Encore

it's easier to run

replacing this pain with something numb

its so much easier to go

than face all this pain here all alone

The next few days consisted of the team (Katie, Freddy, Billie, Zack, Sara, Justin and Marta) working together to get their hands on as many cameras as they possibly could. Sara was correct - and her brother 'willingly' put together the tiniest cameras any of them had ever seen -- however they weren't exactly 'tiny' in reality. But they could possibily fit into many spaces without anyone noticing. He was able to put together five camers -- and clearly Sara and Justin took the credit for it - Justin actually assisted Chris as best he could.

The other prime source the group went to was Ned. Marta had mentioned the dire need for cameras to him one afternoon while the band was practicing - and Ned, already having heard about Freddy's 'condition' gathered up the cameras he had 'lying' around the house. The band figured it rather odd for a single guy to have quite a few cameras just 'lying' around (7 to be exact) - and they were actually the perfect type. When Billie mentioned it ("What kind of weirdo has seven tiny cameras just 'lying' about the house?") Ned broke down and told them the complete story.

The cameras weren't 'actually' Ned's. Ned mentioned that he had bought them previously because Dewey kept complaining about how much he needed '5 or more' spy cams. Dewey used to date this 'hot' chick who was just the type to cheat on her 'not so hot' boyfriend. And she did in fact cheat on him - and Dewey got it all on tape - and dumped her the first chance he got. He actually wanted to take her to court for all the pain she had put him through - but fortunately Ned was able to talk him out of it.

With the combination of Sara's and the band's cameras -- Freddy now had twelve cameras, which was plenty more than he actually needed. He would been satisfied with four cameras - one in the hallway, one in the living room, one in the dining room, and one in his parents bed room. Those were the only rooms it ever actually happened.

Thankfully - Josh had been disappearing an awful lot lately - and Freddy - with the help of Marta, Zack, Katie, Billie and Sara - set up the cameras peacefully. Sara had actually talked her brother into 'loaning' them a computer and hooking all of the cameras together to form a database - so they could just watch it as it happened - like a secuity guard would. But they also - obviously - recorded it. The computer was put in Billie's room - since hers was surprisingly the cleanest...and emptiest. - and also the largest - so the entire team could fit into it comfortably.

All seemed well, or so it could seem. Josh - as if he could read Freddy's mind - hadn't touched Freddy in over two weeks - he didn't even flip out when he discovered that Freddy had rejoined the band when Freddy came home late one night - but then again - it could be because Freddy's mother - Shelby - was there as well. Josh had yet to show Shelby his dark side - and they'd been married for quite sometime - nearly three years, in fact. But Josh hadn't showed Freddy his dark side before two years into the marriage.

Freddy sat solemnly in his bed room, on his bed - staring down at his spotless floor. Shelby and Josh were arguing again. They were arguing more than usual lately - so naturally Josh had been destroying more valuable items more than usual. Ironically the majority of the things Josh chose to destory meant nothing to Shelby -- he ironically chose to destroy things that meant an awful lot to Freddy. But Freddy bit his tongue and didn't comment or argue about it.

Glass crashed to the ground, breaking upon impact - and Freddy pushed away the relief of knowing that it was nothing that belonged to him. He had decided to hide whatever he believed he loved most -- he tried hiding them in places that Josh couldn't find them - but Josh found things more easily than not. Shelby was yelling again.

Freddy's eyes widen when he realized that they were not fighting about an object, or an event - but a person. They were fighting about him. They'd never actually 'fought' about Freddy. Shelby had pleaded and asked Freddy to be good around Josh. "Don't make him angry." And Freddy could only guess that it meant that she knew he hadn't been in fights -- but his wounds were caused primarily by Josh.

Wounds so deep they never show.

They never go away.

Then one noise -- a noise that was so familiar -- flesh against flesh in the smacking sound. There was a thud as Shelby dropped to the ground...and distantly he could hear his mother's familiar sobbing. A door slammed shut a minute later and Freddy could rest easily knowing that Josh had left. Freddy jumped to his feet and jogged down the stairs and to the living room. (There were five cameras in the living room. And Freddy could just imagine the looks on Zack and Katie's face - who were probably watching this right now -- Katie's computer could hook up to their video database any time she wanted)

He freezed in the doorway at the seen. Shelby was a shaking heap on the ground - surrounded by glass and trash. Her cheek was already swelling and her makeup was running. "Mom..." Freddy murmured before walking to her side - and kneeling beside her. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, Freddy," Shelby sobbed loudly into his neck. "I should've noticed this sooner. I should've saw the tension between you and Josh...I should've asked you about it..."

