Wild (Cherik Book One)

Take Yourself Home

"The way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine. 

Open Hand or closed fist would be fine. 

The blood is red and sweet as Cherry Wine."

Trigger Warning: Abuse Mentions and Alcohol Abuse

_________ERIK _____TW: ABUSE and ALCOHOLISM__________

Erik Lensherr wouldn't say that he had a bad relationship with his mother. She was normally kind and caring like all mothers should be. She generally took care of Erik whenever he needed it and did all the proper things a mother does. Erik knew she was an overall sad woman having lived through the life she's made for herself. The life that involved an unwanted pregnancy with an abusive husband to match. A life that led to her free spirit chained down and stuck in the crappy part of the suburbs. He can sense how much she wishes she could just leave it all behind. Leave him behind. Which he doesn't hold against her considering he would leave town if he was guaranteed his mother's safety. The days that were the hardest were when Erik's father stumbled back home. Oftentimes drunk and angry with nothing better to do than to take it out on someone. It was like walking on eggshells in the Lensherr household. Over the years Erik has become attuned to reading the mood of any individual around him. Sensing situations and people like a human metal detector. Only the metal he was detecting was danger.

Erik could always tell when his father was home. There was dread and sickness that contaminated his entire block. He could see it. The rot that shadowed his father and spread like disease. There was a feeling. Call it fight or flight, instinct of survival it didn't matter. Whatever it was kept Erik alive for eighteen years. But, tonight things were off balance. Erik's head was stuck on something far worse than the slow rot that made him nauseous. Charlie. His bruised body, glossy eyes and desperateness to keep it all a secret. The scars that tonight would leave on both boys made Erik shutter. Things wouldn't be the same now or ever. Erik wanted to know how long and how many times he should have been there to stop it.

Erik got off his board with his eyes cast down in thought and self blame. Charlie would kill him if he knew he was blaming himself but how could he not? He was Charlie's protector. No matter how tough he got, Erik was always there. Well, he thought he was.

Erik knew it was later than he promised to be home but he also knew his mom wouldn't really mind. Alex and Darwin's party was most likely dead at this point. He had debated stopping by to help with cleanup as he always did but he didn't want to risk cracking and telling everyone. Charlie would never forgive him, this is a delicate subject. It needs to be handled gently and carefully so Erik doesn't scare him off.

"Shit," Erik sighed and opened his front door. It creaked with an eerie echo through the dark. He set down his board and took off his shoes still paying little mind to what's around him. He pulled out his phone to send a text to Charlie letting him know he will call him in the morning.

"You're late," a voice sharp and gruff echoed through the empty chill of the Lensherr household. Erik froze as that instinct ran down his tired spine. He could smell the rot then, he could see the warning signs as. Please not tonight. Of all nights please.

"Dad, you're home...sorry I'm late I,uh, had to take Charlie home," Erik explained trying to keep his voice steady as his eyes darted to the stairs. His phone trembled in his hand and Erik's father looked at it. In a swift motion that was too quick for Erik to comprehend, his father grabbed his phone and threw it against the wall. It shattered and small pieces of glass fell to the hardwood. Erik felt something die in his throat as he thought about the text he was sending, the boy he was sending it to and why. Without a phone he couldn't get a hold of Charlie or any of his friends. That was dangerous considering who his father is.