8 Malevolence.
We arrived at the Institute within minutes because of Jace's wonderful Steele, but Adam would only let me carry him! I understood, he didn't know the others, and was still in his somewhat catatonic, petrified state. My head was clearer now, and the pain was almost non-existent, but I was still exhausted from carrying a child that had to be at least ninety pounds for so many miles. I don't know how long we walked before Jace and the others showed up to our rescue, but it felt like hundreds of miles! I can't even bare to think about it anymore, the memory made me tired alone.
We carried him all the way up inside the institute and straight to the infirmary, Maryse was there to meet us, looking stunned at the sight of Adam and I, but whatever she possibly said or did, I don't know, I was more concerned about Adam, and how much blood he lost just from his hand alone. The coldness of the night, possibly causing hypothermia, and I was sure the wound may even be infected at this point. It went so long without the proper dressing and care, there was no way it wasn't infected somehow.
We laid him down on one of the beds, and Alec took off the rag form his hand, letting more blood flow onto himself, Adam, and the bed sheets.
"By the Angel!" Alec gasped. "Whatever did this went all the way through!"
"I found him like that!" I said to him, still feeling exhausted and ready to sleep. "There was a knife stabbed all the way through his hand and into the table beneath it."
"Jesus!" Alec gasped again. "Who the fuck does that to a kid?"
"A very fucked up person!" I snapped at the idea, remembering everything I witnessed Adam go through. Jace came over to me, and practically pushed me on to a bed, and sitting next to me.
"You need rest!" He said while taking off my boots, revealing some nasty blisters from all the walking. "And more healing too, apparently." He added.
"No," I breathed. "I need to watch over him." I said, looking over at Adam who still remained catatonic, while Alec was calling Magnus on his cell, and holding something on Adam's hand, probably to slow down the blood flow.
"Clary," Jace stroked my hair. "He's fine! We have him, but you need to rest, you need to regain your strength."
"Jace, please, I promised him." I pleaded with my boyfriend.
"And you're not breaking that promise." He smiled at me. "Just rest." I gave in to him, and laid down flat on the bed, already I was dozing off, but not before telling Jace one more thing.
"Promise me that he will still be here when I wake up!" Tears formed in my eyes at the thought of waking to find out that they sent him to a mundane hospital. "Please Jace promise me, he can't go to a hospital, they'll only hurt him more, promise me!" I was begging now, and practically sobbing. He nodded at my plea, and continued to rub my cheek.
"I promise," He said finally. "Ssshh…. I wont leave your side, which means I'll be watching him too, if anyone tries to take him out of here, they'll have to deal with me! Okay?" I nodded at him, I believed him, Jace would do anything for me, sometimes even if he didn't agree- not always, but I could tell that he sensed that this meant something to me, and that if I woke up to an empty bed beside me, there would be Hell to pay!
Later I woke, feeling much more refreshed, my head even clearer, and I couldn't feel pain anywhere, which was Heaven sent. I grinned to myself, and stretched, turning over to another position, I was so comfortable that I didn't want to move. I felt a lump at my feet, and glanced up to see that Jace had fallen asleep half way on the bed, and his bum still sat firmly in a chair, I smiled at him, bringing down a hand to stroke his soft curls- when suddenly I realized- Adam!
I sat straight up in bed, causing Jace to jerk from his sleep as well. I looked over to the bed beside me, and saw that Adam was still there- Thank God! I let out a relieved sigh, and looked at Jace who looked groggy as he yawned, damn he was so cute when he looked vulnerable. I looked back over at Adam, nothing had changed, he was still in his petrified state, but his hand was wrapped tightly, and a familiar colorful man bent over him. When he heard us shifting behind him, he turned and smiled.
"Well good morning, Sleeping Beauty!" Magnus grinned. I smiled back, but jumped from my bed and over to Adam's, I sat down beside him and picked up his bandaged hand to have a look.
"He's fine for now." Magnus said.
"For now?" I said out of fear.
"No don't worry he's alright, but he's running a fever, and is a little sick, but he'll be okay." He padded my head. "He just needs a couple of days to recover." He smiled.
"And his hand?" I asked.
"It'll heal just fine," he brought up a hand and made a fancy gesture to himself. "Because of moi." He chuckled, but then his smile disappeared as he glanced back at Adam's terrifying face. "As for his state of mind," He sighed sadly. "I'm not so sure." Jace came up from behind and sat further down on Adam's bed and started stroking my back.
