=Normal POV=
( Wednesday, January 2, 2019-4:30 am)
[Island of Berk Transportation Center]
It took three months today to arrive, but it was here at last. Troy and Hayden were both catching the next boat to the main island to start Receiving Week, then onto Boot Camp, and finally, School of Infantry. Overall all, the two teenagers would be gone five months before training was complete and they were considered full Marines. Everything started after Hayden moved into Troy's house with the Raseri family. Troy and Hayden spent every morning at 5 am to go for a two-mile jog, which turned into running. The boys would also run through the basic exercises to prepare themselves for the harsh training they would endure. Hayden did call Gabriel in November when he knew the man's schedule calmed down a little, and Hayden told his uncle everything, then made him promise not to tell anyone about the almost suicide. Hayden didn't mention he was joining the Marines because Hayden wanted to wait until he had more definite dates of when he was leaving. Gabriel understood everything and said he would keep the secret, but if Hayden ever felt like that again; he better call right away. Hayden vowed, and that ended the call.
November 12, 2018 came around as Hayden and Troy began the signing up process at the recruiter office. Most of that was checking weight, height, ability to run, do pushups and situps. After that was dealt with, the remainder of the visit became filling out mass amounts of paperwork. The next step was going to the Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS, which the recruiter said they would get a call when to go. It happened right after Thanksgiving on the 26th. December 7th marked the long day that Troy and Hayden spent at MEPS, but thankfully, it ended with both of them under a contract of six years Marine Service as Infantry Riflemen, then sworn into the Archipelago Islands Armed Forces-Marine Corps. Also, on that same day, Troy and Hayden learned they would be leaving right after New Years on January 2, 2019, which was today. The holidays had been enjoyable. Hayden loved spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Raseri's; it was a nice feeling to be around people who wanted him there and cared. Hayden never saw his ex-friends, or parents the entire time. However, he did ponder a few times if they had bothered to notice he was gone. Eventually, Hayden let it go and remembered Troy's words that if anyone did care; they would be looking for him, and so far, nothing had been brought to light to prove that theory. Hayden was a little upset about it, but Troy and the Raseri's kept his spirits up.
"Now, you'll promise to keep in contact as much as you can?" Rachel reminded hopefully.
"Yes, Mom," Troy nodded with a smile.
"We'll do the best we're able, Rachel," Hayden confirmed. Rachel hugged them both tightly, then stepped back as Cole and Dustin did the same.
"All Archipelago Islands Marine Corps recruits for Receiving Week 4:35 am departure to Archia Isle will please make their way to number three dock. All Marine Corps recruits to Dock Three, please. Thank you!"
"I guess that's us," Hayden said.
"What do you say we leave civilian boys and return warrior men?" Troy grinned with his hand up to Hayden.
"I say let's do it, bud," Hayden connected his hand, then there was another round of hugs before the two teenagers grabbed their bags, then made their way to the dock to board the boat taking them to the main island. The sail would be about an hour, assuring that they would reach land between 5:30 and 5:45 am. Once checking in with the Marine Officers there, Hayden and Troy entered the ferry and found two seats for the trip. "I can't believe I'm doing this,"
"What? Leaving for Boot Camp?" Troy asked.
"Yeah. Gods, I never thought I'd be here!" Hayden exclaimed.
"Are you glad to be?" Troy wondered.
"Of course; it's just way out of my comfort zone," Hayden chuckled.
"You heard the recruiter; he said you were made for this lifestyle," Troy reminded. "Hell, you even had your height and weight wrong,"
"You did too. You're five foot eleven, and one-fifty-five, not five-eight and one-fifty-one," Hayden rolled his eyes.
"And you're five-nine and one-forty-seven. And it's been three months since we started all this. Even at the recruiter office in November; you were five feet, seven and a half inches weighing in at one-forty-three," Troy smirked.
"Yeah, I guess I hit a spurt in all that time," Hayden agreed.
"Well, we better rest up while we can. If I remember, we take the ferry to the main island; then a bus will be there for transport to Fort Archian. I doubt it slows down either; Receiving Week is supposed to be where we get all gear, uniforms, set up files, train for Boot Camp life, and get our dog tags at the end," Troy stated.
