Refresh: Extras

Just Like Me Pt. 1

   It was a Monday. Of course it was a Monday.
   I was just walking in to work. It was far to early even though I woke up kate. Error gave me a ride because I was already late.
   The building was cold and chilled my bones. I should have brought my thicker jacket. In my rush this morning I grabbed Errors sweater. Oh well.
   I made a small oof sound as I walked through a door and immediately something barrled into me. It was a child. A small child.
   I opened my mouth to ask. "H-hey kid... what?"
   The child buried his face in my shirt. "No. Please don't let him have me. He's not my uncle..."
   My soul skipped as I looked up. There was a man coming closer. He didn't look happy.
   "I'm so sorry about my nephew. He doesn't want to go to his grandmother's house." The man sighed.
   I blinked and gripped onto the boys shirt. He was thin. Not eating right. His back had a thick puckered line I could feel through the shirt. I glanced down seeing a reddish mark on his arms and bruises peaking out on his neck. I mentally thanked my old medical training.
   "No." I huffed pulling the boy closer and patting his dark hair
   The mans eyes flared. "No? Listen here bucko! Give me my nephew!" He reached out to snatch the boys arm.
   I flinched snd pulled the boy close. "No. If you don't leave the boy alone im calling the police. You probably don't want to cause a scene." I hissed out my voice shaking.
   The man snarled. "You don't know anything."
   "I know plently. This boy is sick and malnourished. He has a scar on his back right side. He is shaking like a leaf and told me he is not your nephew. He has bruises on his neck and a red mark from a needle on his arm. He very likely had much more I can't see." I responded. I was incredibly surprised how calm my voice sounded.
   "He gets into fights a lot! The needle and scar are from a surgery he had!" The man huffed. Was no one seeing this!?
   "This boy is a victim of abuse. Wanna see who's word would hold up in court?" I narrowed my eyes.
   The man yanked the boy from my grip causing him to scream. "No!!" The man shoved me into the wall. "You don't tell me what the fuck to do boy. Don't fucking threaten me!"
   I yelped shaking like a leaf. " SECURITY!" I cried. Got him. Assault. The cameras got this.  The police would find information about the abuse later.
   The man was yanked off me moments later. "No! He threatened me! He threatened me."
   The boy scrambled away and latched onto my pant-leg again. I kneeled and held him close. "It's okay."
   Security dragged the man away to call the police I assume.
   "You're okay." I whispered holding the boy. "Hey hey... look at me..."
   The boy looked up. His face was red and wet with tears. "What's your name?"
   "J-Jessie..." He whispered.
   "Okay. Okay... Come on Jessie..." I whispered lifing him up. He was so light... "Where are your parents?"
   "G-gone... he shot my daddy... Mommy gone...." He mumbled into my sweater.
   My soul sank. That man shot Jessie's dad and took him away. "How old are you?"
   "Six..." He whispered.
   Just six years old. Six years old. "Okay Jessie. Lets get you cleaned up..." I whispered. "I'll protect you."
   I'll protect him.