Chapter 9

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"How are you holding up, Karen?" Jamie asked as he watched Nathan sink a basket.

"I'm alright," she replied with a sigh. "I just feel a little weird, watching a basketball game while Lucas is missing."

"I'm right with you there, Karen, but this is really important to Nathan. We need to gain his trust. Poor boy's wigged out. He must be nervous—he's scored ten baskets in the last three minutes. Wish I could convince him I won't kick his ass if he doesn't score."

"I don't think he'll ever get over his OCD for basketball, Jamie."

"And Ravens are up by 10," they heard Mouth saying. Mouth was more than a little nervous about Lucas' disappearance; Lucas, at times, was the only friend Mouth had. "And Scott scores! He's doing this for his brother tonight! Skillz makes a dunker! Skillz went in for Lucas Roe-Scott tonight. Let's see some more action!"

"You mean his Obsessive Control Disorder? Me neither—Dan's got that too well-drilled in his head. He already thinks I'm going to sock him. I can't believe Keith almost kidnapped him. I thought he was a good guy!" Jamie sighed as he leaned back. "He said 'I'm so sorry, Jamie. I was stupid. I got arrested for drugs. I need you to look over the garage.' Hell, if I'd known that he was abusing Nathan too, I would have—" he broke off his speech.

"Hey, look at it this way," Karen replied with a small smile. "Keith deeded the garage over to you now—he's in prison for twenty years for attempted kidnapping and assault of a minor. Nathan's eye is still pretty bad," she muttered.

"And he'll claim it null and void as soon as he's sober," Jamie replied with a tense sigh. "I think I might have a talk with Nathan—let him know he doesn't need to score a thousand dunks a game to make me happy."

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"Thanks for going to my game," Nathan told Jamie as the man pulled the SUV out of the parking lot.

"You did great tonight, Nathan."

"Not really… I only scored thirty points," Nathan replied, looking nervous. "Dad wants me to score forty a game if I can."

"Dan's not controlling you anymore, Nathan. You worked your ass off—you should be proud of that. You want ice cream?"

"I can have ice cream?" Nathan asked, his face lighting up. He hadn't had ice cream in almost two years. Well, except for the time he'd snuck it at Tim's party. Dan had made him throw it up two hours later, though.

"Of course," Jamie replied, wondering what else Dan had drilled through Nathan's head. No wonder why he wouldn't eat in front of him. He'd have to talk to Peyton. "What kind you like?" he asked, pulling into the store parking lot.

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"Ow!" As Lucas struggled to get up, Dan grabbed his arm, and Lucas attempted to pull away.

"What the hell are you doing, Michael? Dropping from a window?" Even drunk, Dan remembered the imaginary world he'd created and forced Lucas to live in. "Get back inside. You have school tomorrow. I expect you to do well on the basketball team."

When Dan and Lucas were inside, Lucas asked, "What happens if we play against the Ravens?"

Dan's voice grew cold. "You won't have to. I guarantee it. If, for some bizarre reason you do, you will not be playing. Go up to your room, Michael."

Lucas went to sleep, but he had a hard time resting, feeling uneasy about the school day tomorrow.

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THE NEXT DAY
"Let's see… Michael Nathan Royal… you're the new addition, am I correct?" the man asked, leaning back on the bench. Lucas already didn't like the man. "Michael Nathan Royal?"

"Yes." Lucas' voice was firm and he was on the edge of getting angry. He hated being called 'Nathan'. It reminded him all the more of how much control his father had over him.

"Ah, so you're the new kid. Your father showed me your playing averages… Very impressive. So why did you move during the middle of the year?"

"I, um." Lucas frowned. His father had a reason for that too. "My mother died," he whispered softly. "We moved to get away from… the memories." He had hated Dan for that. Dan had told him if he got tired of him mouthing off he'd kill him and his mother and find Nathan, so he'd shut up instantly.

"I'm sorry for your loss." The man leaned back, again. "Shooting guard, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"I think you'll make a nice addition to the team. Stop calling me sir! Makes me feel old. Players call me 'White' or 'Coach.'" He smiled. "Michael."

"Yeah, sir… Coach?"

"I tell this to all my own players—don't worry. But listen, Michael Nathan Royal," he replied, putting to much emphasis on 'Nathan' for Lucas' liking, "You need my help for anything, you let me know, okay?"

Lucas nodded and raced off to his English class before he could be late. He really didn't feel like getting beaten, which Dan informed him would happen unless he flew under the radar. Dan had also told him he'd bribed some of the teachers and the principle, so he couldn't tell anyone. Lucas was sure that with the emphasis the coach put on 'Nathan', the coach already knew the whole story and had been bribed.

He swallowed hard and walked halfheartedly towards his next class, mildly wondering if he'd ever get out of this hell.

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Nathan darted awake in bed, as a sudden thought hit his mind. "Karen!" he shouted, racing to her room. "Karen!"

"What is it, Nathan?" Karen struggled out of bed sleepily, trying not to wake Jamie up. "Are you okay?"

"I just thought of something," Nathan replied, panting. "I think I know where Dan might take Lucas!"