Chapter 10

A Sudden pain at both ends

The cool day came back to the Bates motel. It drifted along the lone doors and breathed against the glass of the windows. It danced, it massaged, it tasted everything insight. The wind at last fell upon a man. This man did not move an inch as the wind rained on his arms and his legs. His face was down, seemingly looking at the ground between his legs. He sat against the space between the door of room 17 and its window, like a domestic gnome in the Garden of Eden. Ennis was Adam and Marla was Eve. Jack had no place in there. Well, at least that's what he let himself believe. He didn't know if he was asleep or awake. He didn't know if he was dead or still living, all he knew was that he wanted to be left alone, unless of course your name was Ennis Del Mar. Luckily his solitude lasted that long. The motel seemed dissolute of life, and beauty. Some cars passed and one car drove in. The driver and passenger, two male adolescents, parked next to Jack's truck and made their way to room 10 with much noise. They laughed and pointed at Jack and whispered to each other. Jack heard the door slam; he slowly moved his head up. Feet approached him, unthreateningly.

"Hello Jack Twist," said a somewhat familiar voice. Jack looked up at the dark shadow being cut out into a silhouette by the sun. It was Anthony Curtis, the manager. He stood with his sweaty armpit stains and his bald spot, gleaming in the sun. He had an unreadable face, and he shifted to one side. Jack gave a dead look to Curtis; he barely had the energy or the will to hold his head up. His face was deeply pale, and his eyes seemed to flicker in the morning sun. Anthony's expression didn't change.

"Wha' do ya want, Anthony?" Jack heard his own voice croak out of him. He sounded like a corpse, how far was he from being one? Anthony grinned, revealing some missing teeth.

"Well…don't yah want me to tell ya how I know yer las' name is Twist an' not Del Mar?" Jack jumped a tad, and is eye level fell to his truck in the distance. Didja snoop in my truck? Anthony nodded and laughed. "Sure did, Jack. I found this." He grabbed in his pocket and pulled out a small rectangle. Though Jack wasn't looking his direction, he knew he had his license. "Why a nice boy like you lying, Jack?" Jack shook his head vigorously and put his hands in his hair. A nice guy like me? Anthony side tossed the license at Jack like a Frisbee. It hit Jack in the face; he seemed unmoved by it.

"Come, on. I'm not in a good mode, Curtis. We all lie, and we'll all die." Jack rubbed the new scratch on his cheek. Anthony laughed a full belly laugh and advanced on Jack. Jack coward a tad, but didn't move from his position. Some a us die earlier than others.

Jack felt the terror grasp his heart, and pinch it as Anthony pulled him, by his hair, to his feet. Jack heard his own yells, they sounded pathetic. "Stop Curtis, yer hurtin' me!" His screams were lesser than most people's whispers. No sleep last night, and the depression had drained him of everything but pain. Anthony pulled on Jack like a puppeteer pulls a puppet. Jack's legs dangled, too tired to hold himself up, and hold a defense. Anthony laid a hard one on Jack's face. Next thing he knew he was falling. His face busted against the concrete. Blood squirted like a hose. He moaned, but laid there unmoving. Anthony grabbed his legs, and with his strong upper body strength, pulled Jack. Jack yelled as his body scraped against the hard concrete. His stomach was being tortured, it burned like fire. He tried his hardest to kick Curtis, but couldn't hit anything soft; he was too strong. Jack felt consciousness leaving him; he tried to wake himself up desperately looking for strength.

Don't go to sleep, Jack. NO, no. Jack was pushed onto a bed. He heard many joyful laughs around him. Was this the last goddamn thing he was going to hear? He could count three voices; his guess was that he was in room 10.

"Look at that fat ass, 'bout ta get the fuckin' of its life." Jack woke up with that. He pushed himself off the bed, and instantly felt three pairs of hands around his chest and shoulders. "I'll hold him." Jack was being forced down on his stomach at the edge of the bed.

"Please, please don't do this!" This time Jack's voice had pitch. He tried to push up his body, but the weight was too overwhelming. He felt the tears falling even without pain. He washed the bed with blood; they splashed the room with sex and laughter.

