On the Edge of Wakefulness, Part 3

Chapter 29

He demanded for her to talk, to tell him she was whole, sane. She curled into his tight embrace, knees up to protect the little one. She said over and over that she was okay, that she was fine. He patted her body, checking for blood or broken bones, listening for pain. Caressing her clammy cheek, he hissed through clamped teeth, "Stupid, stupid..."

Keeping an eye out for more attacks, Todd searched the blackness for a bat coming at them, or worse. He shook his head, trying to clear the dark images in his head, to quell the choking anger he felt towards his own son. Thoughts like that put people away. Forever. He touched the side of his head, where it hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, pain equaled by rising nausea. God damn it, he probably had a concussion. When he looked at his hand, he saw blood. The moonlight made the blood black. He rubbed his hand on his jeans, pressed his cheek against Téa's warmish head.

She made her voice calm and serious because when it came down to it, she'd always be his lawyer first. She said, "You have to check those kids, check them to make sure they're okay." She felt his body stiffen. Her fingers dug into his cold flesh when he didn't respond. "Do you hear me, Manning?!"

The voice that returned her ire was cool, low, and emotionless. "You're all that matters. I'm driving you to the hospital. Let's get the hell outta here."

He moved to get up but she turned away and pushed herself off him. "Check them! NOW!" Her hand pressed on her belly, she hunched over, glaring at him. "So help me god, I will say this was your fault if you don't do what I tell you."

As if he'd been asked to pick up dog shit with his teeth, he stood to his full height. "It's not like we have a lot of time, Delgado."

"If something's happened to those kids, THEY don't have a lot of time." Her gaze was determined, insistent. Classic Téa priority. Isn't that what he loved about her?

Staring down at her, he growled, "I can't promise to treat them well if they're still breathing."

"Todd…please…"

Téa sat with her back against the truck's tire, breathing evenly, searching the brush, the open space beyond. Stars shone down on them, a beautiful sight. The chilly breeze ushered a thrill of fear that ran along her face, her hair. The night was quiet. In the distance though she could hear cars on a highway, shivering trees and shrubs. The rushing current of the New River kept time with her heartbeat. She dragged her feet closer to her bottom, keeping her knees up and her hands against her belly. Fact was, she knew she wasn't hurt beyond being terrified. Yes, yes, things felt okay, normal. They'd only hit her in the diaphragm, knocking the wind out. They hadn't touched the baby. Despite the obvious relief, she was afraid, still. She understood why Todd didn't want to call the cops.

They'd lynch him. He'd already made quite the splash in Fayetteville with Brandy's death. With the Federal agent's death. If something serious happened to those kids…

Returning to her, he grumbled, "Get in the truck first, then I'll check."

Téa agreed, climbing inside and getting into the back seat where there wasn't as much glass from the broken window. Her cell was on the floor. She picked it up and slipped it under her thigh. She'd do the calling if she had to, if Todd couldn't maintain himself. She reached for him and held his hand, "I'm okay. The baby is fine. They didn't hurt me."

"They wanted to. He wanted to."

He. Meaning Jed.

Pulling out of her grasp, he slammed shut the door. He walked around to the other side of the truck, to the back end. Just as he was about to reach for the tire jack that lay waiting for him, that he could use against evil fucks that were still alive, a shock of pain hammered his head and he grabbed the side of the truck to keep from falling. When the intense thumping subsided, he bent over and vomited. Wiping spittle from his mouth as he worked to catch his breath, he watched the stars, twinkling and oblivious to the hell below. Sounds and light whirled around him and for a moment he wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. For a second, he was whisked back into the depths of crazy, where the last he remembered he was walking and walking, unable to find the way out, the way up, the way into the real and true and goodness of heaven and earth. He remembered the Spirit telling him he'd finally forgiven himself.

Had he?

Things settled and he reached inside the bed, loosening free the jack. Held the thing firmly in his fist. Walked to the driver's side of the truck where his last attacker lay in a heap. He nudged the kid's body with his foot, making the kid groan.

"This one's still alive, goddamnit."

He turned and saw another kid, a black-haired raven one sitting up, nursing his head and knees, staring at Todd. Mute. Scowling.

"We got a really alive one over here." Todd pointed at him with the tire jack, saying softly, "You move one inch and I will kill you. Hear me?"

Todd turned again and kicked at the brush surrounding the truck, looking all over for the others. Standing once again in front of the Raven, he demanded, "Where are they? I got five of you and now there are just two. Where are the other three?"

"Fuck you."

In one swoop, Todd stomped over to the kid, lifted him to his feet, and demanded, "Talk now or I'm gonna show you hurt like nothing you ever known before."

The raven only laughed, "What, you think a threat's gonna scare me? A little pain?" The kid gazed at Todd, the emptiness evident. A recognizable soullessness. "I been through way worse than you." He chuckled again, a forced whimper following when Todd shook him to make a point.

The boy hit the ground, falling on a bum knee. Todd eyed him, taking him in, reassessing his strategy. The kid sat up again, rubbing his wounds. He spit at Todd, the slime landing on Todd's shoes.

