Let's see...what do I have to say...not much so I'm just going to go ahead and say my thanks. I would like to Kage Miko, B. Tiamat, Cat in the web, Ramen II, and FREAK014, for all the reviews and going to try to make this next chapter as emotional as I can with of course my sister's help and the muses. So sit back and enjoy the story! Because this stupid thing isn't working right, I'm going to use the long break points for the story, please bear with. Thank you.
Kenny tossed and turned in bed, the covers sticking to his body as he fought with whatever force that invaded his dreams. A cold sweat clung to his entire body as he gasp, a sound of pain escaping his lips. His body thrashed repeatedly, trying to get way from the invisible hands that held him down. Tears trickled down his face in rivets, the pain in his dreams becoming greater by the moment.
"Please...please don't! Please stop!" Kenny cried out in his sleep, trying to claw at whatever it was that menaced him. "Please! Please stop! Stop it! Please don't!"
Kenny's hands were pinned to the bed as the brunette tried kicking the thing in his dreams away from him. The monitor of the machine beeped rapidly, brought on by the change in the boy's heart rate and pulse. Kenny tossed his head to the side, unable to wake up from what gripped him. The panic in his face increased as his legs went flat against the bed, as if strong hands held them down.
"No! Papa please don't I'm sorry. I'll be good, I'll be good, I promise!" Kenny begged. "I promise I won't disobey you again! Please don't hurt me! Please don't papa!"
Kenny's body continued to thrash as he released a scream that sounded on the entire hall he was staying on. The on duty nurses that made their rounds on the halls rushed to the room where the screaming was coming from. Pushing the door open, they found the boy's body convulsing, the monitor on the machine still beeping continuously, putting his pulse at more than 107 beats per minute.
As the nurses were about to rush to wake the boy up, his body went limp against the bed the monitor on the machine dropping to one continuous beep "Someone get a doctor and hurry!" One of the nurses screamed as two rushed over to the bedside, preparing to give CPR until the doctor got there.
Judy barely heard the ringing of her cell phone, until it ringed for the seventh time. Her eyes fluttered open as she rummaged in her bag for the phone. Looking at the number on it, she realized that it was coming from the hospital. Flipping the phone open she answered it. "Hello?"
"Judy," Tyson's grandfather's voice came through. "Where are you? Is Bruce and Mr. Dickenson with you?"
"We're on our way back to the hospital, what time is it?" she said, looking over at the other two men that were still sleep in the limo.
"It's seven in the morning. Listen, are you on your way back now?"
"We're on our way to the hospital right now, has something happened?" Judy was afraid for the worst. Had Kenny slipped deeper into his coma? Had he awaken and tried to commit suicide again?
"There's some good and bad news," Tyson's grandfather said.
"What's the bad news?" Judy remarked, gripping the phone tighter. There was a pause before the older man begun.
"We nearly lost him last night. He went into convulsions and his body shut down completely. The doctors said it might have been triggered by the nightmare that he had. But the good news is that he survived and is awake now."
"Thank you God. So, how is...he mentally?" Judy bit her lip, afraid that he might have regressed into amnesia or worst.
"He's fine in that area. He knows where he is and everything. He doesn't want to talk to a lot of people, but he's there. They're going to try to get some solid food in him. If he can hold it down, then they may release him from the hospital in another day or two," the old man said.
"Thank you. We'll be at the hospital in no more than 30 minutes. If there's any change before we make it there, don't hesitate to call. We'll see you then." Judy hung up the phone, a smile crossing her lips. This had to be a good sign. Reaching across the seats, she shook Mr. Dickenson and Bruce awake.
"Are we at the hospital already?" Bruce said, looking out the window to find the car still rolling down the road.
"I just got a call from your father, Bruce. He's at the hospital," Judy said. She watched the worry fill both men's eyes. "Don't worry, everything isn't so bad. He nearly died after his body shut down last night, but he's okay. Your father also said that he's wake."
"But..." Mr. Dickenson started.
"Don't worry, he's all there. They're going to try to get some solid food in his today, and if he can hold it down, he'll be able to leave the hospital in another day or two," she smiled.
"Thank the Lord," Bruce said. "After going to Japan, I hoped that things would get better for us. I'm sure that the boys are at the hospital by now, but...how are we going to break the news to them? I doubt that Kenny's going to feel very comfortable with us telling them while he's in the room. I think we should isolate them for a while to let them know what we learned, and then maybe figure out an approach to asking Kenny."
