Hey, you guys, I'm back! And I am very proud to say that this is... MY SECOND CHAPTER IN ONE DAY! I felt kinda addicted to the story, therefore I have posted two chapters in one day for the first story I uploaded on my first account over three years ago! Anyway, thanks for all of your support on chapter nine, and I hope that you love chapter 10!
"Welcome home, Logan." Derek's voice called eerily from the top of the stairs. Logan felt his heart rate pick up, and he struggled to control his breathing. He couldn't believe that he was back; back in the house that had caused him so much pain throughout his childhood.
"They'll find you here," Logan responded, trying to make himself sound unafraid and strong, "This is the first place they'll look. And they won't give up."
"Oh, please," Derek sneered, "Do you really think they care? Nobody gives a shit about accidents."
Logan tightened his jaw. He knew that all that Derek did was lie. He wasn't getting into his head that easily.
"You might be able to trick everyone else in the world, but you can't fool me," Logan was tired of Derek doing anything he could just to make his life miserable, and the consequences didn't seem to matter anymore, "I lived your pathetic lies for seven years. I'm done."
"Didn't we go over this already, Logie?" Derek descended the steps into the basement, and brought himself inches away from Logan, "You should really learn to respect. Your. Elders."
As the man brought his fist back, Logan's mind was somewhere else.
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"Hey, look, it's a turtle!" Danny shouted, pointing over the side of the bridge. Seven-year-old Logan ran over to his best friend, peering over the edge to see the little animal.
"Do ya think we could catch it?" The dark-haired boy asked excitedly and looked at his red-headed friend with a huge grin on his face.
"Ya! Let's do it!" The two young boys ran down the curve of the bridge down by the banks of the river that was right next to Logan's house.
Giggles that they tried to contain could be heard as the two first graders snuck up on the little turtle. They were so focused on their task that they didn't even feel it when they were knee deep in the water.
"On the count of three, 'kay?" Logan whispered.
"Kay!" Danny nodded vigorously, ready to pounce on the turtle.
"1… 2… 3!" Logan shouted the last part, to make sure Danny heard, and they jumped into the water to try and catch the little reptile.
"I got 'im!" Danny screamed, the turtle cupped in his small hands, "Look it!"
Logan's eyes were wide as he looked at the animal that Danny held, "Woah… it's so cool!"
Danny's eyes sparkled, and the two met eyes and smiled from ear to ear.
"Do you wanna keep it?" Danny asked, with a little bit of regret in his young voice, "Cause my mom says that we can't have any pets 'till I'm nine."
"Yeah! I'll go ask!" Danny placed the turtle in Logan's awaiting hands, "C'mon!"
The boys sprinted as fast as their legs could carry them to Logan's back door where they ran inside, nearly crashing down Derek in the process.
"Dad! Look what me an' Danny found in the river!" Logan displayed the turtle proudly, "Can I keep him? Please!"
Ignoring the question, Derek asked a question, obviously angry, "Why on earth are you boys so wet? And muddy! Just look at the floors!" The man gestured to the brown footprints leading from the door into the hallway. Logan and Danny, after seeing the mess that they made, looked down at their shoes.
"I'm sorry, Daddy," Logan said meekly, afraid to look up and meet the man in the eyes.
"Yeah, Mr. Mitchell, we're real sorry. We won't do it again, promise!" Danny had always been told to look people in the eyes when you're talking to them, so he looked up as he spoke.
What he saw surprised the young boy. He had never seen Mr. Mitchell that mad before. It was kind of scary.
"Sorry isn't good enough. You two go put that turtle back, now," The man's rage was evident in his voice as he pointed to the back door, "And Daniel, I'm afraid you'll have to go home. Logan will be grounded for the next two weeks."
Logan's head snapped up, "But Dad! That's not fair!" He protested, but immediately regretted it.
"Give Daniel the turtle, Logan. Daniel, you need to go home. Now."