Squatting down, the jack dug into the dirt providing support, Todd spoke, his voice smooth as syrup. "See your friend over there? He's in deep shit. Bad concussion. If he doesn't get help, his brain's gonna swell. He'll go into a coma. Then he'll die or end up a vegetable. Damn shame, don't ya think?"

The kid swept the scene behind Todd, stopping at Nelson. Returning his gaze to Todd, he took in the tight muscles, the ink up and down his arms, and true deadness in his eyes. Blood alongside his jaw didn't help. The bad scar on the other side confirmed the picture.

This guy would hurt him. He saw something else, too. The coloring, the shape of his face. The long nose. Familiarity. The boy narrowed his eyes. Yeah, yeah…he couldn't believe he didn't notice it before. The guy looked like Jed. A lot like him. No way was this guy a Fed. Suddenly, Jed tearing out of the dark trying to chase everyone away made sense. This guy meant something to Jed. So why didn't he tell any of them the truth?

Todd's voice pulled Raven's attention. "You can help your friend, you know. My wife, who you nearly killed, will call an ambulance despite what you all have done. The cops will come. Paramedics. Light up the fuckin' night with Red Cross salvation. Your friend can get the help he needs. All you have to do is tell me where your other buddies went."

The boy swallowed hard, keeping his eyes on an unmoving Nelson. He wiped his face. The others had taken off when this guy went nuts on Nel. Took off like bats outta hell, not looking back either. Bastards. The story played out like a movie. Todd grinned. Catching on. The kid looked away.

"Some friends, eh? Really got your back. Really got your friend's back. Really deserve all this…loyalty."

"What are you gonna do to them?"

Todd licked his lips, sniffed. "Nothin'. Just talk."

"You were looking for Jed, earlier. You and your woman. Before you fucked in the truck." The corner of the boy's mouth twitched. The bare beginnings of a smirk. He whispered, "You really gave it to her good."

Todd kept his face expressionless, but inside, the invasion of privacy stung. Reminded him of his stupidity. His failure to keep Téa safe. His hand curled into a fist. He stopped himself from whacking the kid hard across the mouth. Anger shifted in the base of his brain, firing outwards, intensifying the pain. Jed once again lay at the receiving end of nasty, hate-filled images. He had to keep the crazy at bay. He had to. He breathed in through his nose, raised his eyes. Crazy…crazy. The son of his father. A child-turned-rapist. Where sex was just another branch of violence. He smiled like a Cheshire-cat, knowing teenage male sensitivity.

"You liked watching, huh? What got you hotter…the chick getting fucked…or the guy doing the fucking?"

The kid shoved Todd hard to the ground, but couldn't do much more than that, thrown into a state of instant hurt.

The aggressive act though tripped the crazy again, madness flourishing, blowing up in beautiful Technicolor. Todd scrambled over, grabbed the kid by the shirt front and slammed him onto his back, on the ground. He straddled the kid, his hands around the kid's throat. He cursed as he adjusted his hands, no future in sight, no plans, just relief.

"You fuckin' shit," he spat.

A hard stick got shoved into his ribs and made him buckle up to the side, tears fiery hot and the taste of dirt in his mouth. The fall split his head, pain blowing up. When he looked up through the haze, his Téa stood there, holding the tire jack, protecting the kid.

He rasped with hurt, "The hell is the matter with you?!"

"With ME?! What the hell is the matter with YOU?! He's a CHILD!"

Todd curled up tightly, pressing his cheek flush against the cool ground, growling out, "Children of the fucking corn." New pain worked to settle him and rationality flowed into his head. He huffed, "Just wanted him to tell me where Jed is, that's all, okay? Jesus Christ…Delgado…why you have to hurt me, huh?"

He rubbed his head against the ground, seeking respite. The hot shock began to wear off and he rolled over onto his back, staring upwards and panting like an overheated Doberman.

Sensing an odd island of safety, the boy crawled away some, sitting up, rubbing his throat and breathing hard. He asked cautiously, "What do you all want with Jed?"

Téa turned to him and contemplated what to say. After a second or two she felt maybe a twisted version of the truth would work. "He's my stepson and, believe it or not, we're trying to protect him from the police. If they get to him before we do…" She sighed and then looked at the boy earnestly, putting on her sincerest, most compassionate of personas. "Please," she said, "we're not here to hurt him. Do you know where he is?"

Raven held his head in his hands, keeping his eyes on Todd who had finally gotten to his feet. He stooped slightly, his arms wrapped around himself.

The boy asked, "You gonna report all this to the cops?"

Téa glanced over at Nelson who was clearly the leader of the group. He was stirring and Téa was worried that once the kid roused, he'd shut the black-haired boy down hard.

"No," Todd said.

"You gonna hurt my friends?"

Todd licked his lips and rubbed his head, eyeing Téa. She flashed him a warning expression. He shook his head finally.

"I won't hurt your friends."

"You'll call Nelson an ambulance?"

"Yes," Téa assured him.

