Thanks For Everything, Charles

Short Story

As I stared down at the body underneath me it was still and quiet. The smell of fresh blood lingered around my nostril and my whole body froze up. I couldn't move... I... Messed up. Something was taken from me. Something so precious to me. Something that'll be forever gone but the memory I had between him. I love him, not only as a family but as a person who brings this reality of mine to life. I...

Was in the street by myself. I don't have anywhere that is called home unless you count those random corners of the street where every person passes you by like you're nothing - a home. I must've looked disgusting in their eyes to the point it blinded my existence from their perspective. Those ripped old dirty clothes to the yellow stained teeth. The time seems to pass by slowly as if minutes turn to hours and hours turn to days. One day, a guy stopped by, he didn't pass me by as if I was nothing. "Where's your parent?" he asked as he kneeled with those gentle eyes.
His clothes aren't as flashy but he looks like any ordinary guy. Overall, he looks pretty broad, must've been a strong guy. I just shrugged not knowing what to reply. A question popped up in my head. Parents? He heaved a sigh and said it in a slight happy tone, "I guess it's pretty obvious." then gave a quick scan of me from top to bottom. "Let me treat you something, ok?"

A heavy feeling of drowsiness hit me as I woke up in what seemed like a dream. A dream of that time. I turned around to lay my face planted on my pillow. Those soft beds, I could lie in it forever. I heard the door creak open. "Jhonny?" a deep voice called out to me.
I peeked above my pillow to see the same man who helped me out when I was on the street. His name is Charles, but people like to call him Chuck. I feel a little uncomfortable to call him by the nickname though so he let me call him Charles instead. "C'mon it's morning, too much sleep isn't good for you." he firmly grabbed my arm and pulled me upright.
I rubbed my eyes, yawning softly. "I made you your favourite breakfast."
This is enough to make my eye lit up as if it were a matchstick. "Clean your room up before you come down." Charles lastly said as he heads out of the room.

I did what I was told and by the time I reached midway downstairs, I could smell the sweet scent of honey waffle. As I look through the kitchen room, the bright coloured waffle is laying in front of me, reminding me of those amazingly sweet, tender tastes which makes my heart melt. I quickly sat down and began my meal. I must've looked funny stuffing waffles in my mouth because Charles seemed to enjoy watching me while he chuckled. I noticed the house is a bit quieter than usual. Every morning the two boisterous guys would come over to chill out in the house because they say it's easier to relax when they're in a place that isn't so empty. I decided to ignore it and finished my meal before showing my gratitude for the meal then heading out for a walk. "Ask Frankenstein to company you while you're at it. I don't want you to get in any kind of trouble." is what Charles said before I stepped out the door.
I don't need a company to protect me, I thought it to myself. I'm 13 Charles, I'm 13. But no matter what my age he'll treat me the same as I've never grown up. I can't tell him off because he's trying his best to take care of me and I know that. I'll feel bad in the end. I just shrugged it off before continuing my way down the street.

"Can you shove off?" I heard a hint of unpleasantness in a female voice.
It comes from a dark curly hair teenage girl who's sitting with a boy. "Ahah, trying to play hard to get eh?" he snickers.
"No, who the heck are you just stop bothering me."
Just by watching it, my stomach was already filled with disgust and the next thing I knew I was standing in front of them. The boy got a nice slick back blonde hair that shows his face better. A good looking one. His blue eyes looked at me with one eyebrow arch upward. "Who's this saggy punk doing here?" he gave me a big smirk.
Suddenly a red-haired girl came into my view hitting the boy's head with her handbag. "What did I ever do to deserve this!" she screamed at his face in anger.
The boy was stunned for a moment and quickly blurted, "No, no, no you misunderstood. I, I was, uh... having a chat with my new friend."
"Friend?" she looked at the girl still not convinced.
"What do you mean friends, you just randomly sat and started to flirt with me out of nowhere!" the black-haired girl spoke in disbelief.
"You shouldn't make that sort of joke-"
"He was hitting on her and I saw it," I cut him off while giving her a serious look.
"So that guy is also making a joke as well? I just can't believe it I'm leaving."
"A-Allie..." he called out to her but she just ignored him and walked out.
He turned toward me and glared, "You punk..." before aggressively shove the chair he sat away and stomped his way out.
I felt a tap behind my shoulder which caused me to quickly turn back in surprise. It was Francis, who our people called him Frankenstein just because of how similar it is, and it's a bit fun and unique. But, how did he find me here? When I glanced around my surroundings more than a few people were just standing and watching. I nervously looked at Francis in the eye "Francis I was just-"
"Save it up when you're back home," he cuts my sentence off before dragging me out of the fearful crowd.

