Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Please don't sue me I'm poor.
The day after the police arrived the story about Athelstan's kidnapping was on the front page of every news paper. It became an instant internet scandal.
Athelstan had locked himself away in Ragnar and Lagertha's home. Not wanting to be hounded by people with camera's looking for a story.
Ragnar grew worried about Athelstan and decided to go and talk to him. He knocked on the bedroom door and waited for Athelstan to say something. He opened the door when Athelstan said come in.
"Hey" Ragnar said.
"Hey Ragnar"
"Are you alright?" Ragnar asked.
"I guess so" Athelstan replied.
'Not a good sign' Ragnar thought. He sat next to Athelstan on the bed and asked "Do you want to do something? Like play a board game?"
"No" Athelstan replied.
Athelstan sounded dull to Ragnar, which was understandable "Do you want anything to eat?" he asked.
"No" Athelstan replied. He scooted closer to Ragnar and leaned his head on his shoulder.
No more words were needed. Ragnar wrapped his arms around Athelstan to comfort him.
The two of them weren't sure how long they stayed like that until Lagertha came in and told them dinner was ready. They left the room and went to dinner. They tried to have a normal conversation with the kids but even they knew things were awkward.
An hour later Lagertha went to talk to Athelstan alone. She sat him down and said "You need help Athelstan. Professional help"
Athelstan looked at her sadly and said "I know. I'm not alright and I can't pretend to be"
Lagertha was glad Athelstan was accepting that he needed help, denying help wouldn't have been healthy "We'll see about getting you therapy after Ecbert's and Victor's trial" she said.
"Alright" Athelstan replied "What will happen during the trial?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, but I know Victor and Ecbert will lose everything" she replied "We'll make sure they do"
Athelstan smiled softly and believed her.
Days later after Victor and Ecbert were well enough to leave hospital they were both taken in for questioning. Both of them denied any involvement in Athelstan's disappearance but the overwhelming evidence the police had was enough to prove that they were lying.
The day of the trial come too soon for some and not soon enough for others. Everybody that was involved gave their part of the story and evidence to support them was presented. Even father Cuthbert was there. Eventually the trial came to an end, Victor and Ecbert were found guilty. They were sentenced to prison for thirty years each, with no parole or bail. Their companies and assets were seized to pay for Athelstan's therapy and compensation for damages.
A few days later and Athelstan was attending his first therapy session. He explained how he felt and looked at ink blot's before talking about what had happened to him. After the session Athelstan felt no different. He still felt anxiety in his chest and he was constantly looking over his shoulder for signs of danger. When Ragnar and Lagertha picked him up in their car he noticed they drove past his street.
"You've gone past the turn" Athelstan pointed out.
"No I haven't" Ragnar said.
"I want to go home" Athelstan said.
"We are going home" Ragnar replied.
"No, no my home. Back there. I can't be away from it anymore" Athelstan said sounding distressed.
"Calm down Athelstan" Lagertha said.
"Let me out! Let me out of the car!" Athelstan said as he pounded his fist against the car door.
"Alright, let me pull over" Ragnar said and quickly pulled over.
As soon as the car stopped Athelstan jumped out and ran to his home. He could hear Ragnar shouting behind him, but he ignored him and kept running. He unlocked his door, slammed it shut, collapsed to the floor and started to cry.
Ragnar and Lagertha got back in the car and drove to Athelstan's house. They could hear him on the other side of the door.
"Athelstan please open the door" Lagertha said "We can hear you"
"Leave me alone" Athelstan replied.
They would have tried to open the door themselves and stayed with him. But he really did need some time alone.
"Alright, we'll leave you alone, but please call us when you need us" Ragnar said. Regretfully he and Lagertha turned away and drove off.
Athelstan heard their car leave and felt his heart leave with them.
After a while Athelstan got off the floor and went upstairs. He opened the door to his siblings room and walked in. The smell of dust filed his nostrils and irritated his damp eyes. He looked at a dingy blue ball sitting on top of a set of drawers. Athelstan brought his hand closer to the ball, twitching back for moment before touching it with his index finger. He gently pushed the ball until it fell off the drawers. The ball landed with a thud on the carpet sending dust cloud into the air. Athelstan watched the dust cloud as the sound of his sister laughter echoed in his mind. He sighed sadly and left the room.
He never noticed how the silence in his house brought him loneliness. Was it time for him to change the way he lived his life?
The next day Athelstan phoned Ragnar and told him he had to go to therapy. During the drive neither of them spoke about what happened the day before. When they got to the therapy building Athelstan thanked Ragnar and left the car. Inside the office the therapist asked him about the incident. Athelstan didn't want to.
"I want to talk about something else" Athelstan said "Another trauma of mine"
"Alright we can talk about that if you want"
"It started when I learned most of my family had died..." Athelstan told the story of how his family had died and the problems that came with. He told him how he had left his families rooms over the years and how was feeling about it now.
"It sound like you're ready to move on Athelstan. I think you should take baby steps, until you're ready to make this transition" the therapist said.
"But if I move on, how will go on knowing I've for gotten them?" Athelstan asked.
"You won't forget them Athelstan. You will always have your memories of them even if you don't have their possessions" the therapist replied.
Athelstan understood what he was saying and would think about it. After the session Athelstan got into Ragnar's car. Now much was said again and Ragnar drove Athelstan home.
"Y-You can come back with me, you know?" Ragnar said.
"I know, but I need to do some things by myself" Athelstan replied. He thanked Ragnar and waved him goodbye.
Athelstan rummage through his kitchen drawer and took out a roll of black bin bags and gloves. He went upstairs and went into his siblings room. He reached out to pick up the ball he knocked on the floor yesterday, his hand trembled and he picked it up and put it in the bin bag. He couldn't believe he was starting to sweat.
The next thing he did was pick up one of his sisters socks that had gone gray with age and put it in the bin bag. He felt himself breathing harshly and he had to leave the room. After a few minutes he went back in. He picked up small objects and pieces of clothing until he had filled the bin bag. He tied up the bag on went outside. He stood outside the holding the big bag above the garbage bin until his arm got tired and he dropped it in. He went back inside and time seems to last forever. The temptation to go and bring the bin bag back in was like torture. He counted down the minuets until he went to bed.
When Athelstan went to his therapy session he told the therapist what he had done. The therapist said he had done well and should try to do it again when he was ready.
Athelstan went into his parents room next and filled another bin back full of useless items and threw then in the bin. He did a few breathing exercises to calm his nerves as he did. He wondered what his family would think if they knew he was throwing away all of their things. He scoffed at the idea of them being angry, they were dead after all.
Athelstan did this for a week until his bin became full and the day the bin men came he almost didn't put out his bin. He watched from the window as some of his family's belongings were thrown away and gone forever.