Hayden yawned. "Totally down for relaxing the next hour," he replied. Troy smiled; he was to see Hayden this happy, and starting now was their journey to become Marines.
. . .
[Haddock Household]
(Friday, January 11, 2019-5 pm)
Spencer and Vivian had not heard from Hayden since October 7th, and it was now the 11th of January, a few days over a full three months. None of the ex-friends had seen Hayden either, and as such, everyone was genuinely concerned as to the reason why Hayden disappeared. However, some relief was that Spencer and Hayden returned home on the 8th of October to find that Hayden had been there, but to get his belongings.
/Flashback; 10/8/2019/
The time was 4 pm when Spencer and Vivian Haddock reached their home after a long day of work for both and worried why Hayden would have taken the family gun out of the house, and left a substantial amount of cash on his bed along with his mobile phone. Neither parent could find a valid reason what would spark such an odd chain of events, moreover why the gun was found by Shane and the group of Hayden's former friends at The Cove in Raven Point Park with a round loaded into the chamber. The Haddock parents sighed while entering the silent residence, hoping that Hayden might be home so they could talk to him.
"Hayden!" Vivian called out. No answer.
"Son, your mother and I need to speak to you about yesterday!" Spencer tried. Again, nothing.
"Maybe he has his headphones in?" Vivian offered. Spencer shrugged as they walked to Hayden's bedroom door and Spencer knocked twice. No response from the other side. Vivian moved in front of her husband, then turned the handle as the door opened. Instantly, Vivian knew something was different. "Hayden?"
"He's not here, Viv, but he was earlier," Spencer sighed.
"How can you tell?" Vivian tensed nervously.
"The art desk is cleared off, and so are all the drawings he had on the wall. The closet is open; drawers are opened. It looks like Hayden came here to grab his things and leave again," Spencer informed while checking around the room. "Hayden came for his clothes, shoes, and art things. Looks like he took what he didn't want to leave behind,"
"And where would he go!" Vivian panicked.
"That I do not know," Spencer replied softly as Vivian was about to cry, Spencer pulled her close. "But I promise that I will find out,"
/End Flashback/
Three months later, and nothing gave the Haddock parents a reason other than Hayden ran away from home after having everything set in that he had no friends, no job, had lost his parent's respect and was about to end up homeless. Spencer and Vivian stood in front of Hayden's room but didn't enter. Vivian considered the area sacred ground almost, feeling that nothing should be touched or moved as it would remove the memory of it being the last time Hayden was in the house.
"I can't take this, Spencer. We should never have agreed to make him pay rent after he told he wanted to save up to go to college," Vivian wiped her cheek where a tear had started falling.
"Aye, we were wrong to give him a hard time after all he'd been going through," Spencer sighed.
"Mr. and Mrs. Haddock? Are you home, the front door is wide open?" called Hailey's voice.
"Hayden's room, kids!" Spencer replied louder so they would hear him.
"Is he home?!" Avery hurried down the hall, but seeing Spencer and Vivian standing outside the door sadly; she knew that Hayden wasn't there.
"I don't understand any of this," Drew said.
"None of us do," Fisher frowned. "Everything doesn't add up, but the bottom line is that Hayden is gone," Spencer and Vivian closed the door and returned to the living room as everyone sat down.
"I would have hoped that he would come back," Vivian sniffled a few times.
"Maybe he found a job, and got an apartment?" Rylee suggested.
"In three months?" Avery arched a brow.
"It's possible," Tyler retorted.
"I think it might be time to report him missing, Spencer," Vivian stated. "I know he was upset, but to just take off? What if something has happened to him? What if he's hurt somewhere? What if someone took him!?" Vivian began to panic.
"I don't see how you think any of those things," Spencer closed his eyes.
"You're the Chief of Berk Police, sir; I'm sure you have enemies," Avery offered.
"And we have his insurance cards, so he wouldn't be able to get medical help!" Vivian added.
"Viv. If Hayden got kidnapped, how would he have time to get his things? Hayden ran away, and we proved that because his house key was left on my desk that day," Spencer mumbled. "Also, his social and birth certificate along with $200 was missing from the stack he left in the safe,"
"So it's very possible that Hayden did leave to find a job because he would have needed all those things to get anywhere. Forms of ID, money for transportation, or a place to stay such as hotel or motel," Hailey informed.
