Chapter 6: "I'll protect you."
The day after Lucas and Joshua's accident with the stretchers Lucas woke up with a splitting headache that rendered him not wanting to get out of bed.
Erhuard and Gabe had both found out about the stunt and forbid the boy from even leaving his room.
"Strict bed rest, geeze Kid, I was hoping I could trust you enough not to hurt yourself." Gabe had scolded.
They even made it an effort to keep the rest of the prank squad out of his room so Lucas didn't have a way of sneaking out. The only company he had was Hector. Lucas knew they were doing all this for the sake of his health, but he hated having to basically listen to the birds. He was not one to want to sit still.
"Well… this sucks…" he grumbled looking out the window.
"Sorry Luc… But health comes first, don't want you possibly dying…Trust me when I say this, it's not fun."
"I know, I know… On top of that, looks like I'll be staying here longer… fan-freaking-tastic."
"Might be for the better… Have they even figured out where you're going to go after you're fully recovered?"
Lucas stared at the ceiling in silence. It was something he had been trying to push back. He didn't really want to think about it. He was sure he was going to get shipped off to an orphanage for sure. With no idea where his parents were or if he even had parents he was sure that was his end result.
"They haven't… I really don't want to think about it though, Hector… Despite the fact I want to be healthy again… I'm not sure if I want to leave… All my friends here have homes and I don't know where they live… I don't want to think I'll never see them again… I'll just be on my own."
"Not if I can help it, wherever you go, I'll go."
"Really?"
"Lucas, you're the first person I've been able to talk to in a long time, I've gotten to know you too... I care about your well being, I want to be sure you'll get to live your life and not be alone."
Lucas felt surprised and touched. He didn't realize how much Hector actually cared about him.
He's been with me since the beginning... The whole time he's been by my side... Sure I can see and hear him but why does he care so much?
"Hector... I know I was okay with not knowing... but what was your life before?"
Hector sighed floating off the curtain rod and on to the end of Lucas' bed.
"... I was 16 when I died... I was an idiot Lucas."
"What?"
Hector lowered his head, keeping his eyes locked on the ground.
"I was a thief... Didn't have family and I refused to live in an orphanage, so the streets were my home. Had a bit of a business going on. I stole things for people in return for money. Looking back, I'm not proud of some of the things I did. I was only caring for myself not thinking how my actions would affect others... The worst I did was the one that ended me."
Lucas sat in silence unsure how to react.
"2015... I was asked to steal from an antique shop by some shady guy. Didn't question it since he wasn't the first. Asked me to steal a certain box... What happened when I got a hold of that thing... I didn't think I'd ever see."
"What happened?"
"I dropped the darn thing cause I got spooked by the shop owner. Broke easily and out came this freaky red and black monster. It looked like a person but it had beast like features to its face. The thing charged at me, grabbing my right wrist."
Hector held up his right arm pulling back the sleeve to reveal an odd black mark.
"It burned this symbol into my arm, the shop owner tried chasing it off but the thing fought back. Both were fierce... with no sign of giving up the thing decided instead of trying to kill the shop owner decided to kill me instead."
Lucas gulped turning a little pale.
"It pinned me to the ground stabbing me in the chest, and then got knocked off by the shop owner. It ran away not too long after. I was slowly dying. The shop owner examined me explaining what happened."
Hector looked at Lucas with narrow eyes.
"I had been damned by a Phantom. My fate was when I die, I would be stuck on Earth unable to go to Heaven or Hell, though honestly I am in Hell. The fear with being stuck on Earth in these circumstances is becoming a Phantom... I was scared. There was no hope of saving me... But the shop owner in an act to help me gave me a gift."
Hector gestured to the choker around his neck.
"This choker is a failsafe if I ever become a Phantom, it's not perfect but it'll preserve my humanity if I do change... I was surprised when she gave me this since I had clearly been stealing from her... She told me I was a foolish boy, but she wouldn't wish my fate on anyone... I remember the last thing I did was ask for her name... I never got it. She just said in time you'll know who I am. After that, woke up in a hospital room as a spirit... Been haunting these halls since then to avoid becoming a Phantom... But honestly, it's been hard since guilt has been biting me with a vengeance... I wasted my life Lucas... I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
Lucas was shocked that someone could die in such a horrific manner. He nodded gulping a little. "I won't waste my life...I promise…"
"Good boy…"
"So... you'll always be there for me?"
Hector nodded giving a soft smile. "I promise, I will always be there for you... to keep you safe."
"Kind of like a big brother in a way?"
"Yeah... if you'd like it like that."
Lucas smiled back. "I'd really like that… Big brother."
"Alright... Little Bro."
Lucas hugged the spirit, glad he had someone who wouldn't leave. I never want to be alone again…
Hector smiled hugging him. "I'll always have your back... never forget that.."
oooooo
Night had fallen over Resurgam, the halls were quiet, lights were turned off.
It seemed as if it would be like any other night.
Except for one patient.
Where... am I?
Lucas looked around him, as he walked through a house. It felt oddly familiar, the walls were wood paneling, the floor covered by an ugly orange rug. He couldn't make out anything in any of the pictures on the walls or shelves.
"Idiot!"
He jumped a little eyes looking towards a staircase. There was yelling and he started to feel afraid. Yet for some reason he couldn't force himself to turn back. This is a bad idea... don't go up those stairs… He moved as if he had been in this a thousand times before, his movements betraying his thoughts.
He reached the top of the stairs seeing shadows move across the walls of a room as the voices got louder. "This is all YOUR fault! If you hadn't locked him out they wouldn't be calling the cops!"
"MY fault!? You're the one who decided to keep him!"
Him…? Lucas gulped and started to back up when he bumped into something on a side table as it fell to the ground.
The voices went silent until a man stepped out of the room, his hair black and his eyes a steely grey.
Eyes that bore into the boy with something that could only be described as utter hatred.
"You…"
RUN! He started to back up. "I-I'm sorry!"
"You will be." He shoved him as the boy went airborne before falling.
"NO!
"Lucas!"
"Lucas!" He awoke, shooting up with a gasp trying to catch his breath. He looked around, same hospital room... Same window... Same ghost trying to get him to respond. "Hey, you okay?" Hector asked, concern in his voice and face.
Lucas shook his head. "No…" His head was starting to bother him again and the dream... It felt far too real. "My head.."
"It's hurting again?" The spirit moved next to his side, bringing an arm around the boy. Again the redhead nodded.
"And... I had a really bad dream…" He said softly, tears in his eyes.
"You wanna talk about it?" Hector asked keeping his voice quiet trying to keep him calm.
Lucas nodded as he started to explain, from describing the house to the final part of it. "And I was just... terrified… I don't know why he hated me... or what I did wrong... it was an accident…" He sniffed, tears freely flowing now.
Hector brought him into his arms. "Shh…" He stroked his back the younger boy starting to cry a little. "Shh... You didn't do anything wrong…"
"Promise..?"
"I promise…" He kept stroking his back, trying to get him to calm down as it gradually worked. Lucas sighed rubbing his eyes.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be... Everyone has nightmares... and everyone has something they're afraid of… But I won't let anyone hurt you… That will never become reality." He promised.
Lucas hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Bro…"
"Anytime Little Bro…" Hector stayed by his brother's side, comforting him until Lucas drifted off exhausted.
When he saw he was asleep he set him back down. Whoever hurt you... they're paying for what they did... ten fold…
That I can promise...