I kicked the rock in front of me as I clenched my teeth in the thought of yesterday after the incident and the next morning I woke up. Charles shouted at me when he heard about the incident and seeing him work up like that is the first time for me. He is always the person who can act calm no matter if it's a life or death situation or people making jokes about him. It scared me the new whole way. In the morning he told me that I was no longer allowed to go outside saying that I'll be in danger if I were ever seen by those people. Who cares?! I can fight those people myself. I'm sick to be protected like I am a kid. I leaned the side of the wall and deeply breathed out to cool myself a little. I heard someone run towards me and I turned to look at the right and saw Francis was sweating from all the running. I don't think the other three could catch up to me because they aren't that fast, except for Francis who plays baseball and has pretty good speed. But I'm the fastest one out of the group and using it to run away can come in handy. I fan myself from the heat as I asked Francis for a cigarette. "I don't carry those around like Henry and Theodore do." he leaned against the wall next to me and shove his hand down his pocket.
He then tossed a cigarette to me with a lighter, "Here, it's the last one, after this, we're going back."
I don't like the idea but I have nothing to say so I just silently lit up the cigarette to smoke. I just need to put my mind off things, I told myself. After I finished it, I tossed it to the ground and that's when three tough-looking dudes came toward us. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw one of them is the guy from yesterday that got hit over his head by the red-haired girl. I look over the other path to escape but it's the dead end, I even picked the area that is isolated. With no other choice, I tried to act cool as they approached us with their gaze fixed on us. Francis looks hesitant when he realizes what kind of situation he's in, a hint of fear in his eye. They're much taller and broader than us, it feels like prey trapped by the predator. And we're about to get eaten. They looked way older than us, maybe around Charles' age, and Francis is just the same age as me. He snicker in amusement then said, "Let's not waste any more time. Take them out."

Everything happened so quickly, I woke up with a very bad headache. It's horrible. As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw 3 pairs of feet in front of me. "Oh, look who's awake." the blonde hair guy picked me up by pulling my hair.
It hurts. "Jaiden put him down." I heard Francis' voice called out.
So that guy called Jaiden? I questioned myself as my brain started to clear out the fog. I heard him snicker, "Never seen you this talkative before." with a grin appeared in his face.
That ugly face... Both my leg and hand were tied backward. I'm pretty much powerless. He kneed me straight to my stomach which made me spit out and groaned in pain. I glanced around the room and I saw Francis both with tied legs and hands all beaten up helplessly laying on the floor. I can feel myself boiling. "It's time to beat this trash up."
I squeezed my eyes ready to take the punch, but I felt nothing. When I opened back Charles was there, holding Jaiden's fist with a cold expression. Behind him is Henry and Theodore who started rushing in and attacking the other two guys. Charles went with the big swing on Jaiden which caused him to lose his grip on me and stumbled backward with his hand over his left eye. It looks painful with how big the bruises are starting to develop looks. Before I know the ties around my leg and hands are free from the knife Charles uses. "Get out of here and find somewhere safe." he quickly told me as he helped me stand up.
"Wait, why?" I replied with confusion but then I saw Jaiden aiming the gun at Charles.
Probably by my expression, Charles turned around to see what I was staring at then said, "Dammit, go!"
Not willing to let go of Charles I tried my best to cling onto him even though he attempted to push me away. Then I heard a loud bang then a clunk on the floor. I got pushed off at the same time and I thought it was over, but it seems like Jaiden's missed the shot because Francis pushed him over. Seeing the gun beside me I quickly grabbed it. Jaiden got up and tried to get off Francis' grip. I impulsively aimed the gun at Jaiden and pulled the trigger, ignoring Charles calling. Maybe I shouldn't, because I...

...couldn't forgive myself. This cold piece of metal I held. Those soulless clunks of metal... Took someone from me. My skin turns unbearably cold and every breath I took, there's a sharp pain in my lung. I couldn't take this anymore... Angry at myself I pressed the metal against the side of my skull. The last sign of life from me is when the warm tears trickled down my face before it took me with a bang.