Blaze sighed as his father led him to the under cellar of the house he lived in, his left check bearing the scar from being hit for making too much racket. "So, you got me something?" he asked curiously.
His father smiled, though it was a rather creepy one. "Yes... but if you tell anyone, I will kill you and her, understand?"
Blaze nodded, pushing down his feelings of fury. "Yes dad, I understand. Entering the damp room which was lightly lit by the sky lamp, his father smiled. "Well, what do you think of her?"
Blaze had to stifle a gag. Good job idiot! You tell mom you want a girl friend and dad just kidnaps some poor girl off the streets and cages her up. "She's cute." he replied, managing to hide his disdain well.
"Well, me an mom are going to have an overnight date. I trust you know the combination, right?" Blaze nodded, watching as his father left the room. He glanced at the cage before unlocking it with a key.
"Don... don't hurt me... please..." she whimpered.
Blaze sighed. "I'm not my father," he promised gently, before noticing a rather nasty scratch on her cheek. "Wait here," He whispered, before leaving the room and grabbing some treatment items. "Please allow me to treat your injuries," he asked gently when he returned.
She shuttered. "I... well I have a scratch on my back and leg... I'm probably going to need a change of clothes," she then gazed up, her face holding fear. Blaze nodded again, before rushing to his room and getting out a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt which would fit her. He then came back in. "You'll need to get undressed before I can properly treat the scratch on your back," he informed her.
As she did so, Blaze folded her clothes gently before putting them on the table. "Your stocking is ruined beyond repair but maybe mom can wash your shirt and skirt. We'll have to find a solution about future clothes, though." Unless I can find a way to get her out for both of us. She's safe for now, so there is no rush unless father gets violent.
She seemed a bit taken back by this, but he just wordlessly began treating her injuries, ignoring the tiny squeaks of pain she let out. Only when she was done did she hand her the clothes he'd gotten for her.
"Hm... they fit well." he remarked, before grabbing two chairs, indicating she should sit in one. However, at this point she seemed to gain some of her former gusto, "No... no no no, get me out of here," she cried. Blaze sighed before realizing he owed her an explanation. "Listen, see this cut on my cheek?" he asked and she nodded. "Father's abusive to me. I've tried to tell on him, but he deceived them into thinking I had a kind of mental disorder. As a result, he can abuse me in almost anyway he likes." Blaze then paused to let that sink in for a moment.
"So how about I propose a deal. I want out. It's obvious you want out. So what we need to do is play father's game until we know it's safe for us to come out. Otherwise, we may not be able to make it out."
"Couldn't we get out now?" she asked. He shook his head. "He locks the doors so even I can't get out of the house. And since he inspects my room, I can't really make a way for us to climb out of the upper windows. The lower ones are locked."
"Oh... okay then." She looked on the verge of tears, and Blaze couldn't help but sympathize with her. He simply gazed at her gently. "Look, I'm going to get you out. Just hang on a week, okay?"
She nodded. "I... I'll try," she whispered. She then yawned.
"Do you want some privacy" Blaze asked, but she shook her head. I... I'd rather not be alone right now," she admitted.
"Okay, can't say I'd blame you," he considerate, before making the bed in her cage. "I'll be right here should you need me." he added.
Only when his father came home did he wake her up. "I have to go to bed now. Father will bring you some food, alright?" Only when she nodded did he placed the chain around her foot. "Hate doing this, but father will kill us if we don't." He then bowed slightly before taking his leave.
Shino let out a small sigh, scrunching her legs together and tugging at the chain experimentally. Can... can... can I trust him? She asked herself, before the robber handed her a plate and water bottle. "I'll collect it in about thirty minuets.
She managed to thank him before eating, though the food was bland. She had some cheese, bread, a hot dog, and a pickle. Not much, but it was enough to quell her hunger. She ate ravenously, before gulping down her water. She then slipped the plate and water bottle through the bars and waited.
To her surprise, it was not the robber who came in but that son of his. "Father granted me an hour to spend with out," he replied before sitting down.
What can I say? What should I say? Shino's ten year old mind was not meant for this, then again no one was. She decided to play it safe. "I could use some company," she replied, before sighing. As he sat down, she realized something. "May I ask a question?"
"As long as it doesn't involve escape or my dad, yeah." he allowed.
"I... I didn't get your name." She managed.
"Blaze." He then sighed. "I need to know yours now."
"Shino."
"Asada?"
Shino glanced at him in surprise. "How's you know?"
"Amber alert. Would have, but can't."
Wait... there's an amber alert for me? And what had he meant by would have but can't? Only then did it dawn on her. Of course! He'd be calling me in the moment his father left except the legal system failed him! But shouldn't his father be on the hot list by now? She was about to ask but then remembered he had specifically asked her not to talk about him.
"So... what exactly do you expect of me?" She asked.
He glanced at her warily. "It'd be best to ask if you can ask a question before asking it," he whispered hurriedly. "Just in case he's," He cut of for a brief second. "But I'd expect you to be my friend, for one thing."
"If I may ask?" she began, continuing at his nod, "Do you mean friend friend, or girl friend?"
"Between you and me... friend. In front of grandfather, it'd be best to act as girl friend." He paused before continuing. "There is one thing I'd like you to promise me."
"Which is?" Shino asked.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to continue being your friend once we escape."
Shino nodded eagerly. "Certainly," she replied before stifling a yawn.
Blaze gave her a friendly smile. "You should rest." he continued, before carrying her plate and water bottle out. As she laid down, closing her amber eyes, she let out a sigh of relief. I don't know why, but this Blaze... I think I can trust him, she told herself, before falling into the ravages of sleep.
Blaze began to appoach his father. "I have a breif question," He began tenitivly.
"Yes, what is it son?" He asked, counting the money.
