This Isn't What We Wanted

11 0 0
                                    

It'd been a few weeks, and Ethan sat at his desk, his attention fully on his laptop like always. The small argument him and August had this morning already had him on edge. He knew if something happened, he may just end up locked up. He heard mumbling coming from the left side of the room, the opposite of three in the corner. He glanced over for a minute, giving them a look as to tell them to be quiet.
Jason saw the look but didn't give it a second thought before he continued his conversation, making eye contact with Ethan as he done so.. as if letting him know loud and clear that he didn't care. That he really couldn't care less. He was talking about God only knows what, probably something Ethan already didn't care too much for.
His eyes went back towards him, a bit of a twitch in his eye. "McNeil, no talking." His voice was low, threatening but very.. very angry. He felt it rising in him already and the shitty attitude the kid gave him made it ten time worse. He called him out in front of the whole class, the silent class. He went back to his laptop, crossing his legs.
"I ain't the only one that was talking, Ryan." He shot back, glaring at him and smirking at his own attitude. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew how pissed Ethan was getting. The three in the other corner were even a little shocked at what was going on, shooting Jason looks to warm him to shut the hell up. They hated that bastard with a passion, but they didn't want Ethan to get himself locked up.
Ethan stood quickly to his feet, his hands on his desk to hold himself up. "What was that?" His eyes squinted a bit, almost in disbelief and pure rage. "What did you say you little shit?" He didn't give him time to answer though, running to him and picking him up to his feet and making him look at him. "Don't you ever.. ever.. give me that attitude." He snarled, still holding on to the boy's hair. He was light, and in Ethan's fit of rage, he could practically throw him. It wouldn't be the first time. "I knocked your ass out once and I'll do it again." He threatened him, not breaking eye contact, not blinking.
He yelped when he was lifted by his hair, making eye contact. He smirked lightly through his wince of pain and practically spit at him when he spoke. "Fine, fine." He said calmly, though his tone was stalked plum full of attitude, of sass. Ethan growled and slammed his face into the hard desk by his hair. He noticed a small amount of blood trailing down from his nose already. He made him look at him again. "Now sit down, and shut up." He pushed him into the seat, knocking the desk over with him in it.
The boy yelped loudly with that, actually listening and shutting up to hold his face. He was.. intimidated to say the least, as he got up to pick his desk up, sitting in it and rubbing his injured areas- like his face, side, and arm from the fall. He kept his eyes on Ethan in a glare that could kill, but kept his mouth shut. He'd get back at him... somehow. So he sat there.. plotting it.
Ethan watched for a minute but made his way back to his desk, sitting back down like nothing happened and turning back to his laptop. He felt everyone's eyes on him but he didn't really care. He was just on edge, he'd be willing to stab anything and everything that got to him wrong. He looked at his watch, only a few more minutes.
Once the bell rang, henbroke loose. Jason has his plan formed and was putting it into action. He went to the three in the back corner and shoved Gram to the floor, knowing good and damn well August would protect the boy, because he couldn't protect himself. Gram yelped and scooted back as Jason reeled his leg back to kick the boy, but August snarled and tackled him, slamming him against the wall. "DONT TOUCH HIM." He snarled, and Jason grinned. "Bye bye Augustus." He grinned, letting the syringe full of a thick, blue liquid fall out of his sleeve and into his hand, stabbing him in the neck with it and injecting it. August went stone cold, jerking away from him and collapsing to the ground. Ethan didn't see him inject him, he just saw August pin him to the wall. He thought that the other had simply hit him hard where only pussies would hit. Jason snickered, going and kicking August several times while he was down. "How does it feel to be weak, Augustus?" He asked, laughing. August didn't get up, didn't fight back. No.. he was too scared to move.
Ethan jumped and ran to him. He stopped to look at Gram for a split second before grabbing Jason by his shirt and slamming him on to the floor. He growled and bent down, his knee placed on his chest. He didn't look at the other two he was too goddamn stuck in his own anger. He grabbed him by his hair, beating the back of his head into the hard floor. "Ethan don't kill him! Come on, we gotta go.. please!" Gram begged, not wanting Ethan to be put in prison or fired. Jason screamed and fought against Ethan, flailing his arms and trying to hit him. August stayed curled up for a minute, staring at the other boy being beat. He held his neck, where he was stabbed.. and got up, running out of the room without a word to anyone else.
Ethan looked at the boy on the ground and growled, giving him one last blow across the cheek and standing up, then he saw August run out. Looking at Gram, he grabbed his wrist, pulling him to his feet and running out the door after him. "August! August where the hell are you?!" He called out in a rush. Jason quickly got up once he was freed, holding his head in pain and stumbling out, leaving the three behind. He got what he wanted.. now he had to wait to see August die. The drugs worked fast. He knew that by the next day, August would be deathly ill, in the hospital. August didn't make it too far into the hallway, he didn't feel the need to run too far.. he just wanted out of that room, away from the chaos for a minute.. he was sitting against the wall outside the room, back pressed against the wall and his knees pulled to his chest. "Right here." He said quietly upon hearing Ethan calling his name, staring at the wall. He was scared.. he looked up at Ethan and Ethan instantly saw the fear in his eyes. Something he rarely ever saw.