"You mind telling us what the hell happened to you!" Isabelle's voice rang from the doorway. "And what the hell you were doing with a mundane child when we found you?" To be honest I didn't like her tone, and I could tell Jace didn't neither. I let out a breath and began explaining to them the story step by step, minute by minute. Right down to the notebook I found with the many different articles in it, including the one about Adam. I left out the fact that I traveled in there on my own. I made it sound like I found the notebook while trying to escape. I was still somewhat too embarrassed to tell them I entered there on my own accord. I said that I had been grabbed when I stepped out for some air.
I told them about what Adam went through, what that man had done to him. I even explained how lost Adam seemed to be, how completely traumatized he was during the whole trip back. He was limp, and not exactly ecstatic about finally being rescued, but nor was he making a point to stay where he was at either. I knew he was damaged, but I wasn't sure what to think about it at the moment. Had Adam been so scarred, that it seemed that he would remain in his catatonic state forever?
I looked over at Magnus, who seemed to be still examining Adam closely, who was- as usual- completely unresponsive.
"Did he get any sleep at all?" I asked. Magnus finally took his eyes away from the boy, and just slowly shook his head.
"He's been like this since I arrived." He shrugged.
"No," Alec answered for him. "He's been like this since you brought him."
"Adam?" I tried to get his attention, but Isabelle's voice rang in again.
"Well, he needs to go to a mundane hospital, he shouldn't be here!" She folded her arms and looked as though she was trying not to pout.
"No!" I demanded. "If we do that they'll just throw him in an orphanage!"
"That's exactly what would've happened to him if another mundane found him!" she snapped. Okay, now she was pissing me off. True; he would've been sent to a mundane hospital, and then to an orphanage right after. If he were found by anyone else… but he wasn't found just by anyone!
I found him!
And I promised him I wouldn't leave him! When I make promises I keep them!
"I don't care what you say Isabelle!" I turned to her again. "I am not sending him away!"
"You don't have that say!" She stuck her nose up as if rubbing it in that I really had no control over that. It was then that Maryse walked in, and started talking like she had been there the whole time.
"I understand your heroic behavior, Clarissa, but the boy cannot stay."
"I'm not trying to be heroic!" I nearly yelled that time. "I'm just trying to do what others obviously won't do!" I wanted to cry, I felt Jace's hand on me, but I shrugged it off. I didn't mean to be cruel, but I was becoming so angry with these women that nothing would make me feel better then to shove them both in a meat grinder!
"Clary…" I suddenly heard Jace's voice. "He's not one of us."
"I simply remember you saying the same exact words to me almost two years ago." The tears had finally fallen, but I wasn't ashamed to show it, my voice didn't even waver. It stayed steady.
"That was different." He argued. "You ended up being one of us-"
"I thought this place was a sanctuary?" I cut him off before he could say more. "For Shadowhunters AND Mundanes?" They all remained quiet, bringing on an air of awkward tension.
"As much as I don't have say here." Magnus started. "I'm on Clary's side." It relieved me to know someone was.
"It isn't your say, Warlock!" Maryse very rudely addressed him. Alec was suddenly standing at the side of his boyfriend, the very first time I ever saw him stand up against his parents.
"That's the thing," He smiled sarcastically. "You Nephilim all pretend to be these almighty warriors who protect the innocent, and destroy the evil. You're supposed to be bread from Angels. You stand here and act like you're better than any other creature on this planet, and yet here you are acting no different from any other being on this planet, selfish, and arrogant!" I smiled at him, he was right! As much as it was terrible he was right. Magnus then turned to Alec with sympathy in his eyes.
"This is no offense to you Allie, dear." He caressed his cheek, while Alec just engulfed it. "You're kind just needs to admit that they are human every once in a while, and it's not exactly a bad thing to be human either."
"The boy may stay for one more night." Maryse's voice cut the silence like a piece of glass scraping against a chalkboard. "I understand that he needs rest, but as soon as strength is regained by tomorrow, he will be led to a mundane orphanage! Is that clear?" I didn't answer, or look at her; I just kept my eyes on Adam, whose eyes were adverting from one person to the other. He wasn't completely catatonic, something told me he was listening to all of us closely.
