Chapter 6
As Wyatt came into the room, his heart broke. He never in his life saw such a view. His son was covered in bandages and there wasn't a place without a bruise. He came to the bed and started stroking Chris' face and hair. He was glad that the skin was warm and he felt him breathing. It made him alive, because the moment the father came into the room and saw his son he thought that Chris was dead, so pale he was. Then he took a chair and pulled it to the bed and sat down. Wyatt spent an hour watching his son sleep, constantly checking his vitals on the monitor.
When he heard a soft knocking on the door he got up and opened it. There were two people he guessed the police.
"Mr. Halliwell, I'm Detective Burns and this is my partner Detective Whiter." One of them said. It was a man in his middle forties in a good shape and in grey suit. "We are called by your son's principal, to school and there right now CSU working. And also we got the information about your son's sexual abuse from a doctor. And we want to ask you a few questions. Is it okay with you?"
"Yes, let's get onto the room. I don't want strangers listening to this." Wyatt replied, opening the door and letting detectives come in. As they all took places, he noticed how both policemen looked at his son. Their face was full of pity and sorrow.
"Mr. Halliwell, how long do you think it was going on and how long do you know?" Detective Whiter questioned.
"I didn't know about what was going on till this morning. I noticed how Chris winced reaching for the cup and then how he was scared when Sam came into house to pick up my children."
"Sam what?" Detective Burns wondered.
"Samuel Parkinson. He is at the same year as my eldest children. I went and looked through Chris' things and found his diary, where I read about the abuse. It was going on for almost two years. The first year he was only under physical abuse." As the father was speaking his voice became strained and new tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. "And about a year ago it changed to the sexual."
"That's why you came to school to pick him up?" interrogated Detective Whiter.
"After reading his diary, Paula and Ryan came home without him and said that Samuel stayed at school as well. And I panicked and went to school with them. And the rest I think you know." Wyatt didn't like the questioning but he understood it was necessary.
"What is your relation with your son?" Detective Whiter continued.
"What does it have anything to do with this?"
"Answer the question Mr. Halliwell."
"He is my son and I love him. And I blame myself that I didn't see it earlier."
"Teacher at school said that you never even once came to Chris' parents' night or any other event for that matter. They said he always looks tired and almost never has his homework. And they also notified the Child Service of your neglect. And if it's true, you are going to lose the parental rights over Christopher." They observed Wyatt reaction, how he fisted his hands, how he paled and how his breathing changed. "Are these accusations correct?"
"My relations with Chris are complicated. And yes, I neglected him because my mind tried to find somebody at fault of my wife's death and it chose Chris as he was with her at that moment. But for the past year I tried to reach my son and rebuild what I destroyed. And I tell you, that I'm going to do everything in my power to do so. And I won't let the Child Service to take away my chance. I will fight for my son. And now I would like you to take your leave." Wyatt stood up and opened the door. The policemen exchanged glances but left the room.
The father took a deep breath. He knew that from now on he would be looked over and he was certain not to give them the rights to take his found-again son from him. He opened the bag that he noticed just now and looked through it content and found the diary. He didn't know he brought it with him, so he started reading the book from the moment he stopped. Several entries were as horrifying as the previous ones. But then he reached the one in which Chris attempted to do the most awful thing the father could think of, take his own life.
30th March 2038
It's a month since it happened for the first time. Now I don't care what will happen to me. Why would I, anyway? Nobody does. Today father said he's going to go to work and it's Saturday. Paula and Ryan will be busy with their homework, so it will be a perfect time. I cooked breakfast today, I know that they didn't notice that I was limping for the past several days, after the last time I was with Him. He was brutal. He made me watch movies where they were hurting the girl the same way he did with me. And he laughed at it, he enjoyed it. I was ready to throw up. That day I decided it's time to end it all. I'm ready to pay whatever price I have just to escape the pain.
I got everything prepared, I got sleeping pills. I hid it, the only thing I need to do is to wait when they all are too busy and not care about me.
(Continuation)
I tried to do it. And I almost succeeded if not for Him. He came to babysit me, because Paula had an emergency meeting with her friend and Ryan was called by the father at his workplace. So they called Him. And he came right before I was lost. He brought me back and He never hurt me this way before. He was using me for three hours and then beat me for the other hour. And when he was ready to leave he said if I try to do it again I will pay even more dearly.
Father, sister and brother haven't noticed that I was sick the whole evening. I know they probably are thinking that I deserve it all. And that's why they always call him. They know what he's doing, I just hope it isn't under their order. But I can't be sure.
Wyatt clenched his eyes. How could they be so blind? They called Samuel because they thought he was good to Chris and he could take care of him and protect him. The person his eldest children trusted with something so precious for them in reality ruined him and took every possible way to get that his way.
He remembered that day. Chris indeed was sick the whole evening but he said to Paula that it was just a stomach bug. The head of the Halliwell family recognized worry in his daughter eyes, but let it slip. But now he didn't know how to react to all of it. His son thought that he intentionally let him be hurt in the most awful way existing. He had to find a way to bring Chris to safety with them and he had to earn his son's trust back. Otherwise he wasn't sure if he could ever forgive himself for his blindness.
Wyatt raised his eyes and glanced at the watch, it showed half past ten. Then he heard the sharp breath in and saw how his son's eyes flattered opened. For a moment he closed his eyes and then slowly started to open them again. The father reached the bed in mere seconds and considered his son's face carefully, then stroked his hair.
"Chris?" Wyatt whispered. "Chris, buddy, open your eyes. Don't worry everything ok. He's not going to get you again." At that Chris finally opened his eyes and looked at his father. His expression changed as he understood where he was, the fear crossed his face. "Chris, that's ok. I'm here now. Sam never is going to even come close to you."
"You don't know him." The teenager said barely above the whisper. "If he wants something, he gets it." A tear slipped down his face. The terror of his son disturbed the father and he did only one thing he thought he could at the moment. He leaned and kissed his forehead and took away the tear.