"That sounds like a good plan, but how do you think they're going to take what we learned. Do you think it will be too much for them?" Judy asked.
"We won't know until we get to the hospital," Mr. Dickenson said. The other two nodded in agreement, sitting back thinking to themselves about things until the limo pulled up to the hospital. Waiting outside by the entrance was Bruce's father and the other Bladebreakers. The three adults got out the limo and walked up to the group who looked more haggard than when they left.
"Hi guys, how are you hanging up?" Bruce asked the boys. Max was clinging to Rei, refusing to look up, while Tyson seemed mute now. His dark eyes downcast to the ground and didn't even acknowledge his father's presence. Rei had worried eyes on Max, while Kai looked to be in thought. He was the only one that looked up at Bruce, Mr. Dickenson, and Judy.
"They're not good," he said softly. "They're losing faith."
"What? What do you mean? Aren't you they the littlest happy that Kenny's awake now?" Judy inquired.
"He really woke up two days ago, while you were gone. Tyson was the first one to speak with him, then the rest of us later. What he said...it really hurt them a lot," Kai said. Kai shifted his eyes to Tyson who studied the ground, tuning out what Kai was saying. Max placed his face in Rei's shirt and began crying softly again. Rei wrapped his arms around Max, rubbing his back gently.
"Did he...?" Kai shook his head, knowing what Judy was going to say.
"What did you find out?" Kai inquired, his eyes curious. "You have to tell them now so they can understand why he told them that the only thing that he looks forward to in this world is his death. Please let them know that they can't give up."
"He..." Judy trailed off. No wonder they looked so lost now. They didn't know what to do or think. Judy stared at Kai, seeing that he had regained his composure just a little, but his eyes still looked so haunted. She had a feeling if anyone of them understood the pain Kenny held on to, it would be him she doubted that Voltaire was a model grandfather for anyone.
"Please tell them," Kai said.
"Okay," Judy nodded. "Max...Tyson, I want you two to listen to me carefully, okay." Neither boy gave any indication that they were listening, so she just assumed that they were going to. "Kenny...he's had a very hard life. His mother died when he was four, which left him to live with his father. His father...he wasn't too well after that and hurt Kenny a lot. We're not sure how much, we tried to ask his aunt and uncle, but he never told them either. But...he hurt Kenny a lot."
"Is that who gave him that scar on his chest?" Tyson mumbled. "He showed it to me. He said it was a present...I couldn't say anything...I can't close my eyes without seeing it and knowing he's lived with it all this time."
"Yes...his father did that," Bruce said, his voice coloring with anger. How could a father treat his most precious creation like that? "But he's in prison now, and he will never be able to hurt Kenny again. You boys have to tell him it's all right now. That there's nothing left for him to fear."
"He's not going to listen to us," Tyson shook his head. "He's not going to smile like he use to. We know now, and he's going to continue to push us away, and we won't be able to do anything about it."
"That's not true, Tyson," Mr. Dickenson said.
"Tyson," Kai said. "You and Max have to understand that from the time he was four up until when his father was locked away, he's had no one to fall back on. He's been alone and that can make you think one certain way. His father probably told him how worthless he was, how much he would grow up to be nothing, that the only one he could rely on is the person that hurt him, if others would hate him for telling. I know how he feels, and know that the hardest thing to do is wonder if the person who says they're your friend will end up hurting you. It's a continuous cycle of hurt...or at least it seems that way from his point of view. You have to remember that."
"But..." Tyson whimpered.
"No one said that it was going to be easy, you're just going to have to try harder, to show him that he can't get rid of you. What happened to that stubborn guy that continued to pester me until I finally paid you a speck of attention? Who told me that he was never going to give up no matter what?" Kai said.
"I don't want to give up," Tyson said. "But..."
"Are you going to continue to make excuses or are you going to try to make a difference?" Kai said.
"I want to make a difference," Tyson sniffed.
"Then you will," Kai assured. "Rei, maybe you guys should head back to the hotel and get some rest. You've been up for a while."
"Yeah." Rei pulled Max from his shirt and lightly pulled him along. Tyson sort of just went along with the two. Once they were out of earshot, Kai stared at the adults seriously, his eyes studying each one.