Ethan heard him and looked where the voice came from. He noticed the boy. He looked like a child, frightened. He looked like he did that night, the night that he had to watch his dad hurt him. He looked so innocent and hurt. He bent down in front of him, grabbing his hand and looking into his eyes. "August..? Hey.. you're okay now." He pulled him by his wrist into a hug, resting his face in his neck and closing his eyes. "You're alright.." he mumbled quietly, rubbing his back softly. With that, August simply started crying, wrapping his arms around him tightly and holding on like his life depended on it, and he didn't say anything, he just.. cried. Gram watched in silence, watching Jason walk away... this was the first time he truly wished death upon someone, first time he wished he hadn't stopped Ethan from murder. Jason hurt August, his best friend, his family.
Ethan squeezed him a little tighter, mumbling quietly to him. He was completely clueless to Gram's feelings, he wouldn't believe it if someone said it was true, he'd bet his life on it. He knew Gram just wasn't like that. He knew they were kindly in a hurry to get out, but honestly.. he didn't care if Jason went and ran his mouth. He wouldn't care if he did get locked up. He wouldn't care if he killed him. As long as August was okay. August just kept crying, though.. he didn't tell Ethan why. He was scared to. He didn't want to tell him he was injected with something.. he didn't want to believe it himself. Maybe he imagined it. Maybe he was just crazy. He clung to his shirt, sniffling. "Sorry.. I'm sorry." He mumbled quickly. Gram looked at them, kneeling with them. "Don't be.. it was my fault." He said softly, his voice just as innocent and sweet as it always was.. but he was upset. Upset that this happened because he couldn't defend himself.
"It wasn't." August argued quietly, shaking his head. "You're just not good at violence. That's my thing." He joked playfully, the only way to get his mind off of what was happening, off of the injection. He sniffled and rubbed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths and keeping his eyes closed tight, calming himself down. Ethan took a few deep breaths and stood, giving both boys his hands and pulling them to their feet. "Let's go home, huh?" He asked, eager to get out of this damn place. "I'm hungry." He smiled, and the three went out to the man's run down old pick up truck.
The next morning, Ethan was first to wake up between him and August. He went to August's room, worried for him. He always got like this after something bad happened. He sat on a desk beside August's bed. The air of the house filled with eggs and cinnamon. Breakfast sat at the table, awaiting the two. Everyone else had eaten but.. Ethan didn't want to eat. He was too worried. He wanted to wait for August. He noticed him twitch a bit and smiled. He wasn't going to wake him. He actually planned to turn and go back downstairs before he noticed him turn and his eyes flutter open slowly.
August started to wake up, and the pain instantly hit him.. like he ran into a brick wall. He opened his eyes after a moment and looked at Ethan, and the memory of being stabbed flashed back into his head. It really happened. He was hurt. Something was bad wrong. He sat up slowly, instantly puking all over the covers, his hair falling in his face as he gagged, doubling over and holding his stomach. "It hurts.." he moaned.
Ethan jumped down and rushed to him. "Hey, hey! August you alright?" He was starting to panic, watching him. On instinct, he called out to his wife. "Izusa! Damnit get in here!" He started to shake a little. He was not hung over, he wasn't sick. Something happened. Something bad happened.
August grabbed onto his hand, his own burning hot. Fever.. a bad fever. "Ethan.." He said, his voice weak. He pointed at his neck. At the now badly bruised spot where he was injected. "Jason.. He.. he did something to me.. Ethan.." He was crying, making it all so much worse. Izusa quickly entered the room with them, seeing the puke and how pale August looked. "Is he sick..?" She asked quickly, placing a hand on August's forehead after moving his hair out of the way. "Jesus.. you're burning up."
"He.." Ethan's went wide and squeezed his hand, looking at the bruise. "Izusa call an ambulance. Hurry." He looked into his eyes, his own starting to tear up. "You're gonna be okay alright? You're gonna be fine." He forced a little bit of a smile, feeling a tear fall. "You're gonna be fine." Really, he needed him to be. He was convincing himself of it if anything.
Izusa nodded, running to the phone in another room and calling 911. She returned with cold rags for him to place on his head to try and lower the fever. August's eyes were glazed over, and he puked again, blood in the vomit. Izusa got him to stand up, pulling him to his feet and wrapping her arm around his waist, and he instantly almost collapsed because she wasn't strong enough to hold the boy up. "Ethan! Grab him!" She yelped quickly. She didn't want him to hit the floor. "We gotta get him downstairs. So they can get him quicker."
He stood quickly and grabbed his arm before he could fall. He nodded and looked at him. "I'm gonna pick you up, Alright? We gotta get you to the hospital." He smiled a little and gently, carefully, picked him up with both hands bridal style and made his way down the stairs. August was burning hot but shivering, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he started seizing in the man's arms. It was the most terrifying thing.. Ethan feeling the boy lose control of his body and his muscles starting to cave in, his body betraying him. Izusa darted downstairs and went outside to wait for the ambulance so she could tell them where he was.
Once they got to the hospital Ethan waited to hear something.. anything from the doctors. And when he did.. he wished it weren't true. "Mr. Ryan? Your brother is Augustus Ryan?" The doctor asked. Augustus. His full name. Hearing him call his little brother that made him ball his fist up in anger. But he couldnt say anything, instead he simply nodded. The doctor looked sympathetic. "He's.. not gonna make it. He took in some kind of drug and no matter what we do to reverse the effects nothing works. His organs are shutting down." He explained.
