Dreams

Part 16

Pov: Garrett
   We were all gathered at Cory's house to welcome him back from the hospital. It had been four days since the incident, but he had been given the green light by his doctor to go home. He had dislocated his shoulder, but, other than that, it was just bruising.
   After a blood test, it was confirmed that Cory had been injected with ketamine, a main ingredient in horse tranquilizer.
   Coby recovered and was able to go home the day after the incident. He was given painkiller for a sprained ankle, while Chad was given crutches after breaking his shinbone.
   Amy was at the hospital while everyone else was here at Cory's house. The wives were preparing supper, and Chad sat in front of the oven to monitor cake; it really wasn't fair. Coby was upstairs; I'm not sure what he's doing. Sparky was blowing up balloons, and I was stuck with Tyler to clean. Cody had taken the all the kids to a daycare program, and Will had run to the store to pick something up for the wives.
   "You missed a spot," Tyler pointed out. I rolled my eyes and ran the washcloth over the coffee table again.
   "Happy?" I asked, slightly agitated.
   "Yup," Tyler stated with satisfaction.
   "If you want to annoy someone, go pest Chad. He's just watching the dessert bake," I commented, moving to the next dusty spot.
   Tyler grinned. "You know he has no strength," he said sarcastically.
   "That's what the wives seem to think," I agreed. "How did he get a job like watching the cake when we get stuck with cleaning."
   "I heard he gets to taste-test the food," Sparky spoke up.
   Tyler turned to him. "No way!" A look of unbelief spread across his face."
   I silently chuckled. I figured he would get special treatment.
   "We still have to clean!" I called as Tyler raced into the kitchen.
   "Licking out bowls is cleaning!" He announced from the kitchen.
   "No, it's not," I heard Aubrey say.
   Arguing followed.
   I turned back to Sparky who was done with his assignment.
   "We sure missed a lot, didn't we," he commented.
   I nodded. "I know. I wish I could of been along to help. Tyler had called me saying Coby had been found unconscious in a well, and that they couldn't find Cory. It really freaked me out."
   "I know," Sparky agreed," I honestly thought you guys were overreacting, but when Tyler called me and told me what was happening, I was really surprised."
   "I know, I had visited Cory yesterday, but he's not telling what happened. All he said was that this guy had a boss, that won't hesitate to show up," I told him.
   Sparky cocked his head. "What about Amy; does she know anything?"
   I shrugged. "Coby and Aubrey tried talking to her, but she claims she knows nothing."
   "Cory and Amy are here!" Sparky announced, gazing out the living room window.
   Allison poked her head out of the kitchen. "We aren't ready," she panicked. "And Will and Cody aren't back."
   "It doesn't matter," I responded, going out to meet Cory. Sparky followed.
   "Hey, Cor," I greeted.
   He stepped out of Amy's car, careful not to bump the arm that was in a sling. He winced after a step. "Hey," he replied. Amy hurried to assist him.
   "You ok?" Sparky asked.
   "I'll be fine in a week or so," he replied nonchalantly. "Just bruises."
   "Ok," I hesitantly responded. I assumed he didn't want to talk about it.
   He smiled at me, then stiffly walked inside. Amy clung to his arm like if she let go, he would disappear.
   We settled onto the couches for a old-fashioned game of monopoly until dinner was ready. Tim arrived soon after Sparky dominated with his purchase of a hotel on Boardwalk. Both Tyler and Amy dropped out of the game after landing on Sparky's property, but Cory and I continued strong.
   Once Cody got back, we started eating while having a pleasant conversation. The subject of the crime wasn't brought up.
   I watched Cory struggle with the sling. He seemed a little aloof, but I didn't think much of it. For the most part, he kept his head low and didn't participate in the conversation.
   I really wanted to ask Cory about what happened, but I couldn't get him alone. He seemed to always be with someone. By the end of the night, I still hadn't asked him.
  