"You didn't find out much more did you?"
"No, we didn't," said Mr. Dickenson.
"I thought as much," Kai remarked. "It's not going to be easy for him to open up. He's been alone this long, I doubt that he knows how to break away from the grip his father has on him still."
"Kai..." Bruce trailed off. Kai lowered his head a bit, his eyes hiding behind his bangs.
"My grandfather use to hit me all the time, I know how he feels. After he killed my parents, I was too afraid to do anything for fear I would be next. Then as I grew older, I was more resistant...I was beat more. The abbey was to discipline me. I still have nightmares about it all, so I understand him. I just wish I saw it all sooner," Kai whispered.
"Nobody blames you," Judy said. "We should have all seen it. It was right in front of our eyes. But we can fix it now that we see it. It just might take a little bit of time."
"But the question is will we have that time?" Kai said, looking up at the adults.
"We'll just have to find out," Mr. Dickenson said.
Kenny turned around from pushing around the vegetables in the bowl of soup they gave him to find Max's mom, Tyson's dad and grandfather, Mr. Dickenson, and Kai coming into the room. Lowering his eyes back to the contents in the bowl, he knew why they were there. "I suppose my aunt and uncle said you had to ask me what happened, right?"
"You..." Judy started.
"I had a feeling someone would try," Kenny interrupted. "It was all in the effort to put Tyson and the others to rest. It did no good, did it? So, what do you want to know about my father?"
"Do you want to talk about your father?" Bruce said.
"I don't care anymore. Eventually I'll die sooner or later. I guess someone should know, right?" Kenny shrugged indifferently. "He beat me. He hit me with anything he got his hands on, books, belt buckles, extension cords, one time he took part of this branch that was out in the backyard and knocked me against the wall with it. Broke my arm and I had to go to the hospital. Lied his ass off to get out of that one. When we got home, he beat me with the television wire for nearly getting him in trouble. It didn't matter what he use, it hurt all the same."
Everyone was silent, seeing the way the brunette's face became emotionless as he talked. Judy found her hand over her mouth as the boy pushed around the items in the soup, his tone distant and unfeeling. She could understand why Max and Tyson were so pained to be around the young man.
"Kenny..." Mr. Dickenson started.
"I don't want pity or sympathy if that's what you were going to say. It does no good for me. I've already been labeled. He always told me that I would never escape him. No matter how far I tried to run, he would always be there to make sure that I could never see the light of day again. Please...just leave me alone," Kenny said.
"Is that what you really want?" Bruce said.
"What do you think? I'm tired of seeing that look in everyone's eyes. I'm tired of it. Just leave me the hell alone! Why couldn't you all just let me die? Why couldn't you just let me sleep away until I was dead? You don't understand my pain you don't understand nothing about me," Kenny said, his tone darkening. "None of you would last a day in my shoes."
There was silence in the room until Kai walked up to the bed, staring down at Kenny. "You idiot." The remark was...to say the least, shocking. Kai glared down at the brunette, his eyes darkening with anger.
"Kai..." Judy's voice colored with concern. Kai completely ignored the woman as he continued to stare at Kenny.
"How could you say something stupid like that? You don't want pity well I'm not going to pity you. I'm not going to sympathize you. Suck it up and move on. Everyone's trying to help you, but you just want to whine like a baby. For all the tears that you're wasting on the past, I'm striving to make a future for myself," Kai scoffed.
"Shut up!" Kenny said. "Stop saying that! It's just like his words! Why do you have to sound like him! I hate him! I hate how he thinks that I can just move on like nothing...nothing happened. He doesn't know a thing!"
"Who are you talking about, Kenny? Do you mean your father?" Mr. Dickenson inquired.
"No," Kai said, his eyes never leaving Kenny, who has by now pushed the roll away cart to the side and wrapped his arms around his knees, rocking himself. "He means Tala."
"Tala? You mean Tala Ivanov from the Demolition Boys?" Bruce blinked. "But..."
"After you, Mr. Dickenson, and Judy left, Tyson told me that he came to visit Tala, which was how he figured out about Kenny's mother dying when he was younger. Tala told Tyson that night after the World Championship, Kenny was going to commit suicide, but he stopped Kenny. I hadn't expected Tala to get involved...but..." Kai trailed off for a moment.
