Chapter Two
Justin leads Edward into the high school theater, and watches his onyx eyes widen in surprise. After hours of grueling paperwork, and arguments, the boy's father had signed Edward over to his custody as long as no charges were pressed. Leah waves him over balancing her coffee in one hand, and her four year old daughter on her lap as Leah's husband scolds their seventeen year old twins for being rude. Grinning Justin turns to Edward and says, "You've already met Leah, but the kid is Vivien, and the twins are Scarlett and Clark . Her husband is James Dean McGrath." The boy smiles shyly, timidly hiding behind him, and says quietly, "Hi."
The play begins, and Justin watches in aw as Rhett performs his role with passion surpassing his years. For once, the blond man finds himself relaxing and forgetting about the cases he has. Even the taunting voices in his head are quiet. At the end of the play, Leah and him have tears in their eyes as they stand up applauding the performance. Even Edward is smiling brightly. They make their way backstage, nearly bumping into Lynette who volunteered to help out. Rhett's arms are instantly wrapped around Justin's neck as he hugs the boy, and the boy whispers, "I'm so glad you could make it." Laughing the blond man hands the teen a gift card to his favorite music store and says, "Congrats." Jokingly Leah whispers, "I think someone has an infatuation with you." Tussling Rhett's black hair, he grins at the blush creeping into the boy's tanned face and says, "Maybe. How's my favorite, future star doing?" Rhett beams, happy to have Justin's attention focused on him again, and says, "Great. The show was awesome"
At the restaurant Scarlett and Clark are arguing over who sits next to Vivien while Rhett happily takes the spot on the other side of Justin. Edward quietly glances the menu over feeling like an outsider until Justin says, "Hey, relax. You can get whatever you want." Smiling slightly, Edward nods and begins looking the menu over with more enthusiasm. Watching the blond cop sit down with his partner, the Absolution Giver grins wickedly recognizing the signs of a lost soul trying to find it's way home. Every kill is leading up to the perfect moment for when the killer can save this one man's soul. And the Absolution Giver will save it, it's just a matter of time. For now; though, the killer will just save some more souls so that the skills needed to release the man of his sins will be perfected.
Licking his lips, Rhett watches with fascination as Justin interacts with Edward. The boy's dark eyes are wary, but warming with each word the blond male speaks. For an instant, Rhett is jealous of this young boy that's stealing all of the man's attention away. But when the boy smiles, even if it is small and not very bright, his jealousy seeps away and he grins right back saying, "How old are you, Edward?" The boy glances at Justin who nods curtly and says, "Twelve." The two boys begin talking rapidly as they wait for their food, fast becoming friends.
It was easy to find him, only a little harder to follow him home, and simple enough to get him to let the Absolution Giver inside. It's so much quicker and easier if they let you in. The man's features, that had once been handsome, are rugged with time and alcohol. His blurry eyes which could have been sparkling sapphires barely focus on the killer. Unlike the others, this man stopped cutting only to pick up another addiction. The others had stopped cutting because their lives were finally going somewhere good. The man gazes at the killer with hungry eyes, begging for the alcohol promised to him, but the Absolution Giver only sees the man's lust for release from his sins.
Leading the drunken man to the bedroom, the killer smiles softly at the ease of which the man falls onto the bed ready for a sexual reward. The Absolution Giver shakes it's head slightly, the smile widening on it's face, and says, "I'm here to save you." With practiced ease, the killer ties the man's wrist to the headboard then slithers down the drunk's body to anchor his ankles to the bed. Now, with his legs spread wide and his arms tied above his head, the man looks perfect. Submissive, slightly frightened, and waiting to be saved. Hungrily the Absolution Giver impales it's body onto the man, riding him until their both on the brink of ecstasy. Finally, the killer slips off before completion can leave the man satisfied. Aching with need, the drunk whimpers and strains against his bonds.
His blurry eyes clear; though, when the killer pulls a knife out and studies it with worshiping eyes. Desperately the man struggles against the ties around his ankles and wrist, his movements becoming more frantic as the knife moves closer to his flesh. The man had known both the pain and pleasure that comes from sharp objects slicing into his flesh, but this person isn't out to release him of his pain. The person is here to kill him. The knife cuts open the man's thigh, then scratches his chest like sharp nails of a lover, and finally the blade slits open his wrist in the vertical fashion. As blood flows from his body, and he becomes weaker the man's aware of his killer remounting his wilting erection. The killer rides him until the pain evaporates leaving him surrounded in pleasure for his final moments.
Staring at the dead man in pleasure, the Absolution Giver smiles softly and laughs quietly. Walking out of the apartment with a trench coat covering the blood on it's form, the killer keeps it's pace normal and relaxed. Anyone seeing the killer would just think the person is taking a stroll, enjoying the slight chill in the air that makes the weather enjoyable. Perhaps later, the killer will enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with one of the people that the Absolution Giver saw today. For now; though, the killer has a family to attend to.
"Mama, can I spend the night at Justin's?" The blond man shrugs helplessly when his partner gazes at him with questioning eyes. Sighing Leah nods, and says, "But you better behave yourself." "I will mom, you act like I've never spent the night anywhere," Rhett says, a quick roll of his eyes signaling his annoyance of being treated like a three year old, and laughing he turns his attention back to Edward. "Were your parents obsessed with the movie Gone With The Wind, or something?" Justin chuckles at Edward's bold question as Rhett smiles brightly and answers, "No, just my mom. Dad didn't get a choice in our names." Relaxing Justin turns into his driveway, and gazes at the modest house with a proud smile. "This is home," he says gazing at Edward, and the boy nods trying not to look disappointed in how small it is. "So, why the name Edward? It seems awfully plain for your exotic looks," Rhett asks, and smiling slightly the boy says, "Mother choose my name. She said I got all my looks from daddy, so she had to give me something of hers." Speaking of his father brings back memories of the man's deeply tanned features, quick black eyes, and thick black hair. Mama told him once that they had nearly been shunned at one time because of the war since his father was an Easterner.