The boy, suddenly more a boy than he'd been all night, whispered, "Abandoned factory, down the road about two miles. The second one along the river, not the first. Drake's Tool and Dye."

At that, Téa dialed 9-1-1.


Todd drove slowly, moving along dark roads alongside the river, Téa at his side, sirens sounding out in the distance. The headache worsened and blood leaked down his neck. He was really queasy, too. He chuckled to himself, disbelieving their "good" luck.

"Let's go to the motel," Téa urged, "get cleaned up. Todd…maybe you need the hospital."

"If I never see another doctor in my life…" He paused. "Unless you think you need to see a doctor. The baby…"

"I'm good. The baby's fine. They didn't hurt me. Nothing more than knocking the wind out of me."

The motel wasn't far and even though this would be the time to corral Jed, the thought of sheets, a hot shower, a ton of aspirin, and sleep sounded a bit too good. At least for an hour or so. He pulled onto the main drag and within moments came to a hard stop in a parking stall at the motel. Todd got out and came around to Téa's side. He opened the door and held his hand out, whispering, "I'm sorry. So…damned sorry."

She smiled sadly, "We're a mess. Can't save Jed looking like this."

The room smelled like the river, musty, green, a hint of mildew. Open windows added to the humidity. When Téa turned on the light to get a look at Todd, she winced at the blood, grew cold at how pale he was.

"You don't look good," she said.

She pushed him to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, wetting it. He sat on the counter, looking downwards. Let her clean up the hurt. An impossible task, really. His hurts ran deep. He grabbed her into his arms, the towel falling to the ground. He said softly into her ear, "Have you really come back to me?"

She pulled back slightly, "We were ambushed tonight, we could have been really hurt. Jed is out there. God only knows what he's going through. And this is what you're thinking about?"

He nodded. Added, "Tell me."

"I can't even think beyond the next two minutes." He made puppy-dog eyes at her and she relented, "Yes, I'm here. Right now. Do you see me?"

"Téa, the crazy's coming back. I feel it." He wasn't looking at her, but rather at his shoes. At imagined black granite beneath, like before, like from way before. He lifted an arm and studied the scar that ran along the length of his forearm. He wished he hadn't survived the cutting. Fuck, he was crashing hard. Dangerous times. Téa picked up the towel. Finished cleaning the blood.

"Does it hurt? The 'crazy'?"

He shook his head. He took her face into his cool hands, "Are you okay, Delgado? Really? For sure? Thoughts went through me…I thought maybe…maybe they killed you."

"I'm fine. I promise you. I would know. I would. We had a very close call. Those kids... but things are okay. You kept them away from me. You saved us."

"You didn't seem very thankful when you stuck me."

"Well…someone had to think rationally."

Kissing her forehead first, he walked away from her, heading to the corner of the room. When he got next to the bed, in between the bed and the wall, deep in the shadows of the room, he turned and collapsed to the floor, head down, arms around his knees. Somewhat protective of his head. He used to do this in the old days and it always felt good. Safe. Nobody could get to him here with his back to the corner.

Téa sat on the bed next to him. Asked gently, hesitantly, "You want me to call Tim?"

"No. I'm just gonna close my eyes. Just…just a little while. I gotta headache." After a moment, he lifted his head once again. "When I get to him, I'm gonna kill him."

He put his head back down and Téa swallowed hard. A part of her believed him. She didn't like what she was seeing. It did occur to her that he had a concussion and he shouldn't sleep. She vowed to wake his in twenty.

The dark feels good, the plaster-covered cool feels safe, he said to himself. The crazy can come now. With that thought, the woodsy scent of the spirit flowed all around him while Satan's laughter filled his head. The sounds of past horrors boomed behind a closed door. Darkness once again pulled him under, and with that, he twisted the doorknob of the pulsing wood, walked into the white light of madness.


Téa curled up on the bed, her hand loosely on Todd's arm. She watched him sleep, watched him twitch and jerk as he made his way through a hell she couldn't see. A fine sheen of sweat had broken out over his body. He made little noise, though. Silently battled those old demons of his.

When he settled, after about thirty minutes, knowing he shouldn't sleep, letting him do it anyway, she pulled out her cell and phoned Viki. Woke her up. Apologized and filled her in on what happened. Asked her to make some calls, get an update on the kids from the ambush. If possible. She didn't want to risk calling herself. Though shocked by the events of the night, after giving a solid lecture on the dangers of chasing gypsy kids outside the law, Viki didn't waste any time in getting back to Téa.

"A couple of kids were brought into the Fayetteville emergency room," she said, "they're relatively unscathed though. They refuse to give any information to the police. So at this point, nothing's happening."

"You're a lifesaver."

"How are you, Téa? You should get checked out by a doctor. Don't take risks with that precious baby of yours."

Téa laughed quietly, "No worries, Viki. This child is as much a survivor as the parents. Both of them."

"I suppose you're right. But please…no risks okay?"

"No risks."