Ethan's eyes shot up, wide and teary he stared for a moment. 'He's.. not gonna make it.' It spun around his head, making him sick to his stomach. He could hear his heart beating like a speaker up to his ear. He felt the words like electricity, lighting shooting through his body. He stood, his nails dug into his palms. "You're a Doctor." His eyes were locked into his. "You save people." He felt a tear fall as his voice rose, getting angrier, a deep, noticeable growl under it. "DO YOUR FUCKING JOB AND SAVE MY BROTHER!!" The doctor jumped at the yelling but sighed, shaking his head. "We've done everything in our power. But whatever drug he took is irreversible. There's no saving him." He admitted. "He's awake if you want to see him. We.. we don't know how much longer he has, the drug is unknown, but we found a huge amount in his body. It could be hours to sheer moments." He warned.
Ethan felt another tear fall and he pushed him out of the way, rushing to his room. He stayed at the door way, watching for a minute. He looked like a zombie. Pale, dark eyes. The white lights of the hospital didn't help too much either. "A-August..?" He took a step in, shaking a little. August looked up at him, giving the slightest of smiles to him. "Hey.." He said. He was acting calm, acting like it was okay. In all honesty, he was terrified. He wanted to scream and cry and tell him how much he wanted to stay. But.. he knew this was hurting Ethan too, knew Ethan was just as scared, and he wanted to leave knowing Ethan would be okay. Wanted to know he would make it... so he wanted to see him happy before he had to.. go.
Ethan walked in silently. He made it in front of him and sat down cautiously beside him on the bed. His feet lied beside each other and flat on the ground. He looked down at them. He was scared.. he was dreading looking at him. He watched as a tear fell into his lap. "How are you feeling..?" August watched his movement and grabbed his bedpan, puking again. "Like death.. but they gave me something that numbs it a little." He croaked. His voice was hoarse and scratchy from his throat being sore after the vomiting. He felt himself crying, but tried not to.. he reached out and grabbed his brother's hand weakly. His hand was like fire.. his veins were boiling inside him and his body temperature was nearly 106. Lethal. "This.. this is it.. huh?" He asked quietly, dreadfully.
"Don't say that!" Ethan shot up to look at him quickly, looking into his eyes, his face was stained with blood from scratching at his cheek and dried tears replaced by new ones. "Y-you're not gonna die, I won't let you damnit!" He stood up and faced him. "You can't! Y-you can't die..!" He was shaking, squeezing his hand. "August.." His voice broke in sheer pain. "I.." He sat back down, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.."
August whimpered, seeing him cry like that.. hearing those words. It broke him. "I don't wanna die.. I don't wanna go.." He felt his body start shaking.. his body was giving up on him. He was dying. "Please.. I'm happy.. I don't wanna die.. I wanna stay.. Ethan.." he needed to be held, he needed Ethan to hold him tight and tell him it would be okay. He wanted to be strong for Ethan and tell him it was okay, he wanted to help him.. but he couldn't. He couldn't be strong anymore. He couldn't keep up the lie and act like everything was fine because it wasn't. This was the end. This was where their story came to a stop, end of the line. All because of some kid in class.. all these two have been through. He died on that bridge. Ethan saved August's life there with CPR and August saved him, talking him out of suicide. Ethan saved him so many fucking times.. and August did the same. They've been through everything together. EVERYTHING. And it was ending because of some jackass in high school!
"Shut up! Just shut.. up.." Ethan whined and wrapped his arms around him. He felt how warm he was, he felt his cheek burning his neck but he didn't care. He didn't want this to be it. It's not supposed to end this way. August was supposed to be old, kids of his own. Not like this, not as a teenager who never got the chance to really live. Please God, not like this.. he couldn't just sit around and watch him die, he wouldn't do it. He looked at him and held his face in his hands. "I'm so.. so sorry." He was sobbing now, covering his mouth, he looked down. He couldn't do this. He couldn't let this happen.
August held onto him like his life depended on it.. and it did. He closed his eyes.. fighting it, God, he was fighting it so hard, but he couldn't do it anymore. "I love you..." He said. He had to tell him. He had to let him know. He had so much to say... 'I'm sorry I'm such a bad kid. I'm sorry I fuck up a lot. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for saving me.' But he didn't have the strength to say any of it. But.. he knew I love you was all he could manage. He remembered Ethan asking if he was happier with him or his dad, and he wanted to say 'you saved me. You made me happy. You kept me as safe as you could. You're my hero. My life. My everything.' But he couldn't. 'I need you to be okay. I need you to make it. I need you to be happy.' But he couldn't. All he could say.. was "I love you." And he knew it wasn't enough, and God, did he hate it. His tears soaked Ethan's shirt and they didn't stop.. even if his eyes were closed. His grip slowly loosened, his arms fell away from Ethan as he head rested on the man's chest. He was gone. Their story was over. This was the final word on the final page. Two years of laughing, two years of ups and downs and fights and cuddles, two years of the best years of their lives, and it was all coming to a tragic end. He was gone... he died in Ethan's arms.. and this time? There was no way out. There was no way to fix this.
