Chapter Two
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Liam closed his eyes, and immediately, his mind was brought somewhere his body could never be. A paradise no one else could see. Physically, he felt the uneven earth he was sitting on. He felt the cold wall which sheltered him from the sun. The very same damaged wall also divided him from his own home on the other side. It, too, was part of a house before it was torn down into nothing but wreckage. Liam hid behind that weak wall which couldn’t possibly protect anyone from any sort of thing. And he heard nothing. Silence. Something he was not used to. The eerie silence tortured his mind, it loathed his being. His way to cope was to daydream in the silence. The only voice that could return him to himself. Back when he felt what he could feel.
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The rough voice sounded through the air so vividly beside his ear. Shouting what he wished were sweet nothings and yet he could not control his own make-believe. He could not control that unbridled, boisterous voice. That person that he longed to belong to.
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“Hey, where’s Liam?” Elijah asked irritably, chewing on a piece of candy wrapper.
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They were walking home from school. Well, not home. He never goes straight home for he is in constant guard of what awaits him there.
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Wyatt gave an exasperated sigh, rubbing his forehead and scrunching his eyebrows.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzhU7iGxHl
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“I told you over and over again. How am I supposed to know? He ran after the school bell rang. You saw him, too, right, Nico?” He sighed.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5jayGmff5
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“As fast as lightning, he was.” Nico acquiesced. 49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pTYglfcYz
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“It was impossible to go after him.” Wyatt said, looking at the ground. “Nico, did you get the Nintendo DSi?” he asked, suddenly stopping.
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“No. My mom won’t let me.”
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“If Mrs. Garcia won’t let you, what can you do? I have two, though, I can give you one.”
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The two drifted off to entirely different topics: from Nintendo to having sisters as they came closer to their homes. But Eli’s brows were knit together, his eyes focused on the road in front of him and the sounds surrounding him became nothing but echoes, so distant until a singular voice brought him down, calling his name. He stopped and so did his companions, looking over at him, wearing vexed expressions.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKLSCANNRB
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“Elijah? What’s up?” Wyatt called out, putting his hand on Eli’s shoulder.
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Elijah didn’t speak, but he looked ahead. He turned around, “I’m going back.” he stated, more to himself than to his friends.
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“Where?” Wyatt followed after him, dragging the unwilling Nico along.
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“The school.” He answered blandly.
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“No, he’s not,” Nico observed nonchalantly.
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“No, you’re not. What the hell, Eli? I told you, you need to leave the kid alone.” Wyatt grabbed Elijah and turned him to face him.
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“Leave who?? I said I was going back to school.” Elijah scoffed in arrogance.
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Wyatt sighed, the 10th sigh in the 40 minutes he’d been talking with Elijah, “Eli, I’m not stupid. For Christ’s sake, just come with us.”
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“Fuck, didn’t I say I’m going back to school? Are you deaf?” Elijah shoved Wyatt’s arms off of him.
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“I’m not fucking deaf, Eli, I’m your friend, Jesus! What’s wrong with you?? I’m so tired of this.” He rubbed his forehead, exasperated.
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“Then get the hell home! If you’re so tired then stop monitoring everything I do!” Elijah shouted.
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Nico just stood to the side, not knowing whether to leave, intervene, or… do something, anything. Wyatt furrowed his brows and spat on the ground, finally lifting his gaze, glaring daggers at Elijah.
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“You don’t know how to recognise the people you have until they’re gone, Eli. You won’t find him there. Come on , Nico.” Wyatt turned to Nico and grabbed his arms forcibly.
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But before he could turn, he froze in his tracks. Nico stopped.
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“Nico? Let’s go, man, what the hell?” Wyatt turned around.
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“Uhhhh…” Nico helplessly looked at Wyatt.
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Elijah held Nico’s other arm tightly and refused to let go, his expression foreboding and clearly irritated.
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“I won’t find him there?? You know where he is.” he tightened his grip, “Where the fuck is he?”
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Nico started to look from Wyatt to Elijah. He felt the tension and was crushed between them by the atmosphere. He started to think he was going to get beat up. Whether he chooses Wyatt’s side or Elijah’s. He’ll get beat up, he knows he is. Say goodbye to the Nintendo DSi. With every breath, he felt Elijah’s grip tightening and he noticed Wyatt and Elijah’s glare become more intense. He couldn’t choose, he had to choose. Which one can he escape? To him, Elijah is some strong, homicidal, psychotic, 5 foot and 11 inch person and Wyatt is a person who offered to give him a Nintendo DSi... It was obvious.
