Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 169

Trigger warning.

Seastian tries to get Remington to go home in the evening but the boy refuses, terrified that if he leaves the house the stalker will see and attack him, or worse, they'll hurt Abigial. He can't let that happen. He'd rather hand himself over than let Abigail get hurt.

The singer has a bad nightmare, which is no real surprise, though leaves him in tears, regretting not going home because he so badly needs one of Andy's hugs. He lets his brother hug him but it's not the same as being in Andy's arms. He's just so scared. Scared of the stalker. Of what he said. Of the photos he took. Of what he promised he'd do if Remington told anyone. And he's scared of who he is. What if he isn't Holly's brother? What if someone else just hates him that much that they'd really ruin his life like this?

He cries so hard he makes himself sick. It hurts. Sebastian sits him in the shower and promises over and over that everything is okay as he tries not to let his eyes linger on the cuts and the bones of his poor little brother. He wraps Remington in a towel and guides him back to bed, lying with him as he falls asleep, stroking his hair even after he drifts off.

Remington is tired the next morning. He bursts into tears when Sebastian mentions breakfast and then again when the guitarist suggests talking to the police. And then, accidentally, it slips out of Sebastian's mouth. "I'm sorry Holly was so awful to you the other day," he says, and Remington can't believe it. He specfically asked his husband not to tell anyone, and what does he do? Tell someone.

"You know?" Remington asks. "You've known this whole time?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Andy told you."

Sebastian cringes at how hopeless he sounds. "Yes, because he's worried about you."

Remington sinks into his chair. "Well isn't that nice," he mumbles sarcastically. "I asked him not to tell anyone and he should've respected that."

"Remington, he's worried. He's trying to help you."

The boy stays quiet. He doesn't know what to say. He's so confused by everything going on.

After a moment Sebastian talks up. "He found your suicide note on your phone."

Remington straightens up. "What suicide note?"

"The one on your phone?"

"No, I wrote that ages ago," he says, "fuck, Andy found it?"

The older nods. "Yep. He called me about it. He sounded so scared, Remington. You need to talk to him."

"Oh."

"Call him, okay? You can use my phone."

Slowly, the boy nods, reaching for his brother's phone. "I'm sorry," he says, "I keep fucking everything up."

Sebastian shakes his head and pours Remington some tea from the pot. "Stop that. Call him. Tell him you're safe and that you love him. He needs that." He stirs some sugar into the tea, since Remington needs to consume as much sugar as he can, specially since he threw up last night from crying so much.

Remington takes the tea and the phone into the living room, sitting on the couch and finding Andy's number. The man answers on the second ring. "Is he okay?" Is how Andy answers, and Remington immidietly feels guilty for making his husband so worried.

"It's me," Remington says, "hi."

"Hi sweetheart. Are you okay?"

After sipping the tea, Remington answers. "Been better," he admits, "about the-um-the note..."

Just hearing Remington talk makes Andy feel better. "Yes, please explain. That whole folder on your phone is heartbreaking."

It hurts to know he's scared Andy like this. "I'm sorry, I wrote it ages ago. I took a photo of it because I-I wanted to look back at it and see that I am recovering."

"So you're not about to kill yourself?"

"No. I'm so sorry I caused you so much stress. I didn't mean to."

"It's okay. I'm so glad you're alright. What number are you on?"

Remington puts the tea down. "Twenty four. Andy, something-something happened, and I need-I need to tell someone because it's-it's scaring me, but I don't know who." His voice reduces to just above a whisper and he plays with the bandage Sebastian wrapped around his arm yesterday.

It isn't difficult for Andy to hear how desperate Remington is to talk about whatever it is. "Do you want to tell me, sweetie?"

"Yeah, but the thing is..."

"The thing is what? What happened?'

"Well he-he said I can't tell anyone."

Andy knows who he's talking about and it makes him wince. "Did he hurt you?" His protective voice makes Remington feel safe.

But he doesn't respond.

"Remington, princess, did he hurt you?"

He stays quiet.

"Do you need me to come get you? You sound like you need a cuddle."

"No, he'll know."

The man frowns. "He'll know what? Did he say something to you? Sweetheart?"

"No-no-no, he-I can't-'m not allowed to-can't-"

"Remington, hey, take a breath. What's going on? You sound scared."

The boy sips the tea. "Can't tell anyone," he whispers, "he's gonna hurt Abi and he-he knows where we live. 'm scared."

"He threatened to hurt Abigail?"

Sebastian appears in the doorway as Remington answers. "Yeah."

"Fuck, okay. Stay with Sebastian, hon. I'm gonna go to the police."

Almost before Andy has finishes speaking Remington shouts desperately into the phone. "No! You can't! He'll know! Andy, you can't!" The thought of the stalker finding out he told anyone makes Remington tear up and tremble.

"Remington, sweetheart, he's terrifying you. This isn't right. The police need to know."

Suddenly Remington sobs. "He'll know!" He cries, falling into his brother's arms when Sebastian kneels on the floor infront of him. He lets go of the phone. "He'll know," the boy keeps repeating, until he cries himself into exhaustion and falls asleep on Sebastian, who lies him on the couch and tucks a blanket around him carefully.

Despite Remington's distressed begging, Andy does go to the police. He can't not tell them after everything Remington said on the phone.