It had been four months sense that horrible day, today made it the four month anniversary, actually. Ethan lied on his back against his bed. He felt Izusa next to him, dead asleep. She made cute little noises as she slept, almost silent. And before, that would make him smile. Make him want to pull her closer and close his eyes but now.. it almost disgusted him. Now, it almost annoyed him. He stood up carelessly, not a worry about waking her up. He found his pants and a hoodie on the floor and he slipped them on, throwing on shoes and stuffing his keys in his pocket. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt suffocated in that house. Maybe it was the starving, or the sleep deprivation. It's hard to say. He pushed the door open and stepped out. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and continued walking. He remembered the bridge. That bridge had the best.. and worst memories. He sat at the curb, looking down the silent, dead street. He put his knees up, wrapping his arms around his legs and putting his face down into his arms. He felt a tear fall. 'I love you.' He heard his voice again. He heard him laughing. He seen his smile. He was remembering all the good things, the best moments of his life. They were spent with him. Him and his brother. It seemed so strange still, sometimes he'd catch himself wondering why August wasn't at the table for breakfast before school, or why his desk was empty. Sometimes he forgot that he wasn't there anymore. Maybe because he was trying so hard to convince himself that he was still there.
The night air was cold, it burned his lungs with every breath he took. As he looked down the street he saw that moment he and August raced each other home, their laughter and smiles filling the silence in the air. He remembered how August ran face first into the side of the house and fell on his ass, and it brought a snicker to his face even in this sadness. He remembered all of it. That was their first true brotherly moment. The day after he brought August home from his dad's. He remembered everything from that moment on. 'I love you.' Rang out again. Then he remembered him yelling shut up at the boy right before he died. "Just shut up!" It hurt him.. that was one of the very last things he'd said to his brother before... before he had no time left. The boy he'd loved so damn much. Every day was agony, every day hurt like hell. He heard every single time that boy said his name. 'Ethan' 'Ethan!' 'Ethan.' 'ETHAN'... but then something changed. His name was called in that so familiar voice. His name.. "Ethan..?" And this time it didn't sound like it was in his head. It sounded real. What was this? Was he losing his mind? "Is that you..?" The voice.. it sounded distant but close. It sounded hurt but happy. Confused. Upset. Torn. Pained. That voice.. that he'd heard so many times before. That he hadn't heard in months. He looked in the direction of the sound and there and behold.. the boy. He looked just as fragile as he always had, just as innocent and childish as he did that day. Just as helpless and afraid. Just as.. needing. That face. The red hair. The blue eyes. Pale skin. Rings under the eyes.. it was him. It was his baby brother. It was August.
He looked up, slowly, dreadfully. He smiled a little. These hallucinations he had of his brother from his bad habits and deepest desire.. it always cheered him up slightly, until they disappeared. But this one.. it wasn't glitchy. It wasn't too bright to fit the lights from the dim street lights. The voice wasn't hazy. This.. it seemed so real. He stood up, stumbling a little. "A-August...?" He felt a tear fall, unable to breathe. "Y-you.. this is.. is this real...?" He started towards him slowly, then picking up his speed, until he started running towards him.
August went towards him too, slowly at first.. then running. They collided in the middle, August throwing himself into Ethan's arms and clinging to the back of his hoodie. "I think.. I think it is.." he stuttered. "I'm really here.." he added. He was bawling... soaking Ethan's shirt with his tears as he had done before. He'd woken up back at their dads, and already went through the fear and trying to understand why.. why he was back. Why he was there. He died. He remembered the feeling. He remembered the feeling of letting go. Everything he didn't get to say. And just like that, it all came out. The apologies for everything, the Thank yous.. he was mumbling too fast. Trying to get it all out as if he'd never have a chance to say it again. "Ethan I'm sorry.." he kept apologizing. Kept saying things.. sorry for causing trouble. Sorry for being a bad kid. Sorry for.. letting go.
Ethan squeezed him a little hard, he could break him at this rate but he didn't even notice. He heard the mumbling and let him get it off his chest. He just smiled and sobbed into the boy's shoulder. "It's okay.. it's okay.." he couldn't believe it, he couldn't process it. But honestly.. he didn't care. He was just so happy to see him. He didn't know how long it would last and knew if it were to end soon, He'd be back to the start but.. he has time now. He pulled away, putting his hands on his shoulders. "Listen to me August, you.. you were the best thing to ever happen to me. You've been here at my best and my worst. You've saved me. You've kept me happy." He smiled and felt a few tears fall. "I've been so... sad.. so fucking helpless. There's no me if there isn't any you. This.. whatever this is.. whatever happened.. we'll figure it out. We're going to keep you alive. I promise you August, I will protect you this time. I will."
When August heard those words.. those words he needed to hear.. the things he needed to hear all this time.. it made him smile so genuinely for the first time in a long time.. this was a new start. This.. whatever it was, it saved him. And it gave them a new start. A new world. And like hell was he gonna waste it. He smiled happily, looking up into his brother's eyes. He felt the tears falling down his cheeks. But this time.. the tears were good. "I love you.." He couldn't find what words to say. But I love you seemed like it meant so much more than it sounded.. to him it meant everything..It'd been a couple months since everything went to shit, but came back. The memories of the few months that August was dead hurt Ethan. They hurt him too much to think about. The pain he went through. The wanting to die. "Let's go home. It's cold out here, yeah?" Ethan asked, looking at the boy, who gave a small nod in agreement as the two walked. August easily ran ahead to get there first, eager to see everyone. Eager to let them know it's okay. He ran to Ethan's room first- Izusa had already woken up and began breakfast.
Ethan slid off his shoes, set his keys on the small table beside the front door. He turned to the table they would be eating at and stared for a moment. He sighed, closing his eyes and started taking off his hoodie, leaving himself in a black tank top. He decided he'd just try to process everything. He was exhausted, in body and mind. He just needed some time. He rushed up the stairs a little and walked down the short hall. Before he made it past the door way he seen August there, on his bed. He was curled up like a child and he smiled a little. He walked in slowly and sat beside him on the bed, his head looking towards him. All of a sudden, his vision was colorless. This moment looked, sounded, and felt exactly like the moment before August's death. When they were talking on that hospital bed. Then back to normal. "Hey buddy." He smiled a little, looking at him.
