Beyond The Smoke

Chpt. 6 Surgery

"Quit smoking and come inside." Ally snapped. She was losing her patience.

"I just sent my baby brother, the child in my custody, into brain surgery! I think I have the right-"

"To destroy yourself? Nope, I don't think so." She slapped the cigar out of my hand, putting it out with her foot, and dragged me inside. "You are sick already, you don't need to sit out there in that cold." She could get motherly sometimes, but I was thankful she had come. Just a few hours ago, they had me sign off for Mikey's surgery. They had found a bleed in his brain, and if He hadn't come in, he would have been dead by tomorrow. That's what terrified me the most. He was already in such bad condition, and I let this happen. I didn't bother to bring him to a doctor. I didn't do sh.it and now, he's having his f.ucking head cut open!

I sat myself by Jesse, who was fiddling with his fingers nervously. Ron hadn't gotten here yet, he was still at work. Raya had left when Ally arrived, so it was just us three. I noticed a little something in Jesse's pocket. It's metal shined slightly with the light that hit it, a flask. I nudged him.

"What?" He looked up quickly. I gestured to his flask, and a look of realization crossed his face. He shrugged, and so I took it quickly. Ally had stopped me from smoking, and I needed something. She had her head to the glass door, waiting for Ron to show, so this would be my opportunity. Shakily opening the cap, I gulped the burning liquid, allowing it to burn my throat. When I had disconnected the top from my lips, I squinted.

"Whiskey?" I whispered. He looked to me nodding.

"Jack Daniels." I took another long swig of the alcohol. "You should probably slow down..." He took it from me, leaving me without a distraction. I groaned and leaned back into my chair helplessly.

"Luke, you should sleep. At least a little." Ally's attention never left the door.

"No. Mike is in surgery and I want to be there when he wakes up. What good would I be passed out in this chair?" This had her attention.

"And what good are you to anyone tired as f.uck and sick? None. So sleep, now." She spat sternly. I turned to Jesse for help.

"Yeah, man. Get a little rest and I'll wake you up if the doc walks. Ok?" With that, I reluctantly rested my head to the wall, crossing my arms to me, and slept.
----

I treaded into the house as quietly as possible, hoping to avoid him. That pathetic excuse of a human being has me waiting outside my school five hours after dismissal. Why? Because I'm terrified. I was about to go upstairs, but then something interrupted me.

My f.ucking stomach growled. I was hungry.

So, I made my way slowly into the kitchen. The second I stepped onto the tiled floor, I knew I had made a big mistake.

He was here.

"You stupid piece of sh.it! Where the hell had you been?!" He growled, beer in hand, stepping towards me. Instinctively, I backed up.

"I-I'm sorry. I was at a-a friends house-"

"Don't lie to me!" He took a large step forward, and I couldn't move. I was already backed to the wall. His free hand lifted and struck my cheek, sending me to the ground. The spot he had backhanded stung, as if it were on fire. I knew it would bruise tomorrow. "Don't f.cuking lie. Huh, friend?
You don't have any of those, do you?!" It was odd, though. He usually would avoid my face, or anywhere else obvious. Before I could lift myself from the floor, his foot connected with my stomach, knocking the air out of me. Again and again and again he embedded his shoe into my torso, and it hurt. My eyes stung with tears as they pooled at my eyelids.

"S-stop! Pl-ease! P-plea-ase...." I begged, but it was futile. I could beg scream, cry, and he wouldn't let up until he was satisfied. His attack to my torso came to a halt, his fingers grabbed at the fabric of my shirt. Before I could breath, I was slammed to the wall.

"How dare you try and lie to me. You worthless piece of crap. I'll teach you a lesson. You just never learn..." he kept me pinned, but let his other hand travel down to the button of my jeans.

"No no n-no... p-lease no..." I wheezed, but it was no use. "No-"

"Luke!!" My eyes snapped open to the sound of an external voice, Ron. It was a dream.

"R-Ron...I-"

"I know, I know. It's fine. You ok?" He asked. The cold sweat trickled down the side of my face and I nodded, attempting to steady my breathing. My eyes searched to see Jesse and Ally were gone. All I could see were the other people in the room giving me odd looks.

"Where'd they go?" He sighed, sitting in the chair Jesse was in before I had fallen asleep.

"They left to go get us some coffee."

"Has anything happened? Any news?" I questioned frantically, adrenaline still high from my...dream. His head shook, giving me my answer. I groaned, my fingers gripping at my hair and elbowed rested on my knees.

"Wanna talk about...ya know..." His voice was low and cautious, knowing how sensitive this topic was.

"No, it's fine. It was just a dream. It's fine." He was silent, knowing not to push me. "I'm gonna go out." I stood to leave. Without another word, I stepped out into the freezing winter air, attempting to light a cigarette. I flicked at the lighter hopelessly but the damn thing wouldn't light. suddenly, a small flame was held to the end of my cigar for me. I looked up to see Ron, who sent a small smile my way, leaning against the wall with me. About five minute had passed, me inhaling and exhaling the toxic smoke.

"Look man, I get it. Tough times, but you should take better care of yourself. You can always try talking..." I shot him a glare and he put his hands up in defense. "Just a suggestion. I'm gonna go on inside, leave ya to it. But you get your a.ss inside within two minutes before Ally gets here, or she'll kill you." He left me to the silence once more. I inhaled one last time, exhaling only to see the smoke rise to the air being blown away by the wind, and put my cigar out.

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A/N: WOW! 500 reads! I know it may not seem like a lot, but it's a lot to me. Thank you guys sooooooooo much!

Anyway. Comment, vote, whatever you like.

-H4lt