Days Like These

“How are they doctor?”

“They’re both in good condition. Vic was shot three times in the back, one in the arm, one in the leg and one in the shoulder. We removed the bullets, he was lucky that his vital organs weren’t shot. He went through a lot of internal bleeding though, so we had to give him a blood transfusion. He was put in sleep like state so his body can heal properly. By the end of the week, he should be awake.”

“And Kellin?”

“He broke his left arm from jumping out the car but we found scars on his body. Do you know how they got there? Any idea?”

“Not a single one. I haven’t even met the boy. Are you sure they’re scars?” Mister Fuentes said as he rubbed his face with his rough hands.

“Yes. He has so many that if we were to open cut them open again he’d bleed to death. We’re going to have a therapist come in when he’s awake to talk to him.”

“What do you think it is?”

“You know exactly what I’m thinking Victor; the boy did that to himself.” The doctor looked around before asking, “Did they find the body?”

“No, after they put out the fire, Marcus called and said they couldn’t even find a bone.”

“What’s going to happen then?”

“Reckon chief will call the F.B.I. and we’ll have a man hunt on our hands.” He ended with a stress-filled sigh before he began talking again. “I tell you, being a cop sure has its days.”

Before anyone could continue to talk, the door opened and in stepped Misses Fuentes with three teenage boys behind her. “Where is Vic? Victor, where is my baby?” she cried in hysterics.

“He’s fine Vivian. Come here.” He said holding his arms out for her to walk into. She walked into them, crying on her husband’s shoulder as he hugged her tightly. He kissed her temple, telling her it’ll all be ok.

-

When he opened his eyes, he felt disoriented. The room span and the light was too bright. Once he had calmed down, he looked around and saw that he was alone. Of course I’d be alone, he thought, no one thinks I’m important. He looked down and saw that he had a hospital gown. That was not good, not good at all. They must’ve seen his scars! The scars that he’s tried for so long to hide. He threw his head back and sighed. Tears started to form, burning his eyes in the process.

Kellin wanted to leave the room, leave the hospital. He looked back down and saw an I.V. needle sticking in his arm. Very carefully, Kellin took off the tape and pulled the needle out. It hurt but it has to happen. He took off the weird clamp they placed on his pointer finger and sighed sadly. He saw his clothes folded neatly on the counter top and carefully sat up. The cast felt heavy on his arm but he chose to ignore it. Standing up, he gripped the railing on his bed as his feet grew a bit of strength. Once he got towards the counter, he carefully slipped on his clothes with one hand, zipping up his sweater to hide the cast. When he was finished, he opened the door and looked both ways before slipping out.

Quickly walking towards the stairs, Kellin walked down to the first floor, past the front desk and out the sliding doors. He had no idea where he was but he walked. Digging into his pockets, he found a crumpled five-dollar bill and went to the bus station he saw nearby to ask for directions so he could get home.

-

“Victor, I’m taking the boys home. It’s getting late and we still need to check up on Kellin.”

“Yeah, ok, I’ll do that. You stay home and make sure they’re fine. I’ll call you if something comes up.” He held his arms out for his wife to walk into. She gladly did, inhaling deeply so the smell of him calmed her down as it did more than twenty years ago. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll be home shortly.” With those comforting words, Mrs. Fuentes walked out the waiting room and towards the car.

Twenty minutes passed after they left, then a siren was heard throughout the hospital before a voice urgently said, “Patient in room six-zero-three-two has escaped, repeat, patient in room six-zero-three-two has escaped!” before Victor could do anything, the doctor burst through the door, panting heavily.

“He’s gone Victor! Kellin isn’t in his room!”

-

When Kellin finally got home, he went straight towards his father’s room. He knocked hesitantly and when he didn’t hear a thing, he slowly opened the door to find it empty except for the mattress that now lay bare. He went to his room and found it the exactly the same way last time he was home. He walked back downstairs and laid on the sofa, turning on the television in the process.

“We’re sorry to break this program for this breaking news. It appears that Kellin Bostwick has disappeared from San Diego hospital.” A picture of Kellin appeared on the screen. “We believe that this man,” they showed a picture of his dad. “Is behind his disappearance.” The female anchor said. “It is known that the man, Harold Bostwick, abducted Kellin Bostwick at the age of four and fled the home he shared with his now ex-girlfriend, Rachael Quinn who is mother of Kellin Bostwick.”

“My last name is Quinn you idiot piece of shit.” Kellin mumbled.

“Police have now called a nationwide man hunt to fi-.”

Kellin turned of the television and walked to his room. He kept all the lights off for fear that they would find him and send him back to the hospital, where they’d probably send him to a mental facility. Crawling into bed, he fluffed his pillows and got under the blankets before drifting off to sleep.

-

“Kellin.” Someone in the room whimpered. “Kellin.” Vivian opened her eyes and saw Vic stirring in his sleep. She got up from her spot on the hard couch and walked to her son’s side.

“Victor.” She whispered while running her hands through his long hair. “Victor, sweetie, are you awake?” she felt him nod under her hand and sighed in relief. It’s been five days since Kellin disappeared, and she took it upon herself to break the news to her eldest son.

“Mom, I want Kellin.”

“I know sweetie, but, I don’t think that’d happen.” She said sadly.

“Why where is he?”

