A Good Edd Is Hard To Find
Summary:
The Ed's encounter with Bro takes a dark turn as the savage sibling concocts a dangerous game for Eddy and Double D. The race is on for Ed, Eddy and the kids of the cul-de-sac to save Edd from Eddy's brother. Friendships will be questioned. Sanity will be strained. Will the Eds be separated for good?
Triggers include Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Sexual Assualt, Possible Dub-Con, Drunken Behavior, Alcohol Abuse, and Physical and Verbal Abuse. Other warnings include Violence and Language.
Pairings include BroEdd and EddyEdd. Subtle Hints at other pairings, but BroEdd and EddyEdd are the main two that will be focused on it.
This is being co-written by DuoXKouga and Battygirl.
Authors' Notes:
DuoXKouga: Well, lookie here! A second chapter in a month! It's been a long month for both of us. So getting a second chapter out in one month is fanatastic! Go Team BattyDuo!
Battygirl: Kay so, a later part of this chapter is something that I'd been thinking of doing for a different fic - yes, we have others in mind - and it was a concept that was suggested by a reviewer a little while ago. I'd planned on doing it for something else, but, as these chapters were being developed further, I felt it had a place here. So…there's that. Um…yeah…Not much else to say…Uh…holy crap, we actually got a second chapter out before the month ended. Go us! We hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 11: The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Edd
Sore…Every inch of him is in agony. With a near-silent whimper, Edd tries to will himself to go back to sleep. At least then he can stave off the pain for a little longer. However, his body is unwilling to let him rest any more. Certain urges make themselves known. His throat is terribly dry and he finds himself in need of the lavatory. With a soft sigh, he blinks his eyes open. Sunlight is peeking in through the makeshift curtains, giving some semblance of light to the dark bedroom. As Edd becomes more and more aware of his surroundings, he notices the arm wrapped possessively around his middle. Glancing down, he finds himself naked beneath the sheets and is reluctantly reminded of the events of the previous night. Naturally, Terry had decided to end their night by ravaging him again. Edd grimaces at the memory, wondering how the man can have nothing better to do. He vaguely wonders if Terry's employers know or care that he's been gone the past couple of days. It's a thought that doesn't last long, of course. He has more pressing matters to consider.
Carefully, he pulls the man's arm off of him. Chancing a glance back, he observes his captor for a few moments. He considers waking him; if Terry catches him out of bed alone, he may become angry. However, he ultimately decides against it. After all, the man's anger is triggered so easily — waking him may not be the wisest move. Edd pulls himself away from Terry before rising from the bed on shaking legs. He spots the plaid jacket and grabs it, pulling it on over his bare form. Taking quiet steps to avoid waking the man, Edd exits the room. He's pleased to note that Terry hadn't locked the door this time. His first stop as he walks down the hall is the bathroom.
Flipping on the light switch, he pales at the sight of a considerable amount of blood on the tiles. That's right…Terry hadn't cleaned up after they'd exited the bathroom. And, after eating, he hadn't had such trivial acts on his mind before they'd retired to bed. It makes him realize that he must have been bleeding pretty badly. The boy tries desperately to ignore it. Now isn't the time for him to try to clean. He has to focus on the task at hand. He doesn't waste his time, staying just long enough to relieve himself. After which, he flushes the toilet and washes his hands. The mouthwash is still sitting on the sink, beckoning him. He grimaces at the dryness of his mouth. He'll still need to retrieve a glass from the kitchen to fill with water, but the mouthwash should grant him a momentary reprieve from the dryness in his mouth and, as he'd noted the night before, a suitable replacement for a toothbrush and toothpaste. With that thought in mind, he rinses his mouth out. It makes him yearn for a shower as well, but he knows better than to dally any longer than he already has.
After spitting out the mouthwash and rinsing with water to eliminate the slight burn, he exists the bathroom. He makes a beeline for the kitchen, the notion of a cold glass of water the only thing on his mind. He looks through the cabinets he can reach in search of a cup. Finally, he spots a couple on a higher shelf in a cupboard above the sink, still littered with dirty dishes from their previous meals. With a grin, he carefully moves the chair that had been left by the door to the counter. The thought of escape is still in the back of his mind, but he knows well to ignore it. There's no possible way he can flee at the moment. Even if he could, he's not sure he wants to chance it. If he were to leave, Terry would come after him and surely drag him back. He shudders to think what the man would then do to him in that case.