Téa had woken him up every thirty minutes after the phone call with Viki. Midnight had now hit and Téa got up. Todd had slipped all the way to floor on his side, curled tight as a lima bean. Tight against the wall. When Téa shook him a little, he didn't respond. She got a bit nervous and she shook him again. He opened his eyes, muttered he was ok, and went back to sleep. She showered and dressed. Set her alarm for one hour. For him.

She was going to Jed. Before the 'crazy' woke up and got to him before she could stop him.


The truck rolled quietly along the blackened roads and Téa's heart beat louder than the engine roared. She came to Drake's Tool and Dye and not surprisingly, flickering lights lit up the rear of the building. Amazing that this place hadn't been long ago raided. She remembered though Bo Buchanan once telling her that throw-away kids were sometimes unofficially left as fodder for the rapists and killers. Anything to keep the bad guys away from kids who actually had a chance in this world.

She rolled the truck to a stop. She tilted the rear view mirror to take a look at herself.

"Nice look, Delgado." Her eyes were puffy with lack of sleep, her cheeks slightly hallowed from lack of food. The brown irises though were bright with determination. She was going to get to Jed first. She was going to drag him to safety even if it killed her. She petted the baby, "No, I don't mean that literally."

She closed the truck's door, the click seeming loud and intrusive. Stopping for a minute to be sure nobody heard her, stillness reverberated around her. Assured, she began her walk through the weeds growing unkempt alongside the abandoned factory. A horror movie would have had music playing, warning the viewers of the monsters inside the building. She knew this was nuts, "crazy." But Jed needed her, needed a safe person to catch him. Todd wasn't it.

Windows no longer filled the spaces that protected the inside from the elements. Through the empty holes, the sight lit up by a shining moon, Téa froze with the sound of a man and a woman. Their noise was primal, raw. She turned and peered through the window-frame, seeing a couple having sex on the floor. They were going at it, heatedly, unloving. They were young. The man, his brown hair twisted into swinging dreadlocks, stopped and flipped over the female, jamming himself into her, continuing in an unforgiving rhythm. The woman, lying helplessly on her belly, saw Téa and held her gaze a moment. Téa couldn't tell if the girl was asking for help. The girl, looking horrifyingly like Brandy, dropped her head down and grabbed a pole rising up out of the cement, saying nothing, lifting her ass for better access. Téa turned away and kept her move through the weeds towards the lights.

She came to more glassless window spaces and the inside was lit up by candles and gas lamps. The kids were lying around, some familiar faces. They were smoking and eating. They were involved in a tense conversation. Téa ducked down where she could see and hear, hidden. Her eyes followed the line of ten or so kids until she stopped at Jed. Her heart ached at the sight of him, changed for the worse. He was thinner than she remembered, his hair dyed black, longish. His face looked drawn and angry. She wanted nothing more than to sweep in there and take him away.


Joaquin growled, "You're pissed at us? You got some nerve, asshole, since this was basically your idea!"

"Up until I saw the guy was a lunatic!"

Joaquin, Brent, and Kelly were still in serious pain from getting their asses handed to them with their own instrument of terror, Nelson's favorite metallic baseball bat. Kelly piped up, directing his words at Jed, "Who the hell was he anyway? He wasn't any Fed, that was for fuckin' sure."

"Yeah," Smith said, "you see those tats on him? No Fed wears that kind of shit."

Kelly added, "And did I mention he was a freak, all crazy and shit?"

Jed didn't say anything, shrugging. Goddamn it, he was sick over the whole thing. Especially Téa. She didn't deserve that. Smith had laid a good punch on her, knocking her down and out. They searched for her "gun." Of course, they hadn't found anything. All they got when they were done with her was Satan's crazy on a platter. God…damn it. Nelson had to be dead. Nobody survives that kind of head-slamming.

Joaquin got up and stood toe-to-toe with Jed, looking down at him. "Who the fuck is he, Chant?"

"Hell if I know." Jed yanked the blanket harder over his shoulders, tying and retying his shoes. Old-style, tall Converse canvas shoes he'd picked up from a thrift shop.

"Bullshit. I couldn't help but notice a strange, un-fuckin'-canny resemblance between you and the Freak. Not to mention that you came out of fuckin' nowhere warning Nelson to quit before the guy even laid a hand on us. How'd you know he was gonna tear us new assholes, huh?"

Swallowing hard, Jed shook his head and stood up, nose to nose with his compadre. "I heard him shouting like a madman – he was obviously crazy. Crazy people KILL. You don't gotta be related to a nutcase to recognize one. You just have to be smart enough to get the hell outta there. Which you weren't!"

"Fuck you, asshole!"

"No…bitch…fuck YOU!" The two started throwing punches before Lucy and Kelly got in between them.

"Stop! Stop!"

Panting hard, the two boys separated at last, staring each other down. Lucy had a hand on the chests of both boys, trying to bring in some sense. "Listen! We can't do this. We don't even know if Nelson and Grits are okay. We've totally wasted the past two hours on this crap. You said they got it pretty bad from that guy, whoever he is. We need to figure out how to help them and you fighting isn't gonna get that done!"

