Note From Author: Okay, I really wanted this to be one chapter. But I will
have to break this thought into two chapters because it is way too long.
Thanks! Please read and review and enjoy!
CHAPTER THREE
A clap of audible thunder ripped through the ever-lightning winter sky, waking Benji Conlon. He sat up with a start in his bed, making the springs squeak, and uttered a gasp.
Holding his breath and eyes wide, he waited.
A flash of lightning sizzled the sky followed soon after by its companion thunder.
He exhaled in utter relief and fell back against the bed. It hadn't been another of his father's blows to his mother. It had only been thunder. Only thunder.
The corners of his mouth crept up into a smile. At least they had been saved for tonight. His father had gone to the pub early last night and had never returned. Maybe he was passed out in some gutter.
Or maybe he was lying dead in some gutter.
Benji let out a sigh and flipped from his back to his side (making the springs squeak once more) laying his head on his outstretched arm.
He had been thinking more and more each day about running away. Ever since the cane incident, he had kept his knapsack full and waiting under his bed. He had cut a laundry cord from the first floor and had kept it and tied one end to his window. Kept it for if his father ever come to beat on him, he would just grab his knapsack and slide down the cord and when his feet hit the ground, he would run, run like hell.
He would have run away that summer night, even though he couldn't walk none too well, but one thing had stopped him. Luxy. Even now that his external markings were gone (save a few scars), he could have run away any time after the cane incident. But Luxy stopped him. She always stopped him.
He knew nothing was waiting for her here. When she turned thirteen she would be sent to work in some sweatshop with her mother and sisters. One of the sweatshops where all the rapes occurred. One of the sweatshops where all the deaths occurred, like what happened to her older sister Meg.
Another clap of thunder rocketed the air, breaking his thoughts. Yet another sigh later, he was off his bed and was leaning on the window, staring out at Luxy's room.
Through the slanted rain, he could make out the dark room through the window frame.
He didn't know why she stayed. He only knew that he couldn't leave without her.
He averted his eyes to the top of the apartment building. The sun would be coming up in a few hours. He watched the sun come up a lot. Every new day that slipped by, the spring was drawing nearer. And so was his thirteenth birthday when he would be sent off to work at the factory with his father.
A shudder started from the top of his neck and slowly worked its way slowly down his backbone. He turned from the window and prepared to return once more to his bed when a loud shout in thick Italian cut through the sound of the pounding rain.
He immediately turned on his heel and raced to the window, reaching it in time just to see a light flair up in Luxy's bedroom.
A female's high pitched scream came, followed by a string of oaths in Italian which are to awful to be written here.
Benji's eyes fell to the light and he squinted to see through the rain. The light was wavering erratically, and it seemed to be coming closer to the window.
He jutted his head out into the stinging rain in time to see the light being extinguished and a dark silhouette appear at the window, throwing its legs over the ledge.
Narrowing his eyes, he maneuvered his head so he could see who it was. A shot of lightning ripped through the air and his eyes went wide at what he saw.
It was Luxy. She was lowering herself through the window and onto the laundry cord.
Panic raced through him as a clap of thunder ruptured the air.
"Oh my God, Luxy, what the hell are ya doin?" he murmured, concentrating on her.
She had swung her legs out the window and her toes were touching the cord. Another string of shouts and the given screams were heard and she quickly turned her head over her shoulder and back again to connect gazes with him.
Another burst of lightning illuminated the sky, and the look of panic on Luxy's face.
"Benji!" she whimpered.
Benji cupped his hands around his mouth. "LUX-Y! What the hell ya doin'!"
She didn't respond, she only dropped from the window and onto the cord. Her footing slipped and she uttered a scream.
"LUX-Y!" Benji hollered, reaching out the window as far as it was humanly possible.
Hanging by the cord, she kicked her leg up until she could pull her whole body up. She clutched on for dear life.
"Come on, Luxy, come on!" he cried, motioning with his hands.
