Trigger Warnings:
Mentioned sexual assault(Happened between the last chapter and this chapter and I refuse to write it as to not traumatize people)
Abuse/Torture
Mentions of past child abuse
Mentions of past character(child) death
Mentions of child neglect and abandonment
Mentions of alcoholism/substance abuse
Enjoy!
The whole drive up to Midnight's house felt like a fucking eternity.
King sat in a puddle of nerves and anticipation the whole drive. and it didn't help that it was hardly a drive.
They lived on the other side of the town fair, which was actually pretty convenient for them.
However, they had not a clue if they were willing to talk to them, even about Midnight.
Cornflower had the kid marked as a missing person, and the parents hadn't done shit when it came to helping search for Midnight.
Another reason why his parents were dubbed "the source of this whole problem" by Yellow.
"Well, he's not wrong. I wouldn't have at least six missing teenagers on my hands if Midnight hadn't run out that night." Cornflower noted, parking the car in front of what King had assumed was the house they were looking for.
"Why would he even run out?" Yellow asked, stepping out of the car and walking up the front pathway. It was a nice house. Why would Midnight want to leave?
"That's what we're about to find out, kid." Midnight answered.
King's heart raced, as did his mind.
Were they the key to finding Purple?
"What do you WANT?!" A very angry darker stick yelled as he threw the door open.
"Space, calm down. Sorry for my husband's reaction. He's been very on edge lately." His wife appeared and apologized.
"Our son is a KIDNAPPER!" Space snapped at her.
That confirmed something for Cornflower.
"So you are aware that your son has been up to some illegal activities lately?" Cornflower asked. Not the best first question, but it was a start.
The only thing they really needed at this point were answers.
"Of course we are. It's all over the goddamn news! How could a parent let their kid just go off like that?!" King knew it was directed at him.
"Okay, first of all-" Yellow got incredibly close to picking a fight with the much older and stronger man, but let his anger diffuse before continuing. "It was not in any way King's fault. For all we know, you guys are the source of this entire problem!"
"WHY WOULD WE HAVE A ROLE IN THIS?!" Space screamed. "Are you hearing this, Ocean?" He turned to his wife.
"Tell me. Why did Midnight run out that night?" Cornflower asked.
Space immediately shut up.
"It's because Space here did not have the best relationship with his step-son. He knew something was off about Midnight. And yes, he was a wild child, but he wasn't all bad. Space confronted him about it that fateful night…and the rest is history."
"I see. What makes him think Midnight has problems?"
"Well, it's the fact that Midnight's biological father, as you may know, was convicted of rape, among other things. So far as I know, he's on probation, but who knows? He's vanished off the face of the Earth for all we know."
"What does Midnight have to do with this?" King asked.
"I don't want him coming out like his dad did. In prison for hurting little kids. I know Purple, if that is his name, isn't really that young, but I fear Midnight could still hurt him."
"And for all we know, he probably has, dear." Ocean warned.
That didn't settle King's nerves in the slightest.
"But, we will do what we can to find our son, if you need the help." Space said suddenly.
"Actually, if you can," Cornflower took out the folder with papers containing various parts of Midnight's plan. "We seem to be missing a few parts to this plan your son made, and we thought you might be able to help."
"After all," Yellow said. "You know Midnight better than any of us."
"And it's the only lead we have right now until that search party gets back with whatever information they have." Cornflower noted.
"Of course." Ocean agreed.
King smiled with relief and tried to ignore the thought of Purple laying on a dirty floor, covered in blood and bruises and scrapes and probably dead.
His mind refused to let him, and it just unnerved him even more.
They must've been there all day, because Cornflower gets a call just as they're about to wrap up the plan at 11 o'clock at night.
"Detective Cornflower."
"We found the missing kids, but we ran into a slight issue."
"What are you talking about?"
"Midnight has a gun, we know that."
"Midnight has a WHAT?!" Yellow yelled from next to King.
"Are there any injuries?" Cornflower asked. "Some of Purple's friends were in that group."
"Well, the kid's friends led us straight to the shack, thank them. But no major injuries have been reported. The four of them are waiting at the police station. If you want, bring Midnight's parents if they have information."
King felt Yellow's heart sink. Second and the others might've gotten hurt.