Brent and Jed looked at each other, Brent then adding, "I told you, Freak bashed the hell out of Nelson. Nelson fell…a lot of fucking blood, man. He wasn't moving. That's when Jed and I split. I don't know that we can help him. Or Grits either."

"Exactly," Lucy said, "I mean…did the cops come?"

They all shrugged.

"Maybe we need to call…"

Joaquin lit up, "You as crazy as the Freak. What are we gonna do, Luc…walk up to a cop and ask about our friend who got the shit beat out of him when we mugged a Freak? Or…or…maybe roll into emergency, all beat up and shit, and ask THERE about our friend who got the shit beat out of him when we mugged a FREAK!"

Kelly giggled, "That's so funny."

Everyone turned on him, "Shut up!"

"Well it is. Funny. All unrealistic."

Jed plopped back down on his haunches and lit up a blunt. There just wasn't anything to do right now. He needed to be high. The special stuff was in this one. His eyes welled with tears, thinking about Téa. He had so betrayed her. The worst part was…she saw him. Stared at him straight up. She knew what he'd done. Which meant…that the Freak…that Satan…he knew it, too.

The rest of the kids scattered, Lucy shoving everyone out.

God…damn…it. He thought maybe he should get out of town. But first…he needed to get high some more because he really wanted to forget what happened tonight. He really needed to forget the sound of Todd's strained, beyond-angry voice, the sight of him bashing Nelson. He remembered all too well when Todd did a similar thing to him, when he pushed Jed hard against the wall after he had flushed his stash of dope. He remembered too the very first time he met Todd, up close and personal in the hospital. He also knew what he did to Philip. He didn't like that guy, Satan in the flesh. Not…one…bit. He breathed in deeply the tainted smoke. He fell back and let himself go.

"You sure ain't no Superman, Pops."

Lucy heard that and looked at a still-stewing Joaquin across the room, leaning against ancient, dead machinery. Maybe he was right. She got in close to Jed, who shuddered from the delicious high he'd welcomed into his system.

"Jed, baby, who was the Freak?"

Jed opened his eyes to Lucy. She made him miss Summer intensely. He reached out to her and patted her darkened hair. Like Summer, she was the one who blackened his hair. She was the one who tattooed him, tattooed the word, "Gypsy" across his back. 'Cuz that's what he was. He had no home anymore. He fit in…nowhere. The room had quieted. Lucy kissed Jed's full lips.

"Tell me," she said, "Who…was…the Freak?"

"A stranger, a drug-addicted rapist who's nobody to me. He'd like to be, he thinks he's my father. But he's not. He's nobody. Not to me."

Lucy eyed Joaquin across the way who cursed and threw something across the room, the echo of the thing banging against the ceiling stories up. They all knew that if this guy was related to Jed, he wasn't going to stop coming after Jed. That would put all of them at serious risk of jail or juvenile hall. The end of everything.

Jed had to go. And sometimes that meant the cold depths of the river.


Téa swallowed hard when a hand grabbed a handful of hair.

"Get up, bitch."

She stood slowly and found herself facing the one who had demanded Jed to tell them who the "Freak" was. He dragged her around the corner and into the dimly lit room, pushing her into the center.

Jed took one look and shot to his feet, "The hell…?"

Joaquin walked around Téa, shaking his head, "You always sneak around people's houses? Look into their windows?"

"I was looking for someone," Téa said, her eyes firmly on Jed.

"I don't like it," the young man growled. He walked close to her and grabbed her hair again, Téa shrinking from the pain, "Who is she, Chant? This the bitch who was fuckin' the Freak, ain't it? This the bitch we knocked down, no?"

"Jed…" Téa breathed out heavily.

"Let her go, man," Jed said in a deep, low voice.

"Not until you tell me everything."

"Let her go and I'll tell you what you wanna know. It isn't anything big."

"I don't know… she likes this I think." He yanked her hair and she yelped. He leaned in close, "You liked it rough with the Freak, didn't you? Maybe you'd like it rough with me."

Jed repeated, "Let her go!"

Joaquin pushed Téa toward Jed, and he caught her, his face apologetic. She stood up straight, rubbing her head where the hair had been pulled.

"Hello Jedediah," she said. "Long time no see."

He bent his head and shook it, embarrassed.

"Talk, asshole," Joaquin growled.

Jed took a breath and, still looking at Téa, explained the best he could.

"The Freak is my bio-father. I haven't known him for long. He's come for me and I don't know why. This is his wife, my stepmom. She's a good person."

He looked at her and Téa suddenly saw a horrible similarity in his eyes that Todd once had. She could be wrong, but she would swear she was looking at heroin-eyes. She reached for his face and caressed it. He looked away, back at Joaquin. "She's decent and you need to fuckin' apologize to her."

"I ain't apologizin' to shit. She owes US an apology for sneakin' around, for getting her Freak husband to nearly kill Nelson and all the rest of us."

Téa flew to him, "You attacked us! You hurt me! What did you expect?! You think everyone just lies down and lets you get away with murder?!"