Luxy looked petrified. The rain was boring down harder, causing the cord to bounce slightly. The wind blew her hair around like a dark cape.
Another series of shrieks were heard from the apartment, and she looked back and then to Benji again, terror etched on her face.
"BENJI!" she screamed.
"LUX! Come one! You can do it!" Benji replied.
New determination found its way into her eyes, and she slowly inched forward, placing one hand in front of the other. She was almost near his window.
Benji was leaning out the window as much as he could, his arms outstretched. "Come on, Lux, ya almost there!"
Yet, a shot of lightning sliced the air, too close for comfort, causing her to almost slip. She uttered a high-pitched shriek, and would have fallen to her sure death below, if Benji wouldn't have struggled out further and grabbed her wrists.
With a groan, Benji heaved backward and pulled Luxy through the window. With a thud, he landed sharply on his back and she fell at his feet.
He quickly sat up, grabbing her by the shoulder. "Luxy, Luxy!" he cried, shaking her.
She didn't respond. Her head was down, her wet black hair hanging limply in front of her face, her shoulders shaking.
"Luxy," he said a bit softer, putting his hand under her chin and lifting her head so their gazes connected. "What the hell is wrong?"
Benji could not tell the difference between the tears and the rain that smattered her face. Her sharp, tear stained eyes pierced his. "Julie…and Mama…I can't," she choked.
"Lux, tell me, please," he softly said, slipping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close and putting his head on hers. Her wet nightgown pressed against his bare side.
Luxy let out a sigh. "Julie…Julie ran away with D...David today."
His eyes opened in surprise. "Today?"
"Yes," she said through tears.
Julie was the eldest sibling of the Listin family. She had been carrying on a torrid affair with some rich fellow named David Something-Or-Other, an affair which her father didn't care for. Benji knew that Listin had forbid his daughter to see the young man, alas, they still met in secret. But run away?
"Luxy, I'm sorry," he said.
In response, she roughly shook off his grasp and stood to her feet. "Sorry? Sorry for what? That Julie ran away? I couldn't give a damn! Julie was a caustic bitch who made everyone's life miserable. It affected me because Papa just blew up and started to blame it on Mama, as if it was he fault that she ran away. And he started yelling at her…And that's why I had to leave. But he has no right to yell at her. As if she hasn't suffered enough. Today, just today, at the factory, she was raped by one of the workers. Can you believe it?"
Benji sat, mouth gaping and speechless. If the conversation hadn't been so serious, he would have commented on the comical puddle of water that was forming under a very damp Luxy.
She began to pace the room, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. "And that got me to thinking…I mean, these blasted sweatshops…Meg was killed in one, Mama was raped in one." She halted and stared intently at him. "I turn thirteen at the beginning of this summer. My life ends just as the world is about to begin, bathing in the summer's heat. I turn thirteen and they are going to drag me off to one of those goddamn sweatshops…"
She stopped and her head fell into her hands, muffling the sobs.
Benji slowly rose to his feet, his stomach dropping. He felt weak and nauseous, but he drew himself to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, shivering because of the settling dampness on her. She buried her head into the warmth of his chest, relishing the protection.
"Luxy," he almost whispered, yet in a frank voice, placing his chin on her pate. "I turn thirteen at the beginning of the spring. The days slip by so quickly, and I cringe cause the air's gettin' warmer and its gettin' greener out. You'se ain't goin' nowhere alone. I'm goin' there wit ya."
This made her breakdown even harder.
Yet Benji just stood there, intertwined with his one and truest friend in- between empyrean and Hades, until the sobs that filled the room faded and the only noise that could be heard was their rhythmic breathing, the patter of rain, and the occasional clap of thunder.
"Luxy," he whispered, "Lux?"
"Uh?" she breathlessly replied.
"Luxy, you'se all wet. And ya got me all wet." He slowly pushed her away.