"It's alright, mom," Freddy murmured into her ear. "It's gonna be alright. I won't let him hurt you again. I won't let him touch you again."

sometimes i remember the darkness of my past

bring back these memories I wish I didn't have

Sometimes I think of letting go and never looking back

never moving foreward so there'd never be a past

Freddy refused to leave the house - ever - after the last scene. As soon as he had gotten Shelby to his room - she insisted on sleeping in his bed - she said something about her bed giving her too many memories. And Freddy didn't exactly want to sleep in her bed either but he still let her have his bed - he'd take the couch. -- Freddy picked up the phone and dialed Zack's number. Zack answered it on the first ring - ignoring that it was 11:30 at night.

"We've got all the evidence we need, Jones," Zack said loudly into the receiver. "Case close -- call the cops."

"Not yet, zack," Freddy said quietly. "Did you see everything that happened?"

"Yeah," Zack answered - this time quieter. "Is your mom alright? That swing was awful."

"She's fine," Freddy answered emotionlessly. "Did you hear what they were arguing about? I couldn't hear all of it."

"Yeah," Zack answered. "Josh wanted to send you off to boarding school -- but for the first time EVER Shelby actually stood up to him and said 'hell no' - you're not going anywhere. That's when things got louder. He threw all the vases - or glass items within touch - and he threw them all at her."

"Figured," Freddy replied in a hiss that almost made Zack afraid. "She had a few brusies - few cuts - there was some glass in her."

"But he's gone now," Zack stated encouragingly.

"For the time being," Freddy added quietly. "It's time for the big finish, Zack."

Zack was quiet for a moment. "...What the hell is that supposed to mean..?"

"One slap, a few thrown items - I doubt that'd land him behind bars," Freddy pointed out. "If they want a reason -- I'll give them one."

"Uh huh...Are you high?" Zack asked seriously. "You've been on the hitting end, Fred, you've seen how hard he hits -- if you actually go out to defy him...well...he'll probably just...oh...I dunno...KILL YOU!"

Freddy held the receiver away from his ear while Zack yelled heatedly. "He won't kill me, Zack," Freddy stated calmly. "Be realistic here. All he'll do is hit me a little bit. Plus -- this'll be the only time that I'm gonna be able to hit him."

Zack nodded - even though Freddy couldn't see him. "Defense. But you could've always hit him before."

"I know..." Freddy agreed. "But we didn't have cameras before. I would've been killing myself for no reason. It'd been stupid then."

"...No..." Zack said coldly. "It's still stupid. You have to let us help."

Freddy shook his head. "Nah, you can't...they'd probably charge it with some stupid shit like mob action. -- that happened last time I started a food fight - I was in juvie hall for two days!"

"...and suspended for ten," Zack added. "You're starting a war and...you're running in head first without any weapons, Freddy."

"It'll be worth it though, Zack. She made a mistake - it's only a mistake -- she shouldn't be punished for it - least not like this. She always fixes my screw ups -- so now - I want to fix hers."

"Alright...Freddy," Zack said slowly. "But we'll be with you the whole way -- the first time he draws blood I'm calling the cops."

Freddy hesitated. "The first time? Can't it be more like...the tenth time? Or the fifth time?...or even the third time? The first time?"

"Freddy," Zack snapped.

"Alright, alright," Freddy chuckled. "jeez, you're acting like your best friend's about to commit suicide, or something..."

Both of the boys were quiet for a moment. "My mom's coming, I better go."

"Peace out," Freddy said quietly -- then both hung up at the same time. Freddy looked around the living room -- it was just how Josh had left it - and oddly enough - that annoyed the hell out of Freddy. Freddy's 'real' father's voice filled his head. "Leave it! You didn't make the mess...now did you?" It was a growl - but the events that followed it wasn't exactly all that great either. "Well...Can't let him be happy..." Freddy muttered hotly. He slowly walked over the broom closet and pulled out the broom before setting to the task at hand.