Pov: Cory
   I was so glad as I watched the guys leave. All I wanted was to be alone, but I knew someone was bound to interrogate me once I was by myself. Even during dinner, the guys would look at me questionably, and all I wanted was to escape their worried glances.
   Coby and Aubrey had decided to stay a little longer which concerned me a little, but, for the most part, I was grateful.
   I stayed downstairs for half an hour before slipping away to my room.
   "What do I say," I whispered to myself in the mirror. I carefully slid off my shirt; then my sling. I let my arm hang loosely at my side. It hurt like hell, but my whole body had had to endure pain too. I knocked the painkiller off the dresser; I could fight through it.
   I heard a light knock on the door; then it creaked open.
   I thought it was Amy at first, but then I saw Coby in the mirror. It was too late to put my shirt back on; he would if already seen the scar on my back.
   "Hey." Coby said lightly. I watched his every move in the mirror. He laid his arms around my shoulders, watching me in the mirror.
    I didn't turn around or tell how much it hurt, so I just watched him.
   He stepped back. "What happened here?" He inquired, lightly touching the raised scar.
   I ducked my head.
   "It looks like a whip mark. What the heck, Cory." He moved to the side to look at my face. I met his concerned glance, then ducked my head again.
   "It was just once. I promise," I responded meekly.
   "Cor!" He whispered harshly, eyeing me. "Look at me," he demanded.
   I exhaled then slowly raised my head. Coby gritted his teeth, looking away as if to collect his thoughts.  "What did that guy do?" He seethed.
   "I'm fine," I replied.
   I was relieved when my twin moved away. He collected my shirt off the bed and the painkiller from the floor.
   "Here," he instructed, shaking out two pills. "I'll get some water." A couple minutes later he returned with a glass.
   "Thanks," I replied, pretending to shoot the pills.
  Coby nodded. "No problem. Now tell me everything," he stressed.
   I eyed him skeptically. "They were working with someone else."
   Coby sat on the edge of the bed. "Do you know his name? We can lock him up."
   I ran my hand through my hair. "I think I know who he is, but I'm not certain. This guy, Charles, helped me out of some trouble when we were teenagers. He had a...a friend I guess he would be. But anyway, his friend told us he was selling... stuff." I paused, looking at Coby. He nodded for me to go on. "Anyway," I continued, "We didn't believe him. We thought he was bluffing. To sell was big stuff when we were kids." I took a seat next to Coby.
   "Go on," he urged gently.
   I closed my eyes and saw the whole seen unravel before me.
   "Charles was telling me something and his friend came running. We were in the basketball locker room alone after a game." I searched my mind for the guys name. It had been so long. His name was Derek or Darrin--- something like that. "He told us he had joined a gang, and that his first job was to sell this white powder. No wait... I think his name is Denver. Yeah, that's it."
   Coby nodded. "Denver Talin. The guy that had gotten kicked off the football team?"
   I searched my brain. "I think."
   "Is that all?" Coby asked.
   I shook my head. "One day, after a game when we thought everyone had left he approached us." I still  remembered his words clearly. "He said: 'I did something, the cops are looking.' And I never saw him after that."
   Coby nodded. "And why did Charles come back then."
   "He texted me three weeks ago, asking for money. I told him no." I pulled out my phone and showed Coby the threats he had sent. "Then two weeks ago," I continued, "he showed up at our front door asking for money again. He told me that he wasn't afraid to hurt my family." I shuddered. "The next day, I came home from work, and he was in my house making himself tea. It freaked me out."
    I watched Coby's expression--- worry mixed with surprise and anger.
   "I asked him where Amy and the kids were. He just looked up and smiled. He said I would see them when he got the money. Then he went upstairs, and led Amy down. He had bound her hands, gagged her, and he had a knife under her chin. I just remember the fear in her eyes."
   Coby laid his hand on my arm. "It's fine. I've learned enough."
   I shook my head. "He started coming every night after the kids were in bed and... and taunting us, sometimes beating us. She begged me to give him the money. She couldn't stand the abuse, but I was determined not to show weakness. I wish I would of just given him the money."
   "The nightmares were from him?" Coby asked.
   I nodded. "I didn't want to tell anyone because I knew he wouldn't hesitate to take the kids or Amy if he learned I had told."
   Coby half-heartily ruffled my hair. "Two weeks is a long time, Cor," he said sadly.
   I nodded, looking down at my hands. My eyes burned, and tears started streaming down my face.
   Coby rubbed my back.
   Silent pain became sobs, and somewhere in the chaos, Amy and Aubrey came in.
   Someone must have had called the guys because they too showed up to exchange hugs and encouraging words.
   I was completely grateful and overwhelmed with emotions.
   To say the least, I knew everything was going to be ok.
 

The End

Hope you enjoyed!

If anyone actually reads the stuff in the end. I would like to ask if you have an idea on what I should write next. I'm sorry if you found dissatisfaction in this story. I didn't have a definite plan on what would happen as I wrote it, and this was my very first attempt at a fanfiction. Just remember none of this is true. It's a fiction. Also I don't do drugs. I simply did a lot of research when Juice WRLD died about what drugs he was on and how he started them. He actually got introduced to lean through one of Future's songs. I'm just saying, don't do drugs people, it's not worth it. We lost lil peep to drugs too. It wasn't worth it.
Anyway hope u enjoyed the story. Stay safe, and have a good day

-sf7tlu65