Happily, August sat up to look at him. He was just like a child in moments like this, it wasn't intended and it wasn't his fault. He was just scared to be without him now.. scared of being separated. He saw the tears and gently hugged him, but it turned to a tight hug and he put his face in his shoulder. "You're scared too.. aren't you?" He asked, and in all honesty, he was. Ethan was terrified of losing him again, and he was scared of leaving his brother again. He didn't like it.. he wanted to be there with him. When he came back, he saw how bad Ethan was affected by his death. He didn't want to die again. He didn't know if he would stay alive, he didn't know why he was there, and because of that.. he didn't know how long he'd be here. So he wanted to be with him.
He smiled at the boy's joy, instantly bringing his mood back up. He looked at him and wrapped his arms around him. "Of course not. I.." He bit his lip and paused. "I'll protect you, I promise." He smiled warmly at him and squeezed him a little. "This is my second chance, and I won't blow it this time." He was fully determined but of course he was scared, he was fucking terrified. But he wouldn't dare let him know that, he doesn't want doubt from August. Just hope..
He nodded lightly, still holding on tightly to him. "I know you will.. I'll protect you, too." He promised. They both always protected each other. Ethan keeping August from physical harm, August keeping Ethan from.. Well, falling into a dark hole. The one he fell into when he lost August. They kept each other alive. August saw the smile, and smiled, too. Happy.. genuine happiness. He yawned, exhausted from everything.
Ethan smiled and nodded, messing with his hair a little. He laughed quietly at the yawn and stretched his arms out in the air, before collapsing backward on the bed and laughing a little with his eyes closed. "God I'm exhausted. He turned his head to look at his brother. His arms found their way crossed behind his head. His shirt rose slightly to show the line of his underwear a little bit of skin. He was pale. Not so much unhealthy pale, just.. natural. He smiled and looked at him. "Lets uhh.. catch up." He said softly. He honestly just wanted a distraction, wanted someone to talk to. But he craved it to be August, craved to feel a casual conversation with the boy again. "What made you wanna be a teacher?" August asked, looking over at him. It was funny how fast he recovered from the trauma of being dead and moved on to a normal conversation like that. But in all honesty he wasn't recovering. He was just like Ethan. Needing a distraction.
Ethan smiled and nodded, laughing when he heard the question. He looked at him when he asked, smiling a little. "Well.. when I was growing up.. teachers were.. stupid. They favored the popular kids and treated us like dirt." He smiled a little. "I guess I just wanted a teacher that was decently equal in the system." He laughed a little, shifting to look at the ceiling. "But I'm a cunt, at least I'm cunty to all of them." "You're cunty to the kids the other teachers play favorites to."
Ethan looked at him again. He laughed a little, turning to his side and looking at him. Still, to this day, he finds it so strange that he's alive, but still yet, he couldn't care less why or how. He's just been thanking anything, anybody that has brought him back. "I love you, August." He looked at him, smiling warmly. He smiled happily at him, laying down on his side to look over at him. "I love you too." He said sweetly. He kept that smile.. it looked more genuine than it ever was before, and he kept the childish innocent look, too. Something that never happened before he died. Ethan loved seeing it.
He smiled a little wide and paused for a moment, enjoying the scene in front of him. "August?" He closed his eyes. "What.. what was it like...?" He paused for a moment, looking at him. "Which part?" August asked after a moment of hesitation. "All of it.. the being dead part." Ethan responded. August sighed, looking at him. His smile faded, and he rested his head on his arm.
He looked into his eyes, his own holding a kind of pain and fear Ethan didn't recognize. A look he never saw. Not even the night he watched their dad hurt him, not the day he died, not ever. It horrified him. "Well.." he cleared his throat, biting his lip. He balled his fist up the way Ethan did as the memories flashed through his mind like a tornado. "It was scary.. it hurt.." he mumbled, and started describing the place he'd gone. Hell. "I screamed for you every waking moment.." his eyes started to tear up. "I see it every time I close my eyes. I.. I feel it.." he wrapped his arms around him tightly and cling to the back of his tank top, burying his face in his chest as he started to cry. "I never want to go back."
He was a little taken aback and wrapped his arms around him tight. "I.. I won't let you.. ever." Hell. Is it true? He couldn't believe it. He held on to him tight, closing his eyes. "I'll protect you. I won't let you die again, I promise you." He smiled a little and rubbed his back softly.
He kept ahold of him, clenching his teeth tightly and closing his eyes. "Thank you.." He said quietly, sniffling. He took a few deep breaths and let go, rubbing his eyes. He was still.. he was still coping with it. He buried those feelings he had deep down and ignored them, until Ethan asked about them. Then they all kind of.. came out. "I won't let you go there either.."
It had been a couple weeks, and things had somewhat gone back to normal. Ethan sat at his desk, grading some papers. The room was completely silent and a little chilly. He'd been on edge all day, nervous. He's had an awful feeling, but he pushed it aside. His pen hit the papers as he read through the essays he made the kids do last week. He got to August's and couldn't help but smile a little. August was one of the best with writing, probably because of all the experiences he'd had. He wrote his prideful A on the left corner and smiled as he stared at the name for a moment. The loud beep of the intercom rung through the room, breaking him from his thoughts as he looked up, listening carefully.
