Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 168

Trigger warning, this is a juicy chapter

Just as Sebastian is getting ready to leave the house and meet Faye, his doorbell rings. He opens the door to a shaking, soaking wet, helpless Remington, frowning and stepping aside so the boy can come in. "What's going on?" He asks, confused. "Why're you so wet?"

Remington shakes his head. "I..." The words don't come out and he tears up.

"Do you want me call Andy?"

The boy shakes his head vigourously.

Sebastian closes the front door. "I'm gonna get you some dry clothes, okay? You're freezing." He waits for a nod before turning and heading for the stairs.

While Sebastian is upstairs, Remington just waits by the front door, shivering and ashamed of himself. He accepts the clothes from his brother and goes into the man's bedroom to get changed, knowing better than to go into the bathroom. He peels his clothes off and pulls Sebastian's on, trying not to look at himself in the mirror the whole time.

After talking to Emerson, Andy calls Sebastian, waiting for the guitarist to pick up as he continues scrolling through Remington's phone. "He's written a suicide note," is what he says when Sebastian answers.

"He's here," Sebastian responds, "he turned up shivering and drenched and doesn't want me to call you."

Andy relaxes, relieved that Remington's safe. "He went to see Holly."

"What?"

"The other day he went to see her. He's been in a bad mood since. He didn't want you to know."

Sebastian hears Remington coming down the stairs. "Okay. I need to go. I'll keep him with me for now." He hangs up and texts Faye that he can't meet her as Remington comes into the room. "I'm gonna make you some tea," the older says, "there's a blanket on the back of the sofa if you're cold."

Remington grabs his brothers hand with a sense of desperation.

"Hey, it's okay. Do you want a hug?"

"Please..." He melts into Sebastian's arms, his hair damp against the man's shoulder.

"What happened?" Sebastian asks carefully, slowly rubbing Remington's back, his spine bumpy under his fingers.

The boy is quivering. "He-he-he pushed me in-in the river."

"Who? Andy?"

Remington shakes his head quickly. "No-no, not-not Andy...not Andy."

Carefully, Sebastian guides the younger towards the couch, sitting him down and shaking out the blanket. "Okay, good. Who was it? Was it the stalker? Did he find you?"

Sitting down, Remington pulls the blanket handed to him up over his shoulder, and nods.

"Did he hurt you?"

Remington shrugs.

"Did he hurt you, bub?"

"I don't-maybe?"

Sebastian sighs. "Where are you hurt? Can you show me?"

"No-no, he said-he said I can't show-I can't show anyone."

It worries Sebastian how stuttery Remington's words are. "That's bullshit. I need you to show me. Nothing's gonna happen, you're safe here."

The boy whimpers. "He's gonna-he's-he's gonna hurt Abigail if-if I show-if I show anyone, Sebby."

Sebastian can see he's in pain and it's upsetting how scared Remington is. "Can you at least tell me what he did?" He kneels infront of Remington on the floor.

"No, he said I-he'll know if I tell anyone and-and he'll-he'll post-he'll post the photos."

"Remington, what photos?"

He shakes his head again. "And-and Andy will-Andy will see and he'll-he'll leave me..."

"Andy's not gonna leave you. What photos?"

"Just...the photos." The blanket cover his hands and Sebastian can't see him scratching at his wrists. "It doesn't-it doesn't even matter anyway. I'm not-I'm not important."

Sebastian hears how the younger's self belief evaporates and it breaks him inside. "Don't you ever think like that. You are so important. And it does matter. You're hurt and that's not okay."

Remington feels liquid on his fingers and realises he's torn his delicate skin. He decides against saying anything about it. "But he-he said-he said I-no one even-no one even cares about me."

"Please tell me what the photos are, Remington. You're safe here. He won't know you've told me."

"He will! He will know!" He doesn't stop scratching even though his wrist is stinging and he knows he shouldn't be doing it. "He knows-he knows where Abigail lives and he-and he knows where I live and-and he knows-he knows where you-where you live and if he-if he knows I came here he's-he's-he'll hurt-he'll hurt Abigail and show-show everyone the-the photos."

"Fuck, Remington, we need to call the police. This is dangerous."

"No! Sebastian, we can't! He'll know...he'll know."

The guitarist puts his hands on Remington's shoulders. "Look at me, this is dangerous. We need to tell the police. He's threatening you, Remington. That's not okay."

Remington winces, digging his fingers into his arm. "I'm-I'm scared, Sebby. I don't-he can't hurt Abi. I need her."

"And that's why we need to tell the police. So that Abigail is safe. And so that you are safe."

"I feel sick."

Sebastian notices him wince and cringes. "It's okay. I'll get you some water."

As soon as Sebastian moves to stand up Remington grabs his arm. "No...don't leave me."

It doesn't take long for Sebastian to see the blood on Remington's fingers. He gently pulls his brother's hand off him and holds it. "Let's clean you up, okay?

"I'm scared," Remington repeats in a whisper.

Sebastian pulls Remington off the couch and the boy stumbles into him. "I know. You're okay. Let me clean your arm." He strokes damp hair from the singer's face. "It's alright, I'm gonna keep you safe."

The boy shakes his head. "I don't want you to keep me safe, I wan't Abigail and Andy and you to be safe! He knows where you live!"

"Remington, breathe. Right now your safety is the most important thing."

"No-no-no-no..."

"Breathe. Just breathe. I'm going to sort our your arm and make you some tea and then we're going to talk to the police, okay?"

Remington nods slowly. "The photos..." he mumbles, "he's gonna-he's gonna show-he's gonna show everyone the photos."

Still holding Remington's hand, Sebastian leads him up the stairs. "What photos?" He asks for the third time, getting increasingly worried about how Remington keeps mentioning them.

"'m not allowed to-can't tell anyone."

"Listen, bub, whether he knows where we live or not, he is threatening you and you need to tell me what that photos are of so I can help you." When they get to the bathroom he sits Remington on the toilet seat and picks up the toilet roll, unravelling it and pulling a fair amount off.

"No, I can't tell you! I can't! He'll know!"

"Please, Remington, you need to."

He watches Sebastian wet the tissue with cold water. "You don't understand, Sebastian. I can't-I can't tell anyone!"

Sebastian sighs, kneeling down and wiping his brother's wrist gently. "You can tell whoever you need to tell."

"No...he'll know."

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