"You like that, I know you like that, you faggot." Jack cried aloud like a wounded animal. "Get off of me, god, no, don't!" Jack felt penetration. It took his breath away, but hurt like hell. He couldn't even hold his head up anymore; a hand was pushing it down to the bed. It hurt so badly, Jack just wanted to cry for Ennis, he needed some light at the end of his tunnel.

"Ennis, help me!" He cried out. "Ennis please!" He whined deeply as he was pushed into deeper and harder. He felt his flesh being stretched, and manipulated. The men mocked Jack, adding the lemon to the already dead baby seal's wound.

"Ennis? Ennis? Is that yer queer buddy? I bet I'm better than he is. How's my cock, you like that? You like that?" Jack couldn't move, he just cried out some unphysical defense.

"NO! Ennis, please, help me Ennis!" One couldn't tell if he even spoke words this time. He felt worthless, he couldn't fight these men, now they were taking what Ennis only got, and paining what Ennis gave to someone else that morning. Jack's voice this time went quieter. "Please…stop this, I…can't take it…" The one that was working slapped Jack's ass hard and exited him. No matter, I'm done. Chief, yer turn. Jack for a few seconds had no hands on him, as the men switch positions. Jack didn't even try to get up. He laid there; eyes wide open looking out the window of the room. He felt dead; not even the new stinging brought him to. He felt like the room was closing in on him. The tears fell into his mouth, given him a salty taste. This was much rougher. His body gyrated all over the bed. He was losing much more blood by the second. He just laid still like he was already deceased. Without Ennis, he was. Jack gave out a cry. The cry filled the room quickly and leaked into the outside. Jack cried like a child. He couldn't handle the pain, the neglect. It was consuming him, and everytime he closed his eyes he saw Ennis, Ennis fucking Marla on the queen-sized the bed. When he tried to talk, he hears his dad. Yer a worthless, piece of shit! Only when he cried did he see his mother. She helped him through it. You'll be okay, you'll be okay.

A moan then a shower of hot liquid on his back. Chief was done, but he decided to linger. He climbed onto the bed and sat on Jack's back. Pain ripped through him like a mudslide, his bleeding chest, his swelling lips and his melancholy eyes all shook with hopelessness. Chief grabbed Jack's shoulders and rubbed them "Yer one hot piece of ass, ya know?" Jack said nothing; he stared at the window, once in a while snorting up tears. This chief didn't wait for an answer; he bent to Jack's neck and almost pseudo-compassionately spoke to him. "You were the best I ever had. Yer tight ass all around my cock, oh god, if it wasn' Curtis's turn then I would ride you all night." Jack gasped to himself. Curtis was next. Chief did not leave Jack's shoulders he rubbed them to give a false peace, as Curtis got ready. Jack imagined his fat body, his beady eyes and balding spot; soon they would come to be one. Jack heard a slap on skin. "Get up, I want to see Jack's purty face when I fuck his tightness." Jack felt a lurch in his throat. He wanted to puke, but couldn't. He wanted to fight but didn't. He wanted Ennis, but wouldn't get him.

And then, sudden terror struck through the room. "Someone's pullin' in." Jack's dead heart moved; he was saved. All three men threw their clothes on, and left the room in a hurricane to deal with some person asking for a room. Jack stayed on the bed. He was still face down. He tried to move but couldn't. He tried to support himself up, but his arms buckled, sending him face first. He gave a yell of fierce pain that ran from navel to spine. He fell back on the bed, but jumped when someone entered the room again. He felt a very hard slap on his ass, sure to leave a bruise. Then he felt himself being lifted up. His eyes came on Chief; oddly Jack thought how he was the nicest piece of shit of the three. Chief raped a kiss on Jack's lips, and smiled sadistically. "If only it could a been different." Jack let a tear fall on his face, with it; it took his might, his dignity, and his happiness. Chief smiled at Jack's lifeless look. He wiped a tear of Jack's busted face with his hand and cuffed his cheek. Jack wordlessly leaned to his touch. He closed his eyes, like Chief was Ennis, and got surprised when he hit the floor hard.

