Laughing in the Face of Death - Chapter Five

Liz drove as fast as she could towards the Mooneyham apartment building. 'Hold on Zack,' she thought to herself. 'Don't let go!'

Next to Liz was Freddy. He was biting his fingernails, which was something he normally did whenever he was nervous. Freddy had every reason to be nervous now. The boy he loved so much was lying somewhere in his own home, wounded.

"Do you think we'll need to take him to the hospital?" Freddy asked anxiously.

"I hope not," Liz answered. "My father has never really done anything too horrible."

"But this time might be different," Freddy pointed out.

Liz sighed. "Let's just hope he's considerably alright." She fiddled with the steering wheel. "Oh look, we're here!"

Liz pulled into the parking space outside the apartment building. Freddy literally launched himself from his seat. He started running towards the entrance, Liz following him. Freddy ran towards the stairwell, running up the stairs. Finally he came to the fourth floor. Freddy left the stairwell, ran to Zack's door, and started slamming his fists onto the door. Liz appeared next to him. She pulled at key from her pocket and unlocked the door. Freddy burst threw.

"Zack!" he screamed. "Zack!"

"I'm in here!" a weak voice called from somewhere inside. Freddy ran off towards the sound.

"Call again!" Freddy shouted.

"My room!" the voice answered.

Freddy ran straight into Zack's room. Zack was sprawled out on his bed, a bloody hand lying across his stomach. Zack smiled at Freddy.

"Hello," Zack whispered.

"Shit," Freddy mumbled. "Zack...you look...."

"Horrible, I know. Is Liz here?"

"Of course she is. We've come to take you to our home."

"That would be nice. I'd be away from my father."

Freddy sighed and lifted Zack off of his bed. Zack winced slightly; Freddy's arms had touched the fresh cuts that patterned his back. Trying to move slowly so he wouldn't drop Zack, Freddy walked into the hallway. Liz appeared from another room. The minute she saw her younger brother she ran over to him.

"Oh gosh!" she cried out quietly. "Are you okay?"

"I'll live," Zack answered.

Liz looked to Freddy. "My mother's locked herself in her guest room bathroom. She doesn't want to leave. She has know idea where my father went. I just think we should get out of here. Now."

Freddy nodded in agreement. The three of them exited the room, taking the elevator down instead of the stairs. A few additional passengers were staring at Zack's slightly limp form lying in Freddy's arms, but all they received were glares from the blonde drummer.

Finally the trio made it outside. After Liz had unlocked her car Freddy laid Zack in the back seat. Zack hadn't spoken since he had been rescued from his room. He looked up to Freddy and smiled. Liz and Freddy sat in the front seats and Liz drove off.

Finally they reached Liz and Freddy's apartment building. Since they didn't want to create anything that looked too suspicious they made Zack walk all the way up to Liz's apartment building. Once they managed to get inside they had Zack lie down on Liz's guestroom bed.

"What did Dad do to you?" Liz asked him.

Zack sighed. "The old belt had a few visits with my skin," he answered. "Then he threw me against the wall and a vase broke and cut my hand."

Freddy winced slightly. "Ouch," he said.

Zack nodded. "Tell me about it," he mumbled.

Liz stood up. "I'll look for some bandages," she said. "Freddy, help Zack take his shirt off." She left.

Freddy smiled at Zack. "I'll help you take your shirt off," he said. "And a lot more, if you'd like!"

Zack went red. He tried to say something, but no words managed to escape his mouth. Freddy kissed his gently on his lips.

"Don't say anything," he whispered. Zack nodded. Freddy tugged Zack's tee shirt off from his head. He looked at Zack's half naked body. Freddy had to try hard to keep his mouth from dropping open.

The size of the gashes that played across Zack's chest were horrible. Freddy couldn't believe his eyes. How could anyone do this to someone? Especially if it was there own son!

"Shit," Freddy whispered again.

Zack smiled meekly. Liz walked back into the room. The look on her face was one of being unfazed. Freddy wasn't surprised. He was sure that Liz had seen worse from her father. Liz began to clean up Zack's wounds. Soon enough she was wrapping Zack up in bandages. Zack reminded Freddy of himself when he had been in the hospital.

Finally Liz left. Zack smiled at Freddy. "I look like a mummy, don't I?" he said.

Freddy smiled and flopped down on the bed next to him. "Sort of," Freddy answered.

The boys smiled at each other. They began a make-out session. Freddy had to be extra careful, only because he didn't want to hurt Zack.

The hours ticked by. Soon Liz had to drag both boys in to eat dinner. Liz cooked them soup.

"It's chicken noodle," she said as she placed the bowls in front of the boys.

"Looks good to me," Freddy answered.

"So, did interrupt something before?" Liz asked, smiling at the boys. Zack went bright red and shoved a spoonful of soup into his mouth so he didn't have to answer.

Freddy smiled mischievously. "What if we were?" he replied, running his hands over Zack's back. Zack shuddered out of delight.

Liz rolled her eyes. "You two," she said, tossing a wet dishtowel at Freddy's face.

"Hey!" Freddy shouted as the dishtowel collided with his face. "Why didn't you toss this at Zack?"

"He's my little brother!" Liz said, hugging Zack. "I can't hurt him!"

"You can't hurt me, but Dad sure can," Zack mumbled. He pushed out his chair and stormed off. Freddy and Liz looked at each other.

"Was it something I said?" Liz asked. Freddy shrugged and followed Zack.

Freddy burst into Zack's bedroom to find a tearful Zack lying on his bed. Freddy knew better then to ask Zack what was wrong. He already knew.

"It's alright," Freddy whispered to Zack. He slipped his arms around the boy. "It's okay. I promise you." Zack whimpered and dug his head into Freddy's shoulder.

"It's not fair!" Zack moaned. "Why me? What did I do to make my father hate me so much that he has to hurt me? Why?"

Zack burst into a bout of fresh, new tears. Freddy couldn't answer him. He didn't know why his father didn't care. Freddy's family loved him, and he knew that very well. Zack had had a very hard life. Freddy stiffened slightly. Mr. Mooneyham would have to pay.

Suddenly they sound of thunder and lightening could be heard from outside the apartment building. Zack shuddered slightly and Freddy tightened his grip on the dark haired guitarist. The two spent a good portion of the night lying on Zack's bed with Freddy's arms around him.

Finally, around eleven o'clock that night, Freddy could tell that Zack had fallen asleep. He carefully pulled himself away from the guitarist, kissed him on his forehead, and then slipped out into the kitchen. Liz was sitting in the den watching TV. Freddy quietly snuck out the door.

He took the elevator down and burst through the apartment door moments later. Looking around he stole away into many different alleyways, sneaking around and trying to go unnoticed. Finally he came to the street that he need. He walked to one of the shops. The sign on the door read 'Closed', but Freddy knew that the owner was waiting for him.

Freddy pounded on the glass door and waited. Finally the door opened a crack and a pair of eyes appeared behind it.

"Here's your order Mr. Jones," the owner said as he shoved a bag with something heavy into Freddy's hands.

"Here's your money," Freddy said, shoving a few dollar bills back at the man. The door to the shop closed and Freddy left as fast as he had come.

Sneaking back into Liz's apartment Freddy stashed the bag under the sofa. Then he slipped back into Zack's room. Zack was still sleeping. Freddy yawned loudly and rejoined Zack on the bed.

Tomorrow would be quite eventful.

Xxxxxxxx {tbc}