.x.x. Chapter Ten .x.x.
Saturday. He would remember that day forever.
Marco started out his morning by saying goodbye to his Ma when she left for her short vacation with her girlfriends. They had let him in on their planning for a surprise baby shower. In the afternoon, he invited Jimmy, Craig, and Spinner over to jam in his basement and sent them off around five. Overall, he was in a good mood. Around the evening, the phone rang. "Del Rossi residence."
Ellie's voice breezed through the connection, "Hey."
He smiled cheerfully. "Hey, lover. What are you up to?"
Her voice sweetened. It was a rare moment when that happened. "Nothing, honey. Can you come over? I've got a surprise."
He purred teasingly. "I bet you do." She laughed.
"Well, can you?"
"I'm sure my Dad won't mind. I'll see you in a few. Ciao."
He hung up and heard his door open. Mr. Del Rossi stepped in wearing a heavy, leather jacket. "Who was that Marco?"
"Just Ellie. She invited me over to her house."
The man said slowly, "We are going to the movies, aren't we?"
Marco replied casually, not looking upset, "We can go tomorrow. It's no big deal." He grabbed his wool jacket hanging by the bedroom door and Mr. Del Rossi's thick arm blocked the doorway.
"You cannot go. We are going to the movies. Call that girl back." Marco wasn't seeing what the big deal was.
He burrowed his brows. "Pa-"
"DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!" The fortress of a man lunged and Marco ducked him, skipping the freak-out mode, and making a break for the staircase. Marco's dad seized him by the arms and flung him, smacking Marco against the wall. As he crumbled, he heard him say, "You will not disobey me. I am proud of you for leaving that boy and for not being unnatural but you will not disobey my authority."
Something tightened in his chest and Marco said in a low voice, "I can't believe this. You never changed." Mr. Del Rossi kicked him in the ribs and Marco couldn't catch his breath. The man punched him in the face and Marco gasped, "You can't stop me from being gay, Papa. And you can't control me, not with presents, not with violence. Not anymore!" The boy shoved him off and gave him a firm punch in the stomach in hopes of him backing away. He could hardly see with the blood gushing into his eyes. Mr. Del Rossi got a hold of him, agony took him as he was dragged over the carpet.
It suddenly got dark and something cracked.
.x.x.
...There was so much pain. Marco opened one eye to greet the floor below him.
His body refused to respond as he lifted his head up. He saw all of his things trashed on the ground. The photos of his friends were shattered. His posters on his wall were dangling in shreds, and his alarm clock was in a twisted metal heap. He tried again to sit up and one of his arms laid frozen in place. Marco nearly fainted at the sight of his right arm. It was twisted out of place and swelling up fast. Shaking violently, he heard someone open a door downstairs.
As quick as Marco could, the teenager got off the floor and laid a blanket over himself, lying as quiet as he could on his bed. His world was spinning cursorily. Marco was about to slip into unconsciousness. The new morning sunshine streamed from his window and into his face, lulling him sleepily.
His bedroom door opened and he heard someone scream, "OH MY GOD - MARCO- OH MY GOD!"
He groaned, letting his head peek out. "Ellie, please stop screaming."
She went to his side and was tugging on the blanket but he kept it firmly covering him with his good hand. Her green eyes were wide and frightened. "What happened here? Are you ok?"
"He was better, Ellie? He was no better of a person from the beginning."
A hand went to her mouth and she looked at her surroundings, shaking her head. "No…no…" Marco threw the blanket away to show her his injury and she closed her eyes, burying her face into her hands. "No…I just came to see why you didn't come…" Ellie met his eyes, tears glittering in her eyes. "Why?"
"Ask my Father."
She came forward to embrace him and he pushed her away, groaning in pain. Ellie asked frantically, "What do we do?"
"I sure as hell can't stay here unless I want to end up dead."
Her face contorted and she screamed at him, "Stop talking like that!"
His face didn't look the least bit fazed except now pain was running up his numb arm. "Ellie, I think it's broke."
She lost her rigid composure and suggested feebly, "What about Officer Jennings? Did you still have her phone number?"
Marco's temper rose. "She's the one that brought him back into this house! Why the hell should I call her?"
Her mascara was running when she watched silently as he grabbed his arm and writhed in agony. She bent over him and lifted his chin to look into her eyes. "If you're gonna be stubborn, I'll knock you out and drag you. We'll go to Sean's and call the cops. I can't fix your arm on my own. He'll have to help me."
The boy didn't protest but had her help him get up and start walking. When they got outside, Marco saw that his Father's van was long gone. His intense hatred for his Father returned as they came down Sean's snowy street. He murmured, "What am I suppose to tell my Ma?"
"The truth. It's the only thing you can do."
They went up to the sidewalk and opened the unlocked front door. Ellie called for Sean as Marco leaned on the coffee table in the living room. She disappeared for a few seconds and came back confused. "He's not here, Marco, I don't know where he is," she said frustrated.