"I said is that clear?" Maryse's voice suddenly jerked me back.
"I don't agree." I stated flatly, still not looking at anyone. "So no, it is not clear!"
"Very well." She said it as if she didn't care- which she probably didn't. "Regardless of your opinion, the boy leaves tomorrow afternoon!" And like that she glided out of the Library with Isabelle at her heels..
Jace went to touch me again, but I tore myself away from him and took a seat next to Adam's bed and away from him. He looked at me with hurt in his eyes, and then suddenly, anger masked it and took over.
"You're acting childish!"
"And you're prejudice!" I snapped back.
"I'm not prejudice, Clary!" He yelled. "I'm realistic!"
"Oh please! Stop pretending!" I folded my arms and looked away.
"Stop pretending what? I'm not pretending! I have nothing against this kid, but he belongs with his own kind!"
"Who are just going to throw him in a MENTAL HOSPITAL!" I finally started screaming at him.
"No they're not!"
"Excuse me?" I looked at him again. "For someone who knows exactly what it's like to live like this boy has lived, you are very naïve!"
"Me?" He chuckled without amusement. "Naïve?"
"Yes!" I answered. "Look at him!" I demanded and pointed a finger towards Adam. "He is completely damaged! More than you ever have! If they don't help him then they'll just give up, just like the world gave up on you when they all thought you were Valentine's son!" That hit a nerve, he froze, his expression was still angry but I could see it in his eyes, that he suddenly realized what I was saying, but bet it on Jace to not admit whenever he's wrong!
"She's right." Magnus chimed in. "A mundane orphanage will take him, realize how damaged he is, then lock him up because they'll assume no family will want him…. Which in all honestly…. No one will…."
"That's exactly what would've happened to you if you were sent to Shadowhunter orphanage instead of here!" I just had to get it that one last comment, and it seemed to work, because Jace stood up and stormed out of the infirmary. Alec seemed to feel too awkward to stay so he silently exited the infirmary, he said if the boy needed anything else to just call, and he disappeared through the door, leaving me with Magnus.
"Dear," He said suddenly. "I do agree with you, all heartedly, but now that we're alone…." He stopped and glanced at Adam, whose eyes stared straight forward again. "This wont be easy…" he finished. "He is quite damaged! So badly in fact… it'll take a lot of work to get him to bounce back… if he even does. They say that when Sociopathic children reach adolescence, there's no chance of a cure. Although, I am not saying that is one hundred percent accurate, I'm just warning you. He is eleven years old, adolescence is knocking… no… Banging on his front door as we speak."
"I know, and am aware." I said. "But I wont give up! He didn't choose to be this way! Someone else made that choice for him!"
"I know…" Magnus sighed sadly. "It truly is sad to think of what might become of children… especially those mundanes who are abducted and never returned. They were happy children once…. So was he."
"Did you…" I paused not sure how Adam would take to hearing the fact that someone read his mind, not that he was positively paying attention, but I still thought it was too much for his fragile young mind. But Magnus seemed to catch on anyway. He nodded in response to my unasked question.
"He use to be happy?" I asked, and he nodded.
"He use to speak." Magnus stroked Adam's hair once before ascending to leave the room, I scooted the chair closer to Adam, when Magnus stopped just before the door.
"If the boy is still here far past tomorrow afternoon, you can get help from me any time you like. Which…" he paused and grinned widely. "I have a feeling I'll be greatly needed." And then he exited the room completely. I smiled at his last comment, I hope his feeling were true, I chuckled to myself. I was definitely going to try and defend Adam.
"Adam?" He turned his head to look at me. I cannot help the excitement that makes my heart flutter every time I get the tiniest reaction from him; it gives me hope, even if it is so small. I was determined to get him to sleep, for he needed it to regain strength. He was still in his bloody clothes; I made a mental note to later go out and by him new. He needed a bath terribly, but I just think he needed the sleep more so than anything, at least the blood was his own.
"You should really get some sleep." I said to him. "You need it for your strength." He continued to just stare at me for another minute, and then turned away from me again. "Hey, c'mon please sleep- if you're worried about them I will do my best to keep them from you, okay?" He slowly tucked himself deeper under blanket- great! Some progress!
He was listening to me, which was a good sign. He slowly turned his head to me again, his eyes looked like they were searching- searching for approval.