With the glass in hand, Edd turns to the sink, sitting on the counter top as he turns on the water. He licks his lips as he watches the glass fill. When it's a little more than half-full, he shuts off the water and carefully climbs down off of the chair. Before making the trip back to the room, Edd decides he can't wait any longer. Lifting the glass to his lips, he starts to take a long, refreshing drink.
"And just what do you think you're doing out of bed?!"
Edd gasps, choking on the water. He lowers the glass, trying to keep a grip on it as he coughs violently. Over his own coughing, he hears footsteps quickly approach him. A large hand grabs him, yanking him forward.
"Trying to run away from me again?!" the man accuses, "What's it gonna fuckin' take to make you stay put?!"
Edd glances up in time to see Terry raising his other hand to strike him. Desperately, Edd drops the glass to shield himself.
"N-No! Please!" he begs, "Have mercy! I-I was merely pouring myself a glass of water!" Terry hesitates, caught off guard by the boy's words. "That's all! I-I was going to come back! I-I was just so thirsty! P-Please don't hit me again!"
The man regards him suspiciously for a moment. As Edd continues whimpering little pleas, Terry glances around; spotting the chair that had been moved to the counter. The cabinet's still open to reveal his sparse collection of glassware and the now shattered glass on the floor further backs up the preteen's statement. He grins a bit, pleased to find that the boy had indeed been telling the truth. Edd had obediently refused to attempt escaping him again and even seemed to have been intent on returning to his bed.
However…His eyes trail down to the floor where the shards of glass now lay. He can't just let that slide. With a grimace, he yanks the boy towards him, making Edd lower his arms to steady himself before striking him. The preteen cries out in pain, holding his stinging cheek.
"You may not have been tryin' to leave," the man growls, "But you broke that fuckin' glass and made a mess."
Edd glances down at the floor, cringing at the sight of the spilt water and broken glass. Terry gives a firm yank, throwing Edd to the ground. By sheer luck, he's able to just avoid the shards that would have otherwise cut deep gashes into his delicate palms. He tries to rise up, but is halted as the man puts his foot on the boy's back; putting just enough weight into the step that the boy is pushed down.
"Clean it up," comes the harsh demand.
Edd whimpers before reaching for the shards. He carefully tries to pick them up, but with the pressure on his back, he inevitably cuts his fingers several times. The cuts are deep enough to bleed, the crimson drops mingling with the water. The pressure on his back is finally removed when the glass is all collected. Stumbling to his feet, Edd hobbles over to the trash can to dispose of the shards. He glances around for something to clean up the water. There's a towel by the sink. The boy grabs it before rushing back over to the man waiting for him. He falls to his knees to soak up the water. Terry watches him, adjusting the robe he'd thrown on haphazardly. When the water and blood have been mopped up, Edd stands straight. Terry snatches the soiled towel and tosses it onto the table before grabbing the boy's arm again, pulling Edd close and leaning into his face.
"Good boy," he growls, "Now, are you gonna misbehave like that again?"
Edd shakes his head desperately; "N-No. I…I'm sorry. I-I'll behave, I promise."
"Good," he sneers. He looks over Edd, his eyes narrowing, "You don't leave my bed like that again, got it? Remember who you belong to."
Edd nods, squirming a bit; "Y-You…of course. I…I won't do it again."
He swallows, his throat terribly dry. His face burns in embarrassment as he both hears and feels his stomach growling. Terry chortles in amusement, releasing him.
"Hungry?" he asks, cocking his brow.
Edd nods holding a hand over his stomach.
"Thought as much…" the man chuckles, "Breakfast sounds pretty good, actually."
Edd nods again; "Would…Would you like me to assist you?"
"No, you'll just get in the way, I'm sure," Terry retorts, walking towards the hallway, "Go take a seat in the living room and wait. I gotta take a leak first."