Marco winced, saying through gritted teeth, "Ah, this thing's a bitch!" When he touched his shoulder, it felt as if the pain had exploded and the world was tilted on an angle. Ellie's alarmed face was over his and he realized that he was laying on the floor. She left his line-of-vision for a while and panic was about to set in when a warm wool blanket covered him.
'Thank you, Ell.'
Someone was playing with his hair and his best friend was talking to him but he couldn't hear her. The pounding of his heart in his eardrums was too loud. She turned her head to another direction and a glint of blond came from the corner of his left eye. Was that… Paige? What on Earth was she doing here?
He was being lifted to a sitting position with Ellie to lean on and a voice said in his ear, "Brace yourself. This might hurt."
It was right. Hands gripped his injured arm and Marco was struggling. Ellie held him down. With a violent jerk, his arm was popped back into his socket and a scream escaped his throat. For a few minutes he blacked out. When Marco came to, he was resting in someone else's arms and his face was buried into a blue-clothed shoulder. It smelled vaguely of perspiration and oranges. It was a nice smell. Instinctively, he moved closer and was pleasantly comfortable in the warmth of the body that cradled him.
His hearing returned. Paige's voice drifted from the far side of the room. "So you did call the cops. What about an ambulance?"
Ellie whispered nearby, "I was hoping to reach you guys so you could help me get him there…where's that icepack? I think he's awake."
There was rummaging and the icepack burned against the swelling. Marco let out a moan and a low voice said quietly, "It's okay, Marco, this will help." While he heard the voice say his name, it seemed right. If only he had the energy to lift his head and look at the person with this magnificent voice.
Paige spoke up, "We should get him to a doctor, that swelling looks bad."
He was being lifted again only to fall into darkness once again.
.x.x.
The sickly green colors of the hospital walls brought shivers down Ellie Nash's spine. Whenever she saw that color, she was always remembered of hospitals, of the time she burned her arm when her house was set on fire. When she purposely cut herself, she would awake to these tiny walls, feeling cramped and suffocated. It was a terrible feeling.
Even if it wasn't her that was laying in the hospital cot, Ellie couldn't help but feel scared. The help centre reminded her of this place and that place drove her insane, but her cutting stopped. She has been clean for three years now. She hadn't been tempted and sharp objects made her uneasy… not free.
She sat beside Marco's sleeping form, clutching his hand, hoping for some movement.
The doctors said that he had a torn muscle in his arm and there would be in a lot of pain for a while. There were also some bruised ribs, a cut on face but he would be okay. The police said they'd talk to him when he was fully recovered. They were searching for Mr. Del Rossi. She hadn't gotten a chance to call Mrs. Del Rossi yet. She didn't really know what to say to the woman.
Her claustrophobia got dire when Marco's guy friends came in, shutting the door behind them. Ellie looked up alarmed, "What are you all doing?"
Craig plopped down in a chair beside her, breathing heavily, "The nurse won't let us all go through the waiting room so we ran past security. I think we lost them." Spinner and Jimmy fought for the other chair on the opposite wall. Sean strolled right on in and she leapt from her seat to press against him.
Ellie mumbled in Sean's hoodie as he hugged her back. "I hate hospitals."
"I know you do, babe."
Spinner stole Ellie's seat and said out loud, "Dude, I think he's waking up."
Ellie tore herself away from Sean and went on the other side of the bed, calling Marco's name.
Glittering dark brown eyes opened and he stated softly, "Hi guys." Jimmy smiled at him.
"How are you feeling, buddy?"
Marco looked at Sean who leaned against the wall. "Hi, Sean." He giggled and pointed at him with his undamaged arm, "Look, Ellie, it's Sean."
Everyone looked at her baffled and she shook her head. "It must be the painkillers. They'll make you a little airy."
Marco leaned forward, looking utmost serious. "Spin… was your hair always pink?"
The blond boy tugged at a long strand, inspecting it and Craig frowned, adding, "Maybe we should go."
Ellie led them out. "Yeah, I think you should." SSean was the last one out. he stroked the back of his neck. "Give me a half an hour and we can go out for something to eat, okay?"
His face read nothing as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Actually, I think I'm going to head home. I'll see you tonight and I'll cook something for you."
"Are you sure?"
His blue eyes filled with reassurance. He said, "Yeah, I'll see you at home," and kissed her mouth momentarily, turning away to leave.
Ellie smiled as he disappeared into the elevator and a tall blond poked his head into the room, asking, "Is he asleep?"
She gaped slightly. "Dylan. I thought…I thought you went home."
He shrugged, "I was," but didn't tear his eyes away from the cot.
"He, uh, he went back to sleep a minute ago. Sorry."
Dylan didn't say anything and the redhead said, coming forward, "Thank you." His sky blue eyes look at her grateful face, as she smiled and added, "For driving us here, for coming to Sean's when I called, for fixing Marco's arm. The doctors said if you hadn't... there would have been surgery."
He said genuinely, "You're welcome."
Ellie offered quickly, "I could wake him if you wanted to talk…"
"No, that's fine."
Dylan stepped away but then looked her in the eye sternly.