"Good!" I smiled and pulled the blanket further up to tuck him in. I sat back in the chair and started stroking his hair.
"Do you possibly remember your parents?" I asked him, he turned his eyes away from me, I guess that was a no. "Not what your mommy did to help you sleep?" He said nothing, so I just started singing.
In my opinion; I have a pretty decent voice, I only ever sang in the privacy of my own room, or in the shower. Then I met Jace, and for some reason I felt comfortable enough to sing only when he was around- and if we're alone. He seems to think my voice is beautiful… it's okay. I wouldn't win American Idol, but maybe I'm doing what Jace does the least most…. Being modest.
Words are flying out like
Endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
The vacant, yet tortured expression on his face now seemed to be fading away to be revealing peace, warmth covered my heart as he slowly relaxed to my touch, and to my voice. Instead of a stiff board laying on a bed, he was a little boy trying to get comfortable, while listening to voices of Angels. I could see his eyes grow heavy as I continued to sing.
Images of broken lights which
Dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Restless wind inside a letterbox
They tumble blindly as
They make their way across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter shades of life
Are ringing through my open ears
Exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
Shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva
He had practically melted into my touch, almost completely letting his walls fall around him and letting himself be free to the welcoming of love around him. His eyes were now closed, and steady breathing was filling the infirmary. I watched as his small chest raised up and down, and his mouth become slightly ajar. After a couple of minutes, and smiling sweetly to him, I sat back in my chair and watched him closely; I wasn't going to leave his side, not even in sleep….
0o0o0
I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until I was waking up. I yawned, stretched and rubbed my eyes a bit. It took a minute before the grogginess, and heaviness my body felt had lifted and I could see that Adam was gone. Startled, I sat straight up in the chair. "Adam?" I called for him, no answer or movement. I slid off the chair and laid flat on the floor to look under all the beds. Nothing. I stood back up and went to the other end of the room to look under the other rows of beds. Nothing. Where the hell did he go?
"Adam?" I called him again, and of course no answer. I opened the closets and nothing. I began to fear that he snuck out of the institute all together. I exited the infirmary in a rush. I called for Adam again as I somewhat jogged down the halls, opening doors and checking closets. In my rushing-panic fit I had clashed with someone in the hallway.
The person I collided with instantly wrapped his arms around me, I knew who it was- his smell, the curves of his muscles, and the raised scars through his t-shirt. I didn't need to see his face to know it was him.
"Hey," he whispered into my hair. "What's wrong?" I finally pulled back to look at his face, his brow was furrowed showing his concern.
"I can't find Adam." I said in a timid voice. "I fell asleep next to his bed, and when I woke up he was gone!"
"Alright, calm down." He soothed. It took me a minute to realize that it was dark. Nightfall had come? Geesh, the last two days were wiped out by sleep. "I'm sure he's around somewhere, maybe he got hungry or curious and went to look around and just got lost. C'mon." he said grabbing my hand and leading me around. We were wandering around, calling him and looking everywhere- it was some time before we heard a wailing scream…
0o0o0
I couldn't sleep, I was feeling a little guilty for making Clary cry earlier and my conscience was making me pay for it with lack of sleep. I growled in frustration and just got up out of bed. I was just wearing a white tank, with hot pink shorts; I slipped on my fuzzy furry slippers, and made my way out of my room. I was too damn stubborn to go look for Clary to apologize, so perhaps something in the kitchen will make me sleepy.
I left my room yawning and making my way towards the kitchen; I pushed open the swinging door and made my way to the fridge. I opened it revealing the bright florescent light, my eyes burned at the contact. I brought my hand up to rub my eyes, to get them to get back into focus. Once it did, I glanced in looking to see what kind of midnight snack was in there. There was some leftover Chinese, that was simple. I pulled out the box, and opened it. Beef fried rice. That'll do.
I closed the fridge and brought my snack to the microwave, and the door swung open revealing my oldest brother. He looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep either, and I annoyingly waited my lecture.
"Oh! So your up?" Alec said while grabbing a glass from a cabinet, and I put my rice in for only a minute.
"Yeah I was hungry." I answered bluntly.
"What is it with you lately?" He asked… oh no.
"Nothing!" I snapped. Ugh! How long is a minute any way?