Everyone in the room looked up. It was the moment he'd been anxious for all day. "This is not an alarm. There's an active shooter in the building, we are on lockdown." Those words twisted in Ethan's mind for a minute, lockdown. Shooter. Everything. Luckily it was seventh, and he had his kids in there with him. The two in the back corner. He looked up and locked eyes with August before Gram. He had to keep his promise.
He shot up and looked at them. He didn't give it a second thought, jumping out of his chair, locking the door and covering the glass part with paper. His voice was at a loud whisper. "Everyone get behind my desk! Now!" He waited by the door, waiting for something to happen. This.. this is bad. This is really really bad. Everyone did as told, all of them panicking quietly. It took only a few minutes before someone tried to open the door from outside and laughed loudly. "I know you're in there!" He yelled, his voice psychotic. "Open the door and make it easy. I'll make it fast." He promised.
He stayed silent, holding the door handle, and keeping his eyes on the paper blocking the window. August.. August he's supposed to protect him. Fuck. He was shaking now, he was panicking too. He didn't dare say a word.
Boom. Suddenly a gunshot rang out, shattering the glass on the window and destroying the paper, and a hand reached in. Bloodied. They'd killed someone already. That let Ethan know just how truly fucked up this kid was. They reached in and hit Ethan's hand away from the handle hard with the butt of the gun, and once he let go they unlocked the door, dammit! Why did they put the little rectangular window so close to the handle? The door slid open, slowly.. menacingly. The boy stepped in. A student he'd had in class before. "Hello Mr. Ryan.." he grinned. "I'm not gonna kill anyone else. Just you."
He started to back up a little. His eyes were wide. Any other time.. any other goddamn time he would stand in front of him and let him take that shot. But he needed to be there he needed to be there for August to protect him. "Fine." He stood up straight, standing still. "Just don't hurt anyone else you fucking psycho." He was ready. He knew that his wife and his family would protect him. His life over all of the kids, there wasn't any choice.
With that, the kid pulled the trigger. Bang. Another gunshot. But.. something else happened. August shoved his way through the Hurd of kids he was hidden by to be in the front. To see what was happening. And when he saw the kid simply aim at Ethan he started to scream. His eyes lit up like fire and he got in a stance as though his whole body was using energy for it.. as if he was using all the power he had. And he screamed. The scream was ear splitting, unnaturally loud. It had power to it, too.. forcing everyone in his way to be thrown back and into the air, being held there. The gun was thrown far across the room however. Everyone went dead silent when he started screaming. The bullet had been stopped, and it dropped to the ground right in front of Ethan. And after a minute.. a full minute, August stopped. both Ethan and the shooter were dropped to the floor. August's newfound magic threw the kid at the open door and into the hallway instead of at the floor in the room though, watching him run away, screaming in pure terror. His eyes finally went back to normal, and he was calmed...
Ethan's eyes went wide and he hit the ground. Goddamnit it hurt. He looked at him, seeing the bullet that landed on the ground. He listened to the scream that felt like it made his ears bleed slowly fade away. As the kid ran out he watched August. "A-August...?" His voice was almost silent, broken. He didn't know how to speak. He pushed himself to his feet and stumbled to him. He kept a hand on his shoulder. He must've hurt it bad. His free hand was placed on August's shoulder. "August we.. w-we have to go.."
He was standing dead still, in shock, staring at his own hands in fear. What did he do? What.. was he? He turned and looked at him, his eyes void, but terrified. "What.. what am I.. Ethan.. what.." he stuttered, starting to shake. "What.." he couldn't say anything else. What the fuck did he do? He jerked his head around to see the group of kids, every last one of them videoing. When he looked at them, they jumped back in fear. "We.. gotta go.." He muttered, grabbing Ethan's wrist and running out as fast as he could. "Home.."
He followed, running behind him. He didn't dare look back, he was afraid of what was to happen. He thought for sure if this went around.. something would happen to August. He couldn't let that happen. He found the glass doors in the front of the school, swinging them open with ease and running out to his truck.
The school was on lock down. Police were outside. The video had already been posted, and they were alerted of the boy. The freak who has powers. They all aimed their laser-aiming guns at August's chest, yelling at him. "PUT YOUR HANDS UP." They ordered, while someone ripped Ethan away from him violently. "ETHAN! ETHAN!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES." The police ordered, keeping their guns aimed. The boy had hundreds of little red dots aimed at his chest. He was panicking.. terrified. Like a lost boy. He let out a scream.. another one of those screams. It was more powerful. Shooting every last one of the men back and onto their asses.
"NO DONT!!" Before Ethan could say anything else, the same that happened back there, it was happening now. He looked at August. "COME ON, NOW!!!" He growled, shaking and panicking. He remembered the spare key he had under the seat, jumping in his truck and sliding it from under it. He started the truck in a rush, speeding off to get back home. What the hell are they supposed to do now? They can't go back to running. There's too many of them. He'd have to hide August. He can't let anything happen to him.
He was crying, staring at his hands in the car. "What have I done.. what.. what am I.. Ethan.."he couldn't breathe. He looked back and he saw the red and blue lights. Heard the sirens. "They're gonna get me.." he mumbled. "Ethan.."
He looked at him. "Put your seat belt on." He did the same, buckling his. "NOW!!" He waited and looked ahead of him. He was going to do something stupid. Really.. really stupid. He knew a route towards the woods, an area where They're were too many trees to fit the giant cop cars. But his small pick up could barely make it through for the first hundred yards. He slammed on the gas, heading towards it.