Edd grimaces at his vernacular, but follows the command without hesitation. He's surprised by the man's behavior. Terry had been angry, but the punishment had been far less severe than he'd expected. He attributes it to the morning. Perhaps the man is still tired? Either way, Edd knows he must tread carefully. It's difficult to say what may set the man off again.
Eddy is brought from his haze by the sun. It's still early morning, but he missed the initial rise. With a sigh, he sits up straight. He glances around at the others. They're still sleeping soundly. He bites his lip. He's still exhausted himself, but they have to get up and start moving. He stumbles sleepily over to the Kankers and grabs their backpack of rations in search of a water bottle. It's warm from the summer heat, but it'll do. Uncapping the bottle, he takes a long swig before pouring the liquid into his cupped hand. He splashes his face a couple times to wake himself up more thoroughly. A few of the others begin to stir and stretch. With the bottle in hand, Eddy approaches Ed. He douses the taller boy's face with the water, waking him with a start.
"Not the soap!" the drenched boy shrieks.
Eddy rolls his eyes.
"Get up, Lumpy!" he demands, "We gotta get a move on!"
"What about breakfast, Eddy?" Ed pouts.
"Did ya forget why we're here, Monobrow?!" the shorter boy fumes, "We gotta get back on the trail and find Double D!"
At the mention of their dear friend's name, Ed becomes hyper alert, scrambling to his feet. Eddy shakes his head and glances at Rolf, who looks the most awake of the group.
"Hey, Stretch!" he sneers, "Where's that pig of yours? We gotta get goin'."
"Of course, Short-Tempered Ed-boy," Rolf nods, standing at attention, "Wilfred! Come to Rolf!"
The pig waddles from his sleeping spot a few feet away, the same vacant expression on his face. Eddy lets Rolf take Edd's hat again, allowing Wilfred to get the scent. When the cap is handed back to him, Eddy quickly pockets it, determined to keep it safe. The group wastes no time. After the pig finds the trail again, they're off.
The monotony of the trek is torture. For several agonizing hours, nothing happens. Eddy can feel himself getting more and more anxious. When he's not staring at the ground, lost in his own, tormented thoughts, he's got his eyes on the sky; trying and failing to estimate the time. He asks Rolf for the time instead. After the third instance, Rolf starts ignoring him at Kevin's request. The shorter boy feels his fingers twitching nervously. He pressures Rolf to make Wilfred move faster. Time and again, Rolf assures Eddy that the pig is moving as fast as possible.
They follow the woods for a long time and feel no closer to their destination than when they began. To make matters worse, Wilfred eventually slows. He comes to a stop, sniffing the ground and waddling in little circles. He's confused.
"Aw not again!" Eddy seethes, "What the hell, Rolf?!"
Rolf shrugs, "Sincerest apologies, Ed-Boy. Rolf cannot comprehend Wilfred's behavior. Perhaps the trail is colder than we imagined?"
"No!" Eddy tugs at his hair, "That's bullshit! Make the pig keep going! He's not trying hard enough!"
"Calm yourself, Ill-Tempered Ed-Boy," Rolf attempts to soothe him.
"Fuck that!" Eddy snaps back, "That stupid pig is making us waste time! We gotta fi—"
"Look!" May cries suddenly.
They follow the direction she's pointing. Just past the trees, a multitude of trailers are nestled. Eddy darts past the others, rushing forward. He stops at the border of the wood, looking around with wide eyes. He reaches into his pocket and retrieves the photo he'd taken from Terry's trailer. It's a familiar setting. Perhaps…
The others strive to keep up as he scampers about, eyes flickering all around in frantic search. Finally, he spots a sign. It's severely worn, having just barely withstood the test of time. Weathered in several places. Faded. But he can still make out the words in neon orange color.
'Pine Fresh Motor Homes'
He feels a jolt of adrenaline. It's the trailer park from the photo! He grins and turns to the others.
"We gotta be close."
Terry reclines, back propped against the arm of the couch as he pulls Edd closer. The boy moans softly against his lips as the man's hands support his thighs. His recently bandaged fingers curl, gripping the man's shoulders. Though Edd detests it, he would be lying if he said it wasn't pleasant. Despite the caresses being less than gentle, the kisses aren't nearly as possessive or rough as they had been. Edd thanks his stars that the man is in a better mood than he had been through the majority of their time together. Still, the boy has a feeling that it won't last. In the meantime, of course, he's certainly not going to protest. He's not enduring any more pain. It's an improvement to say the least.
