Authors Note: This is the second part in the Fly Away From Here series and I hope you all enjoy it. The song I used is "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King.
Tommy sighed as he stared out Jason's bedroom window into the stormy dreary day. It was Saturday and Tommy had spent the morning with Jason. His dad's nanny that had stayed with Tommy when he was younger had called; she had flown in for the weekend from Boston but he didn't want to talk to her. Chances were good that she would want him to come home and he wasn't ready to go home, not yet. Jan didn't have to live with Luke anymore and he did. Jan had been free from Luke for a couple years now except on very seldom visits. She had forgotten what it was like to live with him and what he went through.
Jason re-entered the room with candles and matches. "Just in case the power goes out and we are stranded with out power and heat." Jason stated, putting the candles on his bed. No more then ten seconds after he had said this, a bright light illuminated the room and the power went out.
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and he pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music do you
It goes like this, the fourth the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Tommy chuckled as he picked up one of the discarded white candles and lit it. "Yea I know Tommy I jinxed us, don't say it!" Jason moaned.
Tommy shrugged as he chuckled "You said it."
Jason glared at him as the phone rang. Jason quickly made his way to the phone and answered with general enthusiasm, "Hello."
"Hey Jason, this is Jan again may I please speak with Tom? Its urgent that I get in touch with him." Jen asked excitedly.
Jason sighed as he turned to the still distraught Tommy, "Tommy its Jan she says its urgent and she must speak with you."
Tommy took a deep breath and reached out his hand to take the phone "Hello." Tommy said sadly into the receiver.
"Tommy, could you please come home? I know that you don't want to, but please come home. I...I want you here, Tommy. Luke is on the warpath because you left with out telling him where you were going...I can't handle him alone. He knows that I know where you are and...please Tommy come home...you can handle him better then I ever could." Jan sobbed from the other end of the phone.
Tommy sighed deeply, "I don't know Jan I just...." He started then through the phone, he heard a vase smash to the ground and then the phone hit the ground as Jan screamed.
Fear rose in Tommy's heart as he heard his dad scream at her, "Where is he!"
Tommy quickly hung up the phone and immediately began to throw his things into his over night bag leaving Jason staring at him in confusion "Going somewhere bro?"
Tommy looked to both sides then came up with the best lie he could, "Uhh yea, I'm going home. My uncle from New York is there, and my dad wants me there to visit him since we never get to see him. He's really cool that's why I am leaving in such a rush."
Jason looked at Tommy with worried eyes, "Ok bro, whatever you say." He said, not convinced by Tommy's story. Something was wrong at the Oliver's house, something bad. That's why Tommy was rushing home and Jason knew it; now getting Tommy to admit it was a totally different story. Jason sighed as Tommy finished packing his over night bag and threw it over his shoulder.
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
He tied you to a kitchen chair
He broke your throne, he cut your hair
And from your lips he drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Tommy gave Jason his best smile as he spoke, "Well I'm out of here. I'll call you later tonight. Be careful alone without any power and I will see ya later." After saying this, Tommy walked out of the dark room, made his way out of the house and was gone.
Jason sat on his bed until he heard Tommy's car rave up and pull out of the driveway. Sighing, Jason hopped off his perch on the bed and grabbed a hand full of candles and began walking around his room putting them in places and lighting them. When he finished lighting the last one he said a silent prayer for his best friend, who he felt was on his way into danger in the secluded house by the lake.
Maybe I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
Its a cold and its a broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Tommy sighed heavily as he pulled his jeep into the long gravel driveway that led up to his big two and half story Victorian style wooden house. Grabbing his bag from the next seat, he quickly got out and ran through the pouring rain, up the walk and into the dark house. Slamming the front door behind him, he put his bag down by the door and looked around, biting his bottom lip as he walked further into the house. He silently prayed that his dad had left as he walked into the dark kitchen in the back of the house. Tommy saw the shattered vase on the black and white tiled floor and ran a hand through his hair. His dad had to have been pretty angry to shatter the vase into that many pieces. Moving slowly, Tommy removed the broom from the kitchen closet on the left wall and began to sweep up the mess not hearing the feet stomp down the stairs.
Tommy had just put the broom back in the closet when a stern low voice from behind him made his breath hitch in his throat "Where have you been, Thomas?"
Tommy gulped as he slowly turned to look into the cold angry eyes of his dad. "I was.... at Jason's. Where's...where's Jan? " He managed to squeak as he dad began to chuckle.
"Jan is upstairs.... sleeping. She has an early flight to catch in the morning and I just gave her a nightcap. Don't worry Thomas I didn't hurt her. Just shook her up is all. I would never hurt anyone...but you." His dad smiled evilly as he said this making Tommy want to crawl under something and hide.
"I was at Jason's.... I was at Jason's.... always at Jason's. Why is that, Tommy? Do you two have a thing going on with each other? Huh? Is my son a faggot? It wouldn't surprise me though if you were. You've always been weird and prissy. I mean just look at your hair and I thought I told you to take that damn earring out of your ear six months ago. " His dad sneered out at him as his voice rose with each word.