Chief rubbed his knuckles then ran to room 17 with a plan. He knocked loudly on Ennis's doorand then bolted to his getaway car. Him and the other teen took off, arguing weather he should of done that or not. Anthony, who gave the savior room 2, had left already; he didn't want to be around when Ennis woke up.

In the damp hotness of the bed, Ennis stirred. His head felt like a wood full of streams. He held it softly and looked over at his side for Jack. Jack was not anywhere to be found. A sleeping girl slept in his spot. Ennis forced himself to look away. What did I do? At his wrecked words, Marla woke. She crawled over to Ennis and put her arm around his back. "Good morning, baby." Ennis jumped up like lightning. Baby was Jack's word. "Yer not Jack." Marla laughed and admired her red fingernails that had scraped Ennis's back. Ennis put his head in his hands. Shit, where is he, where is he? He paced the room, until he grabbed his pants and the truck keys from the floor. Its been nearly twenty-four hours since ha last saw Jack. He darted out of the room, half dressed and frantic. He started to nervously sweat. He looked at the new day around him; it was another rainy day for sure. His eyes scanned everything. They fell upon Jack's drivers license on the ground, next to the door. Ennis bent down and picked it up, fearing the worse. That one tear fell quick, something happened to his darlin'.

His fingers rubbed Jack's picture, a good picture it was. Jack's smile was bright, and his eyes were thicker than ever. Ennis thought how stunning he looked. He blushed; men weren't stunning. He placed the card into his pocket, and turned to dash to the truck. His heart stopped. There before him was a puddle of blood. Ennis started to shake badly. All these scenes came into his eyes. People killing Jack with tire irons, people eating him alive, people beating him to a pulp. He could picture Jack's eyes, covered in thick blood, his beautiful mouth, spiting up some. Ennis's legs buckled. He fell on one knee and gasped for a breath. He touched the blood, and felt it in his hands. It streamed across his palm, and hit the ground. What had he done? He got up and then noticed more blood. It was Jack's way of crying for help. A path of blood dangled along the sidewalk. Ennis followed it slowly at first, but then he jumped into a run. It abruptly stopped at the agate door of room 10. Ennis grabbed his chest. Oh god, not Jack. He felt the power leaving his shoulders, as he gingerly looked into the dim room, half-hoping Jack wasn't there.

First his eyes saw the blood stained bed. He nearly fell into a mess of himself. Than he fell onto the sight of Jack face down, nude and spread-eagle on the carpet. Ennis gave out a terrified sigh. He ran to Jack's body. He put his hands on his back, and flipped him over slowly. Jack was comatose. Ennis breathed in hard. He placed his head on Jack's bloodied chest to feel the breathing. Yes, he felt a little bit. No time ta panic, no time ta panic. Ennis let Jack's dangling head use his arm as a cushion. Ennis grabbed Jack's legs, and picked him up, like a parent does to a child. He stumbled, but got his ground. He ran to the truck, and somehow managed to open the door with Jack still in his arms. Marla ran out of the door with Ennis's shirt on over her body. "What happened?" But before she could move an inch, Ennis told her to stay away, and to be gone by the time they came back. She pouted then slammed the door behind her. Ennis gave Jack a kiss of life on his forehead, and then carried him to the passenger seat. He placed him there as he noticed his eyes twitching. Was he going into shock? Ennis panicked. He closed Jack's door than jumped to his side, and had the thing started before he even sat down. Don't worry, Jack, I'm here.

Ennis had no idea where a hospital was. He gunned his way to the Casey's Joint, hoping for some help. He ran out of the truck and tripped into the diner. Everyone's eyes came upon him, and his throat tightened. He shook them off. Fuck it. "Where is the nearest hospital?" He looked at the face of a girl with green eyes and brown hair. Her name-tag read Nicole. The nearest hospital is that way fer 'bout ten miles. Ennis smiled and touched Nicole's arm as a thank you. He ran to the truck and gunned it past the bar, heading even deeper into his fear and pain. Jack didn't move at all. Once in a while he twitched which cause Ennis to jump. If Jack would be lost, Ennis wouldn't be able to go on. He pushed those thoughts out of his head. "No Jack, yer gonna make it. Ya hear me Jack Fuckin' Twist, yer gonna make it!" Jack moved his head a bit. Ennis filled with ecstasy. Ennis looked on the dark road, with one thing in mind; Jack.