In the room, the darkness was fading with every minute, he was relieved to see the corners of her mouth lift to form a smile. "Oh, Benji. You'se not even wearin' a shirt. Why you complainin' about being wet?"
His face lit up into a smile (a smile, which in later years would become infamous for making girls all over New York swoon.) "Luxy, ya gonna catch the cold or sumpthin' or other if ya don't change. I'd give ya one of me ma's extra shirts, but I don't wanna go in her room and wake her up. Ya can have one of me shirts."
Luxy nodded, smiling gratefully, wrapping her arms around herself.
As Benji stooped and untied the handkerchief that served as his knapsack, she commented, "I was go damn worked up that I didn't even realize how cold out if was."
He arose, and his eyes scanned her from head to toe. His smile widened as he held out a crinkled white-collar shirt. "I'se sorry that I don't have nothin' that could come past ya knees, Miss Listin. It's jist that these are my only pants and ya wouldn't want me to go 'round with no pants…"
"Oh, Benjamin Conlon, do hush!" she giggled, swatting the shirt away. She placed her spread palm on his chest and pushed him onto the bed.
Luxy proceeded to one of the corners (they corners that were dark the last time she looked, yet were not so dark anymore) and started to lift off her damp nightgown, when she suddenly turned around, raising an eyebrow. Benji knew she felt his eyes burning into her.
"Mr. Conlon, I do say, but it ain't proper to stare at a lady while she is getting undressed."
"Oh, mercy me!" he cried, covering his eyes and laying on his bed on his side so his back faced her.
When Luxy was content, she once again turned and pulled her nightgown over her head, flinging it into the corner. She quickly slipped on the shirt and buttoned it up.
Benji could hear her feet padding softly on the splintered floor, and the threadbare mattress fluxed under her weight. He quickly propped himself on his elbow and arched so he faced her. "What the hell d'ya think ya doin?"
She sat on her knees, her blue eyes glinting, and her still damp raven hair hanging about.
He felt his breath was taken away.
An innocent smile crossed her face. "What, ya think I was gonna go back over there and try to sleep with all that arguin'? Hell no. That's why ya gotta move over."
Benji shook his head, swinging his legs onto the edge of the bed, preparing to rise. "Huh-uh, Lux. You take the bed, I'll take the floo…"
He stopped when he felt her cold hand touch his bare shoulder, sending shivers down his spine. He turned to face her.
Her face was solemn, her lips in a straight line. "Benji, please, don't go. I don't want to be alone."
He sighed. "Alright, Lux."
He lay down on the bed, leaving his arm out. She dropped down beside him, tugging up the raggedy blanket while he pulled her close.
Luxy turned to her side, pulling herself as close to Benji as possible and wrapped her grasp around his torso. "Benji, what would I do with out you?" she breathed contentedly, sleep almost over taking her.
Benji, on his back, turned his head to her, brushing against hair. "I don't know, Lux, I don't know."
Luxy was gone into a sleep in a few moments, but Benji lay awake, staring at the ever-lightning ceiling, the sound of the rhythmic rain in his ears, and the coldness of her skin warming him exceedingly.
***
The crash and the screams woke them both.
Benji quickly sat up in bed, just as another scream and a string of deep oaths came.
"Benji, is it…" Luxy shakily asked, knowing yet not daring to say it.
Benji threw off the covers and padded over to the center of the room, listening intently. There was a final horrible scheech and the slurs of drunken words.
Before you could say cane, he had dashed to his knapsack, threw it over his shoulder and was to the window where the sun's first rays were shining through.
Luxy slowly dismounted the bed from the opposite side, joining Benji at the window. He threw the cord down out the window; it reached the bottom and slightly recoiled, then hung limp. He quickly looked over his shoulder and back again.
"Benj…" Luxy questioningly inquired. Yet she couldn't finish, Benji was pushing her out the window and commanding her to snake down the cord.
When he was out the window and on the cord, he stopped to look once more just as the bedroom door splintered open and his father drunkenly stumbled in, shouting ungodly curses and waving the cane high above his head.