Tommy gulped harder and shook his head quickly trying to divert his dad's attention away from his earring scared that Luke might yank it out, "No.... no sir I am not gay...I swear. Jase and me.... we are just best friends is all."
His dad chuckled "Then why are you two always together?"
Tommy looked from side to side in fear then calmly answered, "We are best friends is all dad. Nothing more just friends, I'm straight."
His dad shook his head as he walked towards Tommy and in one fluid motion grabbed Tommy by his hair at the back of his neck and jerked his head up so Tommy was looking into his dad's dark hazel eyes, "Why do I not believe you Thomas?"
Tommy's bottom lip began to quiver in intense fear "It's the truth, I swear it is. I swear. Please dad I...I swear I'm straight." Tommy whimpered as his dad began to rub his hair and chuckle. Before Tommy could react, his dad tossed him stomach first into the counter.
Tommy struggled for air as it was knocked out of him by his stomach hitting the counter as hard as it did. He was about to slump to the ground but before he could his dad was on him preventing him from slumping from his bent position on the counter. "I don't like Jason, Thomas and I don't want you to go to his house ever again do I make myself clear?" His dad whispered in Tommy's ear as his whole body pressed Tommy down on the counter roughly.
Tommy, tears shining in his eyes, nodded as his dad sneered, "Good, now if I hear of you going back to his house or even talking to the faggot then I will punish you. Got it Thomas?"
Tommy let out a struggled breath as he nodded once again "He may be a faggot but I will not let him corrupt you. Are we clear, Thomas?"
"Yesss...sir." Tommy managed to slur, in total fear of his father.
"Now I am going to have to get all the filth out of your system that Jason has put there over the past months." His dad scuffed at him. Tommy shut his eyes in fear for a brief second then reopened them as his dad spun him around roughly. Grumbling to himself his dad picked him up over his shoulder and carried him out of the house headed towards the lake located in the back yard.
There was a time when you'd let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The Holy Dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Luke Oliver chuckled angrily as he stepped onto the peer and walked out to the end of it. He nonchalantly threw Tommy off his shoulder and onto the wooden wet peer as the rain poured and the thunder boomed in the distance. Luke quickly grabbed some rope off the boat that was sitting in the dock next to him that he often used while fishing and moved back to Tommy. Quickly and violently he flipped the shivering form of Tommy over on his stomach and grabbed his hands roughly before tying them tight behind his back with the rope.
Once this was through, Luke stood from his bent position and used his foot to tip Tommy off the edge of the peer and into the muggy water of the dark lake. Tommy went under like a rock but using his feet, he quickly shot back to the surface as Luke jumped in. Tommy tried to get away from him but Luke grabbed him by his shirt collar before he could get far and drug him back to him. "I would take a deep breath if I were you Thomas." Luke sadistically spat in Tommy's ear as he dunked him under into the cold water and held him there for several seconds.
Finally, Luke pulled the gasping Tommy back to the surface by his hair only to duck him once more and as Tommy went under he screamed, "I can't breathe!"
Luke pulled the almost unconscious Tommy to the surface after doing this method several times and sneered in Tommy's ear, "Now are you going to see or talk to him again Tommy?" Tommy slowly shook his head as Luke smiled. "Good boy." He said as he dunked Tommy into the muggy water once more.
After bringing Tommy up, he swam to shore and threw Tommy on the mud as he untied the ropes that were binding Tommy's hands. Tommy moved his hands once they were free and buried his face in his arms praying that his dad was through with him. He tensed as he heard his dad's angry chuckle behind him. Tommy's fears were realized when his dad spat "Oh I am not done with you yet! You want a be a faggot! Then I'll treat you like one!"
As if to prove a point his dad grabbed Tommy by his belt and dragged him up the muddy bank. "Please dad...no." Tommy begged as his dad propped him against a tree and used the rope from before to tie his hands around it as if he were hugging it. Tommy whimpered in pain as the bark of the tree scraped his chest and stomach as his dad moved behind him. "No." Tommy whispered to no one but himself as his dad began undoing his belt roughly.
Maybe there's a god above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And its not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The ringing of the phone made Tommy turn away from his seat by the window of his dads room. It was Tuesday and he had not been in school at all that week and he had not gotten in any contact with any of the rangers to tell them where he was either. Tommy turned back towards the window as the answering machine cut on. "Hey bro this is Jason what's up? You weren't at school again today...we are all worried about you. Bro, is there something wrong? Call me please if you need to talk about anything...I'll be here." Then the answering machine cut off leaving Tommy alone once more in the large room.
A stray tear slid down his cheek and splashed onto his gray sweatshirt as he watched his dad put his suitcases in his car, getting ready to leave for another business trip, and slam the hood shut. Their eyes locked with each other's and Tommy looked away as his dad smiled at him from below.
Hallelujah