"I know what you and Paige were trying to do. It was a nice thought but we can handle our problems by ourselves. Besides, Marco's more important things to deal with now."
Her eyes glowed furiously.
"You don't think I know that?" She walked off, her loose hair flying behind her. Dylan walked out of the ward, his thoughts buzzing around his head like irate bees.
He was angry, angry at the people who let this monster back into the Del Rossi home, angry at Dante Del Rossi for hurting Marco, angry at a lot of people but especially at himself. Angry at himself for getting worked up over this, for letting this happen, not being there to stop it. He had been hesitant to go to Ellie's but when he knew Marco was hurt, he didn't waste any time.
His cell phone rang as Dylan sat in the waiting room. Paige's voice came through the connection, "Where are you?"
"At the hospital. Tell Mom and Dad I'll be home for dinner."
"One question, why are you still there?"
"Goodbye, Paige," he said before hanging up on her smug question.
The child on the chair beside him began bawling as the annoyed mother dragged him into the examining room. Dylan rubbed his temples, muttering, "Just let this day end."
.x.x.
The grass beneath him tickled his bare feet. He was settled on his back. The grass couldn't tickle his elbows because of the blanket laid out underneath him. It must have been morning since the sun was bright but not hot and dewdrops were still glossed on the lawn. He was in his backyard... yes, there was the oak fence and his Ma's herb garden near the patio.
Suddenly, strong arms drew him close and into a loving embrace. He looked up to cloudless skies of eyes, curly gold hair, and a secretive smile. He looked down to see rippled muscles under a thin white shirt and gently placed a hand on Dylan's chest. The blond smiled wider. "Hey, you. What are you thinking about?"
He met Dylan's eyes again and felt no emotion but he leaned into the other boy.
"I dunno. How happy I am."
"Are you happy? What are you happy about?"
He could feel a light breeze coming from the South, cool and dry. He traced the hollow in Dylan's neck.
"I think I'm happy to be here with you. I think I wouldn't be any happier in any other place." Tender kisses were on his neck and he closed his eyes, feeling Dylan run a hand up his back, resting on his waistline.
A loud screech came from the inside of his house.
He looked at the back door then to blue eyes. Dylan nodded. "I'll be here waiting for you when you get back."
He got up, seeing the blond still smiling at him on the blanket and didn't feel scared at the sound of another screech, only fascinated. As he trudged up to the patio, the grass become wetter and the sky was getting darker with every step he took. The doorway was black with murk, menacing and sinister. Without hesitation, he entered. There was little light inside his house but he continued into the kitchen.
On the floor was the biggest puddle of blood and he stood right in it. It was warm and disgusting. But he couldn't feel revulsion or horror. His eyes went to the only door where the darkest red was leaking through the bottom creak. This was all too familiar. The door swung open but no one came from the shadows. A shriek of terror reached his hearing and he walked through the blood-soaked kitchen tiles into the blackened room. The light was on but moving shadows obscured his vision, making it hard to focus.
He staggered a moment and saw someone on the floor, withering and screaming to the top of their lungs. His Papa was over them and making small grunting noises as the person on the floor screamed louder, his Ma's wide eyes were bulging. He didn't have to look twice to know she was being raped without mercy.
His legs didn't move forward and again, he felt nothing. It was if his feelings and emotions were blurred away.
Then... the scene changed.
The air was heavier and the shadows were gone. Goosebumps went up his arms as more shrieks came from the room, but they were breathier and littler.
His throat began to close up when he looked back to see Ellie stripped naked on the carpet alone, her reddened face soaked with tears. Repulsion pulsed through him and he made a move forward to help her when a outline came from out of nowhere. When the outline's face shown clearly in the lamplight, Marco backed away.
It was his face.
A clone of himself stepped over her and she cried louder, begging.
His duplicate grabbed her by the neck and said hoarsely, "You are nothing, you little whore. You can cry all you want. You're a bitch and that's all you'll ever be. Am I the Marco you remembered Ellie, well, am I?"
His fist slammed into her face and her innocent blood gushed out of her nose. He reached into his jacket pocket and pull out a gun. He brushed the barrel on her temple fondly. Marco was going to be sick. He was going to faint. He couldn't watch. His clone violated her with the barrel of the gun and her terrified moans were burning into his hearing.
Marco put his shaking hands to his forehead in terror as the other whispered, "You are nothing. The world is nothing to me! Fuck everything! Fuck it all!"
A gunshot echoed and Ellie had stopped moving. A bloody hole in her breast was spraying. Marco fell onto his knees and could feel his stomach wrenching. Another gunshot and his replica's body fell down dead beside the redhead. Tears were creeping into his eyes and Dylan had been leaning on the entryway with his arms crossed, surveying with his dim cerulean eyes.
The blond stated seriously, "You're just like your Father, you know. You're just as bad as he was. You're becoming him." But he was addressing it to the dead bodies.
Blue eyes turned to Marco and passed the same message to him.
But he couldn't hear him... he could only hear his own screaming.