Rescuing Atticus

The Cleaner

Song: Invisible- Hunter Hayes

The cleaner...who in the hell calls themselves a cleaner...this guy is one fucked up man."No...I don't know...maybe some guys had something to do with it. Does it look like I would do that...hell look at me I can't do shit." I step up on the ledge. Hell...maybe I should jump...end all of this shit once and for all. His voice is calm.

"Son....you should really come down from there before you hurt yourself."

"I'm no one's son...can't you see...old man...I'm no one...why don't you leave me alone." My voice continues to shake.

He moves over a little closer to me but I still can't see his face. "Because you know who fucked up my car and if you didn't help do it...you didn't stop it from happening either. Why do you let those guys beat the shit out of you like that?"

I look down into the alley way and back over at him. He watched them beat the shit out of me, classic...another bystander that doesn't do shit. Everyone loves watching but no one ever wants to step in to help out.

"I assume they know you...what did you do to them...steal something from them...I mean I would say you fucked one of there girls but I just don't see that out of you?"

I shake my head no. "It's not like that...they go to my school and they like to fuck with me."

"And you let them...sounds like you needs to man up."

"What the fuck do you know about man...you don't know anything." I step closer to the edge of the ledge with both feet. My body sways with the wind.

"You really don't want to do that...come on get down from there."

My voice continues to crack. "Man...I don't know who you are...but leave me alone."

"I can save you...look... it looks to me that you are living on the streets...no place to go...I can offer you a place to stay...I can offer you a new life if you choose to take it."

I think of all the creeps that run these streets...guys that will make you their bitch...all I have to do is suck and take whatever they dish out...I would rather die than become someone's bitch. "I don't want whatever you are offering."

He takes a few steps back and when he turns his head I see his eyes as they blink up at the night sky. He shakes his head slowly. This guy is starting to really scare the shit out of me. I would almost rather be beat up by Tony and his friends than be up here with this guy. "Have it your way." He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a card and places it on the roof top. With his other hand he picks up a small pebble and places it on top of the card. "If you change your mind here is my card with my number." He then turns and walks off leaving me on the roof alone.

I wait for a second before climbing down and over to the card. I pick it up with shaky hands. In fine print it reads... 'The Cleaner' with his number...nothing else...no name...no address...nothing. I twirl the card in my hand thinking about what to do. My chest freaking hurts...my stomach is starting to growl again. I'm tired and could really use a good nights rest. I decide to climb down the fire escape and to my surprise the car is still there as if he knew that I was going to change my mind.

The guy driving gets out and walks around to open the back door for me. He has on a black suit with black shoes and his hair is nicely styled...looks like he came right out of one of those GQ magazines that I see down on the stands in the local supermarket. I stand there for a second looking at the card in my hand and then looking at him in the backseat.

"He can protect you...change your whole world around...maybe you should trust him." The guy stands in front of me with one hand still on the door. The guy is built like a rock and I don't know if I should be scared more of him or the other guy in the back seat.  I look in the back seat and then back up at the guy. I have nowhere else to go...and if this guy does kill me...would it even make a difference anyway my life fucking sucks.

 So I get in and the door closes behind me. He hands me a drink without saying a word and the hot burn from the whiskey nearly takes my breath away. He never says a word all the way back to his place. When the car pulls up, I look out the window and nearly pass out. Who the hell is this guy? I have never seen a house this massive...I mean I have but never been this close to house of this size.

When the car comes to a stop he doesn't bother opening the door right away. I watch as the driver gets out and comes to open the door for him. Damn it must be nice to have people wait on you hand and foot like this. He steps out and doesn't wait for me to get out. I climb out and follow right behind him like a lost puppy.

The front door opens and there is another guy greeting him. "Good evening sir...can I get you anything?"

"I can use a Scotch...please." He says as he continues on in the house.

I walk in and the ceiling is at least twenty-four feet high...there is a massive staircase to one side. As I follow in behind him, I take in my surroundings. Famous art work lines the walls and priceless pieces on display on tables. I reach out to touch one of the pieces and he knows without looking at me. "Don't touch anything...and don't even think about stealing from me...understand."

"Yeah...ok...sorry..."

He turns to look at me with one of those looks like he just might kill me. "In this house you will call me sir...understand."

"Yes..." I look up at him and see his eyes glare into me. "Yes...sir." I quickly correct myself.

"Good. Now I will have Phillip show you to your room. I want you to get a good shower and plenty of rest for now. We will talk in the morning."

"But I..."

He shakes his head slowly while holding up his hand for me to stop. "No butts...now if you will excuse me I have work to do."

The butler...or should I call him Phillip walks over to me and gestures for me to follow him. I look back at the Cleaner and he is already walking in the other direction. I follow Phillip out the back door and to another part of the house. "Zane said that you would be joining us. I hope this room will do for now. There is an attached bathroom over there." He points. "I suggest you get your rest. See you in the morning."

I wait for him to leave and look around the room. I jump in the shower and then once out I decided I better go on to bed not knowing what is in store for me later. The moment I hit the softest mattress I have ever laid upon...I drift off to sleep.