A Dragon's Crimson Cry
By: Tippi
Ch 16 Dragon's Claw
"Jake" the voice of his grandfather's came from the doorway.
Jake rolled over in bed to face his grandfather.
"Dinner's ready, come and eat" LS finished before he turned and left.
Jake dropped blue as he got off the bed to follow his grandfather.
It wasn't the promise of food that got Jake to go, he wasn't hungry he rarely was these days. Some one had to remind him to eat or he'd starve with out knowing it.
The reason he left the bed was seeking company from his grandfather.
Jake was like a lost puppy. He had no idea where he was going, he was in unfamiliar surroundings, scared, and seeking company from any living thing he trusted. And at the time they were limited to Fu and his grandfather.
When LS reentered the kitchen he found Fu filling his plate.
"Joining us" LS asked the dog.
"And to keep up this charade eat on the floor, no thanks. I'll take my dinner downstairs in front of the T.V." Fu said taking his plate with him down the stairs.
Jake entered the kitchen smelling tomato sauce in the air. Jake took a seat at the table as his grandfather placed a plate of spaghetti in front of Jake and him self.
LS sat down and began to eat while Jake just stared down at his plate.
He had gone to the table merely to be with his grandfather but he still had no appetite. Jake absently twirled his fork and nudged the meatballs around.
"Jake you've got to eat something" LS said to this grandson noticing he wasn't eating.
LS was worried for his grandson's health. Jake was suffering mentally and physically.
He lost a lot of weight not eating enough and the sleep depravation lowered Jake's energy levels.
LS was at a loss at what to do to help him.
He couldn't force Jake to eat but the boy wouldn't eat on his own currently.
Jake could tell his grandfather wasn't happy that Jake wasn't eating and with his grandfather being his only family all he wanted to do was please him. So Jake forced him self to swallow a few fork full of noodles.
LS was happy when Jake ate any amount even if it was a few fork fulls.
As Jake was drinking his glass of milk LS remembered he left the pill bottles in Jake's back pack.
"Jake could you go get your back pack for me" LS said to break the uneasiness at the table as well as get the pills being the right time to give Jake his anti-depressant.
Jake more than happy to do what his grandfather asked and pushed him self out of his chair then jogged to his room.
Jake came back with the backpack presenting it to his grandfather with big brown eyes looking at him for approval. LS took the bag from the boy unzipping the pocket he had put the bottles in the set the pack down on the floor. LS looked at both the bottles for a moment reading the small print to see which bottle was which.
LS found the anti-depressant and took out a pill and carefully cutting it in half with a knife. He placed one half in Jake's hand and the other in the bottle. With out a second thought Jake took his glass and swallowed the pill with what was left of his milk.
Seeing how Jake took his medicine made LS feel a little down. A physically health kid should not have to be use to taking pills like it's an average part of any meal.
The rest of the night LS spent with his grandson helping him to put away Jake's possessions. Even with the help they only managed to empty half the boxes.
LS stacked the empty boxes in one of the corners noting he'd move those out of the room later. He took a look at his watch and noticed how late it was.
"It's late Jake how about you get ready for bed and we continue this tomorrow" said forcing a smile to show his grandson.
Jake just took his toothbrush and paste from the nightstand and left for the bathroom with no emotion.
Once his grandson left the room LS let the smile leave and gave a sad sigh.
His grandson never smiled now a days. He wondered if Jake would ever smile again and was worried he won't. Time may heal all wounds but scars never go away. And scars can run deeper than any other wound. Unfortunately Jake was going to be scared for life.
Later LS had retired to his bed, Jake had curled up in his bed with his striped PJs, and Fu took up his usual spot in the armchair downstairs. They did everything to get ready for bed but LS chose not to give Jake his sleep aid pill that was a mistake he and the rest of the block were going to regret.
Jake's dream was so happy at the moment. Him, his two best friends, Trixie and Spud, were at the skate park. Jake loved skate boarding, he wanted to do it since he was four.
His dad took him to watch an X-game competition when it was held in New York. The stunts they did on their boards drew Jake like a bee to honey.
"Daddy, I want to skate board" the four year old Jake said tugging on his dad's sleeve.
After that for his fifth birthday he got his first skate board and safety gear and the rest was history.
Jake skated to the top of the bowl, slid around the lip then road it back down to the other side made a quick motion bringing the board out and came to a stop mere feet from the side.
Spud gave Jake a thumbs up as Trixie came over finishing her own routine.
The sun was beginning to set and that meant it was time for them to go home. With out a word between them they left for home.
Jake entered the house dropping his board and helmet at the door and walked in. The light from the setting sun cast shadows in the house. The house seemed empty to Jake. He looked into the living room, no one was there. Then he looked over into the kitchen no one there.
'Mom, Dad, Haley' Jake said in his head but it echoed off the walls as if it came from his lips.
Jake went up the stairs and checked every room upstairs and found no one. Jake made it to the bottom of the stairs confused. Then he heard a thud and crash coming from the living room.
Jake walked into the living room to see the lamp from one of the end tables next to the couch fell. It lay upon the floor shattered into pieces like a puzzle. The jagged purple pieces called Jake over to inspect it. Jake walked to stand in front of the broken giver of light.
As Jake looked down at the broken lamp, two strong hands slowly reached out from the shadows. One hand grabbed the back of Jake's shirt while the other tried to wrap around Jake's mouth.
In an attempt to escape Jake bit down on the hand trying to cover his mouth. The hand with drew, while the other still held his shirt.
Jake was able to wiggle his shirt from the hand's grip and turned around to face his attacker.
He couldn't see the face or any other body parts. The attacker was canceled in the shadows only his hands and arms were in the light.
Before Jake could react any further both hands wrap around his neck cutting off his air supple. Jake tried to scream and call for help but nothing came out of his airless lungs. Jake's fingers clawed at the arms trying to get them to release him but his attempts were futile. Jake could hear some one calling his name from far away.
The arms drew Jake closer to his attacker's body, shaking him as they did. In a last ditch effort Jake swiped his hand across the attacker's hidden face. The hands released Jake as they drew back to hold back the blood coming from four cuts across his face.
Jake stepped back and looked at the hand he used to swipe at his attacker with. But it wasn't his hand he was looking at. The hand was covered in red scales and his fingers were tipped with sharp black claws.
A/N This may get confusing later on if it isn't already so any questions just ask. Review