Disclaimer: I do not own Lost Boys.
S13ForeverFan101, Vampirefreak, XxXxEMILYxXxX, and Lealeigh Rush, thank you for the reviews, it's much appreciated.
Warnings: Angst, blood, and some tragedy.
I originally planned this to be a two/three shot, but I think it's going to turn into a four-shot. This chapter is kind of short, but the next will be much longer. I wanted to post this chapter before my family came to visit, so here it is. Hope you enjoy!
David's eyes met with those belonging to the man he was barely acquainted with. The first time he met him he was not too fond of his cheery, flamboyant persona, but being the only other survivor David was interested in what information he brought.
The nurse welcomed the man into the room to which he nodded his gratitude. The nurse flashed them both one last smile before leaving them to talk.
David glanced over the hotel manger. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, a tall, lanky frame. His hair was combed in a neat, stylish fashion. He wore spectacles that were rather large in proportion to his face. The man took a deep concern to his wardrobe. He was dressed fashionable: a form-fitting, black slacks with a white shirt and a black overcoat, buttoned all the way to the top. David could see the purple bowtie poking out from underneath the coat. He held a black top hat in his hands.
The hotel manager smiled at the boy then sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed. The elder man gaped almost in confusion to why the boy seemed to treat him in an almost indifferent way. He noticed the bandages wrapped around the youth's head and it clicked. The two stared at each other in silence before the older man decided to break the silence.
"I heard you were the only one to make it out of that catastrophe alive," he said.
David shrugged. "I'm a survivor," he replied.
The man nodded. He placed his hat atop his lap and extended an arm to David. "My name is Maxamillion Hartford, but you may call me Max." David stared at Max's outstretched hand for a time before smirking and leaning back against his bed. Max pursed his lips. He decided to give the boy the benefit of the doubt and blamed his lack of manners on the concussion. "I was informed of your condition," Max said pointing to his own head. "Please tell me, Mr. Stevenson, what can you remember?"
David softly laughed. He had been called by his first since he arrived at the hospital. It was the only information he gave to his rescuers and the guest list from the hotel had yet to be discovered. David made a mental note to send a thank you letter to Richard and Jacob, the latter of which visited him earlier that morning, the instant he was free from the confines of the hospital bed. No one bothered to ask David his last name, most of his memories had yet to resurface.
"How do you remember my last name when I forgot?" David asked the older man.
Max smiled. "You don't remember what happened after the earthquake, do you?" The curious response in David's eyes answered that question.
"What happened?" David asked.
Max shook his head. "The nurse instructed me not to tell you anything, to let you figure it all out on your own."
David sneered at Max. "You can't grasp my interest then leave me out in the cold like that. It's not fair."
"Perhaps it isn't, but it's for your own good," Max replied. David glared at those words. The only response Max gave was a hearty laugh which baffled David. Those who witnessed the young blonde's glares usually trembled or ran away, but this man showed no sign of terror. Max ceased laughing and gave the boy a polite smile. "I tell you what, young man, you tell me what you remember and I'll fill you in on the details between."
David grumbled. It was not what he wanted, but any information was better than nothing.
David revealed what he could remember of how he was reading when the room began to shake. Max commented on his fondness for Wilde's writings. David smiled, that information boosted Max's popularity points a tiny bit with him. Anyone who shared his interest in music or literature could not be all bad. David then recounted the story of how the fire began and watched Max's reaction. Upon realizing that the fire was the least of the man's worries he continued with the details of himself descending the steps.
"This man, one who was too big for his breeches, pushed me aside then jostled a woman." He stared into Max's eyes. "A woman. He dared to touch a woman in that manner." David clicked his tongue then continued. "So I grabbed him and pushed him up against the wall. I threatened him. I didn't hurt him, but I believe he got the message." He saw Max smile then that memory of him standing in the adjacent hallway flashed through his mind. David pointed at the other man. "You were there. You saw that interaction occur."
"I did," Max said crossing one leg over the other. "I only wanted to hear you recount the moment."
David nodded. "Why were you watching me?"
Max shrugged. "Perhaps I also thought that man deserved to be put in his place." He smiled at David. "I believe you handled that situation well."
David laughed. "My mother would say I acted out in haste." A new thought quickly replaced the one currently occupying David's mind. "Say, what of my mother?" He sat up, ignoring the protests of his body. "She left, please tell me that she was well away from the hotel when it collapsed."
Max gave the boy a look of pity. "I wish I could do that, David, but I, myself am unaware of your mother's fate."
David growled and clenched his fists. He was certain the news reports of his rescue were to have reached her ears by now were she still alive. That only left one of two possibilities and neither one sat well with him. He hated himself for being the one who pushed her away that night. If only he submitted the way a good son should, she would be there by his side.