Finally a large whitish building dwarfed the trees all around. Ennis manically looked for the ER. He ran the truck right into the ambulance lane, and got out. He left it running, hoping to be back out soon enough. He tripped four times by the time he reached the desk. Out of breath, he forced himself from yelling. "He's hurt, he's bleedin' real bad, I need help he's…just out there." Ennis pointed to the visible truck, out of the glass doors. The nurse at the desk nodded and picked up a phone. Ennis heard her voice on the loudspeakers, his angel calling for help. In a matter of grueling seconds, Ennis watched as many men in white uniforms ran to the truck, and pried the door open. Ennis couldn't get too close, not wanting to interfere. He just wanted Jack, and only Jack. Ennis went out to the truck and moved it to a regular parking spot, and killed the engine. Ennis sat in the driver seat, it was finally pouring out.

He hit the steering wheel hard with his wrist over and over again. "Goddamn it! I'm so sorry, Jack." He slammed his head down on the steering wheel and covered his eyes. He wept with passion, and self-loathing. He hated himself, for what he did. He fucked Marla, which fucked over Jack. He hoped Jack…still loved him. Ennis wiped his eyes and snorted up tears. He fell back on the seat and fell asleep.

There was Jack, deep in a meadow. His trademark smile on his face, and his beautiful eyes aglow. Jack looked at Ennis and grabbed his soul, grabbed his heart, grabbed everything. Jack laughed, that tingling laugh. He sighed that heart-felt sighed. And his lips…well, they were there too. Ennis just stared at Jack's face, as it seemed to grow paler. The sky darkened, and calls from the mountains called for Jack by his name. Jack looked scared; he clung to Ennis like a baby does his mother. "Don't let them get me," he whispered. Ennis nodded, a fat tear fell from his eyes as the men approached. Ennis blinked once and that's all it took. Jack was on the ground in blood, Ennis let his blood spill, Ennis killed Jack.

He gasped from the nightmare to breathe. He violently thrashed in the truck, still fighting off the guys that didn't exist. Not even when his hand collided with Jack's window did he stop. He felt the glass break from the hit. Some pieces lingered, cutting his knuckles deep. He felt the blood fall on his pants, drop by drop. He cursed aloud, that echoed through the parking lot. He felt like a lion in a cat cage. He throbbed deeply, holding his cut knuckle. He quickly exited the truck and ran to the ER.

"I need to see Jack Twist, now, p-please."

"Jack Twist?"

"Yeah, the man I brought in a hour ago."

"Oh, okay, I think they're done with him. His room will be on the-my lord yer bleeding!"

"Its nothin'. Please, where's Jack's room?"

"I'm gonna get someone to look at that first. What is your name?"

"Ennis fuckin' Del Mar. Goddamn people here are too stubborn-sorry, but I just need ta see Jack." The nurse must have heard his pain, as she said after a Dr. Clinck would tend to him. It was the same doctor that tended to Jack. Ennis willingly accepted defeat. He walked with the doctor to a room.

"Where's Jack, is he okay? I need to see him."

"He's in a stable condition, but let me fix yer hand up first, before you see him, Mr. Del Mar." Ennis bitterly accepted the doctor's wishes. His voice was calm and Ennis didn't want to hurt another person that done no wrong.

"One more question…is he, is he awake?" Ennis blushed, and Dr. Clinck could see it. He looked into Ennis's eyes, with a don't worry, be happy face.

"I see how important he must be to you, is he family, or friend?" Ennis looked away from the doctor tending to his hand.

"Um…he's my brother-no he's not, he's my friend." Clinck sighed.

"Well, I think you should say he is yer brother, because when a person is in the ER, only family can see them." He smiled, and Ennis quivered. He forced a smile on his face. Only a true one will come if he saw Jack, alive and awake. So is he awake? The doctor sighed.

"No. Whoever beat him up, really took it to him hard. He's physically exhausted, he'll be asleep for a while. That reminds me, there is a sheriff coming to ask you a few question. Officer Townsky." Ennis rolled his eyes. Perfect, more shit. The doctor just laughed it off, as he added the stitches in Ennis's hand. Ennis couldn't help but imagine Jack being beaten by many faceless men. He almost gagged, but pushed it down.

