Chapter Eight: Eavesdropping
Oscar jolted awake, gasping. Another nightmare. He glanced around the bar room, his breathing slowly returning to normal. Soft yellow light peeked through the shutters on the windows. Dawn. The rhythmic drumming of heavy rain that he'd fallen asleep to had faded, replaced by faint birdsong. He tilted his head and listened.
"It's a blackbird."
"It's pretty. The crows around the barn scare off all the smaller birds." Oscar's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Except the robins." A small smile graced his face.
"We ought to get moving soon. How far is the train station?"
"About forty miles, give or take."
"It'll be a two-day journey at this rate. You'll need more food and water."
"I can grab some from the kitchen." Oscar stretched and began to gather his stuff together. He ran a hand over his shirt. "That's dry enough." A small puddle of water had formed beneath where he'd hung his clothes overnight.
Absent-mindedly, Oscar pulled his shirt on over his head, glad most of his clothes had dried out.
Footsteps echoed outside. Oscar froze, heart hammering. The sound of jangling keys just behind the door shocked him back into action, and he grabbed his bag, sprinting to the only hiding place in the room - behind the bar. He made it just as the door swung open.
"Are you sure you're alright helping me out with this?" The voice was deep and rough, like sandpaper, but the man's tone was surprisingly gentle.
"Don't worry Eddie, I'm fine." A woman replied. Oscar gasped quietly, then quickly pressed a hand over his mouth.
"Your aunt is here?" Ozpin sounded shocked.
Oscar nodded silently.
"I know you've been through the mill Carol, and..." The man trailed off. He seemed at a loss for words. Chairs scraped across the floor, and Oscar pressed his back against the wall, tucking his legs in tight.
"I just-" Carol's voice cracked, and she took a deep, shaky breath. "I had no idea he had it in him." She finished quietly.
Oscar's hands started to tremble.
"They've had fights before, and I just kept out of it." She continued. "But this one was different. Something broke, and he..." Her voice trembled. "Oh gods, it was terrifying."
"It's over now, you're safe here." Eddie's voice held barely concealed desperation as he attempted to comfort her.
"But Oscar..." Terror filled her voice, and Oscar fought the urge to stand up.
"It's alright, it's alright." Eddie reassured her.
"I thought he was going to kill me." She whispered. "I just ran. When I went back later, they were both gone. I don't know what to think."
She's really worried. Oscar thought, crouching paralyzed by the bar. He started to stand up.
"Stop!" Ozpin's thunderous command stopped Oscar in his tracks. He fell back silently against the bar.
"I shouldn't have asked you to help me set up, I'm sorry. I'll take you back and Martin can make some tea, how about that?" Eddie coaxed gently.
"Perhaps that's a good idea." Carol said, just above a whisper. There was the noise of chairs being dragged across floorboards again, and footsteps.
"You're doing great, that's it." Eddie's voice faded into the distance as the door clicked shut. Oscar remained hidden, trembling in fear and anger.
"Why did you stop me?" He hissed. "She was worried about me, I could have-"
"No." Ozpin cut across him. "She needs to be with new people, adults, who can support her."
"I can help her!"
"You would only be a burden! Do you want to remind her of everything she's suffered through?"
Oscar opened his mouth, but no words sprang to his defence.
"You would be a constant reminder of what Dean did to her, the years he took from you both. She would try to love you, but she'll never look at you again without seeing his hands around your neck."
Tears welled up in Oscar's eyes. He stumbled back, hitting his head on the wall.
"No, no..." A sob escaped him. "She wouldn't, I'm not..." He trailed off, shoulders shaking with shallow, rapid breaths. "I'm not broken." He whispered. "I'm not."
Ozpin sighed heavily. "I didn't say that, Oscar. There's still hope for you. But you can't stay with your aunt, you would only be a burden. Besides, what good could you do in this place? I have given you a purpose, you could be a hero! Why would you squander such an opportunity on wasting your life as a farmhand who doesn't even have a family?"
Oscar buried his head in his hands and sobbed. Pressure crushed his chest as he tried to muffle his ragged breathing. "I'm going crazy." He whispered, his voice raw.
"You are not insane." Backtracking, Ozpin tried to soothe his panic. "The path that lies before will be full of challenges, but if you let me guide you I can promise that greatness will lie ahead as well."
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Head bowed, Oscar twisted his hands in his lap. They slowly stopped shaking.
Footsteps echoed outside the door. Oscar sat bolt upright, listening hard. A click, and the door swung open. Slowly, he crept as far back behind the bar as he could. Shoes tapped on wood, moving across the room towards the bar. Oscar closed his eyes, praying that whoever it was didn't find him.
Glass shattered. Oscar looked up to see a young woman staring at him, mouth open. The broken remains of a few bottles lay at her feet. He threw an arm up in front of his face, shielding himself.
"Oscar?" The woman asked, disbelief written across her face.
"Who's that?"
"Angela. Martin and Eddie's daughter. She's nice." Oscar heard his own monotone voice and barely recognised it.
Angela's eyes narrowed. "Are you... talking to yourself?"
Oscar didn't answer. There was nothing he could say that wouldn't make him sound crazy. Angela reached out tentatively, and he cringed back, fear flickering across his face.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She said, pulling back.
"But I might hurt you." Oscar whispered, pushing his back against the wall behind him. "I think I'm going crazy..."
"Oh gods, Carol was telling the truth." Angela's eyes widened, and she scrambled away from him.
"Truth about what?" Oscar mumbled, confused.
Picking up a piece of broken glass, Angela stood up and backed away.
"I don't know what's going through your head kid, but you need to stay away from Carol." Hot, hard anger overtook her fear, and she pointed the broken bottle at him.
Oscar froze, staring at the bottle.
"Run, Oscar!" Ozpin shouted. Oscar sprang up, backpack in hand. Angela cried out and slashed forwards with the glass, turning her head away. He pushed past and ran for the door.
"Stay away from her!" She yelled, sprinting after him. They burst out onto the street. A few people were milling about outside and stopped to watch. A middle-aged man made a grab for Oscar's backpack and Oscar dodged with millimetres to spare. Heavy footfalls echoed behind him and he accelerated, arms and legs pumping in tandem. Vague shouts came from all around.
Chest heaving, he broke through the treeline and sprinted deeper into the forest. He ran until the voices faded and pain shot through his legs with every step. Weak with exhaustion, he collapsed against a tree and crumpled to the ground.
"They're gone Oscar, you're safe."
He nodded slightly, taking rapid breaths. Slowly, his heartbeat returned to normal. He whimpered and buried his head in his hands.
"What did I do?" A sob escaped his aching chest. "What did I do?"
"I-" Ozpin sighed. "Carol has obviously told them about what happened. They want to protect her, and that includes keeping you away from her."
"But why?"
"You said it yourself. You're dangerous. A liability. It's better for both of you if you stay away from her, and everyone you once knew."
A single tear trickled down Oscar's cheek. "I don't think I can face being alone." He admitted.
"You will never be alone again. I'll never abandon you, I swear."
"Thank you." Oscar mumbled, hugging his aching legs to his chest.
