The Boy I Knew

Chapter Twenty- Six

I expected to wake up to the increasingly annoying beeping of hospital machinery- or maybe not wake up at all- yet when I did come to, I laid amongst silky feeling sheets that surrounded me in a warm feeling compared to the uncomfortably thin hospital sheets.

The room around was eerily familiar, and even the pillow seemed to carry a comforting scent. I needed to know where I was, even if I did have an idea of it; though, when I went to sit up, the pain in my chest immediately decided that that was a definite no no. I tried again, slower this time, and managed to sit up.

My throat was soar, my leg felt incredibly painful and numb all at once, and my chest was throbbing and felt hot to the touch. That's when everything hit me like a freight train- Brendan, Kenneth, Larry... my breath quickened as I threw my legs over the bed and, with the help of the night stand, attempted to stand up. My efforts were useless as I was sent crashing to the carpeted floor with a thud.

Frustrated, I pried myself off the floor and forced my leg to kind of cooperate. As I was reaching the bedroom door to make a hasty 'escape', Larry burst through the door with a panicked look on his face.

"Oh. You're finally awake." Larry stared, relaxing a bit as he saw me. "And.. standing already I see. I'm not the best at stitches, and I can't wrap a bandage so I'm surprised it hasn't fallen off yet." I gave him a concerned look, which he chuckled at. "Joking. I'm uh, I'm only joking."

"How long...?" I started, but Larry cut me off.

"Only ten hours. Surprisingly not very long for someone in your.. situation." Larry sighed.

"What happened to Brendan's.. body?" I asked.

"Brendan's body? What're you talking about? When I found you you were passed out next to your closet. What happened, Sal?" Larry questioned, giving me a puzzled look.

"Brendan he.. he's the one that did this. He was part of the DOG, a-and I had to... defend myself. Hat do you mean you found me near the closet? I fell next to my bed?" This only made the situation worse, as it confused both of us even more.

"There was no body, and you were definitely next to the closet. Also, Brendan? Devours of god? I find that hard to believe but honestly, I'm not sure why anything surprises me anymore." Larry let out a deep sigh, gnawing at his bottom lip.

"Everything is so.. fucked. The cops are in on it, high end companies are in on it... is there anyone who isn't part of this?" I asked.

"Only smaller companies, I'm sure. I doubt they'd be part of an elaborate cult, funded by unknowing citizens I'm sure. Kenneth really screwed the pooch on this one.." Larry rubbed his temples, seeming genuinely angry.

"And this is one reason I need to hunt down Kenneth. I want this to stop, I want a normal life and I'm sure you do too." I replied, placing a gently hand on his shoulder.

"You're right... but at what cost?"

...

I looked at the fancy sign that hung above the entrance of the restaurant I'd be meeting Kenneth at. Travis squeezed my arm before walking inside the restaurant with me. A blonde man with slicked back hair waved us over, his other hand clutching the rosary beads that hung lazily around his short, thick neck.

I hesitated, studying his features. He was withered, yet young. Formal, yet casual. Kind yet.. threatening. Travis and I took a seat next to each other, across from him to be specific.

"Wow.. look at you two. All grown up. How have you both been! It's been so long since I've seen either of you..." Kenneth spoke softly and placed one hand over my left hand and one over travis' right.