CHAPTER THREE
A clap of audible thunder ripped through the ever-lightning winter sky, waking Benji Conlon. He sat up with a start in his bed, making the springs squeak, and uttered a gasp.
Holding his breath and eyes wide, he waited.
A flash of lightning sizzled the sky followed soon after by its companion thunder.
He exhaled in utter relief and fell back against the bed. It hadn't been another of his father's blows to his mother. It had only been thunder. Only thunder.
The corners of his mouth crept up into a smile. At least they had been saved for tonight. His father had gone to the pub early last night and had never returned. Maybe he was passed out in some gutter.
Or maybe he was lying dead in some gutter.
Benji let out a sigh and flipped from his back to his side (making the springs squeak once more) laying his head on his outstretched arm.
He had been thinking more and more each day about running away. Ever since the cane incident, he had kept his knapsack full and waiting under his bed. He had cut a laundry cord from the first floor and had kept it and tied one end to his window. Kept it for if his father ever come to beat on him, he would just grab his knapsack and slide down the cord and when his feet hit the ground, he would run, run like hell.
He would have run away that summer night, even though he couldn't walk none too well, but one thing had stopped him. Luxy. Even now that his external markings were gone (save a few scars), he could have run away any time after the cane incident. But Luxy stopped him. She always stopped him.
He knew nothing was waiting for her here. When she turned thirteen she would be sent to work in some sweatshop with her mother and sisters. One of the sweatshops where all the rapes occurred. One of the sweatshops where all the deaths occurred, like what happened to her older sister Meg.
Another clap of thunder rocketed the air, breaking his thoughts. Yet another sigh later, he was off his bed and was leaning on the window, staring out at Luxy's room.
Through the slanted rain, he could make out the dark room through the window frame.
He didn't know why she stayed. He only knew that he couldn't leave without her.
He averted his eyes to the top of the apartment building. The sun would be coming up in a few hours. He watched the sun come up a lot. Every new day that slipped by, the spring was drawing nearer. And so was his thirteenth birthday when he would be sent off to work at the factory with his father.
A shudder started from the top of his neck and slowly worked its way slowly down his backbone. He turned from the window and prepared to return once more to his bed when a loud shout in thick Italian cut through the sound of the pounding rain.
He immediately turned on his heel and raced to the window, reaching it in time just to see a light flair up in Luxy's bedroom.
A female's high pitched scream came, followed by a string of oaths in Italian which are to awful to be written here.
Benji's eyes fell to the light and he squinted to see through the rain. The light was wavering erratically, and it seemed to be coming closer to the window.
He jutted his head out into the stinging rain in time to see the light being extinguished and a dark silhouette appear at the window, throwing its legs over the ledge.
Narrowing his eyes, he maneuvered his head so he could see who it was. A shot of lightning ripped through the air and his eyes went wide at what he saw.
It was Luxy. She was lowering herself through the window and onto the laundry cord.
Panic raced through him as a clap of thunder ruptured the air.
"Oh my God, Luxy, what the hell are ya doin?" he murmured, concentrating on her.
She had swung her legs out the window and her toes were touching the cord. Another string of shouts and the given screams were heard and she quickly turned her head over her shoulder and back again to connect gazes with him.
Another burst of lightning illuminated the sky, and the look of panic on Luxy's face.
"Benji!" she whimpered.
Benji cupped his hands around his mouth. "LUX-Y! What the hell ya doin'!"
She didn't respond, she only dropped from the window and onto the cord. Her footing slipped and she uttered a scream.
"LUX-Y!" Benji hollered, reaching out the window as far as it was humanly possible.
Hanging by the cord, she kicked her leg up until she could pull her whole body up. She clutched on for dear life.
"Come on, Luxy, come on!" he cried, motioning with his hands.
Luxy looked petrified. The rain was boring down harder, causing the cord to bounce slightly. The wind blew her hair around like a dark cape.