Jed grabbed Téa, pulling her back from Joaquin. Lucy stepped in front of Joaquin though and slapped Téa hard. Téa gasped and a hand shot up to her reddened cheek. Before Jed could move to get back at the girl, Téa kept him in place with her body not wanting this to escalate. If such a thing could be prevented.

"Don't you talk to him like that," Lucy hissed. "You aren't anybody here. You're in our world now. And you…are an intruder."

Téa forced herself to calm and offered through a clenched jaw, "Look, I just came for Jed. He's all I want."

Kelly giggled, "Right. Like you're not going to walk out of here and call the cops on us."

"Are they here now? I'm here alone…if I was going to call them, they'd be raiding this place! Throwing all of you in juvie. Or jail."

Brent chimed in, "She's right. Maybe she's on the up and up."

The other kids all said, "Shut up, Brent."

"Shit…just sayin'."

Joaquin moved in closer to Téa, "Where's the Freak? How come he's not here?"

Téa stood tall, her chin out, "You hurt him. He's down for the count. It's only me."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Trust me, he isn't coming." She sighed, turning to Jed. "We were here to protect you. The police ARE looking for you, Jed. They want you to testify against Todd. They know what they want you to say and they'll make you say it their way. Your father…he only wanted to assure you that it was okay to tell the truth just as you know it. Whatever happens with that truth, happens. He was only trying to protect you."

Jed looked at the ground, wishing this night never happened. Feeling cornered as hell. He was afraid and that was a fact. Afraid of the cops, afraid of Todd, afraid…afraid…

"Did he kill Brandy?"

Téa's mouth dropped a little, not sure what to say. Jed explained, "I read an article. He's no good, Téa. Maybe I should just go to the cops. Let them put him in prison. For life maybe."

Joaquin didn't let Téa answer, "Oh like hell you are."

The other kids were wary, Téa saw in the distance, watching quietly. The sex-kids had wandered in, too. They were wrapped up with each other, hugging, one in front, the other in back. Dressed, now. They eyed the show. Curious. The girl was…so much like Brandy. A younger version. Téa pulled her gaze away from those haunted eyes.

Jed had stepped in front of Téa, protectively. "What do you want, Joaquin? You think I can't take you on? Any of you? Wanna try me?"

"Forget about him. What about givin' ME another shot?"

Todd's voice boomed across the dry floor and the kids slowly backed off. They all heard the stories about the night, and here he was. Crazy as ever.

Joaquin turned to the Freak looking a wee bit ragged around the edges, but no less dangerous than earlier. Dressed all in black, t-shirt and jeans, his hair hanging loose, he said, "Nice party."

He looked right at Téa and shook his head, "Seriously, woman. The fuck are you doing here? Taking my truck and comin' without me?"

Téa smiled a bitter, careful smile, her hand resting on Jed's shoulder. "Just picking up your son for you."

Jed hissed, "He isn't my father. My father wasn't a killer, my mom wasn't in love with a fuckin' animal."

"Well, welcome to the real world, Jedediah. Your mom WAS in love with an animal. She just didn't know it yet." Todd strolled towards Joaquin. He patted his chest hard, "So…you gonna take me on? I can see now…it'll be way…fairer."

Two steps closer and he smiled a grin that didn't reach his eyes. He said, "Marco."

Joaquin remembered the game they played when they realized the Freak had been blinded by the bat's hit. He shook his head slightly, unsure where the game was going now. He looked for back-up, finding nothing.

One step more and like the Doberman he was, he bared his teeth, and said, "Polo."

With that he reached back and slammed his fist so hard into Joaquin the kid went flying across the floor, evoking a cacophony of shouts and outrage. But nobody dared come close to Todd.

Except Jed. He grabbed Todd's shoulders and said, "Please…don't."

When Todd finally looked into Jed's eyes, Jed let go, stepping back. Satan was...very present.

Jed sighed, "Jesus."

"Not quite," Todd said. "So tell me, what did you think, you could bring on your posse and get away with a full frontal assault? What did you think? You could have killed us."

"I didn't know it was you until it was too fuckin' late!"

Todd shot his hands towards Jed and grabbed him by the throat, Téa careening forwards, screaming at him to quit, hitting him on the back and shoulder. After only seconds, Todd did let go like Jed had suddenly gotten fiery hot. Todd was all contained rage, his fists tight now, his mind barely whole.

Téa was between the two of them when suddenly Todd reacted to something, his head jerking towards the sound. Joaquin was back, blood dripping down his face, with a gun cocked and pointed at Jed.

"You touch any of us again, and I'll kill him, I swear to God."

Téa and Jed froze, eyes large and disbelieving. Todd ran his hand through his hair, pushing the locks out of his face, the light of the factory revealing the ugly scar that ran along his cheek. Joaquin eyed the deep, scarred-over cut. He suddenly noticed the scars on his forearms as well. His gaze moved back to the Freak's icy, hazel-colored eyes.

"You really gonna use that thing?" Todd said. "You don't have the guts. You're a weasel."

"Try me," the kid growled, pointing the gun closer to Jed.