"How didja manage this?" Ennis blushed more. I, I punched a window, jus' now." Clinck grimaced. "Not too smart." Ennis frowned and winced at the stitches being sown into his flesh. He never was good with pain.

"There you go. I will take you to Jack, and tell you all he suffered from." Ennis nodded. They made their way, but Ennis stopped in the hall of the hospital. Do ya have a shirt I can wear?

Ennis slipped on a yellow shirt. He hated yellow, and wondered how obvious he looked in the shirt. He just threw it out the window, though. It didn't matter; he was about to see Jack Twist, his love.

Ennis was led to Jack's room, room number 233. Him and Dr. Clinck stopped in front of the door and glared at a clipboard, showing Jack's description.

"He suffered a couple of broken rips, a couple of lacerations on his face-."

"Laceration? What's that? Its not serious is it?" The doctor put his hand on Ennis's shoulder.

"Calm down. A laceration is a technical name for a deep cut. Jack had several deep cuts on his face. All have been tamed. He also had busted lips, and one more thing." Dr. Clinck grabbed Ennis's shoulder harder and pulled him off to the side of the hall, leaned to him and whispered. His face was very grave. His voice came with a small buckle like he would break down.

"We always clean our patients when they're brought in. Well when we were cleaning Jack, we found several identifiable… semen samples on his body." Ennis felt the heavy punch. He glared with his mouth agate. He couldn't breathe. Damn those men, he wouldn't sleep till they were six feet under. He gave Dr. Clinck a broken look. A deadly stare too. Clinck reluctantly went on. "We also found many hair samples around his rectum. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you, Jack was raped." Ennis fell Indian style on the ground. This was too much; he rocked back and forth wanting to wash it all away.

"Why? Why? I can't take this anymore…its my fault, its my fault." The doctor kneed down to him and shushed him.

"Come on Ennis, its okay to cry. Let it all out." Ennis scowled at Clinck and sniffed his tears. He wiped his mouth, and his eyes.

"No, it ain't okay ta cry. Can, can I see him now?" Both men got their feet.

"Are you sure yer up to it? Its not a pretty sight, though we did clean him up." Ennis nodded. As ready as I will ever be. Dr. Clinck smiled and opened Jack's door.

The room was dark. Too dark. Ennis stepped in, being consumed into the shadows. The noise of machines attached to Jack was the air. And there he laid; his Jack. The Jack he had kissed many hours before was now in a hospital bed, having trouble breathing. Ennis was in some kind of trance. He just advanced, looking on the bruised face. His blue eyes did not light up the room, though it needed his touch. The smile was gone, Jack's aura that was usually so bright, was now evanescent. Ennis swiped a tear off his face and went to Jack's side. He looked peaceful, though having just been nearly beaten to death and….

"Ask for me if you need something. I'll be back when Sheriff Townsky arrives." Ennis nodded and Doctor Clinck shut the door. Finally, alone.

Ennis rubbed his hand on Jack's hair. How it felt so smooth and cold. He put his fingers through it, and traced the top of his head. Ennis brought a chair from nearby and placed it at Jack's side. He sat, staring at Jack's face, and watching his stomach move up and down with every significant breath. Ennis felt the droplets stinging. He wiped them away, but gave an auditable cry. He leaned in and softly kissed Jack's forehead like he had done several times. He left tears on Jack's head; it blended in with Jack's other problems. Ennis leaned back and crossed his arms. The self-hatred was coming back.

"My god Ennis, what kinda monster are you?" Ennis swallowed deeply. He smiled to himself, remembering all the time Jack had nurtured him in his times of need. Jack was like a mother, but Ennis didn't want to think of him as his mother. He chuckled, leaning his weight on the back of the chair. "I really fucked you up big time, didn't Ipal?" His lower lip quivered. He didn't want to say more, but he pushed the words out. This time the crying was prevalent. "You did good, babe." Ennis busted into a cry so loud it reached the hall. He put his head down on the bed next to Jack's hand. He desperately grabbed it and used it to warm himself. He sobbed till he was nearly asleep. How this whole day had been tiresome. It was only 3:00 in the afternoon, but Ennis felt like he just spent the day jogging.