He nodded absent mindedly and done as told, looking over at him. He watched the scenery fly by outside the windows of the truck, never having been in a car moving this fast before. He then thought back to something. They forgot something at the school. Gram, and Zayne. He worried for them in the back of his mind because he had no idea how they were feeling right now. But.. his mind was kind of occupied with what was going on right now. For them. He was scared.. worried they'd get caught. It crossed his mind that they might go as far as to kill Ethan to get ahold of him, and he went cold at the thought. Then he thought of leaving Ethan behind again. Digging his nails into the seat anxiously. He didn't.. he didn't want that to happen. He didn't want Ethan to get hurt again. He couldn't bear the thoughts of it. They had to make it. They HAD to. But what would they do if they escaped this time? He was a freak. He has something wrong with him. He just.. used some kind of magic and it was caught on video. Everyone saw. Life.. life would never be the same. What would they do? Just run away for the rest of their lives? Go into hiding..? He didn't want to force that kind of burden on Ethan nor Izusa or their kids. But he couldnt leave them. He shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. He didn't need to focus on the future. He needed to focus on now. Right now. And right now, they were trapped in a truck in a high speed chase.
The small pick up made its way, scraping against trees and Ethan started to laugh a little. He looked at August, shaking and before he could look back to where he was driving, his body was launched forward, then his back slammed against the hard seat. His vision blurred and he looked over at August, lying back in his seat. He tried to reach out for him but his body was glued down. His vision went black, the world around him disappeared.
As the world disappeared around him, he kept his eyes on his brother. But.. that scene played out. The same fucking scene when he crashed his dad's truck and Izusa was pulled from the window, unconscious and bloodied. Something about it was different this time. Like it hurt more. And it did. He lost his brother and he just got him back. Why.. why was he being taken from him again?
Its been about a month, and Ethan's slowly been going back down hill the entire time. He promised he'd protect his baby brother and he failed him for the second time. Let him get taken away. Who knows what was happening to him him right now.
What was happening? The boy had a new test done everyday. He was cut open, injected, beaten, you name it.. put through Hell. They were curious as to how he'd react. He went through nightmares that no one could imagine. But today they tried to kill him. They decided he was too powerful to be kept alive, that he was a danger to the world. They tried to kill him and he knew it, he heard them talking. It wasn't a normal test like they always did. This one.. this one was more painful than anything else. He.. panicked. He did the scream, but this time it killed everyone. It didn't freeze them. It made their bodies combust. Everyone was dead. Soon, it showed up on the news. Ethan was laying on the couch helplessly and watching the tv when it switched to an emergency news broadcast. They showed the building August was held in, and all the bloody bodies outside. Hundreds of SWAT cars were surrounding the building, screaming and flashing lights. "Containment breech." Is what they called it.
He lied on his back, watching some blonde babble on about how the school shooting that happened a month ago. He opened his third beer from that night. He took a big drink. He saw the bodies and he sat up, his eyes wide. "What the hell happened..?" He mumbled to himself quietly. Now.. now he was interested. He took another drink, shifting on the couch to sit up comfortably. He watched closely, listening.
The camera zoomed in on the door as the woman narrated. "The boy seen about a month ago during the school shooting using supernatural abilities that was taken into custody has breeches containment. He has killed almost one hundred government staff members who were examining him, and claimed today to be his execution. It looks like they're trying to recapture the boy now, we don't know if he has hostages." And as she said that, the red head slowly, shakily stumbles out of the building. He was hugging himself, looking around at what he'd done. He was without bruises or injury, dressed in a patient gown tied around him, a sickeningly blue color. It was stained with blood, and left his scrawny, pale limbs naked. He had grown too thin.
The boy looked so scared, so panicked. The swat team aimed their guns at the child and instantly started shooting. The boy was thrown back against the wall, sinking to the ground as the pain took over and he screamed.. killing all of them, too. The broadcast was shut off instantly and changed to the channel Ethan was in before. They didn't want the civilians to see that. They knew it would cause chaos.
Ethan stared, shaking. August.. August. He has to do something. When it clicked off he stood up, running out the door and slamming it behind him. He didn't know where he was supposed to go or what he was going to do but he had to do something. He can't just sit around now. Not anymore.
When the tv went off of the Channel, it failed to show August getting up after a moment of hesitation. Of pain. He couldn't move right as the pain took him in. He saw everything tinted in red and the corners of his vision were pitch black. He forced his body to move. To hide. "ETHAN" he screamed. He needed him. And Ethan heard him screaming his name as if he was right next to him. "ETHAN" he screamed again. He was terrified. He didn't know where he was or what he was doing. He was alone.
Ethan was shaking, barely driving straight. He heard the voice. It sounded so close but so distant. Something in Ethan was telling him exactly where to go. He didn't have any choice but to listen. So he did.
After a while he found the place. His instincts were right, and he drove right over several of the bodies. There were already more people being called, none of them were being sent yet. They were planning on what to do. Helicopters were overhead, videoing. Trying to find the boy, who had hid himself. Though.. when he saw Ethan's pick up he ran towards it full blast, throwing himself in and quickly pulling his legs to his chest. Staring blankly at the bodies outside in terror. "GO GO GO" He screamed. He was too scared to have that moment of reuniting with his brother yet, that would wait. Now they'd have to find a way to get the copters off their ass.