"Pull the trigger then."

Téa groaned angrily, "Todd…"

"Go ahead, bitch, pull the trigger."

"Stop it!" Téa shouted.

Joaquin swallowed, unnerved by Todd's coolness.

"But he's your kid, ain't he? Don't you care?"

Todd smiled, "Look at me. Look real fucking close. Do I look like someone who cares?"

Jed grew tired of the stand-off. He'd been here before – he himself stood once with a gun pointed at Todd. Joaquin would never shoot. And if he did, Jedediah was the one who didn't care. He sighed and asked again, "Did you kill Brandy, Pops? Like the paper said?"

The kids had split, abandoning the fight. The truth was they didn't want to get caught, they didn't feel that much of an allegiance to each other. They all scattered to the four winds, other than a few curious observers. Self-preservation was the name of their game. The silence flowed all over.

Joaquin looked at the three of them like they were all insane. They were. He stood there with a gun and none of these three FREAKS thought much of it.

Looking at his kid, his mind broken as it had been since he was a kid, since Peter had stolen his soul, Todd said coolly, "Yeah, Jed, I hurt her and she died. Just like the paper said. Sorry, son. I know you liked her. I know you felt sorry that you didn't get a chance to fuck her. I know she wanted to fuck you."

Téa cringed, "My god, Todd…what the hell?!" Jed looked at Téa for help, for something. She then spat, "What do you think, Jedediah Chant? Do you really think he killed her?"

"The hell is wrong with all of you?! I have a gun!"

Téa, Jed and Todd glanced at Joaquin as if he'd appeared out of thin air. Téa looked at him, "Put the gun down. You're not going to use it. You're not even making sense about how you're using it." Téa pointed at Todd. "Why wouldn't you just shoot him? He's the obvious target. He's the bad guy! HE is!"

Todd blinked, "Nice support there, Delgado."

"What? You'd rather he shoot Jed?"

"Is that a trick question? 'cause I think the answer's obvious."

Joaquin's mouth dropped open.

Todd turned back to Jed, finding his demeanor interesting. There was a familiar disconnectedness. Ignoring the gun, he ambled to Jed. Took in the vision of him, head to foot. He grabbed the boy's chin so he could look into his eyes. His features registered a sudden realization.

"Are you kidding? Didn't you learn from my mistakes? You on smack now?!" Todd laughed. He laughed a little harder, throwing Joaquin into a confused horror.

Jedediah glanced around, eyes a little wild, trying to deny it. "No—"

"Oh that's just fuckin' beautiful. Like father like son…after all the shit you gave me. You're a goddamn hypocrite." Todd wiped his eyes, tears of laughter having formed there.

Jed said nothing before Todd swung to a still-shocked Joaquin and grabbed the gun by the barrel, yanking it right out of his hand. He flipped it and held it to Joaquin's head, hissing, "You coulda hurt yourself with this thing, you little shit."

The boy lost his nerve and eyed Todd who hissed, "Now, you're gonna leave us alone. You're gonna take your fucked-up friends and walk away. You hear me?"

The kid tore away, knowing bad things only come from types like these. Todd eyed Jed once again as he stuck the gun in his back waistband of his jeans.

"You gonna answer my question? You doing smack now?"

Jedediah looked helplessly at Téa and shrugged, "I'm in a dream. I'm in a mushroomed, meth and weed-laced, heroin dream. This cannot be happening. I am not related to him!"

Todd pinched the bridge of his nose, weakening suddenly, the pain in his head spiking again. Téa folded her arms, moving closer to Jed. Todd grumbled at her, "You walked out of our motel room, leaving me with the monsters. How could you do that?"

Téa shook her head at him, "Not now, Manning. Jed, can you come home with us? I meant what I said. The police are interested in you and it's not good. Let's all talk. Openly, honestly. Please?"

"You want me to go home with him? He's insane, Téa. He tried to choke me!"

"You're using heroin you fucking idiot!"

"I'll keep him away from you," Téa growled. "He won't hurt you. Not ever again."

Todd snarled, "Don't be so sure 'bout that."

"Shut up, Todd," Téa snapped back.

"Don't tell me to shut up, you shut up."

"Ignore him."

It was in that moment that Jedediah felt strangely connected to something he never has. Part of something. Even if that thing was…familial insanity. Holy shit. He was part of a real family. He laughed. They'd become… a family… the three of them. Joaquin was huddled with some of the kids and they merely looked weirded out. Jedediah chuckled. He couldn't help it. The blunt had made this all…

… rather humorous.


The cold whipped up and Todd, Téa and Jed climbed into the truck. Todd had dumped the gun into a drainage pipe, knowing the thing would be dumped into the New River.

"How did you get here, Manning?" Téa asked as Todd drove away from the factory.

He pointed out a sedan they passed on the road. "It had the keys in it."

"You stole a car?" Jedediah asked from the rear.

"You have no say in anything," Todd barked.

Téa smiled, "Isn't that nice? What a role model for your wayward son."

"What choice did you leave me, Delgado? You took my truck. When I was dying in the motel room."

