The Runaways

Chapter Thirty-Seven - Little Brothers Are The Worst

Warren

July 24th 2018

"Everyone on Facebook is talking about you." Olivia said in a soft as she glanced up from her phone, "Someone even set up a GoFundMe for you."

"Great." I muttered as I laid there staring up at the TV. Out of all my years doing residency and working at at hospital I never thought I'd spend three weeks laying in bed at the same place I've worked for seven years. I'd never thought I'd have my coworkers perform surgery on me.

Olivia sighed and reached out to grab my left hand and held it even though I could just barely move a few of my fingers,"I wish I could make you feel better."

"I know." I muttered.

"I mean hey look on the bright side there's still a ton of other jobs in neuroscience, even if you do end up...disabled, plus with your track record everyone will be begging to hire you."

"I don't want another job. I had my dream job and in just seven years I was already considered one of the best in the field. I don't want to start over." I said in frustration, "You know I bet if I had operated on myself I'd be out of here already."

Olivia just nodded sadly. She was trying her best to keep me happy, but it's not like there's much she can do. I'm twenty-eight and my career was taken from me in seventeen seconds.

Suddenly the door to my room opened and my father walked in with a worried look on his face. Oh God, please don't tell me he's got news from the doctors.

"Warren I uh, I need to talk to you." He said, he looked very upset. God, I'm not going to be able to walk again, or they looked at the MRI and found more brain damage, what if I need another surgery?

"Did you... talk to the doctors?" Olivia asked nervously.

"No, no, this is about Barron. Olivia is it okay if you can step out for a second?" My father asked as he nervously pushed his glasses up.

"Yeah of course." Olivia said as she stood up, "Would either of you guys like anything while I leave?"

"No I'm okay thank you." My father said as he pulled up a chair to sit next to me.

"I'm fine." I muttered. I watched as she nodded and left the room closing the door behind her, I glanced back over at my father with worry, "Is Barron okay? I know you guys haven't heard from him since he found out what happened with me. He didn't— he didn't hurt himself right?" My younger brother had been struggling a lot lately, I honestly don't know what happened one day everything was fine and the next day my moms on the phone with me crying because Barron has a drinking problem and landed himself in the hospital because of it.

"No, he didn't he's okay. He uh, he called me today." My Dad said in a shaky voice, "He told me that he never wants to see us again. He said— he said he's never felt like he belonged in our family... he said a lot of very mean things but, he's really upset. We won't be hearing from him anymore."

"Wh— What? Dad is he serious? You're sure he's not drunk? And what does he mean 'never felt like he belonged'?"

"I— he didn't sound drunk no. He— he said— I don't know how to put this..."

"It's me isn't it."

"Well no, no—"

"Dad it's okay. He's yelled at me before, he's made it very clear that because I was a prodigy and he was just an average kid I've screwed him over. I'm very aware."

"It's not your fault Warren, your brother is right me and your mother— we tried so hard to treat you both equally. I know it must be incredibly hard being average when your related to someone who's very talented and gifted. I have definitely made some mistakes and I understand why he feels this way I just... I'm sorry Warren. I'm so sorry I'm not telling you this to blame you or anything I would never do that, I'm not doing this to stress you out either I know how hard it is for you right now I mean who can blame you? You were just shot in the head that's a very traumatic experience—"

"Dad."

"I know you have a million things on your mind right now and I don't wanna make it worse—"

"Dad you're rambling." I said interrupting him.

"Sorry. What I'm trying to say is I'm only telling you this because you deserve to know what's going on. I know these past few weeks have been horrible for you and I didn't want— I just— incase you're still holding out hope that he'd come and vis—"

"It's okay Dad, I understand." I said as I sighed.

The longer I sat there against the pole the more antsy I got. I can't stop thinking about Norah. I can't stop thinking about how scared she must feel. Ever since I was locked in the twins basement that's all I can think about and now I finally have good information in my hands where Norah could be and—

Oh no.

They took all of our stuff.

I put all the information in my back pack.

"BARRON!" I yelled, "I NEED TO TALK TO BARRON!"

"Jesus Christ dude. Don't just yell out of nowhere like that." Remington grumbled. I chose to ignore him I've had enough of his bullshit.

"BARRON!"

"Oh my God what the hell do you want?" Barron asked in an irritants voice as he walked out of his tent and over to us.

"Listen to me right now. I do not affiliate with Remington Prince. Me and my friend Cleveland here accidentally got wrapped up with them while trying to escape a separate troupe of yours. I'm begging you Barron, the longer I stay here the longer my daughter is kept in danger. The longer your niece is kept in danger. She's only six Barron. Please just let me and Cleveland go we have no business here with Remington." I pleaded as I stared Barron in the eyes, "Barron please..."

"I'm sorry but I cannot let you go knowing your intent." Barron said cynically.

"SHE'S YOUR NIECE BARRON!" I exclaimed.

"She's also Syndicate property and I can't allow—"

"Property? DID YOU JUST CALL MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PROPERTY? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? IF I WASN'T TIED TO THIS STUPID FUCKING POLE I'D BEAT YOUR FUCKING ASS! DON'T YOU EVER CALL HER PROPERTY! SHES A HUMAN FUCKING BEING! SHES A CHILD! DO YOU UNDERSTAND? AN INNOCENT CHILD—"

Barron raised up his hand as if he were about to hit me, "Shut the hell up right now. Warren I do not care about who's grouped with who. Your going to shut your fucking mouth and your going to comply with all we ask or I will hurt you. I don't care if your my brother or not you will be treated the same as the rest of these criminals. So scream my name one more time. I dare you." Barron said as he pulled up a knife and held it up to my face. "I dare you."