That is, until the kisses slowly deepen. The man starts to get a bit rough, biting the boy's lip and kneading the soft flesh beneath his hands. He rolls his hips up, pressing his body against the smaller one atop him. Edd offers a weak moan in response as he feels the man grow aroused beneath him. He shivers. Not again…Please…not again…Edd pulls himself away from the heated kisses, breathing heavily. Terry shoots him a glare.
"Get back here," he growls the demand.
Edd recognizes from his tone that the man isn't interested in repeating himself. Should he deny him, a punishment may follow. He glances around, searching for some kind of distraction. The harp glimmers in the sunlight. It's a slim chance, but maybe it would buy the boy a bit of time before the inevitable. He returns his attention to the man as Terry grabs the back of his neck, to pull him back in for more.
"W-Wait! Please!" Edd cries out, hands on the man's chest to hold himself at bay, "W-Would you…Would you play for me again?"
Terry pauses as the boy's words register. He glances at the harp before returning his attention to Edd, eying him suspiciously.
"Pretty weird request from someone who didn't seem to like my playing before," he notes, cocking his brow.
Edd bites his lip, trying to think quickly. It's certainly a difficult feat. His mind is clouded with fear. If he can't come up with a decent excuse, he's certainly in for some kind of abuse. It's such a small thing to be punished for, but the man had beaten his own brother for less and has so far shown the boy before him little mercy. Keeping his breathing calm and even, he speaks.
"I…I didn't appreciate it before," he stutters, wringing his hands together. He averts his eyes and hunches his back a bit, attempting to look as meek as possible. "How beautifully you play…I took it for granted then. But…I know better now." He chances a glance at the man's face for a reaction. Terry's still observing him, though his expression is unreadable. "I…I'd very much like to hear you play again. For me…?"
He waits with bated breath for the man to respond. For several moments, he's silent, his eyes taking in the sight of the boy prostrating himself before him. Edd shifts uncomfortably under his scrutiny, averting his gaze every so often in discomfort, but always returning attention to the man's face. After the pause, a smug grin tugs at the man's lips.
"That's a pretty cute act you've got, Princess," he purrs, tracing Edd's jaw, "Alright. Why not? Aside from you breaking that glass, you've been pretty good for me today. I guess you can have a little treat."
Edd fights back his sigh of relief as he removes himself from the man's lap. After he sits up, Terry's able to retrieve the harp and pull it towards the couch. The man grimaces a bit as he notices that he can't have the boy sit in his lap again.
"Lay your pretty little head in my lap, Girlfriend," he orders, "and I'll play you somethin' real nice."
Edd gulps anxiously before following the order without hesitation. He lies on his back, his head resting on the man's thigh. Terry grins, pleased. With Edd lying obediently beside him, his fingers set to work on the strings of the harp. The boy closes his eyes as he listens to the music. It's a song he doesn't recognize, but that is quite pleasing to his ear. As the music settles in the air, he finds himself lulled by the gentle melody. Terry plays for what feels like ages, but Edd imagines it's the lilting tone that makes it feel like time has slowed. He shivers, a chill accosting him. He's reminded that he's wearing so little. Opening his eyes, he looks up at the man anxiously.
"T-Terry…" he mumbles. He wonders if he should have spoken louder, but the man soon shifts his gaze to the boy, to show that he'd heard him. "Um…F-Forgive me, but…is there…any way I could have something…'else' to wear?"
The man scoffs; "Just like a little Princess…What you got on ain't good enough for ya? You could be walkin' around naked, ya know."
Edd feels his face burning a bit; "I-It's not that…I-I'm just feeling a bit…uncomfortable." His fingers grasp the fabric of the plaid jacket. "B-But my current attire is m-more than acceptable. I was merely curious, I suppose…"
Terry grins, chuckling softly.
"Alright, sweetheart," he shrugs, relinquishing his fingers from the strings, "Let's see what else we can find for you to wear."