"I'm so sorry 'bout Marla. Jack, I swear, if I wasn't drunk, I wouldn' of…." Ennis realized he was whispering to himself. He wiped yet more tears from his eyes and yawned. There was a loud knock on the door, and it slowly opened. Revealing Dr. Clinck.

"The sheriff is here ta speak with ya, Ennis." Ennis nodded in the hall light. He slowly got up; he took a glance back at Jack, laying alone in the darkened room. He left the room, and his heart.

"Do we have ta close the door?" Ennis began. He looked down in embarrassment. "Its just…if he wakes up, I don' want him ta be afraid." Ennis's lower lip quivered again, and was holding the tears back with all his might. Damn those tears to hell. Clinck smiled a wide smile.

"We can leave it open with a book, or better yet the clipboard," Dr. Clinck said. He took Jack's clipboard off the wall pocket and wedged it under the door. He looked up at Ennis and smiled when the door didn't close by itself. "You are way too hard on yerself. Lighten up, Ennis. All will be okay in the end." Jack had once told him the same thing. He smiled and followed Dr. Clinck to the lounge.

The lounge was a small room with many candy and pop machines. Even a cappuccino machine was present. A fat guy in uniform sat at a table in the middle of the room. He had a dark blonde mullet, and small green eyes. Townsky and Ennis shook hands and so did Clinck and the sheriff. Ennis was asked to take a seat across from the cop, and Clinck was dismissed from the room. He told Ennis he worked all night and if he needed anything, just to ask for him. Ennis smiled and shook his hand, even giving him a brief hug. Thanks for Jack. Ennis blushed deeply as Clinck exited the room. He retook his seat and sighed. He crossed his fingers on the table and listened to the cop.

"Okay yer Ennis Del Mar, and the fellows name is Jack Twist?" Ennis nodded, so far so good. "You guys live around here?" Ennis shifted in his seat. He knew he would have to open his heart and his mouth. He bit a fingernail energetically.

"No…me and him are from Wyomin'. I was born in Riverton; he's from Lightning Flat." Townsky's eyes narrowed.

"I was informed that ya two were brothers. Was I miss informed?" Ennis got real stiff. Think, think. He grabbed the right words and sword fought with them.

"Yeah, we are, but our parents were d-divorce. I lived with my mama, he lived with dad." Ennis smirked, proud that he could tell a smart lie. The sheriff bought it.

"Well, okay. Do you know of anyone that might have a grudge on you or Jack, or anyone in yer family?" Ennis thought for a second. "No, not that I know of." Ennis shifted again, avoiding the narrow eyes.

"Well, do you know of any motive that someone would use as a excuse against Jack or even you?" The question was fair. Ennis gulped. He didn't want to lie twice, but he definitely disagreed with telling the truth. He leaned back in the chair and glared at the lamb above. He took many breaths, before talking.

'Yes, no, no, I mean no." He blushed again. The sheriff stared him down. Ennis felt the weight beaming on his shoulders. Damn, this was it. He started to gather the words.

"Is it yes, or is it no?" Ennis wiped sweat off his brow, and sighed. Its…yes. Townsky gave him time this time. Ennis was offered money for a pop. He enthusiastically accepted it and put the change in the machine. He listened to the dime fall within. He just pushed one of the buttons and opened whatever it was and chugged it.

"Back to business. What is the motive 'xactly?" Ennis sat his cold drink on the table. He got the words, now he needed to run with them.

"You see…." No that was the wrong way to start, another breath another chug, another wipe of the mouth. "Okay, I'm just gonna lay it down. P-please let this be between me and you only." The sheriff shook his head. 'Well, Jack and me aren't really brothers. We're close, but…" He cleared his throat, took more fluid and gave the sheriff that look. The look in Ennis's face said it all. The sheriff nodded his head, I see. Ennis froze, relief and humiliation washed over him. He didn't feel like talking anymore. He just wanted to make it out of the hospital alive, with Jack under his arm.

"Ennis," The sheriff began, "do you think this attack was aimed at Jack because he's gay?"