Chapter 8
The unforgiving cold clawed through their clothes, taking every last shred of warmth. They huddled together, barely able to see each other's faces. Tears of fear streaked their faces whilst the dark terrorized them. They were scared, terrified - more than ever before. CJ and Dion couldn't control the trembling that dominated their bodies. The dismal room they crouched in had been their 'home' for the last 3 hours. They had already been moved once. As bad as the first place seemed, the room they cowered in now was a million times worse than the rat infested hell they had been kept in before. But, amid all the horror of this, all the boys could think of was home, the beach, and their family.
Steve paused outside the doors of the pathology lab. It had been decided it was best that he went first, "being the biggest and the one with the gun" (the exact words used by Jess), when they encountered the dark room that loomed ahead of them. As he raised his clammy, trembling hand to the door handle he prayed silently, hoping and wishing this was all just a dream, a dream that he would be yanked from by the strong grip of the sun on his face one care-free summer day. But instead, it was his father that pulled him from his trance like state, his hand still hovering above the shiny silver colour handle.
" Steve, are you okay? Are you sure you want to do this, I could do it if you wanted."
Steve met his father's gaze and looked into his crystal blues eyes and thought I don't want to do this but I will, if not for my sake or anyone else's here, but for the boys.
" Steve?" Jesse stared into his eyes, as if looking to see if anyone was in a seemingly vacant house.
" I'm sorry, I.I guess my mind just wandered." Jess and Mark nodded as if to say, "we know".
Five more awkward seconds passed - which seemed like and eternity - before Steve finally summoned up the strength to open the door to discover the horrible truth that was going to hit them like a ton of extremely heavy bricks.
" What the." Amanda's voice trailed off as she stared around the room in disbelief. She couldn't believe the heart wrenching sight that lay before her. After all the pain she went through, the entire trauma, everything that hurt her so, all she could see in front of her was.
" Nothing?!?" Jesse's face twisted into a confused and shocked expression.
Steve's face wore the look of one quite the opposite, anger.
" What the hell do those idiots think there doing?" He paused to try and calm himself down, it didn't work, his voice boomed through the silent pathology lab, " Did they think that messing with our emotions was gonna get them anywhere. They are sick and twisted I tell you, sick and twisted." Steve's face grew red; he panted from not breathing as he ranted. A flame of hatred and infuriation flickered in his eyes.
Mark noticed his son's hands tense, Steve was still breathing hard, Mark knew what was coming next and thought best he moved anything that is not screwed or bolted down out of the way, or talk to him. Mark stared into the depths of Steve's blazing eyes and tried to dampen the anger, " Son, just calm down. We need to look properly."
Steve relaxed his tense hands and let his labored breathing return to normal before he scanned the scene that lay before him. All he could see was the usual pathologists equipment, nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing significant. Jesse and Mark surveyed the room too, every now and then stopping to look at Amanda. Her face was screwed up in a mess of emotions. She didn't know what to think, feel, or say. Her mind was telling her; Its okay, they are alright; you've just got to get going and find the answer. But her heart was portraying another story; what am I going to do? I love my boys. I cant live without them. They are my world.
Mark could read the lines on her face and decided it was best to take her away from the room and try and comfort her. He knew Jess and Steve would be alright, with Steve's determination and Jess's knack for spotting the little things in life - often without knowing he is doing so - they would soon find what they needed. " Amanda honey, I think its best you go and get some fresh air." Amanda continued to stare straight ahead, seeming oblivious to the events around her. Mark tried again, " Amanda, can you hear me?" Mark stared into her deep brown eyes waiting for a response. It seemed like forever passed by when Amanda regained her speech.
" The light." Amanda moved over to her answer machine and focused on the blinking red light. " There were no messages on here before. Someone must have called."
Mark, Steve and Jesse moved over and joined Amanda. Jess broke the silence that loomed over them. " Were you waiting for a call?" His question exited his mouth like a timid mouse sneaking out of his home, unsure of what was waiting for him.
Amanda stood and thought for a second before she replied; " No." she paused; " But, perhaps it's the 'thing' we were meant to find?" She looked around at her friend's faces, trying to observe any change in facial expression that would give her a clue as to what they were thinking.
Marks gaze met hers; " There's only one way to find out." He reached forward and pressed the button to play the messages. All four stared intently at the machine as if it was about to give them the answer to the meaning of life. But instead they got.