“We don’t know.”

“What?” Vic asked. He was more alert now and when he tried to sit up, his mom gently pushed him back down. “Mom, where is Kellin?” before she could even Vic began talking again. “He did it! He fucking sold Kellin off to Mexico! Jesus Christ if I was fast enough this wouldn’t happen! Mom, why didn’t dad do anything? He said he’d do something!” the heart monitor began to go crazy before it sent off an emergency beeping noise

“Victor, calm down!” she said loudly. The doctor quickly came in, followed by nurses. They gently but firmly pushed her out of the room while she continued to shout. Her husband was just stepping out of the elevator with Mike when he saw the guards standing in front of her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as they approached them.

“Your son had a severe panic attack after Vivian had told him that Kellin disappeared.” Mike punched the wall and walked away, seething in anger.

“Michael!” Victor shouted. “Michael!”

Mike ignored him and walked down the flight of stairs before leaving the hospital. He hailed a taxi and gave him the directions to the one place he knew Kellin would be at.

-

He took out the trash quickly. It was midnight and the neighbors lights were off so he was safe. He did everything at night, honestly. He cleaned, did laundry, used the bathroom and other things that one would normally do during the day. He didn’t want anyone to suspect he was home. Kellin refused to believe that this had turned out to be his reality. He did everything he was supposed to when his dad was around because he believed his dad would come back.

When he came back inside, he went up to the bathroom and took two of his fingers to put down his throat. He already felt like throwing up so he’s just making sure his body feels better. Or, well, at least that’s his excuse. After getting every toxic thing out of his body, he dug in his pocket and pulled out the razor. He set it down on the counter and turned on the shower. Once he was naked and the water, he dragged the razor across his thighs.

His dad wasn’t coming back. No one came looking for him. No one even knocked on the door. He doesn’t get it; he just doesn’t fucking get it! What fucked up shit had he done in his past lives to end up like this? It’s not fair! It’s not fair. Kellin screamed at the top of his lungs. He gripped the razor hard enough to have it cutting into his palm and began stabbing himself on the thighs.

If he would’ve paid more attention, he would’ve heard the door open. He would’ve heard someone shout his name after he had screamed. He would’ve killed himself quicker if he had noticed the bathroom door open.

-

“We might send him to a clinic. If Mike hadn’t gone, he would’ve been died.” Was the first thing they heard when he walked into Vic’s room. Mike just sat against the wall, staring at nothing while Vic had silent tears in his eyes. “They aren’t deep enough to need stiches but there are a lot. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“Anything else doc?” Victor asked.

“Did you know that he was bulimic?” the adults shook their heads. “He has callused knuckles. A sign that he forces himself to throw up.”

“How is he now?” Vivian asked.

“We managed to give him a blood transfusion and right now he’s sleeping.”

“I want to see him.” Vic said from his spot on the bed.

“Vic I do-.”

“No mama.” He said, cutting her off. “I need to see him now.” She looked at the doctor who nodded, giving her the ok.

With a sigh, she nodded. “Get ready. Can we please get a wheelchair?”

“I don’t need one. I can walk.”

“Victor, a wheelchair is better. You shouldn’t be walking after surgery.”

“I was asleep for five days doc. I think I’m fine.”

“You’re not going unless you use a wheelchair.” His father said. With a huff, Vic reluctantly agreed and was soon brought a wheelchair.

“Can Mikey take me? I’d feel better with him.” Everyone turned to look at Mike, who just stood up and pushed his brother towards Kellin’s room. When they entered, all the lights were off and the blinds were closed. “Why’s it so dark?”

“He kept mumbling about wanting to be in the dark.” Mike whispered. He pushed Vic until he was right in front of Kellin’s small body.

Taking a hand in his, he shivered. The skin was cold to the touch. He looked at Kellin’s knuckles and sure enough there were calluses.

“Why’d you do it Kells?” Vic whispered. “Why would you try to kill yourself? I need you.” He said wetly. Mike stood behind Vic and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. “Thanks Mike.”

“For what?”

“For going there. For getting there before he could kill himself. I bet it must’ve been scaring but you saved him.” Mike bent forward and hugged his brother from behind. “You saved me.”

They were so caught up in their brotherly bond, that they didn’t notice Kellin moving. Vic didn’t feel the hand move and twitch and Mike didn’t hear the whimpering coming from the awakening boy.

They were both startled by the scream that ripped through the fragile body though. Jolting away from each other, they turned to face Kellin. He had an arm clutching his stomach while the other tightened around Vic’s hand.

“It hurts!” he shouted. He moaned in pain, begging for someone to stop the pain. And just like it begun, it had stopped. He laid on the bed, covered in sweat, shaking and breathing heavily.

“Hey, are you ok Kells?” Vic whispered. Kellin nodded, and then chanted I’m sorry repeatedly. “Don’t – don’t apologize. We’ll talk about it later. Right now, we’re going to get the doctor and he’s going to talk to you.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Didn’t plan on it.”

Notes

SORRY IT'S LATE :c BUT HAPPY HOLIDAYS !! MY BDAY IS THIS SATURDAY AYYYYE & I may not update for the next two-three weeks bx i have bdays to celebrate and schoolwork to finish. i'll try though. anyways. i hope this is ok. 2000+ words <3