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“Ah! He’s at the ruins!” Nico shouted, closing his eyes as if he was scared to see what would happen. Instantly, he felt relief from his arm. The pressure was released. He sighed and looked at Wyatt who was glaring at him.
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“Nico, you are so fucked.” Wyatt warned.
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“What?” He innocently groaned, “He was going to kill me.” Nico complained, massaging his wrists.
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Elijah left without a word. Wyatt only watched as his friend’s back slowly disappeared and sighed. That makes it 11 times.
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—
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Pastors and ministers always say, “There’s always a reason for everything. God has it all planned.” And as life unfolds into a much bigger picture as we all grow older and more pessimistic than realistic about life, we slowly start questioning God. What about the children who suffer from violence? What about the children who are abandoned by so-called Parents to whom God bestowed responsibility? In some cases, they may grow old to tell their life stories and inspire other children to speak up. And in most cases, they may die of drug overdose, suicide, gang violence, murder, and such. And the children who will die will listen to those same children who survived, sharing their stories and hope, and they will picture themselves all alone, with no hope of ever getting out of the hell they’re in.
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Liam opened his eyes. There was a shadow blocking the sun from gnawing at his sensitive skin. As his eyes opened, his brows furrowed, adjusting to the glaring light. The sun illuminated the cause of the shadow from behind, making them seem like an angel. For a moment, he was blinded by the light before he shielded himself by putting his hands to his forehead.
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“Liam,” came a sweet voice.
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The person standing in front of him stretched out their hands, “It’s hot out here, why don’t you come home?”
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Liam squinted and took their hands, “You’re home early, mom.”
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“I always come home at this time. Did the school let you go home early?” Ms. Harrod dusted the dry soil off of Liam’s pants as they walked home together.
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“I can do it myself, Mom.” he hurriedly brushed off the dirt, “And, yeah, I guess they did.”
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Ms. Harrod flashed a satisfied smile. This was one of those smiles that are uncalled for. Just out of nowhere. Perhaps it’s something mothers do, perhaps not. Liam tried to smile back. As they walked closer to their backyard, a shuffle came from behind them. Ms. Harrod turned and let out a small gasp in surprise. In response, Liam also turned. At this sight, his eyes instantly shrunk and the shadow came again. Even though his skin was hot enough, he felt his face get hotter.
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“Your friend, Liam?” Ms. Harrod asked.
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Liam looked ahead at the person. Without thinking, he said, “He is.”
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Ms. Harrod’s smile widened as she pushed her son a little bit toward this boy that she had not seen before. She was worried about the company her son keeps, with all the skipping-school and all. But the boy looked as if he harboured no malice.
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“Go on, then,” she said teasingly, “ask him to have dinner with us.”
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Liam hesitated. He looked back at his mother whose smile was brighter than his future and walked toward his ‘friend.’ Ms. Harrod stayed behind, watching as the boy kindly smiled at Liam. They talked for a bit but she couldn’t hear what was said.
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“Liam!” she called out, “Are you coming?”
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“Mhm!” Liam answered and ran back to her, the boy following behind him in big strides.
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He motioned to his mom, then to the boy, “Mom, this is Elijah. Eli, this is my mom.”
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“Good afternoon,” Elijah flashed a smile, “Mrs..?”
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“Ah, no, it’s only ‘Ms.’” Ms. Harrod smiled and held out her hand to shake Eli’s.
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“Then,” Eli chuckled, taking her hands, “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Harrod.”
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“Oh, how fancy!” Ms. Harrod giggled, “Why don’t you stay over, too? Liam never introduces me to his friends. Oh, but maybe I got too excited,then I’m sorry. Are you going home? You can stay, you know, for as long as you like. Just, of course, if you like. Oh, but I might not be home; I usually stay two days at my workplace once a week, are you fine with that? But, don’t you have to get clothes? You can borrow clothes from Liam, you know? It might be a little tight since you are such a tall boy! My! What do you eat for dinner, young man? Oh, my, I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
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“No, not at all.” Eli flashed a smile, “There’s a nearby discount store, I’m not picky with clothes. Perhaps Liam and I could take a walk together later?”
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Chapter Two49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUohJPzGhxT
End49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCSx2q0ywU
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