( I know, it's a bit evil to leave it there but, hey, I couldn't help myself. Tune in next time to hear the message that could give the gang the answers they need.( Charliemad xxx
The unforgiving cold clawed through their clothes, taking every last shred of warmth. They huddled together, barely able to see each other's faces. Tears of fear streaked their faces whilst the dark terrorized them. They were scared, terrified - more than ever before. CJ and Dion couldn't control the trembling that dominated their bodies. The dismal room they crouched in had been their 'home' for the last 3 hours. They had already been moved once. As bad as the first place seemed, the room they cowered in now was a million times worse than the rat infested hell they had been kept in before. But, amid all the horror of this, all the boys could think of was home, the beach, and their family.
Steve paused outside the doors of the pathology lab. It had been decided it was best that he went first, "being the biggest and the one with the gun" (the exact words used by Jess), when they encountered the dark room that loomed ahead of them. As he raised his clammy, trembling hand to the door handle he prayed silently, hoping and wishing this was all just a dream, a dream that he would be yanked from by the strong grip of the sun on his face one care-free summer day. But instead, it was his father that pulled him from his trance like state, his hand still hovering above the shiny silver colour handle.
" Steve, are you okay? Are you sure you want to do this, I could do it if you wanted."
Steve met his father's gaze and looked into his crystal blues eyes and thought I don't want to do this but I will, if not for my sake or anyone else's here, but for the boys.
" Steve?" Jesse stared into his eyes, as if looking to see if anyone was in a seemingly vacant house.
" I'm sorry, I.I guess my mind just wandered." Jess and Mark nodded as if to say, "we know".
Five more awkward seconds passed - which seemed like and eternity - before Steve finally summoned up the strength to open the door to discover the horrible truth that was going to hit them like a ton of extremely heavy bricks.
" What the." Amanda's voice trailed off as she stared around the room in disbelief. She couldn't believe the heart wrenching sight that lay before her. After all the pain she went through, the entire trauma, everything that hurt her so, all she could see in front of her was.
" Nothing?!?" Jesse's face twisted into a confused and shocked expression.
Steve's face wore the look of one quite the opposite, anger.
" What the hell do those idiots think there doing?" He paused to try and calm himself down, it didn't work, his voice boomed through the silent pathology lab, " Did they think that messing with our emotions was gonna get them anywhere. They are sick and twisted I tell you, sick and twisted." Steve's face grew red; he panted from not breathing as he ranted. A flame of hatred and infuriation flickered in his eyes.
Mark noticed his son's hands tense, Steve was still breathing hard, Mark knew what was coming next and thought best he moved anything that is not screwed or bolted down out of the way, or talk to him. Mark stared into the depths of Steve's blazing eyes and tried to dampen the anger, " Son, just calm down. We need to look properly."
Steve relaxed his tense hands and let his labored breathing return to normal before he scanned the scene that lay before him. All he could see was the usual pathologists equipment, nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing significant. Jesse and Mark surveyed the room too, every now and then stopping to look at Amanda. Her face was screwed up in a mess of emotions. She didn't know what to think, feel, or say. Her mind was telling her; Its okay, they are alright; you've just got to get going and find the answer. But her heart was portraying another story; what am I going to do? I love my boys. I cant live without them. They are my world.
Mark could read the lines on her face and decided it was best to take her away from the room and try and comfort her. He knew Jess and Steve would be alright, with Steve's determination and Jess's knack for spotting the little things in life - often without knowing he is doing so - they would soon find what they needed. " Amanda honey, I think its best you go and get some fresh air." Amanda continued to stare straight ahead, seeming oblivious to the events around her. Mark tried again, " Amanda, can you hear me?" Mark stared into her deep brown eyes waiting for a response. It seemed like forever passed by when Amanda regained her speech.
" The light." Amanda moved over to her answer machine and focused on the blinking red light. " There were no messages on here before. Someone must have called."
Mark, Steve and Jesse moved over and joined Amanda. Jess broke the silence that loomed over them. " Were you waiting for a call?" His question exited his mouth like a timid mouse sneaking out of his home, unsure of what was waiting for him.
Amanda stood and thought for a second before she replied; " No." she paused; " But, perhaps it's the 'thing' we were meant to find?" She looked around at her friend's faces, trying to observe any change in facial expression that would give her a clue as to what they were thinking.
Marks gaze met hers; " There's only one way to find out." He reached forward and pressed the button to play the messages. All four stared intently at the machine as if it was about to give them the answer to the meaning of life. But instead they got.
( I know, it's a bit evil to leave it there but, hey, I couldn't help myself. Tune in next time to hear the message that could give the gang the answers they need.( Charliemad xxx