"I know you're usually a bitch," Alec stated while pouring himself a glass of milk from the fridge. "But you're acting like five bitches on the rag today!" I had nothing to say and except flip him the bird. "Is that your only explanation?" He asked sarcastically. Jace was starting to rub off on all of us.
"Look, he's a mundane, you and I both know he can't stay here."
"I get it Isabelle! But he's just a kid, why so quick to kick him out?"
"I don't know!" I sighed. "That's the rule, okay!"
"You know that I of all people play by the rules, Isabelle! But it's not the rule, he's a kid, and he needed help, we are required to give all beings help if well deserved."
"Alec!" I rubbed my temples, as my food finally beeped done! Saved by the bell, baby. "I just don't wanna talk about this now! I'm tired! And all I wanna do is sleep!" I took out my rice, took a fork and stirred it.
"Someone's feeling guilty." Alec chuckled.
"Shut up!" I demanded.
"Adam!"
"Was that Clary?" Alec asked. I stopped talking, let alone stopped moving to listen, and then suddenly I heard Jace's voice.
"Adam!"
"No, that's Jace." I said simply.
"The first time it was Clary." Alec countered. I groaned at him.
"Fine whatever!"
"Adam!"
"I think they're looking for that kid." Alec stated.
"Shit! You don't think he took off do you?" I asked him.
"Nah, he's just probably exploring, or los-" suddenly Alec stopped talking, his gaze fixed on something. Confused I looked in the direction he was looking, and I saw blood smeared around the pantry doorknob. I looked back at my brother, whose eyes adverted to look at me. Why we suddenly got quiet I can't exactly answer. I shrugged and started over towards the pantry.
"Iz!" My brother's voice was warning.
"Relax!" I half whispered, and half yelled. I went to the door, and turned the knob to open it, when I did everything happened too fast. Large intense pain erupted in my hip. The pain was so unbearable that I screamed bloody murder. I looked down to see a knife had pierced into my hip, when I looked back up that little boy had suddenly started walking slowly out of the pantry closet. I was so shocked that a little boy could have such strength that I hadn't even realized that he ripped the knife right back out. I screamed in pain, at the removal. I fell backwards and saw the boy towering over me getting ready to strike again! His arm went up, and was about to come down when Alec interfered, but the boy somehow stabbed him in the leg, making Alec fall, that was when the Kitchen door opened again.
0o0o0
"ADAM! NO!" I cried at the sight I saw, Isabelle laying on the floor covered in blood and Alec had just fallen on his side from the blade making contact with the side of his thigh. Jace jumped in and went to grab the knife from him, because Adam was so small he was able to dodge Jace by ducking under the table, and making a run for it. He started running towards my direction, so I stepped out in front of him, making him stop almost instantly.
"Adam!" I cried. "No! Put down the knife!" I ordered. His face was full of shock, and he dropped the knife on the floor, while he stared up at me looking almost like he was scared, when Jace grabbed him from behind. Adam began kicking, and hitting him, but Jace had wrapped Adam's arms around the front of him. Jace is ten times bigger, therefore ten times stronger- NOT including Jace's superhuman abilities. He used his free hand to take duct tape off the table from behind him and wrapped Adam's hands and feet together with it, so he could not move.
I was both sad and guilty. Guilty for putting my friends in danger, sad that this may be the proof that Adam was in no way shape of being saved.
When Jace put him down after binding together his hands and feet, he glared right back almost as if sending him a silent message.
I'll get you for this!
But then he looked at me, and the expression that appeared rebuilt the hope that nearly crumbled inside me. His face, eyes, even lips were full of sadness. Like he knew that he disappointed me. He bent his head down slowly, not willing to look at me anymore..
I'm sorry…
Yeah... Sorry... needed to show just how damaged the boy really is, I'm sure a lot of you looked like the way Dr. Loomis looked at the end of 'Halloween 4' "NOOOOOO, NOOOOOOO, NOOOOOOOO!" But don't lose faith in Adam just yet...
Slut Year's next, I'm gonna work on editing it tonight after work. That doesn't mean it'll be updated by tonight though. The latest it'll be up is monday, cause I'm off. So between sunday and monday, probably monday cause I like updating on days when I'm off for some reason. Don't know why *shrugs* And I PROMISE you guys wont be disappointed in Slut Year. hahaha, it's about to get juicy! ;)