Despite the fact that the house is only two stories compared to the mansion Edward use to live in, the inside is much warmer and has personality rather than the perfection of a decorator's touch. He can see the man's blue eyes in the color of the living room walls, his comforting presence in the plush couches, and the complexity of his soul in the various books, movies, and cds that line the wall beside the television. Every room in his former home had been inspired by the latest fashions, and had been created by a hired hand. Pictures of Justin with his mother, friends, and possibly former flames decorate the walls and table tops. In this place, Edward feels a security that he had never imagined was possible.
Nervously Rhett tries to watch the movie, but with Edward on one side of him and Justin on the other it's hard to concentrate. As the killer emerges on the screen, he braces himself praying that for once he wont scream like a little girl. Why did I let Edward pick out the movie? I should have known he'd go for a scary one. When he dares a quick glance at Justin, he finds that the man's eyes are distant. He recalls hearing his mother ask why Justin owned so many scary movies and psychological thrillers, and he had answered that he likes how the bad guy always gets caught. Even if it takes a few movies, the killer always gets captured.
Pacing the living room, Danielle keeps throwing glances at her brother. "What do you mean that you didn't know he was a cop? Everyone knows that Justin is one of the best damn cops around," she says, unaware that even though her tone is accusing the level of her voice is still normal, and she stills long enough to fix an uneven photo that had been bothering her since she walked into his apartment. "I just didn't know, alright. God, Danielle, I just moved back here because I couldn't get work anywhere else. How was I suppose to know that he became a cop with amazing looks?" His eyes darken as it registers that he had let his secret slip. "So, you did notice him?" It's on the tip of Andrew's tongue to say How could I not, he's still hot, but instead he replies, "You were talking to him right in front of me, so yeah I kinda did see him."
Shaking her head slightly as to not disturb her perfectly straight hair, Danielle fights the urge to do something so childish as to roll her eyes and says, "Perhaps we should invite him to dinner. I've been dieing to ask him about his opinion on the dress I should wear." "Like he really cares," Andrew mutters, but his sister ignores his comment. Frowning at the frayed ends on his drapes, Danielle says, "Justin knows what looks good on a woman." "What happened to you? I swear I'm talking to mom. Will you leave my damn drapes alone?" She looks at him, slightly startled at his out burst, then realizes that she had pulled out her mini sewing kit, exact replica of the one her mother owned, and had begun trying to salvage the drapes. "I'm sorry that I feel your home should look nice," she says sternly, and once again her brother rolls his hazels heavenward. "Is Justin still the same?"
Trying to hide the sadness his question stirs in her, Danielle waits till she knows she'll sound casual and normal until she speaks. "In some ways, yes, but in others he's changed a lot. I happened to become friends with him because of Chris. I accidentally stumbled into his hospital room, and there was Chris talking to him trying to figure out why he did something so stupid. We all just sort of became friends after that." Andrew finds himself wanting to demand why Justin was in the hospital at all, and what could he have done that would be so stupid, but he doesn't because he feels as if he'd be asking his own mother about his ex. This Danielle is nothing like the one he use to tease and joke around with.
Curling up with Rhett in the guest room on the bed, Edward tries to chase the darkness away with his mind. Giving up on that idea, he clings tighter to the older boy only slightly fearful that he'd wake up and be mad. Daddy can't get me here, I'm safe here. Panicking he sits up at the sound of footsteps creeping closer, and when the door opens a crack he nearly screams. Tears begin forming in his eyes as he sees the figure of a shadowy man. His whimpers awaken Rhett, and the teen begins stroking his hair whispering, "It's alright, it's just Justin. He always checks on anyone staying here right before he goes to bed." The light flashes on, and indeed it is Justin standing in the doorway with a ready smile and remorseful eyes. "Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you two were okay," Justin says, and smiling slightly Edward nods relaxing into the arms that hold him against the older boy. "Do you want me to leave the hall light on, and your door open partially?" Nodding Edward lays back down, desperate to calm his erratic breathing, and watches cautiously as Justin leaves. "Justin wont let anyone hurt us," Rhett says, his strong voice calming him instantly, and soon his eyes give way to sleep.
Laying in his bed, Justin tries to shake the familiar feelings of guilt and fear that harbor in his soul. He can still hear his father's voice and smell his cologne mixed with whichever alcohol was on his breath. Drunken kisses had been placed all over his face, often bruising his lips, and rough hands had stroked his body bringing unwanted pleasure and pain. Maybe I did deserve it, maybe daddy was right and that it was something special. Did I taint something that was pure? No, the doctors and grown ups said it was wrong. Why would they lie to me, they had no reason to? What if they just didn't like daddy and wanted him gone, though? But daddy never had to leave, it was too late. Despite the brave act Justin put on in front of Edward, his own fears and doubts had never been satisfied and stifled. Logically he knows what his dad had done to him was wrong, but emotionally he wants to believe that his dad would never hurt him and that it had been something special. The idea to use the blade again is tempting, but he pushes the need to the back of his mind instead bringing to focus his thoughts on who the killer might be.
A/N- For those who have never seen Gone With The Wind, the two main characters are Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler played by Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.