The Nature of Things

Chapter 42

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"Where are you going?"

"Please, let me go. Please don't do this. Just let me go."

"Shut your fucking mouth."

The hands reached out and darkness became all that was known. Silence filled the air as innocence was lost. The scream stopped, caught in the throat that was quickly closing. It was becoming harder to breathe and the words being whispered were becoming a reality that was far too terrorizing.

The scream filled the house causing Brian to drop the pitcher of juice. Glass shattered around his feet as he tore from the kitchen. Jennifer ran in the back door and started up the back stairs as Brian mounted the top of the front stairs.

Both reached the door to the bedroom at the same time. Brian's hand was shaking and unsteady as he turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Life seemed to be moving in slow motion as he entered the room to see what had caused such a horrifying sound to fill the house. He crossed the room and cradled the blond head in his lap as he stroked the hair and whispered words of comfort that fell on deaf ears.

The terror in the liquid blue eyes frightened even a hardened man like Brian Kinney. Searching out Jennifer he pleaded with her to help him. She sat next to the tortured soul on the bed and held her child close as she sang the song she'd used as comfort all those years.

She glanced at Brian only to find tears falling down his cheeks. She reached out for him, knowing where his mind was and hoped that he could find his way back.

What seemed like several days passed by and reality started to seep back in. The blue eyes focused on Brian's face and reached out for him.

Brian's hands held tight to the body that shook uncontrollably with fear. He didn't know what to do now anymore than he had that night. He held onto Justin as if he would lose him if he let go.

Justin focused on Brian's face and tried to speak.

"Shhh, baby, don't."

"Brian, help him."

"I don't know how."

"Brian, help me."

"Oh God, Sunshine, tell me. Tell me."

"Michael."

"Michael?"

Justin nodded before clarifying. "Michael, not Hobbs."

"Do you think, he's....?" Jennifer couldn't finish the sentence and looked to Brian for hope.

"The dreams are back."

"But why Michael?"

"He's confused the two."

Justin reached out for Brian once more. Brian held him tight and rocked him until he was sleeping peacefully. Gently laying him on the bed, he motioned for Jennifer to follow him out into the hall.

"He used to have these dreams all the time after the bashing."

"I know, they're one of the reasons I gave him back to you."

"Now he's mixing them up with the dreams of Michael."

"What does Michael have to do with this?"

"He's probably going to kill me for telling you this, but it's time you knew. Michael raped Justin. Casey drugged them both."

"Well that explains why you and Michael don't even speak anymore. But why hasn't Justin pressed charges."

"Because he didn't want to add anything more for you or Molly to have to deal with."

"So that son of a bitch not only raped my daughter, but he got to my son as well? I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"Get in line behind me."

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