OK, Chapter 10, again, this one is being uploaded rather quickly in comparison to what I'd expect from me. Also, more reviews, again thanks, I guess.

Anyways, I don't own this and all that.

Chapter 10

"How you holding up?" Damien asked, mere moments after Lucas had left the room.

"I'm doing good o'l chap, what have I missed at school?" I asked, I didn't want to get straight to my problem, I wanted to see if Damien had anything suspicious about him, I wanted to believe that he was in no way related to what was happening.

"Well, not much, that Gluttonous Asshole has still been trying to get me into his group.. I declined, oh, and some shaky blond asked if you were ok-"

"Tweek?"

"I think so, that guy who beat the shit out of you was near him by the way, seems like a bit of a dick, didn't even answer when I asked him why he did beat you, fucker just gave me the finger! Anyway, who was the twitchy guy, Tweek?"

"Oh, just someone who would talk to me from time to time, no one really important."

"Wow... you really need to get some new friends you know, so far I've counted two including myself, that is if that Kenny guy is actually your friend. That Tweek guy was actually worried for you and your response is that he is 'no one important' god I need to hook you up with some people or something." He said, it was true, unbelievably so and it was even worse to hear it coming from someone else, even if what he said wasn't entirely true, Kenneth wasn't my friend, Damien was the only person who I would actually consider a friend. I wasn't sad about not having many friends, even if he tried to get me some new ones, they would probably avoid or attack me, it was as if I was some sort of magnet, I attracted those who wanted to harm me and pushed away anyone who wanted to help me, Damien and a select few others were the only anomalies.

"I guess I do need some more, but almost everyone hates me so there's no point" I replied before getting up and moving too look out of the window.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Damien questions, moving to my side and looking out of the window as well. I saw that the silver van was still there; as was the man inside but unlike my other ventures he was awake… and looking back at me. He only looked for a second before averting his gaze but he had indeed stared at me. 'Why would he be watching me if Damien is already here… maybe Damien is indeed innocent.'

"Wonderful view of the snow isn't it" Damien said sarcastically.

"You get used to it quickly." I replied quietly.

"Obviously, it's everywhere... Are you sure you are ok, you seem very tired, did you even sleep?"

'Should I tell him about the man in the silver van… no, I don't want him to be sucked into this.'

"No, I didn't, I really should have but my arm has really been hurting and it kept me up, although the pain has dampened a bit so I should be on the road to recovery." I lied, he seemed to believe that lie also, I wondered how many lies I would have to tell if this problem persisted.

"You should really get some more rest, anyway, I'm not going to tell you what to do…" he trailed off before continuing "ok, Phillip, ok, I was wondering…"

"Yes Damien"

"A few days ago I saw you staring up at me from my window… why were you?" he said, I saw that he was displaying an emotion I hadn't seen on him before, worry, Damien was worried about why I was looking at him through his window. The same Damien who had protected me from Craig was scared by something as mundane as that?

"I just saw there was a new person in town and was curious, why?"

Damien looked at me clean in the eyes for five seconds straight, the worry had disintegrated into a strong glare as he studied my eyes with a ferocious intent that I had never seen on a person before. he stood silent, just studying my eyes, it made me extremely nervous, a cold sweat trickled down my neck like rain water falling down a window. 'What did he think I was doing?'

He then released a large sigh "ok, I believe you, although I guess now you want answers, right?"

"I-If you could"

"fine then, this is gonna take a while so I'd say we sit somewhere" I, somewhat reluctantly, moved back to the bed, I didn't want to move my eyes from the van but Damien was being incredibly serious and I was sure it was extremely important.

"Listen… I don't know why the hell I'm telling you this, I mean I've only known you for a few days, I guess I just need to tell someone."

"And what is it?"

"Well… back when my father and I moved to the east coast, Province, Rhode Island. It was nice, quiet, I didn't have many friends although the ones I did were loyal as hell. but… a group of psychotic religious nuts caught wind of dad's… and my... faith." he stopped for a second, he showed only complete abstract terror, he had gone from a lion who showed no fear to a scared hare surrounded by predators. "They, set fire to my house, me and dad got out but they had surrounded it, one of them even tried to shoot me in the head, 'this for god and mankind, you vile monster' he said. the cops got there just in time, managed to stop the bastard from killing me but… well, we moved to Chicago afterwards… a few of them must have followed us or something because I woke up with one of them in my room, fuck, just staring at me with a knife in his hand. I was only about thirteen at the time, I was so scared, he just looked at me, probably thinking I was asleep, with this mad grin. he stabbed me in my shoulder, I was nearly killed again, if it wasn't for me screaming and thrashing, dad would have been none the wiser, he managed to restrain the guy and get the cops again."

I could only listen in awe; I was shocked by his tale, but more shocked by the possible answers. Was it these fundamentalist psychopaths that were watching me?

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, I couldn't be too cautious, if it was indeed these fundamentalists watching me through the night, who still watched me as I had the conversation. I wanted to know if he was having similar experiences and if he was also being followed.

"They're the reason why we moved here… My father had reached the final straw when one was caught outside our house; he was hiding in a tree, staking it out. We had moved here almost instantly, we went through three separate delivery services to make sure that they couldn't follow us but… I don't know, it's been a week and I want to know if I'm actually safe, and if I'm not." he looked up to me, scared stiff and with tears of unparalleled fear brimming in the corners of his eyes "I couldn't stand it if I was the reason for your death Philip, I barely know you, and I was hoping to make a fresh start when I moved to this town, make some friends that weren't over the internet you know?"

