Chapter four
The rain fell harder outside as the two dragged the child into the apartment. Together they pulled the boy up the staircase into the house, leaving a stream of water behind them.
"What about your parents Halcyon?" asked Charity whispering.
"My parents are dead…my aunt and uncle are probably asleep, just keep quiet and we can get to my room without waking them."
Charity looked down in shame at the question that she just asked. Halcyon tapped her shoulder.
"Hey now is not the time to go all sad on me, this boy needs our help." He whispered. Charity nodded in agreement, even though at the back of her mind she was crying for Halcyon.
The two successfully hauled the boy up to Halcyon's room, and placed him on Halcyon's bed. Charity breathed heavily, wiping the water from her face. She sat down beside the boy exhausted.
"Now what?" asked Halcyon.
Charity shrugged, "He's not cold…and he's still breathing. Maybe we should just clean him up a bit. He looks as if he just came out of the war." She said with a bit of whimper. Halcyon nodded, "I'll get us some towels, hot water, and some food. You change his clothes." Said Halcyon as he turned and headed for the stairway. Charity nodded in agreement. When Halcyon left she turned to the boy and examined him thoroughly.
The first thing that amazed her about him was his hair. It was medium and very thin. It was a silver color with gray highlights in it. His face was white and warm and he was soaked to the core with water. She quickly began to undress him. Gently she removed his red tank top and the white T-shirt underneath. She avoided removing the necklace. There was something strange about it that made her not want to touch it. She hung the shirt and shoes over her shoulder and reached for the pair of black shorts of his. She pulled them off and turned away instantly.
"Oh my god if my father found out I was undressing a boy, he would kill me…" She looked around Halcyon's room for a dresser. When she saw there was none she went for the nightstand. In it was a drawer full of boxers and underwear. She laughed as she held up some of the boxers. On one pair there was a monkey kissing a banana and on another there was a dragon blowing out fire.
"Interesting Hal, very interesting…" she laughed. As walked backwards so she would not have to face the naked boy on the bed. "I wish you were awake kid, you owe me one when you wake up. She closed her eyes and felt her way up the boy's leg then quickly she put a black pair of boxers on him. When she opened her eyes she laughed at the act she had just performed.
"That was actually kind of…fun." She said aloud. She observed the wounds the boy had. On his arm was a severe gash which went deep into his arm, it bled endlessly. On his face blood also oozed out. His lips were cut and bleeding, along with his gums. On his pale chest was the most severe cut, which went deep into his stomach. She winced at the wounds.
Halcyon appeared suddenly holding a bucket of steaming hot water, a few cloths, three towels, some pieces of bread, and a large contraption. He placed it all beside the bed breathing heavily.
"I see you changed him, good!" he said with a smile. "Ok lets help this kid out." He shouted. Charity nodded and took hold of a cloth and dipped it into the bucket of hot water. Slowly she began to clean all of the wounds, while Halcyon dried him. With the remaining cloths, Charity wrapped the cuts like bandages. Then she dipped the final cloth into the hot water and folded it into a rectangle and placed the steaming hot cloth on the boy's forehead.
"There…all done." She said with a sigh. Halcyon handed her a towel and she began to dry herself. When she finished she hung the boy's wet clothes on a clothesline that was attached to the ceiling supports. Halcyon plugged the contraption into an outlet.
"It's a heater." He said with a smile.
Finally the two of them took a seat beside the bed next to each other.
"Thanks Hal." Charity said with a smile.
"For what?" asked Halcyon with a smile.
"For taking this boy in, I think it was real brave of you…" she said as she curled beside Halcyon and closed her eyes. Halcyon didn't respond. Pretty soon, the two were asleep.
The two awakened later that evening suddenly. Charity looked around frantically.
"What time is it!" she yelled.
"It's about seven or eight…I think." Responded Halcyon.
"My father is gonna kill me!" she shouted aloud. Halcyon grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the window.
"You can get out through here by using the fire escape, meet me at the spot tomorrow, I'll take the boy there." He ordered. Charity nodded and within seconds she vanished. Halcyon turned to the boy on the bed.
"So are you ever going to wake up?" he asked, but no response came.
Charity ran quickly through the wet streets. Her sandals squeaked as she ran. Her hair waved wildly as she ran. She breathed heavily and inside she was trembling. When she arrived at her front doorstep the door shot open and Aaron stood there staring at her.
"What?" asked Charity as if nothing had ever happened.
"You are in the biggest trouble Charity…" bellowed Aaron. He turned and shouted into the house. "Dad! She's home!"
"Bring her here." Said a deep voice in the living room. Aaron grabbed her hand and escorted her there. He let go of her hand and turned away when they reached the room. As he walked away he whispered, "May god have mercy on your soul." With that he sped away up to his room.
"Charity come here…" bellowed her father as he patted the cushion beside him on the sofa. Charity walked slowly toward him, as tears began to flee from her eyes. The man appeared very angry as he rubbed his temples with a frown. She sat beside him and avoided staring at him in the eyes.
"Y-yes dad?" she stuttered.
"Charity, where were you all day?" he asked menacingly. Charity did not respond. "Were you with that boy again?" he asked with an intense voice.
"Yes." Replied Charity honestly.
"Charity how many times do I have to tell you, I don't want you hanging with that boy? He's not your type." Her father said. Charity stood up abruptly.
"But why dad!" she shouted.
"Young lady don't you raise your voice at me!" he yelled back in anger, "I said I don't want you around that boy, he's a different class!"
"Dad! How could you? Do you think that if I marry a poor boy it will degrade me!" Shouted Charity as she wiped her tears away. "That boy, is my friend Halcyon! He's the only one that really understands me!"
"Little missy you better lower that voice of yours! I don't like that boy!" shouted her father as he jumped to his feet.
"Oh and just because you don't like him I'm supposed to do the same? If you didn't like food, would I have to do the same and starve!" she shouted back angrily.
"Yeah you would, I rule this house!" shouted her father.
"You may rule the house, but you don't rule over MY decisions!" she shouted, "You cant pull me away from love, YOU WON'T!"
There was a quick swish as her father smacked her across the head, "How dare you speak to me with that tone! Get up to your room!" he shouted pointing at the staircase.
"I hate you!" she shouted as she turned and ran up the stairs. He door slammed and only the faint of Charity's sobs could be heard throughout the house.