"You were sleeping."

"I have a concussion! Don't you know my brain could have swelled and I could have gone into a permanent coma?"

"Honestly, Todd, I left an alarm. Plus you told me you were very angry with Jedediah. I thought it best I deal with him first. Alone."

"I wouldn't have hurt him ever and you know it."

"You told Joaquin to pull the trigger, Pops! He could have killed me!"

"You talking to me?! You could have killed me, Téa, and the baby with that frontal assault stunt you and your buddies pulled. Three versus one. I think the trade-off is clear, don't you?"

Jedediah repeated softly, "Baby? What baby?"

There was silence in the car. Todd gripped the steering wheel and Téa sniffed.

"Well? What baby?!"

"Téa is pregnant."

"Who's the dad?"

Todd slammed on the brakes and when the truck stopped, he turned around, pointing his finger at Jed. "Not fucking funny."

Jedediah said in a low tone, "I don't think it's funny, I think it's fuckin' sad. I'm sorry Téa, I'm sorry for you."

She sighed, "I'm really tired, Jedediah. Can we just go get some rest?"

Jed shrugged and Todd turned back around, getting back on the road. The headache had returned with a vengeance. The crazy was tickling the inside of his skull. He needed sleep, he needed quiet. In truth, he was relieved to have Jed with him, Jed safe and sound. Relatively so. The cops were at bay for now. The cops…they'd not have their chance at Jed. Not now, at least.

Before another thought could occupy Todd, a pain shot through his head at a shocking, breath-taking level. He slid the car into neutral and moved the car to the side of the road. He slammed his hand to his forehead and whimpered, getting Téa to rush to him, "What? What is it?"

Voices faded and in seconds everything went black.

Téa screamed as Todd fell over and went into a massive seizure, his body shaking and his legs shooting outwards. Téa held him, crying, "Oh my god!" His body seized mercilessly against her and she could hardly hold him in her arms. Jedediah flew outside to get a better grip of him, to protect Téa from the violence.

"I got him, Jed, it's okay…oh god…I knew it…I knew it…"

The convulsions intensified again and Téa screamed shortly, Jed throwing himself against Todd to soften the blows. But the seizure slowed at last and Todd's body relaxed. Téa held him as he threw up, held him to the side to make sure he didn't breathe in the regurgitated liquid. When it was over, he was completely unconscious.

Trembling, Téa could hardly talk. Jed peeled away from Todd.

"What the hell?!"

"Your buddies, they must have really hit him…oh my god."

Téa didn't like what was happening now – he was barely breathing, the air passing ragged-sounding. "Jed, we have to go. He needs help. Get moving!"

Jedediah shoved Todd over and got into the driver's seat. Todd lay sweating against Téa who held him tightly. She trembled like mad. Jed threw the gear into drive and sped like hell towards the hospital. They flew from 30 to 40 to 60 miles an hour. When he looked in the mirror, the lights of the police were trailing behind.

"Shit! Cops!"

Téa and Jedediah looked at each other in resignation. At that moment, Todd started seizing again. Téa pulled hard against him to keep him from kicking Jed.

Jed stepped on the gas, speeding past darkened houses and quietly shifting stoplights. He stepped on the gas harder when Téa yelped, "Jed, he's not breathing…no! Baby, baby, NO! Not now! Don't you die on me NOW, you bastard!"


What they didn't know, what they couldn't know, was that the seizures had woken Todd up on the other side of sane.

He was back on the long walk, on a high edge of a dark cliff, next to a black, roaring river, with the Spirit skipping next to him. He stepped carefully, foot in front of foot, walking as he'd been walking for ages. It had been so long since he'd been in hell, since he'd been attempting to get out of hell, that the pace was quite familiar and comfortable. Half-living, half-alive, fully crazy. As if he'd never left.

But when he looked up, instead of the dark, frenzied sky of before, there was light, close enough to touch. He reached up and felt the heat. It was so good! Like pudding, he said aloud. Like the luscious escapism of heroin. He wanted to lick the sunlight, like he'd lick candy, cotton candy. He laughed and the voice that came from him was weightless, wondrous, innocent. Innocent! He was innocent again. He remembered the forgiveness.

Yes! He'd forgiven himself the damage, the wounds, the results. He'd forgiven himself and had embraced the boy. He'd allowed himself to love that boy he'd been. Once. He had gotten that much closer to escaping Hell.

The dancing, woodsy spirit smiled at him, "You made it, Little One. The way out. You finally left the black land of Grief, the fiery pits of hell, and have found the door to the Earthly End. You forgave. You survived. And here you are. The End at last."

He stopped walking. "What do you mean, the End?"

"Todd…it's all over. Your life, the agony, the pain, the hurt of trying to keep love in your corner…it's finally over. You're free! You're dead at last. Just as you've always wanted. Congratulations. Your heart has stopped. This time for good."

There were many words Todd had heard over the years that pained him, but these words, for the first time in his life, were the worst of all. There wasn't an ounce of relief. Not like before.

No, not like before at all.

To be continued…