He stopped, simply inhaling and exhaling, trying in vain to hold his emotions inside. Like an immense swarm of flies trapped in a tiny bottle, the pressure amounted to a massive scale before exploding in a flurry of chaos. He instantly broke down; gripping onto his hair and leaning onto the bed, supporting his weight with his elbows I saw tears fall from his eyes and onto the sheets below, looking as if it was raining on the snow.

I didn't know what to do, I just sat there awkwardly watching, hovering my still useful hand over his back in an obviously useless attempt at comfort. Gently I patted his back, I had absolutely no idea if it worked, although he noticed the pressure of my hand and forced him to calm down.

He looked back up to me, two small streams sliding down his cheeks.

"I-I think I saw them again last night, they- I think they were outside my house, Dad had gone out for the night, some meeting for a job I think. I didn't know what to do. my landline was dead and my phone was out of charge and I… I was worried about you, I-I didn't know if you were ok and, I just wanted to be sure that they hadn't turned on you, that you were safe." he stopped for a second, and stared straight up to the ceiling, rather ironically looking as if he was trying to find answers in the heavens. then he started laughing, no insane giggle of psychopathy but a laugh of frustration, completely forced and full of fear. "Fucking hell Phillip, I've only known you a few days and already I'm worried for your safety. In an hour I'm going to call my dad, tell him what's going on and go to the police, they should help." he said

I couldn't argue with him it was a good idea, I just hoped the police would actually help, they seemed to be particularly lacking in the areas of serving and/or protecting, optimistically they would take immediate action and actually help Damien. Realistically I presumed they would do none of that and nothing much would happen.

With a sigh I decided to tell him of the previous night.

"Damien, I think that whoever you're worried about… I-I think they're watching me as well."

"WHAT! OH...OH SHIT. GOD, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT...You're joking right…. right?"

"No, n-no Damien, I'm not, outside, a silver van with a driver who has dark blond hair and a green jacket."

Damien rushed to the window, took a second to look outside before going wide eyed.

"OH SHIT, I've seen that Guy." he said turning to me.

"Wh-what, really?"

"yeah, he came around the first day we arrived, to do some work with Dad… oh shit, is that group actually in this town, oh no, no, no. FUCK" he shouted before pacing up and down the edge of my bed, repeatedly mumbling a string of curses.

"DAMN IT ALL." he shouted, catching the attention of some curious passer bys. " was… was that why he had come to my house, to see if we were actually the family that they were after… oh shit I'm so, so sorry Phillip, god... damn it all" he rambled, on the verge of breaking down again.

I didn't really know what to do, I just continued to sit there, even as tears brimmed once again in his eyes and he gripped onto my shoulders as if Looking into my blue orbs would hold the answers. He was sort of pitiful but I had no place to actually call him so, no matter how I tried to stay calm I was as scared as he was.

"Can… can I ask you a favour?" Damien said.

"S-sure, what is it?"

"Would I be able to just… let it out on you?"

"Umm… uh, o-ok, yeah, whatever you want."

In response he sat on the bed, gripped onto me and buried his head into my shoulder and just cried in stress and anger.

"D-d-damn it… just f-fuck, why… why." He said, raising to look straight into my eyes again "For so… so long these bastards have been following me. And now… now. I just want this to be over."

"Are you going to be okay?" I asked.

He recovered himself, wiping the last of his tears away "I don't know… but… I'm going to go to the police now… I'll come back when I'm done, ok, don't... just don't be dead." He got up and moved to the door, waiting as he began pushing it open "Could you… not, talk about that, by the way… that was sort of embarrassing." And then he left.

For the next hour a doctor came in and explained that the Orphanage would be covering my medical bills and that I could leave by the next day, I just had to be careful when walking and I had to be careful with my arm. I was relieved but the ever present; watching eyes of the man in the silver Ford was more overpowering.

As every second passed after the doctor left I kept a close eye on the door, waiting for Damien to pop in and say that he had solved the problem, that nothing was wrong, that the eyes on me was nothing but paranoia.

When he came back the earth's massive light had almost left, dusk was falling to sleep and Damien looked furious. he slammed open the door, his emotions not changing as he almost slammed himself onto the bedside chair.

"The bastards said they couldn't do jack, bullshit. It's… I'm… Fucking assholes." he angrily spat, glaring at the ground "Why? They've been told about what happens and… and." He sighed, slowly trying to compose himself; I just let him do as he wished. "I need to ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"I… This is really strange to ask but, I was wondering, could I stay around your place? I don't feel perfectly safe in my house and my dad's… well he just texted me a bit ago saying he'd be out for the night and, well, knowing him he won't be checking his phone anytime soon. I just… I think it'll be safer, you know?"

I don't think I could have refused.

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I um… you remember where my house is, right?"

"Yes."

"Ok, so, umm, this is going to be a bit complicated. Ok, at the front of my apartment is a potted plant next to the main door, look underneath it and there should be a box. Take it and go to my mail box at the entrance and inside there is a key stuck to the inside door. Use that to unlock the box and bingo! you've got the spare key to my house." I explained, rather sheepish at my convoluted back up.

"Why the hell is it so complicated?"

"I couldn't make it too easy to get in, could I?"

he gave a small smile before turning to leave "Listen, man… thank you." was what he said, before leaving me to my paranoid night of watching the window for any attempted murderers. I felt Damien would owe me one if I was actually a target.