"Well, what's going to happen to the girl while we are away on the trip?"
"Simple. Nobuyukki will care for her."
Blaze felt a sudden wave of fear spread through him. He know what kind of man Nobuyukki was. "Thank you father. I'm glad she won't be alone next weak." He then walked to his room, and laid down for the night. Two days to plan an escape, which means we must escape tomorrow. But how?
By the next morning, he knew what he wanted to do. It was risky, but he had no choice. He took his pocket knife and went into his father's room. Seeing his father working on the computer, he suddenly charged, catching his father unawares. Smiling gently, he managed to take the larger man down, slicing his neck with the blade while holding his mouth to prevent any sound from going out. He then placed the knife gently in his father's hand, his papa glitching it in pain, before falling down to the ground.
Call me mental, I don't care. Now to get Shino out of here, he thought, going onto phase two. Since his mother was out grocery shopping, and wouldn't be back for a few hours, he had time. He grabbed the disable key, and the key to her door and chain, before running down to the basement, unlocking it in a hurry. "We're getting out of here," he informed her simply.
Shino let out a gasp in surprise. "Isn't it too early?" She asked suddenly. Blaze let out a nod. "Yes, but Noboyukki is coming to watch over you tomorrow... and... and..." He couldn't continue. "Okay, I hope you have a plan," she whispered.
What was Nobuyukki going to do with me? She thought as she undid her chain, before taking her hand. "Can you run?" He asked.
"Yes, let's just get going." Blaze nodded and continued onward, Shino following quickly. Once she saw his plan, she glanced questioningly at him. "Is this... wise?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"It's all we have," He replied sadly. "We're out of time." Shino got frightened at this, but simply shrugged it off. Once he opened the door, he bolted, motioning for her to follow.
Unannounced to him, the bank robber began to stir, making an awful gurgling sound. The pain... what happened, He asked, before realizing he was holding onto the knife. He frowned, realizing he was dying, and that either his own son or the girl must have jumped him. Well, let's see how he likes this! He thought, before grabbing some thermite and attempting to light it. However, the explosive failed to ignite, and he died holding the thermite in his hands.
By the time Shino and Blaze had made it to the police station, she was getting tired. "Well, we made it," she replied breathlessly.
Blaze flashed her a smile. "Let's go in," he replied simply, holding the door for her. Returning the smile, she held the door for him, and the two went up to the front desk.
"Hello, how may I..." The clerk began, before gasping. "Where did you find her?" He demanded, glancing at Blaze.
Instead of answering right away, Blaze simply let out a sigh. "If you'd believed me when I first reported father, then neither the bank incident nor the kidnapping," he finally replied before slumping down in a nearby seat, collapsing from tiredness.
"His father was the one who robbed the bank, and kidnapped me. Blaze here helped me escape, who knows where I'd be today if it where not for him," She added quietly.
The officer nodded. "Alright, so we just have to arrest his father and..."
Blaze woke up just then. "Mother was in on it as well." He replied. The officer glanced at him. Are you sure?"
When Blaze nodded, Shino felt a strong feeling of sorrow pierce her heart. "Poor Blaze," she whispered, trying to imagine what he must be going through. "So what's going to happen to him?" she asked.
The officer, who's name was mark, let out a sigh. "Well, most likely he'd be put in foster care, but I've been looking for a child for me and my wife for a while now. I'll see if I can adopt him." He informed her."
Shino nodded. "Can you help us stay in contact?" she requested.
Mark nodded. "Certainly." He then glanced at Shino. "There's something you should know... your grandfather has custody of you."
"He killed my mom, didn;t he?" Shino asked, sobbing lightly as he nodded. "I'm sorry," he added gently. Blaze woke up and wrapped himself gently around her, letting her cry into his chest.
One week later:
Blaze and Shino where in the meeting office, waiting to hear the report on the case. Thankfully, they had been allowed to remain friends, and Mark had been given fully custody of Blaze, so it seemed as though everything would end well.
"To be honest I'm a bit nervous," Shino whispered. Blaze nodded, curious. "Anyone would be," he whispered back. I just hope they don't discover it was me who killed my father, he added. Although he did feel bad about it, he didn't seem to go through any visible depression. Sure, there was depression, after all he just killed a man for cripes sake, but he was good at hiding it. Usually involving some sort of studying, old computer strategy or simulation game. Basically, he was using distraction to deal with coping. He'd also be seeing Shino every Saturday and during most school days, which helped him a lot.
"Thank you for coming," a PI by the name of Rega remarked, sitting down. "I'll make this brief. When we found Blaze's father, he had a stab wound in the neck, and some powdery substance we later identified as anthrax, though it was marked in a container labeled Thermite.
"So he tried to burn down the house?" Blaze asked, shocked.
The PI nodded. We've also found ample evidence against your father and mother regarding Shino's kidnapping and the abuses you suffered. As for your father's other crimes, we've linked him to at least twelve bank robbery, and more seem to be on the way."
"Also, we've discovered something else. Apparently, a guy by the name of Sugou Noboyukki was going to watch over Shino while Blaze and his parents where on vacation. After furthering investigation, he's also been arrested.
"And what of my mental condition?" Blaze asked.
"Stricken from the record. No one will ever know you where suspected of being mentally ill."
Blaze smiled and waited through the rest of the hearing, eager to get on with his life. Little did he know this would not be the last life or death situation he and Shino would be through together.
I'd like to thank all of you who have read this story, and encourage you to leave a review if you notice a spelling error, or if you have something to say. (Irregardless if it's a simple good job, a piece of advice, or an inconsistency.) Reviews are helpful, as they not only give me encouragement, but also show me where my weakness lie. Also, if you like this story or are interested in reading the next chapter, feel free to favorite and follow, if you'd like.
