs us. We sit around the table, except for Frank who sits on the sofa with a bowl of pasta in his lap. Ray, Mikey, Gerard and I sit at the table. Gerard on my left side and Ray on the right. Mikey sits opposite" me.

We eat in silence as everyone just witnessed Gerard's breakdown. The only sound that echoes in the living room is the scraping of spoons on bowls as we shovel each mouthful of heavenly food into our mouths. I haven't tasted anything this good since...since...the chocolate cake but that memory is shrouded by terror.

Frank takes our bowls and spoons over to the sink and starts to run the water. Ray walks over and takes a towel, ready to dry up. However, he spins the towel and whips Frank in the ass a couple of times, each time he screams out with laughter. The next thing we know, Frank has grabbed a glass and filled it with water. And before Ray could run, Frank has thrown it all over Ray's face. Water droplets collect in his afro. He shakes his head and sprays Frank. 'Okay, okay! Stop it you two!' Mikey shouts but laughs over to Frank and Ray. They shake hands and laugh some more.

Once the chores set by Mikey are completed by Frank and Ray, we all sit together on the sofas. Gerard and I are inseparable so we sit next to each other with Frank on my other side. Ray and Mikey sit on the opposite sofa. Gerard starts the discussion:

'Guys, I think it's time we tell Vicky why she was taken to Matt. She deserves to know the truth and why we did what we did.'