He couldn't find him anywhere, looking around frantically. But then he heard the truck door slam and seen him get in. He didn't give it a second thought, making a sharp u turn and getting the fuck outta dodge. He didn't let a single word out, planning through how to get away from all the cars and helicopters. There was a small back alley he could park out and if they booked if fast enough they could hide a little ways away from it.
He watched in the rear view mirror as the place disappeared behind them. The helicopters followed after them, filming them. He stared bug eyed, and went into that thing Ethan did. Just.. laughing. Even if it wasn't funny at all. He put his hands on his head and started pulling at his hair, laughing quietly.
Ethan noticed and wanted to slam on the breaks, hold him. He knew he couldn't. He had to do this.. for him. He slammed on the gas, forcing the truck to go faster than he thought she could put up with. There was a wooded areas beside them but that didn't work too well the last time. He looked at August. Maybe this will. He slammed on the breaks, grabbing August's arm and dragging him out of the truck, dragging him through the wood. He looked up, the helicopter was still there. Shit..
The boy followed mindlessly, giggling still and stumbling. The deeper they went into the woods, the thicker the trees were. They'd loose the copters if they were fast enough.. if they were smart, they could find somewhere to hide and wait out the people searching. August followed Ethan the whole way, though.. the pain was almost too much. He still felt the bullets. He still felt everything. There was just no physical proof that it ever happened.
Right in front of them was a tall, thick tree with a large hole in the trunk. He smiled a little, relieved as he rushed to it quickly, letting August go first. He pointed at it. "There! Now!" He watched him climb in and he followed, the sound of the helicopter above them made it difficult to talk. The wind from the trees leaves whipped loudly. But slowly, it started getting more and more distant.
August laughed as he listened, pulling at his hair still. He couldn't really believe that it was over now. That he was free. Or what he did. He killed so many people, but it felt so good.. he knew something was wrong with him when he had that thought. It felt good to kill... that wasn't okay. Something was wrong with him. He was a freak. He looked slip at Ethan, wrapping his arms around himself as he shook. Not just out of fear, but it was freezing cold. In the middle of fall, 60 degrees out. He was naked with only a thin gown wrapped around him, and he'd lost so much weight he no longer had meat on him to keep him warm. All of this running through his mind made him laugh harder. This was so fucked up.
Ethan felt him wrap around him and he did the same, pulling him close as he could. He watched out the space they hid in. "It's okay.. your okay now.." he closed his eyes and leaned on him. "I'm so sorry.." he couldn't even cry. He was shaking, his hands were numb. He held on tightly, closing his eyes tightly. "Somethings wrong with me." He said, his voice was packed full of fear and panic. He was cold to the touch. "I'm scared.." he added.
He did also, keeping him close on his arms. "No.. no dont say that.." he hit his lip, closing his eyes. "Don't be afraid.." but even he was. He was fucking terrified. He nodded and held on tighter, opening his eyes to look outside. It felt like hours had passed before he felt like he could talk right again while they were hiding. "What.. what are we gonna do..?" He asked. "I killed so many people.." he said. But as he said it he had the slightest joy in his voice. It was taking over part of his mind.
He looked at him. He couldn't really speak. He didn't have a good answer. He bit his lip and took a breath. "August you.. you were protecting yourself.. they were hurting you." "I healed.. It heals instantly.." he said. "I still feel it but it doesn't.. it doesn't stay." He explained. "They.. don't care.. they want me dead.. were not safe.." "I know.. I know August calm down." He tried to comfort him, tried to keep him calm. He whined a little, knowing he was unable to cry. He noticed the helicopters were gone. He smiled a little. "We need to leave. We can't go home right now, they're probably there." He dreaded that. He needed to make sure his family was okay. But he had to keep his promise."Where are we gonna go..?" He asked helplessly. Ethan Hayes this. Being away from everyone, unable to protect every last one of them. But he had to protect August.
"I don't.. I don't know.." he bit his lip and let him go. "We'll find a ride, start in the morning." Ethan had experience in being alone. But not running from federal prison sentences. "You.. you gotta be with Izusa and Gram.." he said. "We could.. split up.. meet up somewhere other than here and then.." he was following voices in his head. Instincts. "We could leave the country." "But I can't.." he cut himself off. Even though he hated to admit it, that was the smartest thing they could do. He took a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay.."
He held on tightly to him like his life depended on it. "I'm scared.. it'll be okay.. right..? Were gonna make it.." he needed that confirmation. So many things were running through his mind right now. How were they gonna get out of the country..? How were they gonna meet up? "We can split.. you go home to Izusa and get Gram.. tell the cops that I attacked you and ran away so they don't follow you.. and then come back and get me.. we can figure it out from there."
He nodded. But he wasnt even sure himself. He felt himself shaking. He took off his jacket and handed it to him. "Take this." He smiled a little and kissed his forehead softly. "We can do this. Don't be scared." He bit his lip, and crawled out. "I love you." "I love you too.." he wrapped the jacket around himself and curled up tightly, looking out at him. He gave a little joke. "Don't forget to bring me clothes." He forced a smile, trying to make him happy. He.. he didn't want to be left alone. He didn't like the thoughts of it. He was terrified.
He nodded, his eyes tearing up. He blamed it on the cold air. He smiled a little. "I'll come back." He whined a little as he started out of the wood and towards his truck. He didn't know what he was going to do. He didn't know how this would turn out. Honestly.. he was terrified of finding out.

Poison Where stories live. Discover now