Little Boy Lost
 

Part Three

"I'm sorry Mr. Hobbs but because of your injury I'm afraid that we have to revoke your scholarship."

"Because of your father's income I'm afraid we can't allow you financial assistance."

"You do not fit all the requirements needed for this scholarship."

"Your application is rejected."

"Rejected."

"Rejected."

 

*****

Chris sat up in his bed, actually drenched in sweat. He never thought he'd have nightmares about being rejected from college after college but it happened. After he lost his football scholarship, thanks to that fucking Kinney, he tried every means to get into colleges he could think of. He hated that even with his scores he couldn't get in strictly because he couldn't pay.

He got up and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a beer. He hated that he had to stay in this drafty, disgusting warehouse. He didn't really have anywhere else to go though. If he took the kid back to his apartment, people would see them coming and going. He certainly didn't want anyone to see that he had the kid. At least, not yet.

He took a drink of the beer and laughed to himself. He had the plan all worked out. He'd give them a couple of days, let them worry, maybe even jump to the conclusion that the kid was dead, then he'd call in the ransom. He'd make sure that Kinney paid for making him lose his scholarship.
 

*****
 

Gus remained curled up in the corner, not sure what to do. He'd ended up wetting himself because the man that took him didn't let him go to the bathroom and it was so dark he couldn't see if there was a potty in the room. He hated being wet, but he didn't have a choice. He was cold and hungry and thirsty and wet and he just wanted to go home.

"Mommy......" He said softly before he started to cry. He missed his mommy and his daddy and his mama and his Justin. He knew that his parents were really scared because they didn't know where he was. He remembered the time he wondered away from his daddy and Justin at the grocery store. His daddy had been so scared when he couldn't find Gus.

He closed his eyes and tried to think of them. He remembered the hugs and kisses. He remembered all the fun times he had with Justin. He remembered anything he could to make him happy again. After a couple of minutes, he fell asleep. The next thing he knew there was a bright light. He opened his eyes and someone came in. He could only assume it was the man. He grabbed Gus and pulled him out into another room.

Gus' eyes hurt because the light was so bright and he'd been in the dark for so long. He started to cry again and the man hit him across the face, making him cry harder. He threw Gus into a chair by a table. Gus noticed that there was a hamburger and some French fries on the table, as well as something to drink.

"Eat." The man ordered. Gus started to eat, almost inhaling the food, he was so hungry. He tried not to look at the man as he did so. When Gus finally looked up, he saw that the man was holding up some clean clothes. "Put these on, you stink." He draped the clothes on the back of the chair.

"I need a bath." Gus said.

"Do you see any place to take one here?" The man asked angrily. Gus looked around, then shook his head. "Then I guess you can't take one, can you?"

"No." Gus said, looking down. He was quiet for a minute, then he looked back up. "When can I go home?"

"When your daddy pays me a lot of money." The man answered with a laugh. Gus just nodded. He knew that his daddy would pay the man as much money as he wanted to get him back.

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