Chapter Twelve

Being in prison wasn't easy and the best day was always the last, James felt like he was on cloud nine. He felt like nothing he said now matters for he was leaving in under four hours and nobody in here would see him again. He sat opposite Brendan with the disgusting slop they called breakfast. James was smiling and gloating about this being his last day and how he's going to be on the outside again. Brendan had managed to keep his head down for the last day and a half that James has been in his company. Despite all the revelations about Steven; he was still living and that was enough for Brendan.

"Brendan; when I get out...do you want me to send your punchbag a 'get well card' while he's in a coma?" James asked without much throught.

Though the moment it was said; Brendan's heart shattered into a million pieces. Steven being well and living on the outside was the only thing keeping Brendan somewhat sane in here. That one piece of information have shattered that. Even James knew that he had done something very wrong as he noticed Brendan looking up at him. He went to leave however a frightened James was quickly grabbed and shoved onto the floor by an angry Brendan.

"What the Hell are you doing this for?!" Brendan yelled; placing himself on top of a quivering James.

His hands grabbed onto James' neck as the Irishman began to choke him. The police guards rushed over so quickly. Several of them began to pull Brendan off a petrified James though the Irishman had such a tight grip on the man's neck; it was difficult. With a total of three guards; he was taken away. Making James suddenly throw up as he laid on the floor.

"Let me kill the son of a bitch!" Brendan bellowed with so much anger.

Never before has James seen such uncontrollable anger, he watched Brendan being forcefully removed and no doubt put back in solitary confinement. He began to cough as he was still laying on the floor in shock. If they were out in the normal world then James had no doubt he would have been killed. A guard bent down to him to check that he was okay; James just nodding.

...

Though back in the village; Steven has just awoken from his coma; he looked at his surroundings. He was back in hospital and his attempt didn't work, he broke down in tears; wondering what he had done to deserve this. Leela walked in to see her brother crying as she gave him a hug.

"Why am I still here?" Ste asked through tears; keeping a tight hold onto Leela.

"You are still here because your kids need you" Leela told him, trying to make him see reason and sense.

Though all the drugs and the fact he has just woken up were clouding his judgement. He could barely think.

"But I don't wanna be here" Ste cried.

Making tears come down Leela's cheeks; never before has she seen him such a bad state. Things have taken a big toll on him.

"Your kids needs you; your family needs you Ste...you have so much to live for" Leela tried to tell him.

"Is she still here? Cheryl?"

Leela shook her head.

"I need Brendan...can you go and get him?" Ste then asked her.

Almost as if he thought it was that easy. Leela looked at him with sadness in her eyes, she wondered if he even knew what he was saying right now.

"I wish I could"

"Tell him I'm asking for him; please, I can't handle this anymore"

"It's your brain going funny Ste; you don't know what you're saying"

"No...it's not; send him a letter or something; tell him I wanna see him" Ste pleaded.

...

Brendan had been taken down below to solitary confinement again however unlike previous times, he was not at all calmed down by the loneliness. He kept knocking on the door again and again; kicking at it for all he wanted to do was get out. He was banging at the door until his knuckles were bloody.

"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!"

Having reached boiling point; he was venting out every single nasty thing he wanted . Feeling like a rat in a cage; he kept kicking and banging at the door every time it refused to open for him.

"You won't stop me from getting to Steven!"

He walked over towards the thick window which had bars on the outside of it. His last attempt resulted in him trying to punch through it with his bare hands. He yelled out in pain and sat on the bed; nursing his own bloody and broken hand. He wrapped the pillowcase around his hand; feeling hopeless.

...

James was sitting on the bus meanwhile with nothing but a bin bag. He had finally left prison yet his last encounter was something he couldn't forget. The scars on his neck were very visible. Never before has he seen such anger. The bus stopped outside Hollyoaks village and he noticed Harry waiting for him. He felt his arms wrap around him; Harry noticed the scars on his neck.

"What happened?" Harry asked him with concern.

Though James could hardly reply for he was still in shock from the sudden impact of the strangulation.

"I don't wanna talk about it"

"Come on James; no more secrets"

"I said I don't wanna talk about it" James hissed; making his younger boyfriend tut.

"Why? Was it that bad?"

Harry placed his arm around James as they began to walk away from the bus stop. Though the mood was sour.

"Yes, It was that bad" James replied...he paused slightly before giving holding back onto Harry, saying..."I never seen such anger"

Though this just confused the young man even further.

...

TBC