"Spencer! I do not care what was left or taken! I want my son home! Report him missing, and start looking for my baby," Vivian demanded. Spencer sighed.
"I'll do it tomorrow at work, okay?" Spencer assured as Vivian nodded. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door as Spencer got up to answer it. "Director Raseri?"
"Hello, Chief Haddock. May I come in?" Dustin smiled softly.
"O-Of course, sir. Please?" Spencer stepped aside as Dustin walked into the home.
"Have I interrupted anything?" Dustin wondered.
"No, sir. There's just a bit of an issue with locating our son, and these are some of his former friends," Spencer enlightened.
"Oh, my. I was unaware Hayden was missing, why haven't you reported it and begun a search?" Dustin inquired, acting as if he knew nothing.
"Well, we had hoped Hayden would return on his own, but it's been three months, and there has been nothing," Vivian closed her eyes.
"Did he run away? Were there problems at home that would cause him to leave?" Dustin questioned.
"We came home October 8th to find that Hayden had been here to collect his personals, then get some identifying documents before leaving his house key on the counter. Hayden left his cell phone behind, and there has been no sightings or contact made since the 7th," Spencer explained.
"But was there a situation to spark him wanting to leave Chief Haddock; that is why I asked," Dustin pushed.
"Hayden has been…having a bit of a rough time since graduating High School, and we got into a disagreement about him paying rent to live here after he had just lost his job," Vivian closed her eyes, ashamed to have admitted the information.
"We didn't help matters by abandoning him either," Drew muttered.
"Aye, likely not, but we threatened to evict him, kids," Spencer also looked down.
"I see. Perhaps Hayden felt hurt, and afraid to be thrown out, so he chose to leave to avoid the situation of being evicted by his parents," Dustin remarked coolly. Okay, that was painful to hear, but it wasn't untrue. "Aside from that, the boy was eighteen, yes?" Dustin arched a brow.
"Yes, sir," Spencer nodded.
"Then perhaps putting a missing person report out would do you no good. It seems Hayden elected to leave on his own, and being a legal adult; he is very much allowed to do so. Hayden is not bound by any law to tell you where he's going or what he's doing. Hayden likely decided to go out and find a way to take care of and support himself. The reason for not making contact could be due to some harbored feelings of betrayal by people he once trusted," Dustin informed.
"Director Raseri, please? Let me start a search for my son; my wife and I have to make things right," Spencer asked.
"You do not need my permission, all I offered was my opinion, Chief Haddock. However, as we're on the subject of your son; I did come on business regarding him," Dustin looked at Spencer firmly.
"Does this have anything to do with the things he did between July and September last year?" Vivian inquired.
"As a matter of fact, yes; it does. There seemed to be a string of hackings to the social media page; .ap. There have been reports about profiles being hacked into, information stolen, and fake profiles were going up as the real user gets locked out of theirs. Hayden was one of those affected by this which began in August," Dustin stated. Instantly, the friends felt guilty because Hayden told them he was hacked, and they didn't listen. "Also, Hayden losing his job was not his fault. Hayden reported it to the Berk Isle Department of Labor that he was unfairly fired because the manager refused to check cameras to prove his innocence in a register discrepancy. Police got involved, and upon viewing the footage; the real thieves were caught stealing money out of Hayden's drawer all week long. Those involved have been arrested, and the manager is under investigation as well. Barbarian Burger Corporate has offered to reinstate his employment, and pay back what he has lost since the unlawful termination occurred. Hayden just has to give them a call, and they plan to formally apologize too,"
"Hayden tried to tell us it wasn't his fault," Vivian whimpered.
"And he said he was hacked, but we didn't listen," Avery admitted. "We threw away our friendship with him,"
"Well, it seems to me that Barbarian Burger is not the only one who owes Hayden an apology for not listening to him. Anyway, I just came by to relay the information. I must be going now, and I hope your son returns soon. However, I have a feeling that he's doing just fine and you should just…Trust him. Have a good evening," Dustin gave a bow of his head before turning, then exiting the household while leaving the former friends and two parents in utter shock and feeling utterly guilty over their actions.