Another series of shrieks were heard from the apartment, and she looked back and then to Benji again, terror etched on her face.
"BENJI!" she screamed.
"LUX! Come one! You can do it!" Benji replied.
New determination found its way into her eyes, and she slowly inched forward, placing one hand in front of the other. She was almost near his window.
Benji was leaning out the window as much as he could, his arms outstretched. "Come on, Lux, ya almost there!"
Yet, a shot of lightning sliced the air, too close for comfort, causing her to almost slip. She uttered a high-pitched shriek, and would have fallen to her sure death below, if Benji wouldn't have struggled out further and grabbed her wrists.
With a groan, Benji heaved backward and pulled Luxy through the window. With a thud, he landed sharply on his back and she fell at his feet.
He quickly sat up, grabbing her by the shoulder. "Luxy, Luxy!" he cried, shaking her.
She didn't respond. Her head was down, her wet black hair hanging limply in front of her face, her shoulders shaking.
"Luxy," he said a bit softer, putting his hand under her chin and lifting her head so their gazes connected. "What the hell is wrong?"
Benji could not tell the difference between the tears and the rain that smattered her face. Her sharp, tear stained eyes pierced his. "Julie…and Mama…I can't," she choked.
"Lux, tell me, please," he softly said, slipping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close and putting his head on hers. Her wet nightgown pressed against his bare side.
Luxy let out a sigh. "Julie…Julie ran away with D...David today."
His eyes opened in surprise. "Today?"
"Yes," she said through tears.
Julie was the eldest sibling of the Listin family. She had been carrying on a torrid affair with some rich fellow named David Something-Or-Other, an affair which her father didn't care for. Benji knew that Listin had forbid his daughter to see the young man, alas, they still met in secret. But run away?
"Luxy, I'm sorry," he said.
In response, she roughly shook off his grasp and stood to her feet. "Sorry? Sorry for what? That Julie ran away? I couldn't give a damn! Julie was a caustic bitch who made everyone's life miserable. It affected me because Papa just blew up and started to blame it on Mama, as if it was he fault that she ran away. And he started yelling at her…And that's why I had to leave. But he has no right to yell at her. As if she hasn't suffered enough. Today, just today, at the factory, she was raped by one of the workers. Can you believe it?"
Benji sat, mouth gaping and speechless. If the conversation hadn't been so serious, he would have commented on the comical puddle of water that was forming under a very damp Luxy.
She began to pace the room, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. "And that got me to thinking…I mean, these blasted sweatshops…Meg was killed in one, Mama was raped in one." She halted and stared intently at him. "I turn thirteen at the beginning of this summer. My life ends just as the world is about to begin, bathing in the summer's heat. I turn thirteen and they are going to drag me off to one of those goddamn sweatshops…"
She stopped and her head fell into her hands, muffling the sobs.
Benji slowly rose to his feet, his stomach dropping. He felt weak and nauseous, but he drew himself to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, shivering because of the settling dampness on her. She buried her head into the warmth of his chest, relishing the protection.
"Luxy," he almost whispered, yet in a frank voice, placing his chin on her pate. "I turn thirteen at the beginning of the spring. The days slip by so quickly, and I cringe cause the air's gettin' warmer and its gettin' greener out. You'se ain't goin' nowhere alone. I'm goin' there wit ya."
This made her breakdown even harder.
Yet Benji just stood there, intertwined with his one and truest friend in- between empyrean and Hades, until the sobs that filled the room faded and the only noise that could be heard was their rhythmic breathing, the patter of rain, and the occasional clap of thunder.
"Luxy," he whispered, "Lux?"
"Uh?" she breathlessly replied.
"Luxy, you'se all wet. And ya got me all wet." He slowly pushed her away.
In the room, the darkness was fading with every minute, he was relieved to see the corners of her mouth lift to form a smile. "Oh, Benji. You'se not even wearin' a shirt. Why you complainin' about being wet?"
