Fingers Clutching

Chapter 23

"You don't understand, Hudson!" Eli cried.

"What don't I understand?! That you don't want your parents to find you? I understand that!" Hudson yelled. "I can help you! You don't have to do this—this stuff anymore!"

Eli's hands shook as his cried racked through his body. His head pounded intensely as his oxygen increased. "Hudson, h-he...no! He'll find a way. There will always be something that he can use against me."

"Eli, you can rely on me. I-I can protect you!"

Eli watched as the honey skin of Hudson's face gradually shifted to a rosy hue. He didn't know why those words came out, he wanted to believe they were true, but he could never guarantee Eli's safety.

"No, you can't. Hudson, if Josh tells my parents how to find me, you can't get in the way. Please." Eli was frantic now, his mind constantly flashing back to the way his dad almost killed Nick and how Hudson had interfered. "Please, Hudson. I-I almost watched my brother die...I don't want to see you die either."

Hudson sank to his knees, his hand striking the floor. Eli jumped slightly at the noise and climbed up on Hudson's bed. "Eli you have to tell someone." Eli was already shaking his head but Hudson continued. "If your parents go to jail, you're safe and Josh can't—"

"Please don't say it..." Eli whispered. "I know...you don't have to remind me."

"You understand my point?" Hudson asked, looking up at where Eli was seated on the bed.

"Please, just give me some time."
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Nick has his back to the locked door, his head rested against the wood. He stared up at the ceiling, criticizing all of its flaws. He was stuck. After overhearing everything between Hudson and his brother he didn't know what to do anymore. He had tried so hard to make sure that they never got caught but now it sounds so appealing. Just to let every asshole at school know just what his life was like. He thought, maybe, it would make things better. And then he remembered why he had kept it a secret. He remembered all of the teasing sneers thrown his way and he knew they would only get louder if they knew. If they knew how weak he truly was, his entire facade would crumble and then anyone would think they could walk all over him. He would never let that happen.
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Hudson couldn't help the way his stomach felt queasy whenever his eyes happened to run over Eli's scarred arms. He couldn't comprehend how a parent could do that. How a parent could take their own flesh and blood and hurt them. He felt his stomach drop when he realized that his own parents came back from their business trip today. He hadn't really spoken to his dad since he told him to sleep on the couch.

His dad didn't seem to mind Nick, knowing he was sleeping in another room and basically looked like he hated everyone.

"Hudson, are you feeling okay?" Eli said, tilting his head slightly. "You look like you're gonna be sick."

Hudson pulled himself together and flashed a smile. "Oh, yeah I'm fine." He forced his eyes to look away from Eli's expression; he didn't believe him one bit. He mentally prepared himself to get scolded, it was obvious that he was lying and yet Eli said nothing. He turned around and went about doing his own thing.

After a few minutes of silence Eli spoke up. "Your dad is coming back today, isn't he?"

Hudson sighed, watching Eli's unmoving back. "Yeah." He was quiet in the way he spoke, his tone pallid; his expression empty. He didn't want to use the word "hate" but he couldn't find a more appropriate word. "I hate him, Eli. I really do. Gosh I shouldn't even say that, especially not to you."