Edd's startled by this development as he sits up to allow Terry to rise to his feet. He trails behind the man, curious as he's led back to the bedroom. Remaining close to the door, he looks around anxiously, doing his best to avoid looking at the bed. The man moves immediately to his closet and pulls the door open slightly. Reaching in, he retrieves a plastic bag. Edd's caught off guard as the sack is handed to him. Had the man made a recent purchase for him? When he glances at Terry's face, he catches a devilish gleam in those cold eyes. Hesitantly, he sets the bag on the bed, turning away from the man. Taking a shuddering breath, he begins sifting through its contents.
He pales as he removes the first item. A dress; red, with frills along the trim. Brow furrowed, he casts the man a weary and pleading look. Surely, he must be joking. The man's expression is unchanging, but expecting. Edd heaves a whimpering sigh. No, of course it's not a joke. Setting the garment aside, he returns his attention to the bag. The next item is no better than the first. Another dress, pale blue instead of the garish red and sleeveless. It's also a bit shorter than the other. He becomes desperate, looking to the bag for its final content. No…He doesn't remove it. This can't be right…How cruel could this man be?! He turns to him to protest. Terry's giving him a smug grin.
"Woulda given you those the other night," he explains, "but I wanted to see you in my jacket for a while instead. Probably woulda forgot about it if you hadn't said anything, Girlfriend."
Edd's shoulders fall. He returns his gaze to the bag. He hears Terry approach him. Feels the man lean over him; the large hand on his shoulder as he bends to speak into the boy's ear.
"I expect you to wear them with a smile, sweetheart," he purrs, hands lowering to rest on the slender hips. His words have a threatening undertone. "Pick your favorite and put it on for me." He cups Edd's chin and urges the boy to look at him. "And I'll give you somethin' good."
Edd shudders, swallowing the lump in his throat, but nods as Terry stands straight again. The man moves to the door, drawing the boy to glance at him, confused. Naturally, he'd expected the man to stay and watch him dress.
"Change quick, will ya," he requests, though Edd hears the order in his voice, "I'm lookin' forward to seeing you in your new outfit."
Ah, so he's delaying gratification. The door closes behind him as Terry exits the room. Edd crumbles, leaning on the bed for support. Tears fall silently down his cheeks. So cruel…He does his best to compose himself. Dries his tears as he stands straight again. It would be unwise to keep the man waiting. With shaky breaths, he complies. He removes the jacket before choosing the red dress and pulling it on, with some difficulty, over his head. As he smoothes it over his lithe frame, he glances at the bag. He imagines he'll be expected to wear those too…Taking a deep breath, he retrieves the lacy panties therein. Shamefully, he pulls them on under the dress. If anything, perhaps it will reward him some gentleness from the man? As he endures the discomfort, he prays, for the first time since his abduction, that his dear friends won't come for him yet. To see him like…this? The shame would be too great for him to bear. When he's dressed, he turns to the door.
"O-Okay…Terry…" he stutters, "I…I'm ready for you…"
There's little pause before the man re-enters the room. He chuckles, grinning maliciously.
"Well now," he hums, "Don't you look pretty."
Edd whimpers, bowing his head shyly as Terry approaches him. The man grabs his arm, pulling the boy to stand before the closet. Upon opening the door, Edd is greeted by a grim sight. A full-length mirror stands in the otherwise empty closet. His mouth is dry as he looks at his own, bruised face. It's the first time he's seen his own reflection in days.
And he's not happy with the sight.
Love marks cover his body. Arms, legs, every inch of skin he could see; marred by splotches of red, black and blue. The dress hangs off his small, frail body; refusing to cling to his scrawny figure. Contrary to the man's statement, it's anything but flattering. The hands that come to rest on his shoulders remind him that the man's even still in the room with him. He looks to Terry's face as the man leans over him.
"Such a delicate little thing you are," he breathes, grinning deviously, "But at least you finally look the part."
Confusion isn't hidden on the boy's face.
"Wh…What part…?" he asks, brow furrowed.
Terry leans into his ear, eyes trained on the boy's face for his reaction. He cups Edd's chin, forcing the boy to look into the mirror.
"The part of my little girlfriend," he half-snarls, nipping at the boy's lobe, "What else?"