"Have any of the bodies been identified?" David asked.
Max's eyebrows lifted at the boy's question. "Pardon?" he asked.
David pushed the sheets from his legs. "All those bodies that littered the cave—when those men found me—have any of them been identified?"
The memory of wandering through the cave with a fuzzy head while seeking an exit found its way to his conscious. He saw himself passing by smashed and broken corpses, trying to keep himself of thinking about their contorted faces. He only hoped someone would find him before he went insane. The rats scurried by his feet off to feast on another decaying carcass.
"I suppose," Max replied.
"You suppose?" David snapped. "These people were guests in your hotel. You should feel more sympathy for their passing."
"Trust me I do," Max replied in a kind voice. "I send my deepest regards to their families and loved ones." He sighed. "Yet I cannot undo what has passed."
David growled again as he placed his bare feet against the cold tiles.
"Whoa, where do you think you are going?" Max asked as he pushed David back against the bed.
"I need to—"
"You need to rest, and that's an order," Max retorted.
For some unknown reason David found himself complying with the man's orders. He was never an obedient person, not even to his own parents, much to their displeasure, but there was something about Max that made him willing to listen.
"I guarantee by tomorrow you'll be good as new," Max stated cheerfully much to David's disdain. He headed for the door. "I shall return tomorrow night to check up on your progress." With those words Max placed his top hat back on his head and turned towards the door.
"Why are you concerned with my wellbeing?" David asked.
Max slightly turned his head and David could see the smile. "It's my job to care." Max left a confused David as he slipped into the hallway.
David leaned his head against the pillow while replaying Max's last words to him. David found comfort in the thought that Max merely cared for the safety for his only surviving patron. Perhaps he felt he owed it to the boy's mother.
David closed his eyes to prevent the tears begging to fall at the mention of the woman who bore him entered his brain. He succeeded for the most part, but a stray salty tear made its way down his cheek. David swiftly wiped it away before it had a chance to stain. He turned the left side of his face against the comfort of the pillow as another memory surfaced.
David glanced around the hotel lobby as people screamed. He watched a woman desperately clawing at the smashed in doors. Another woman fell to her feet while wailing. The rows of hats and lace blended into one, exquisite clothing was tarnished with dust and debris.
David pushed through the panicked crowd, looking for any outlet the others may have missed. He felt eyes on him, but pushed them aside. Surely everyone was hoping that someone would prove to be the savior the release them from this elegant prison. David made his way to the marvelous fountain that sat in the center of the lobby. He climbed upon the structure to see a large mass of the ceiling fall and smash a woman in a blue dress. Scarlet spurted out from the sides of the fallen marble. Another round of screams followed. David soon grew to hate the shrill sound of screams. A worse sound of children wailing echoed in his ears and David found himself begging for the women's screams to encore in place of the new aria.
"David!" a female voice called. David turned about to find the source of the call. He glanced around at the innumerable frightened faces. He checked the other direction to find the same sight. In time the faces all meshed into one. "David!" the frantic voice called again.
David saw the figure rushing towards him. It was the terrified face of his mother. Her blonde hairs which had broken free from the confines of the extravagant bun swayed about her youthful face. There was a gash atop her forehead which splattered blood as she ran. David warned her that yellow was an awful color for her, but now the fabric was ruined with crimson splotches.
David hopped down from the fountain and found himself running towards his mother's embrace. The two grabbed each other's elbows. David stood two inches taller than the woman. He cradled her head against his neck.
"I'm so sorry, Mother," David muttered.
"Please, I'm so glad you are alright," she said with a sob.
David rubbed his mother's tousled hair. "I promise, Mother, I'll never disrespect you again," he said loud enough for only her to hear.
"I'll hold you to it," she said with a slight smile.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments. It was at that time that nature decided to show its cruel side. The ground rumbled and the floor began to split. The crowd screamed and shoved. Several people fell to the floor only to be trampled upon as the mob dashed about the trap. David pulled his mother close.
She felt the ground tremble beneath her boots. She glanced down at the floor then back up at her son. David read the look of fear on his mother's eyes and the slight quiver in her lips. The ground split, taking swallowing the resort. A misplaced, jagged rock within the cave shot up through Mrs. Stevenson's torso. Her eyes widened as blood poured out of both the wound and her mouth. Red lines appeared in the whites of her eyes. David stared speechless as the shifting ground forced him away from his impaled mother.
David fell backwards, the sound of screams and the stench of blood filling the atmosphere. A tear rolled down his cheek as he succumbed to the shadows.
That's chapter two. I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading.