Author's Note: I am so sad this is the END! I hate to break it to some of you, but my friend CooCoo and I have decided to write the prequel first. Read on my lovely reviewers! Don't you really just want to give Jack a punching bag for Christmas? I do! Oh, and by the way, you are not going to like the ending of this. It is unbelievably mad-ifying. We spent more than five hours on this chapter so I really really hope you like it!
Chapter Eighteen: Set FreeTroy entered the house by being thrown face first onto the floor in his entrance hall. Jack loomed above him, kicking him hard in the back. Troy cried out in pain, his face turned into a grimace. "You thought you were clever pulling that, Troy? You thought that was cute?"
"No!" Troy shouted. "I'm tired of all the lies. I don't want to do this anymore. No matter how strong I become, you're never going to stop. I'm never going to be good enough for you. And it's just sick that you do this to your own son."
"How dare you!" Jack spat.
"What happens if the police ever find out?" Troy asked, feeling hot tears in his eyes. "What are you going to do?"
"They aren't going to find out!" Jack shouted. He paused. "Why? Did you tell them?"
"No!" Troy shouted, catching himself quickly. He scrambled to his feet to meet his father's eye level. "I didn't, because I'm a good son who has begged everyone to keep their mouths shut for so long. I'm tired of being your puppet. I'm not going to lie to them anymore!"
"You're going to do what I tell you to do!" Jack shouted angrily. "Or you know what I'll do to you!"
"Actually, you always keep me guessing," Troy said. "I mean, I don't know if you're going to kick me or whip me with a belt or maybe even tie me to a bed post. It's always a surprise."
"Why the hell would you use sarcasm right now, Troy?" Jack spat. Troy shrugged his shoulders.
"Does it matter anymore?" He asked honestly. "I mean, I've figured out in these two years- yes, Dad. Tomorrow is the two year anniversary of these delightful beatings- that no matter I use sarcasm or not, you beat me anyway. I always get the same result."
"Are you asking for me to tie you to that bedpost again?" Jack asked.
"I said, 'I always get the same result'," Troy said, miming confusion. "How'd you get that I wanted to be put back on the bedpost?"
Jack pushed Troy to the ground and loosened his belt buckle. Troy braced himself, knowing what was going to come was not going to be good and that he would be lucky to be able to stand by the end of it. Jack slowly slid his belt out of the loops on his pants. He brought the leather back and brought it down quickly, the heavy metal buckle smacking against Troy's stomach. Jack whipped him until his arms grew heavy with their strenuous effort. He tossed the belt to the floor and walked up the stairs, leaving Troy shaking and alone in the front hall.
…Troy…
Troy limped out of his house, his entire body shaking, fresh from the beating. He slid into his car and stuck the keys in the ignition, sighing sadly as he looked up at his house. He pressed his foot to the pedal and cried out in pain, staring at his foot angrily. Finally, he got the car started and out of the driveway, heading on his way to Gabriella's house.
Gabriella was sitting on her front porch, quietly sipping her hot chocolate. She stood up quickly as she saw Troy's car pull into her driveway. Abandoning her drink on a small wooden side-table, Gabriella ran out to the driveway.
"Troy?" She asked, as Troy opened up his car door. Troy turned and looked at her sadly. He gave a grim smile.
"I really should stop with my sarcastic comments," He said quietly. Gabriella hurried over to him, her bare feet freezing on the cold pavement.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Same old, same old," Troy sighed bitterly, shutting his door with a slam. "A precious father-son moment that I'll never forget."
"Troy," Gabriella began. Troy cut her off by raising his hand in the air. They stood silently for a moment, staring into each other's eyes; one pair terrified, one pair despondent.
"I don't want to talk about it," Troy said. "Living it once is bad enough."
Gabriella nodded and again they stood in silence. She hugged herself in the cold. They looked around, their breaths fogging in front of their eyes. "Troy," Gabriella said. "Troy, this has to stop."
"I thought that two years ago," Troy said sadly. "When it started."
"Two years?"
"Tomorrow's the anniversary," He shrugged. Gabriella gave him a look and ushered him inside the house. They sat in the living room quietly and then Gabriella couldn't take the silence.
"I'm sorry, Troy!" She said, her outburst causing him to jump in surprise. "I know you don't want to relive it, but what happened back there? What did you do?"
"I was being a smart aleck and I came to practice in my jersey," Troy said, shaking his head. "Then I smarted off, and he got mad. I mean, I understand. If I was him, I would've been mad."
"If you were him, would you have beaten your son?" Gabriella shouted bitterly. Troy shot her a look filled with venom. He stared at his hands that laid shaking in his lap.
"That's not fair, Gabi," He said. "He's a great father."
"How can you say that?" Gabriella asked, trying desperately to look him in the eyes, but Troy wouldn't look up from his hands. "After all that your dad has done to you, how can you say that he's a good father?"
"He's kept me alive for the past seventeen years. I have to give him that," Troy said with a shrug of his shoulders. Gabriella shook her head sadly and Troy went on. "He's given me food, shelter, clothes, a home. Why be selfish and take it for granted?"
"Um, because he's beating you!" Gabriella shouted. "This really needs to stop. Don't you get tired of it?"
"I'm used to it," Troy said. "I mean, I get annoyed a little bit because I make mistakes that all teenagers make, but he's just trying to make me a better kid."
"Troy, it's like he gets satisfaction from hearing you scream," Gabriella said. "He smiles when he watches you writhe in pain. So, when you can't perform in basketball, he gets mad, even though it's his fault."
"Well, it's my fault for being weak!" Troy shouted, throwing Gabriella into a fit of surprised shock. "I need to toughen up! I can't be a pansy for the rest of my life!"
"You aren't weak, Troy!" Gabriella said. "You're the strongest guy I know! Most guys, given the situation you're in, would be screaming and whining and telling everyone in sight! Don't believe your dad; don't give him the satisfaction of letting him get to you!"
"What do you even care?" Troy asked. "I'm absolutely worthless!"
"Troy!" Gabriella screamed. "Don't you ever say that again! Why are you letting him change you? You're letting your dad make you think that you're something you aren't! Worthless and weak. That's not you, Troy. Why can't you see that?"
"Gabriella, you don't even know what you're talking about!" Troy said. "You don't know everything!"
"God, Troy, you're being so stupid!" Gabriella screamed. Troy froze and Gabriella slapped her hands to her mouth. She shook her head as Troy stared away, hurt. "I didn't mean that."
"Of course you did," Troy said bitterly. "Or you wouldn't have said it."
"Troy, please!" Gabriella said. Troy stood up abruptly and walked out the front door. Gabriella followed, shivering as the cold air slapped her in the face.
"Where are you going?" She asked, letting tears slip down her cheeks; she felt so awful now that she said something so mean when Troy was in such a delicate state.
Troy didn't look at her as he walked to his car. "Going to do something stupid, considering that's all I'm good at."
"Troy, I didn't mean that!" Gabriella said once again. Troy shook his head and stood in front of his open car door.
"Save it, Gabi," He said acidly. He got in the car, slammed the door shut, and drove down the street, leaving Gabriella, shivering and crying behind him. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, wiping tears off her cheeks. She dialed Chad's number and the second he answered she said, "I think Troy's about to do something really stupid. Get the guys and meet me over at Troy's."
…Troy…
Troy slammed open his front door and slammed it shut again. Cassidy popped out from the kitchen and screamed, "Roy! What do you think you're doing? Logan is asleep!"
"Cassidy, leave me alone," Troy said, throwing himself heavily on the couch, not even bothering to correct Cassidy for she had gotten his name wrong once again. Cassidy walked into the living room and stood behind the couch, a frown turning on her lips.
"You can't speak to me that way," Cassidy sneered.
"I can and I did," Troy said, not looking her in the eyes. He stared into the empty fireplace, his mind flying to the recent events, his eyes flashing in pain. Cassidy smacked Troy on the back of the head and Troy flipped around, screaming, "What was that for?"
Cassidy smacked him over the head once more. "Stop screaming!" She screamed. "Logan is sleeping!" Troy shot her a look and turned away from her. "You will learn to respect me!" Cassidy went on. "Jackie said this was the way that got to you the best."
"You mean, you know?" Troy asked, incredulously, flipping completely around to look at her. Cassidy scoffed.
"Duh!" She said. "Of course I know! I'm not stupid."
"I beg to differ," Troy mumbled.
"What was that?" Cassidy asked. Troy didn't answer and Cassidy smacked him once more. Troy cringed and Cassidy gave a satisfied smile. Jackie was right; this was affective. It gave her a rush to know that Troy was finally going to respect her some more. With her short attention span, she asked, "So, where were you?"
"I was at a friend's house," Troy said sullenly.
"Who's?" Cassidy squealed. "Was it your girlfriend's?"
"Back off, Cassidy," Troy snapped.
"What?" Cassidy asked. "Did you two get in a fight?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Troy said glumly.
"What was it about?" Cassidy asked. "Kiss another girl?" She said, sounding rather knowingly.
"No!" Troy shouted. Cassidy looked confused as she tried to figure out what happened between Troy and Gabriella.
"Did she find out you're secretly in love with me?" Cassidy asked, laying a hand on his hand. "It's okay to admit it; everyone is."
"How conceited are you?" Troy asked incredulously. "I don't even think my dad loves you. And he's married to you!" Cassidy's jaw dropped in anger, rage boiling in her chest. "If it weren't for Logan," Troy went on. "I don't even think you guys would be married."
Cassidy looked taken back and stepped away from Troy as if he was a ticking bomb. She turned to the staircase and began to scream.
"Ow, Troy, what are you doing!?"
Troy looked utterly confused as he stared at Cassidy from across the room. "Cassidy, what the hell are you talking about? I'm all the way over here!"
Cassidy grinned in a positively alarming mirror of Jack's trademark evil smile as she screamed, "Please, I'm just a girl! Stop hitting me! Jackie, save me from your crazy waste of a son!"
Troy really didn't feel like fighting his dad so he shot up from his spot on the couch and ran over, clasping a firm but gentle hand over her mouth whispering, "Please shut up!"
Jack thundered up the stairs from the basement, his face twisted into a look of pure hatred. His eyes widened upon seeing his wife's mouth clamped shut by his son's hand. Troy rolled his eyes in anger at himself.
"Oh, come on!" He said more to himself than he did to his dad and Cassidy. He let go of Cassidy and took off up the steps and towards his room, regretting his decision the minute that he stepped onto the first stair. He had just cornered himself in his own house and there was no turning back now. Jack was in close pursuit behind him, Cassidy smugly grinning behind them all. She gave a huff and sat on the couch, turning on her favorite movie, Material Girls, the loudest the television would go, drowning out the blood-curdling emitting from Troy's mouth for the second time that night.
…Chad…
"Okay, guys, with seven of us, we can definitely take Mr. Bolton. There is no way he would try to hurt us with everyone there," Chad said, as calmly as he could. Ryan and Sharpay shot each other a look. Plus a few policemen, Ryan couldn't help but think.
They were standing on the side of Troy's house, hidden in the shadows of the night. The gang was all grouped together in a tight bunch, getting ready for what was sure to be a long, suspenseful night. They heard Cassidy make her way out the front door, humming a happy tune to Logan who was sitting on her hip, bouncing happily. They listened as she walked to her car, opened the door, loaded her baby in, and sped off.
"Kels, Gabi, Shar, Tay, as much as I love you all, I would hate for you to get hurt," Chad went on. "We'll go first. If you hear any screaming, don't come in. Just go get the police."
All the girls nodded hesitantly and Zeke, Chad, and Ryan exchanged glances. They gave each other a grave nod and headed towards Troy's front door. Chad pushed it open and looked around the eerily silent house. "Chad, no one's here," Zeke said.
Chad raised a hand to silence his friend and strained his ears to listen. He heard a dull thump! come from upstairs. They all raced up the staircase, their feet make as little sound as possible on the wooden steps. A gut-wrenching scream emitted from Jack's bedroom. Chad led the way, his friends in pursuit. They stopped silently in front of the door.
The girls made their way into the house and up the stairs quietly, as according to the plan. The boys went in first and, if all was well, they would follow shortly after. They stopped at the end of the hallway and listened, for in the silent house, even their shallow breathing filled the halls. Jack's voice growled from behind the door.
"You think before was bad, Troy?" the voice asked. "Well, trust me, by the end of this, you'll be wishing that I was as nice as before."
Zeke turned around and ushered the scared girls down the stairs but not before they heard:
"Troy, you're such a stupid, worthless little bastard! Why are you so stupid?" Jack said as he gave yet another sharp kick to Troy's chest. Gabriella let out a dry sob as a horrible wave of guilt hit her as she and the other girls were led down the stairs. Zeke turned back around as they reached the bottom stair and returned to his two friends.
Unfortunately, Jack heard this and stopped kicking Troy immediately. Suddenly Chad was caught off guard as the door burst open, slamming into his chest and throwing him momentarily onto the ground. Jack's towering figure loomed over Ryan and Zeke, unaware of Chad, whose figure was blocked by shadows cast by the open door. As he advanced upon them Chad crept behind him and punched Jack squarely in the back of the head. Jack spun around, letting out a howl of pain and anger as he instead moved toward Chad.
Out of nowhere, Troy shot out of the room laying a second punch to his father's head as he growled, "Leave them alone!"
Jack, quite aware that he was outnumbered, tried to run. Zeke, Chad, Ryan, and Troy caught up quickly each thinking of the girls that stayed right outside of the front door. Jack, sensing that he was stuck, grabbed onto Troy. Troy wiggled to get free of his father's hands but with no prevail. Chad, Zeke, and Ryan circled the pair. Zeke jumped forward and Jack's leg lashed out, kicking him hard in the knees. Zeke, caught off guard, fell backwards down the stairs and hit the ground at the bottom, unconscious.
Troy let out a cry and jabbed his dad hard in the rib cage with his elbow. Jack howled and his hands flew to Troy's neck as fast as lightning. Ryan and Chad lunged forward instinctively but paused quickly as Mr. Bolton snarled, "You take one step, I'll break his neck. I swear I will."
…Sharpay…
The girls were standing outside the front door, huddling together in the cold, all wondering what was happening to the boys inside. You couldn't tell who was the most worried. Everyone's boyfriends were stuck inside a house with an extremely abusive man. Why wouldn't they be scared?
In the midst of all that was going on, Kelsi and Ryan had gotten together, but kept their relationship quiet for the time being. They felt that now would be an inappropriate time for everyone to be happy about their new relationship when they should be focusing on how to help Troy.
Sharpay looked through the window after hearing a familiar voice scream and out of nowhere, she saw Zeke's body tumble down the stairs and hit the floor. Zeke didn't move and she let out a scream. "That was Zeke!" The girls rushed to the window. "What if he broke his neck and he's dead? We have to go get him!" She dove towards the door but Taylor grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
"Sharpay, we can't go in there," Taylor said. "You know that. If Mr. Bolton shows up then we'll be in so much trouble. We just need to wait for the police to show up." Sharpay nodded and looked dismally through the window, watching as Zeke's chest rose and fell. She let out a sigh of relief. He was alive. But what was going on with Chad, Ryan, and Troy… she had no idea.
…Chad…
Chad and Ryan shot each other looks and shot one to Troy. Troy's face looked oddly pale, his eyes wide and filled with terror. Chad took a shaking step and said slowly, "Mr. Bolton, please."
"Chad, don't move," Ryan said, staring directly at Troy. Jack's grip tightened and Troy let out a gasp, his hands flying to his neck, trying to rip his dad's hands off him.
"Leave," Jack said menacingly. "Now."
Ryan and Chad looked at each other, unsure of what to do. They didn't want to leave Troy but they didn't want him dead either. Ryan looked over at Chad, defeated. "Come on, Chad."
"No!" Chad shouted, tears streaming down his face. Ryan grabbed Chad before Chad lunged forward towards Mr. Bolton. "Ryan, we can't leave him! We can't leave him here!"
"Chad!" Ryan shouted, using all of his strength to hold Chad back. Chad shook his head and Mr. Bolton smiled, knowing he had won this fight.
"If you want," Jack sneered. "I could break his neck now."
Chad shook his head and Troy's face paled-if possible- even more. Ryan slowly pulled Chad backwards, feeling his way down the staircase with his feet. Chad was sobbing and screaming as he felt his feet hit the wooden stair. "Ryan! What are you doing?"
"Saving our friend!" Ryan said, tears now spilling down his own face. "Come on, Chad! Please!" He pulled his face close to Chad's ear and whispered, "The police will be here soon."
"He could break Troy's neck before that!" Chad screamed, he flailed around wildly but Ryan's grip around Chad's waist held. "Once we leave, what's to stop him?"
"Leave now, Chad," Jack said. "If you don't leave, I will break it. If you do, I'll leave him alone."
"You liar!" Chad shouted, struggling to jump at Jack from Ryan's hold.
"I'll kick him a bit more," Jack shrugged. "But after I'll leave him alone," He looked at Troy, an evil smile on his face. "For now."
Chad sobbed and shook his head again. He turned to Ryan, screaming, "Ryan, let go of me!"
"Chad, I can't," Ryan said, sobbing. "I can't let you do that."
"Chad, I'm going to give you one more chance," Jack sneered evilly. "I'll count to three and if you aren't gone by then, I'll snap Troy's neck." He tightened his grip as Troy struggled around.
"One…"
"Chad, go!" Troy yelled in a raspy, strained voice.
"Two…"
"I'll be fine!"
"Three!"
Troy screamed.
…Gabriella…
Gabriella stood, holding Taylor tightly, knowing with a fear so real, so terrible, that that was Troy's voice erupting from inside the house. She dashed to the window, momentarily forgetting her best friend. "Please don't tell me," She muttered, peering inside, Sharpay still looking desperately at Zeke. Gabriella looked around the living room.
"Where is he?" Gabriella asked, looking horrified. "Why can't I see him?" Sharpay's voice cracked as she spoke, tears falling from her eyes.
"You should be thankful you don't see him!" She snapped, referring to Zeke as he remained in the position he had been for the last few minutes.
"You should be thankful that it's not your boyfriend with an abusive father!" Gabriella snapped back. Both girls were irritable and angry and scared to death. Simple things would set them over the edge.
"Guys!" Kelsi said, separating the two. "This is not the time to be fighting!"
Sharpay and Gabriella looked at each other, knowing it was true. Sharpay scooted over, letting Gabriella have a better view through the window, as they all waited quietly for the police to arrive.
…Chad…
Chad gave one last lunge towards Jack, this time Ryan letting go. Jack hit the floor and let go of Troy. Chad's fist pummeled into Jack and with each punch, his force increased until Jack was the one screaming in pain. As sick as it sounds, each cry made Chad happier. This man, who caused his friend so much pain, was getting what he deserved.
Ryan, knowing that Chad and Troy could hold their own, ran down the stairs, jumping about three-quarters of them, and went to aid Zeke. Just as Ryan disappeared down the staircase, Troy scrambled off the floor and jumped into the brawl. After some awful stroke of unluckiness, Jack somehow gained dominance over the fight.
Jack thrust Chad off him and Chad stumbled down towards the staircase. He hit the staircase, his hands flailing for banister. Troy jumped up and lurched forward to grab his friend when Jack's hand grabbed onto his ankle, causing a blinding pain to shoot up his leg. He let out a cry and collapsed face down onto the ground.
Jack got up and roughly pulled Troy up by his shirt. "Chad!" Troy cried, sobbing. Chad heard Troy's urgency and tried vainly to get himself to stop. The next thing Chad heard was the slam of a door and Troy's screaming, sounding more distant than before. Chad's hand finally reached the banister and he stopped himself.
He sprinted up the stairs and towards his friend's desperate screaming, Ryan hot on his heels. Once they arrived at the top of the stairs another scream signaled to them where Troy was. They rushed to the bathroom door where the screams came from. Ryan grabbed the doorknob and tugged at it without prevail. Chad banged his fists on the door screaming, "Let him go!"
Ryan banged along with Chad, wondering, horrified, if the police were ever going to show up. They heard a hoarse scream and a sickening thump emit from behind the door. Chad banged the door harder. "Please!" He cried. His banging slowed and he turned his back to the door, throwing himself against it. He slid down the door slowly. "Let him go."
…Troy…
"Dad, stop!" Troy screamed, tears pouring down his cheeks. Jack kicked him mercilessly, his face twisted in anger. Troy couldn't even recognize the man that he used to call his father, the man who hugged him, and held him, and helped him when he was sad. This was not his dad.
Troy felt the will to fight back leave his body; one beating was all he could take but this was the second beating he received that day. It was much more than is body could stand. He felt his body go limp and his father's foot embedded into his stomach in a monotonous drone, until Troy couldn't even feel anymore.
"Troy, the police are outside!" Ryan's voice came through the door. Jack paused and looked at Troy, his face filled with more anger than it had ever held before. Troy pushed himself as far as his weak limbs could until he felt his back hit the wall. He staggered onto his feet, pressing himself against the wall as if, if he tried hard enough, he would melt into it.
"Troy!" Jack roared. He dove forward and Troy screamed as Jack's hands clamped once more around his neck and shook him wildly. Troy felt all the air leave his body as he struggled to even let a breath escape his mouth. He gasped and used his shaking hands to grab at Jack's hands. His life flashed in front of his eyes:
His dad teaching him to ride a bike.
He and Chad playing in their first basketball game.
His father and him down at a lake, fishing off a dock.
Him winning the championship and he and his father sharing an exuberant hug.
Gabriella and he's first kiss.
His father and him saying good bye to his mother as she left for California.
His father hitting him for the time.
His father kicking him as he was tied to a bed post.
His father burning him.
His father drowning him.
His father belting him.
His father looking at him happily as he held Logan Christopher in his hands.
The flashbacks got more and more recent climbing up from after Logan Christopher's birth to a few minutes ago when his father had his hands clamped around his neck, Chad screaming, Troy crying, Jack smiling- until the flashback jumped to a time so long ago, Troy almost forgot about it.
Troy didn't even remember where they were until he realized that it was the abandoned park that he and his father had brawled at just days before. The city had set up a new swing set there. The five year old Troy was beside himself in glee. He jumped on a brand new red swing and pumped his legs until he was swinging back and forth in a steady, quick rhythm.
"Be careful!" The younger Jack warned with a laugh as Troy recklessly swung his legs around. Determined to impress his father, Troy let go of the swing and waved his hands wildly in the air.
"Daddy, look!" He shouted, a grin plastered on his face. "Look at me! No hands!"
Jack nodded and smiled saying, "That's good, Troy! Hang on!"
But his advice had come too late, for Troy had slipped off his swing and landed heavily in the grass. Jack rushed over from his spot on the park bench and hurried to his son. He grabbed Troy in his arms and asked, "Are you okay?"
Troy sniffled, wiping his eyes. "I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked, wiping a tear off of Troy's face. Troy nodded and hugged his dad tightly, crying into his chest. "You're so strong, Troy!" Jack exclaimed. The pink-faced Troy looked up from his dad's chest and into Jack's happy eyes. "I'm so proud of you!"
Troy gave his father a watery smile and said, sniffling, "I love you, Daddy."
Jack and Troy hugged tightly for a moment. Jack kissed the top of Troy's head and said, "I love you, too, Troy."
Troy was wrenched back into the present as Jack's hands slipped from his neck. He collapsed heavily onto the ground and looked up wearily as two policemen jumped into the room, the door in splinters on the ground.
"Jack Bolton, you are under arrest on the charges of child abuse!" One officer said. Both men walked towards Jack, one grabbing Jack's arms, the other clamping his wrists in handcuffs. One man led Jack out of the bathroom and the other helped Troy off the ground. Troy gave him a tiny thanks, deeply surprised that he found his voice.
He was led in a silent daze into the hallway where all of his friends, minus Zeke who was currently being taken care of in the living room, stood waiting for him. Gabriella dove forward and pulled Troy into an affectionate hug, sobbing. Troy wrapped his arms around her, shocked into silence.