Edd cringes, stung by the comment, but chooses not to protest the statement. He feels the man's hands squeezing and massaging his shoulders as he looks the boy over. After a moment he chuckles.
"Changed my mind, Princess," he purrs, "As good as you look in that, you look way better with it off." Edd furrows his brow, wishing he could counter that view. "How 'bout you put on a lil show for me?" Terry's hands roam from the boy's shoulders, caressing his back, his chest, down to his hips as he kisses the shell of the boy's ear. "Take it off, sweetheart…nice and slow."
With a shuddering sigh, Edd follows the command. He slips his arms out of the sleeves before sliding the dress down his body. From what he can see of the man's expression, he's pleased by the performance. As the frock pools at the boy's ankles, leaving him in only the panties, the man chuckles deviously. His hands accost Edd's sides, enjoying the very slight curve there. It's certainly nothing like that of a real female body, but there's just enough from Edd's plush hips and the slimness of his torso to give it a hint of curve. With a shiver, Edd shuts his eyes, trying to keep his breathing calm and even.
"Keep your eyes open," he's startled by the stern order, his eyes shooting open, "I want you to watch me touch you."
Biting his lip, he forces himself to keep his eyes open as Terry's hands travel along his body. The caresses are abrasive, rubbing those familiar circles into his flesh. Those rough, calloused lips attach to his neck, the man's teeth nipping at the bruised skin. Edd's breathing grows heavy as his body reacts to the sensual touch. He feels himself growing hard and spots the grin on the man's face as he notices it as well. The sinful fingers massaging his hips and chest are on the move again, making a beeline for the garment obstructing the last of his view of the boy. His hand slips past the lacy waistband to fondle the preteen's arousal. Edd moans, trying to remain as still as possible, but finding it difficult as the pleasure takes him. The man is most pleased by this turn, nipping at his neck. He feels Terry tugging him backwards.
"Bed," the low voice growls into his ear, "Now."
The boy whimpers in response as he pulled to the bed, the feminine garments quickly forgotten.
The group wanders through the trailers, looking for any sign of the van or the trailer from the photo. Ed and Eddy stop, waiting for the others to reconvene. They'd split up to make the search faster, but it seems like the effort was for naught. So far, their search turns up empty. Eddy's beginning to feel the hopelessness creep up his spine again. Panic is setting in. The sun is still high in the sky, but it's beginning its descent. It's well after noon. They have to hurry! The others converge around them, dour looks on their faces.
"Anything?" the shorter boy asks, desperation thick in his tone.
Of course, he knows the answer. He's not sure what made him ask in the first place. They shake their heads, gaze locked on the ground. Eddy digs his fingers into his scalp, trying not to break down.
"Hey!"
They're startled by the sudden voice calling out to them. They turn to find a middle-aged woman, cigarette between her fingers, standing in the doorway of the trailer closest to them. Her hair is a shaggy brunette, pulled into a loose ponytail. She's got a suspicious look on her face as she observes the group.
"What are you kids doing out here?" she demands, "I've been here for years. I've never seen any of you before from any of the families around here."
Eddy falters, unable to come up with a good excuse. He's startled when a hand reaches into his pocket.
"Hey!" he snaps, sneering at the culprit as Lee retrieves the photo, "What the heck do yo—"
"Shh! Let us handle this, puddin'," she commands in a hushed tone.
She turns to the woman again and steps forward with her sisters.
"We ain't from around here," Marie explains, "But we're lookin' for someone."
"Yeah," May adds with a snort, "We're visiting."
Lee holds up the photograph; "You said you been here a while, right? Well, we're lookin' for the guy who might own this trailer." She lets the woman take the picture to look over it. "Look familiar?"
The resident is quiet for a few minutes as she looks over the photo. Finally, she nods her head.
"Yeah," she answers, handing the photo back "I remember it. Guy came through a few years back and took it away. Said somethin' about wantin' some more privacy or some bullshit, I dunno…Looked a lot like the kid in the picture too."
"Do you know where he might've gone?" Marie demands.
"Eh…" she shrugs, "It was a while ago…but…I think it mighta been somewhere that way."