His face lit up into a smile (a smile, which in later years would become infamous for making girls all over New York swoon.) "Luxy, ya gonna catch the cold or sumpthin' or other if ya don't change. I'd give ya one of me ma's extra shirts, but I don't wanna go in her room and wake her up. Ya can have one of me shirts."
Luxy nodded, smiling gratefully, wrapping her arms around herself.
As Benji stooped and untied the handkerchief that served as his knapsack, she commented, "I was go damn worked up that I didn't even realize how cold out if was."
He arose, and his eyes scanned her from head to toe. His smile widened as he held out a crinkled white-collar shirt. "I'se sorry that I don't have nothin' that could come past ya knees, Miss Listin. It's jist that these are my only pants and ya wouldn't want me to go 'round with no pants…"
"Oh, Benjamin Conlon, do hush!" she giggled, swatting the shirt away. She placed her spread palm on his chest and pushed him onto the bed.
Luxy proceeded to one of the corners (they corners that were dark the last time she looked, yet were not so dark anymore) and started to lift off her damp nightgown, when she suddenly turned around, raising an eyebrow. Benji knew she felt his eyes burning into her.
"Mr. Conlon, I do say, but it ain't proper to stare at a lady while she is getting undressed."
"Oh, mercy me!" he cried, covering his eyes and laying on his bed on his side so his back faced her.
When Luxy was content, she once again turned and pulled her nightgown over her head, flinging it into the corner. She quickly slipped on the shirt and buttoned it up.
Benji could hear her feet padding softly on the splintered floor, and the threadbare mattress fluxed under her weight. He quickly propped himself on his elbow and arched so he faced her. "What the hell d'ya think ya doin?"
She sat on her knees, her blue eyes glinting, and her still damp raven hair hanging about.
He felt his breath was taken away.
An innocent smile crossed her face. "What, ya think I was gonna go back over there and try to sleep with all that arguin'? Hell no. That's why ya gotta move over."
Benji shook his head, swinging his legs onto the edge of the bed, preparing to rise. "Huh-uh, Lux. You take the bed, I'll take the floo…"
He stopped when he felt her cold hand touch his bare shoulder, sending shivers down his spine. He turned to face her.
Her face was solemn, her lips in a straight line. "Benji, please, don't go. I don't want to be alone."
He sighed. "Alright, Lux."
He lay down on the bed, leaving his arm out. She dropped down beside him, tugging up the raggedy blanket while he pulled her close.
Luxy turned to her side, pulling herself as close to Benji as possible and wrapped her grasp around his torso. "Benji, what would I do with out you?" she breathed contentedly, sleep almost over taking her.
Benji, on his back, turned his head to her, brushing against hair. "I don't know, Lux, I don't know."
Luxy was gone into a sleep in a few moments, but Benji lay awake, staring at the ever-lightning ceiling, the sound of the rhythmic rain in his ears, and the coldness of her skin warming him exceedingly.
***
The crash and the screams woke them both.
Benji quickly sat up in bed, just as another scream and a string of deep oaths came.
"Benji, is it…" Luxy shakily asked, knowing yet not daring to say it.
Benji threw off the covers and padded over to the center of the room, listening intently. There was a final horrible scheech and the slurs of drunken words.
Before you could say cane, he had dashed to his knapsack, threw it over his shoulder and was to the window where the sun's first rays were shining through.
Luxy slowly dismounted the bed from the opposite side, joining Benji at the window. He threw the cord down out the window; it reached the bottom and slightly recoiled, then hung limp. He quickly looked over his shoulder and back again.
"Benj…" Luxy questioningly inquired. Yet she couldn't finish, Benji was pushing her out the window and commanding her to snake down the cord.
When he was out the window and on the cord, he stopped to look once more just as the bedroom door splintered open and his father drunkenly stumbled in, shouting ungodly curses and waving the cane high above his head.