"But..." Judy urged.
"He probably knows Kenny's pain better than anyone else that I know," Kai stated.
"You mean..."
"Tala's stepfather found out that Tala's mother had a child by his brother. He hated Tala and his mother and often took pleasure in beating Tala unmercifully. When Tala's mother tried to get him and her away, his stepfather ran her over, then took Tala to a remote area for a few weeks to beat and rape him repeatedly. The day Tala came to the abbey, he could hardly walk from being tied up so long. Tala has always cared that burden, but he was always determined to make a way for himself no matter what," Kai said, turning from Kenny.
"Where are you going, Kai?" Tyson's grandfather spoke up.
"Back to the hotel to check on the others. He's not going to open up to us, so why waste my time getting frustrated? I'm tired I can't deal with his whining. If he wants to talk then fine," Kai remarked.
"So, you're abandoning me?" Kenny blinked, raising his head from his knees. Burnt sienna hair fell from his eyes, revealing the misty sapphire orbs that looked so lost and empty it pained the adults to stare directly into them. Kai turned his eyes to meet Kenny's unfazed by the stare.
"I would never abandon you, Kenny. Neither would Tyson, Max, Rei, your foster parents, nor anyone here. You're looking for an excuse to run away, but I'm not going to give you one. I'm going to say this once because I'm sure Tala told you already. Let go of the past and show your father how wrong he was," Kai advised.
"But..." Kenny's eyes shimmered with wetness that refused to fall.
"You better not say you can't do it. You can, just stop letting him control you. Your father doesn't have power over you. He can't hurt you. Kill him in your mind, shut the door and lock it forever."
"I..." Kenny bit his lip, the voice in his head growling.
'Don't you dare listen to him, boy! He will never be able to stop me, and you know it! I own you! I'll own you forever! You're mine!' sneered the voice.
"Say it Kenny it's not that hard," Kai whispered. "He can't hurt you."
"I..." He wanted to speak up, but he was afraid. Afraid of another horrendous nightmare like the one he had the previous night. The thought of suffering through another session like that while the voice continued to growl at him leaned him to shut up. Yet Kai's eyes seemed so reassuring. "I...I want..."
'You don't want anything you little bastard. You can't have anything. You're worthless!'
"Kenny, you'll never be able to break free if you hesitate in saying what you want. Say what you want and I promise whatever it is, I will personally get it for you," Kai promised.
'Don't listen to him! He'll never keep his promise to you! He's insignificant next to me! You'll always be mine, to do with whatever I want until the end of this world. So keep your damn mouth shut, or I promise that you will never see your mother again!' the voice whispered cruelly in his ear.
"No...leave me alone!" Kenny covered his ears as the voice cackled, the sound echoing throughout his head. "Please...don't...no..."
"Kenny! Stop listening to the voice!" Kai ordered. "He can't hurt you anymore, understand me!"
"No...I'm sorry...please...I'm sorry..." Kenny curled up into a tight ball, his entire form shaking with fear. His hands were still up to his ears. "I'm sorry...please...I'm sorry..." Eventually, the emotional strain he put on his body peaked and the five individuals watched him drift off into a restless slumber. Kai walked up to the bed, laying the brunette up against the pillows and pulling the cover over him.
"It's not going to be easy, I know, but I promise you, Kenny, everything will be all right," Kai whispered, feeling a protectiveness of the brunette starting to overcome him. In a way, Kenny reminded Kai of himself and Tala when they were first going through the grief of dealing with the events of their life. The pain, the mistrust, the hate, and the thoughts of ending everything so they wouldn't feel anymore. He wasn't going to let that happen no matter what.
"You're right Kai," Bruce said, placing a hand on the dual haired team captain's shoulder. "It's not going to be easy for him. But I think that you boys will be able to bring him back."
"I believe so too," Judy agreed. "Once they get over the initial shock of things, they will be able to do anything they set their minds to. After all, you guys are the Bladebreakers. You can do anything you set your minds to."
"I hope you're right about that," Kai said, brushing a tuff of hair from Kenny's eyes. He really did hope she was right, he didn't think the others could take losing Kenny like this.
Okay, that's it for the chapter! I hope everyone found it to be enjoyable! Okay, now I have to get going, so many things I have to do...like eat pizza! Okay, I will see everyone another time. Until I update again, later!!