Their gaze follows the direction she's pointing. It's across the park and in a new direction from where they'd been heading before. Lee turns back to the woman with a grin.
"Thanks, lady," she says as they turn away.
"Why are you kids lookin' for this guy anyway?" the woman asks, stopping them, "I don't remember a lot about him, but he wasn't too pleasant."
"He uh…He's my brother," Eddy explains, "We were gonna surprise him with a visit."
She looks surprised by this, but seems to accept the answer.
"I see," she nods at them, "But that seems like it might be far from here. Do your parents know what you're doin'?"
"T-Totally!" Kevin stutters, "They're all for it. They're around here somewhere, visiting with some friends."
"Y-Yeah," Eddy concurs, "My mom said she and my dad used to live here when my brother was a kid. A-And that he may have moved back after he left home. So when we came to visit…I dunno. I…I figured we could go see my Bro too. I'm sure they won't mind if we go look around for him."
"Well, alright then…" she gives them a warm smile, "You kids be careful, though."
"Oh, we will be," Lee assures her with a sweet smile, ushering her sisters away, "C'mon, boys!"
"Bye nice lady!" Ed waves excitedly as they turn away.
They wave goodbye and offer their thanks before taking their leave. When they're out of earshot, Kevin glances at the Kankers.
"That was easier than I expected…" he notes, "Didn't she find any of that suspicious?"
Marie shrugs, jabbing her thumb in Eddy's direction; "The twerp was right before. Folks do just enough to feel like they've helped, and go on their way. That's how things work back home too. Lookin' out for you and yours and that's it."
Lee nods in agreement, handing Eddy the picture; "Yeah, the neighbors will sometimes help out, but we mostly stay out of other people's business."
"Whatever," Eddy snarls, "The point is, we've got some idea where to go next."
The group shares a nod of agreement as they leave the trailer park. They walk for a short while before entering another wooded area. It's around here that Wilfred stops again. He begins sniffing the ground. The others are startled.
"Ed-boy!" Rolf cries, "Give to Rolf the Brainy Ed-Boy's cap!"
Eddy retrieves Edd's hat and hands it to the son of a shepherd. Wilfred sniffs over the hat before returning his focus to the ground. He then starts tugging on the leash, trying to pull Rolf along.
"Wilfred has found the trail again!" Rolf announces with a cheer.
"All the smells from the trailer park musta been confusing him!" May deduces.
"We're far enough away now," Kevin notes, "I guess he can really focus on Double D's scent again…"
Eddy feels the adrenaline picking up again.
"C'mon," he demands, snatching Edd's hat back from Rolf, "Let's go!"
With Wilfred hot on the trail, the group takes off. The wooded area begins to grow more and more dense. Still, they press on. The sun is slightly obscured by the foliage, but they can still see its bright light. After a little more than an hour, they begin to slow. They stop for a short while to eat. Eddy doesn't protest. He feels that they're close. So close. If that is indeed the case, of course, he knows they'll need their strength. When their bellies are full, they continue. They follow Wilfred along their path for what feels like ages. As the time drags on, Eddy begins to worry that they may be lost again. That maybe he was wrong. That maybe they're not as close as he'd believed. Their eyes search carefully at the scenery around them, desperate to find anything that's out of place.
Eddy stops, eyes wide as something catches his gaze. Amidst the earthy colors of the wood, he can see a pale violet standing out. He starts running, making the rest of the group pick up their pace. The color rests upon rusted metal. The trailer! For comparison, Eddy looks to the photo. The mobile home before him is decrepit, but there's no doubt that it's the one from the photograph. In front of the trailer…He feels a wave of relief wash over him. The van! He glances up at the sky. The daylight is fading ever so slightly, but they made it. They've arrived in time. He wants to cry.
They've won!
He rubs his eyes, and takes a deep, affirming breath. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he opens his mouth wide.
"Bro!"
Chapter 11 End
DuoXKouga: So, just a little heads up for everyone! Battygirl and I will be gone next weekend (Actually Beginning Thursday the 29th to Sunday the 1) ! We will be off to Ohayocon 2015! So, if you happen to be there, Look for The Eddy, Edd and Bro who will be running around! See ya in the next chapter! Bye-Bye!