I really don't need to be starting new stories. ^^;; But this one has been on my computer for months, so I thought I'd post it and see what kind of response I get. Anybody want to see more?
Arthur gropes in the darkness for the phone that has dragged him out of sleep, pressing buttons angrily as he shoves it against his ear. "What the bloody hell do you want this time, Alfred?"
Instead of the expected American response, a woman's soft voice asks, "Is this Mr. Arthur Kirkland?"
Arthur stops for a moment, thrown off balance. "Er… y-yes. Speaking."
"Sir, our records show that you are the step father of Matthew Williams—correct?"
He pauses and stutters out, "Yes."
"Mr. Kirkland, we have your son here in the emergency room. He's in very critical condition."
He blinks into the darkness and sits up in bed, glancing at the neon display of the clock. "Matt? You have... Matt there?"
"Yes. He's been here for over an hour, but we couldn't find any contact information."
"He's not—what happened? Is he alright?" Arthur swings his feet onto the floor and stands shakily, reaching for the lamp on the bedside table. The yellow light that washes out doesn't do much to dispel the shadows.
"I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to give out that information over the phone. I know it's very early, but is it possible for you to come down here?"
"His… father" –Britain stumbles a little on the word—"might be able to. Have you tried calling him?"
"Several times. We couldn't get through."
"Fuck. Okay." He rubs one side of his face and mutters, "I'll be there… in a few minutes. Tell Matt to hold on."
She gives him the address of the hospital, located right smack in the middle of Nowhere, Canada, and the Englishman scribbles it down on a dirty yellow legal pad he keeps by the bed in case of emergency. The pen keeps dying in the middle of words. Arthur wonders why it hasn't occurred to him to throw it out before.