"Thank God you're okay!" Gabriella sobbed into his chest. Troy nodded, not being able to form words. "Troy, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said you were stupid. It's not true. The moment you left, I called everyone but it was Ryan who told the police."
Once again, he nodded and felt his heart crumble. He let out a dry sob, his entire body shaking. Troy broke down sobbing and buried his face into Gabriella's neck. She hugged him tighter as his shoulders shook and his body lurched with each sob. He looked, glassy-eyed, to see his father glaring at him with a hatred so pure and so strong that he broke off sobbing harder than before, tears rapidly spilling down his face and onto Gabriella's shirt.
"Umm… can I talk to my dad alone for a minute?" Troy asked once his crying subsided. Everyone glanced around nervously. The police officers froze and Troy urged on. "Please. Just let me say good bye."
The officers nodded and brought the struggling Jack towards Troy. Troy shook his head upon looking at his dad, his heart tearing as he watched his father being handled like a common criminal.
"I can't look at him like this," He said. "Please. Just for right now, take off the cuffs. Let me talk to him alone?"
The officers, obviously overcome with remorse for Troy, took off the handcuffs. Jack wrung his wrists with his hands and looked up at Troy.
Everyone but the police filed down the hallway slowly, disappearing one-by-one down the staircase, Gabriella in the back. Troy grabbed her hand and pulled her back slightly, whispering, "I'm sorry."
Gabriella shook her head. "It's not your fault. You didn't do anything."
He slowly loosened his grasp on her hand and she lightly pulled from him, disappearing down the hallway. Troy stared where Gabriella stood moments before and whispered, "Not yet."
One of the policemen turned to Troy. "We'll be standing guard on the top of the stairs in case he tries anything. If you need us, say something. We'll be there within seconds."
Troy nodded. He walked into Jack's bedroom, Jack in the lead. He slowly shut the door behind him. Jack threw himself on the bed, defeated. He looked up at Troy with a tiny trace of remorse on his face. Troy turned to his dad.
"I'm sorry, Troy," Jack said. Troy stopped, thinking that he was hallucinating. Jack shook his head. "I shouldn't have been so harsh on you."
"You say that now," Troy said bitterly. "But you don't really mean it."
"I do," Jack said earnestly. Deep down, he meant what he had said to Troy but also, deeper down he knew that what he had done was unforgivable.
"Go, Dad," Troy said, turning away from his dad's face.
"What?" Jack asked.
"Go, hurry," Troy said, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Climb out the window, run, and don't ever come back."
Jack stood up and walked over to his son. He hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear, "I don't deserve it."
"Go!" Troy urgently whispered. His dad nodded, but he looked hesitantly at Troy once again. "What are you waiting for?"
"Troy, you'll be an accomplice," Jack said bluntly.
"Then I'll be an accomplice," Troy said acidly. "Just hurry up and go."
"I can't let that happen," Jack said, shaking his head. "Not after all this."
"Knock me out," Troy said quickly. "The police will think you knocked me out so you could escape." Jack looked extremely reluctant, now that he was being asked to do what he had done too many times to count. "What's one more time?" Troy asked.
Jack swung out and punched Troy hard in the side of his head. In his weak state, Troy collapsed onto the ground, unconscious immediately. Jack whispered once more, "I'm sorry," before cracking open the window as wide as it would go.
He slipped through it easily and stood on the roof for a moment. He looked up at his neighborhood, lights blinking in his eyes as tears swarmed in them. He scrambled down the lattes quickly and ran down his darkened street, running away from everything he had ever known for the last seventeen years.
Jack Bolton was set free. He was set free by the one person he had kept imprisoned for the past two years.
He was set free by his son.
The End
Author's Note: If you weren't crying during this chapter then you are heartless! Kidding. My friend CooCoo and I were crying as we wrote it though. I'd like to thank you all for reviewing my story. I'm very sad to see this story go, but you will see me again with the prequel and sequel.
Do you want to kill me now? Probably. Please review on thoughts of this chapter! It's greatly appreciated.
Oh my God. It's over. Why? IT'S OVER!!