Upon receiving the turtle, Danny turned and flew out the door, hearing it close behind him, but he didn't leave. Crouching down below the window, he heard Derek speaking in a scarily calm voice,
"Now, Logan. What did I tell you about respecting your elders?"
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James was the first to know. While he tried to comfort the grieving Linda Mitchell, he felt himself slip into an almost trance. He didn't notice when Carlos or Kendal came running into the room, or when Janet called the police to inform them of the devastating news, although she had to repeat it five times until her words could be heard through her tears.
Katie came out, too, during all of this, and knew what had happened in just a glance. All four of the boys were like her brothers; losing Logan was like a dagger had cut off part of her heart. As Kendal held her in his arms, all she could think about was why the world could be so cruel to the nicest people.
Throughout the entire scene, Gustavo could only bear to look on in silence. He had never been an emotional person, but he felt… sad. As much as he tried to deny it, he really and truly did care for every one of the boys. Sure, they drove him up a wall multiple times a day, broke all of his stuff, and more, but they gave him an experience that he had always been deprived of. Because the boys taught him how to love again.
Carlos looked up, and saw Gustavo standing in the door way. Standing up, the usually perky boy slowly made his way over to the big-shot producer, who, strangely, actually seemed deeply affected by everything that was happening.
"Do you know?" Carlos asked, "Do you know why all of this happened?"
Gustavo was surprised to hear that voice coming from Carlos. It was as defeated and miserable as anything the older man had ever heard, and it just seemed so wrong.
"No." Just one word.
"Because of Derek Mitchell. Everything, every stupid thing that's happened is because of him."
Gustavo was confused, "What… what happened?" His typically booming voice sounded small, something very unusual for the man.
"Logan is gone. He's f***ing gone!" Tears were brimming at the edge of his dark eyes, "All because Derek Mitchell is sick enough t- to… to k… to kill his own son!" After that, after he had said it and made it real, Carlos couldn't hold it together anymore.
He cried harder than he ever had before, standing there in the door. And, to his surprise, he felt himself being pulled into a hug from the most unexpected person.
Because, as it turns out, even Gustavo Rocque had a heart.
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Logan fell to the floor after receiving Derek's blow. Rage filled him; he wasn't going to be Derek's punching bag anymore.
Anger renewing his strength, the younger boy stood up, his emotions etched on his face. As Derek came closer, Logan focused all his strength into the fist hidden behind his back. As Derek's own fist came hurtling towards Logan's face, he ducked then swung back up to land a punch to the man's temple.
There wasn't even a cry as Derek hit the ground.
Wide-eyed, Logan looked to see if the man was still breathing. Upon seeing the rise and fall of his chest, Logan flew up the stairs as fast as he could, the pain in his shoulder and face forgotten.
When he reached the counter, he fumbled for the wall phone that was always there, dialing the first number that came to mind.
"Hello?" Logan's heart nearly stopped when he heard Kendal's voice on the other line. He noticed how upset and tired it sounded, and hurried to continue speaking.
"Kendal!" Logan briefly heard his name being exclaimed in disbelief before he continued, "Listen, I don't know how much time I have, but I'm in Colorado, at my old house. My mom will know where she is. As for right now, my da- Derek is completely unconscious, but I have no idea how long he will be. I'm going to try and get as far away as I can in that time."
"Logan… just, thank God you're alive. We all thought… well, just be careful. You still have to marry Camille, remember?"
Logan smiled thinly, remembering the crazy actress of the Palm Woods.
"Got it. Tell my mom I love her, okay? I'll see all of you guys… soon." His voice cracked at the end of the sentence, and he could feel salty tears burning in his eyes. Wiping his sleeve, he hung up the phone before picking it up again.
He dialed 911 then let it ring as he ran out the door.
And that, my dear friends, was chapter 10. Lots of OOC, and a little hope created at the end there! Please review and I love every singel one of you guys forever and a day!