You're Not Alone, I'm Here (Mictor Fuencest)

Chapter One

"Where the hell were you?" Mike and Vic's father yelled angrily. Mike stood on the staircase, not knowing what to say. He knew if he said the wrong thing, his older brother would surely get hit. Vic stood beside Mike, shaking and trembling.

"I was at school. I had detention." Mike said truthfully, hoping his father would believe him and let him and Vic go this time.

"Detention? What did you do?" Their father screamed loudly and stepped closer to the boys. Vic grabbed Mike's arm, holding onto it tightly.

"Late for class." Mike mumbled and looked down at his feet. The father stood there, staring at them. Vic hid behind Mike, praying to God nothing would happen.

Vic felt his father grab a fistful of his hair and yanked him down the stairs, throwing him on the floor.

"Get away from him! Leave him alone!" Mike screamed as loud as he could. He didn't care if the neighbors had heard. He rushed over to Vic and picked him up bridal style.

"Go to your room! I don't want to see either of you the rest of the night!" The father yelled and disappeared into another room.

Mike rushed up the stairs and took Vic into his room. He gently laid him on the bed, but Vic sat up and pulled his knees to his chest.

"I hate him." Vic said and then tears from his eyes slid down his cheeks. He started to sob and Mike just sat and listened.

"I wish he was dead." Vic yelled. Mike covered Vic's mouth with his hand.

"Shhh. He'll hear you." Mike whispered. He wrapped his arms around his older brother and hugged him tightly. Vic sobbed in his brothers chest and held him tightly.

"Where does it hurt?" Mike asked. Vic pulled away and held up his shirt to reveal a bruise. Mike sighed and gently ran his fingers over it.

"Your lip is busted I think." Mike whispered and ran his fingers over Vic's bottom lip, which was lightly bleeding. Vic and Mike both stared into each other's eyes for a few moments before Mike looked away and disappeared into the bathroom. Seconds later he appeared with a wet washcloth.

Gently, he rubbed the blood away and just held it there, stopping it from bleeding any more.

"I'm scared, Mike. And I'm tired. I'm so tired."

"Vic, I know-"

"I just want to die. I'm so tired of this everyday. It's a shame how our own father hits me and yells at you like that."

"He wouldn't have hit you if I would've said the right thing." Mike whispered and looked down. Vic lifted Mike's head up and looked him straight in the eyes.

"It's not your fault."

"Yes it is." Mike whispered and began to sob. Vic pulled him close, holding onto him tightly.

"We'll get through this together, Mike. One day we'll run away and never have to see him again." Vic whispered.

"I'll always be here for you. And you'll always be here for me, right?" Mike asked, pulling away slowly.

Vic nodded. "Always."

"Let's go sit on the roof." Mike whispered and took Vic's hand. He quietly opened his window and climbed out with Vic following behind him.

He sat down with Vic sitting beside him, still holding onto his hand.

"It's beautiful out here." Vic whispered and stared out into the sunset. Mike smiled and looked over at his brother who was amazed by the sunset. Mike looked into Vic's eyes and realized he liked the color of them.

"Moms never coming back, is she?" Vic asked in a whisper and looked down.

"Don't say that. We just have to be patient. She'll come back one day." Mike promised and ran his thumb against Vic's soothingly. Vic smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Thanks for being here for me, Mike. I couldn't live without you. You're the only thing that's keeping me alive."

"Just stay strong, okay? If you ever need me just yell for me."

Vic smiled and stared at the sunset until it finally disappeared.

"We should go back in now. It's getting cold." Mike whispered. Vic nodded and followed him back through the window.