"We'll be there soon," Cornflower says before hanging up. "We've gotta get to the station now. If Space and Ocean want to come, they can, but the three of us need to get there now."
Yellow jumped from the couch and ran to the door.
King followed suit, hoping Purple hadn't gotten shot in that failed rescue.
Purple tried moving the next day, but found it impossible to do so without sending his lower body into a pain-filled chaos moment.
Blood coated his hands, and after clearing it away he found the sources to be slits Midnight must've made.
And god damn, they hurt.
Upon further investigation, he found bruises on his thighs that still looked fresh, and hurt like a bitch, and scrapes all over his body.
Yep, Midnight must've done something really bad to him, and maybe the others as well.
"Ow…holy shit, what the hell happened last night?" Ruby grumbled, finding similar scrapes on her arms and legs.
Sage groaned from his tiny corner. "Midnight attacked us for my escape attempt and shot at you guys. From Purp's bruises and your guy's condition, he must've assaulted Purple and cut the rest of us up." He explained.
"Oh, god…poor Purple."
"Which is why we have to get out of here. And if we're lucky, Purple's friends know where we are now."
"Well, isn't that nice. We'll be saved by a group of teenagers." Saffron grumbled.
"It's something, at least. Would you rather explain to cops how Purple was raped by a nineteen year old and have them question why we were just bystanders, or does it sound easier to explain that to teens?"
"Fine. Fair point."
"Better question, was anyone injured by the stray bullet Midnight fired at us?" Purple finally mustered up the strength to speak.
"Not really, but a couple of Saffron's scrapes might've been by being grazed by it." Ruby noted.
"At least we're alive, for now at least." Ruby said.
"She's right. But we might not be for long. Midnight might already suspect we're planning something."
"Which is why one of us escapes today, and the rest of us try and find another way out." Lilac said.
"It's too risky. We can't risk Purple getting hurt more, and those bruises are still fresh. Fresh bruises hurt like hell." Sage said.
"Then what can we do?" Lilac asked.
While Purple hadn't spoken much, the amount that he had proved to the quartet of kids that he was quick at coming up with elaborate plans. "One of us escapes, and with our injuries, will most likely end up at the hospital swarmed with cops. They snitch out Midnight, and they find us."
"It could work."
"But Midnight might have higher security now. After all, Sage got out, and did reveal our location." Lilac noted.
"True. We'd have to get past him." Purple said to himself.
"I'll take care of that." Saffron said, mustering up strength and courage to get to the door.
"Be careful."
"Midnight is still asleep," Saffron said. "He drank himself into a hangover again. I should be fine."
"I know alcoholics, Saffron." Purple said. "They can and will use anything they get their hands on, even when drunk."
"He makes a point." Ruby said.
"There's a reason the three of you have more cuts and scrapes than I do. I can hold him off better."
"We learned not to do that, or we'll get hurt more, or die." Lilac muttered.
"Whatever."
Saffron's theory about Midnight was correct. Bottles of wine, opened and full, were still scattered about until the others came upstairs and cleaned it up.
Saffron wasn't about to do that. He sneaked off to the bathroom to find sleeping pills that he knew Midnight had. If he could get those to disintegrate in a glass of water, Midnight wouldn't be able to chase after him, leaving him in the clear to escape.
He noticed how much blood was in there, and figured Purple or someone else also got him. And by taking a closer look at Midnight as he placed a sleeping pill in a glass of water next to him, one of them must have gotten him.
That was a good thing.
He placed the glass of water within Midnight's reach before swiftly getting to the door.
Surprisingly, it was unlocked. Thank God.
Being mindful of bottles by the door, he slipped outside and closed the door quietly before sighing in relief. He ran to the side the cellar door was on, and it was still locked. He quickly broke the lock and ran into the woods, following footprints in the mud and running for his life.
He just had to get to the city and find Purple's family. Or even the police would work.
Whatever worked would have to get him somewhere.
And get those kids out alive.
After what was probably hours, Saffron reached the park where Purple was kidnapped. The police station wasn't too far from there.
Only, there were some people he recognized from last night's blunder.
One of them noticed him. "I know you! Your friend ran out of that basement last night!"
"Yeah, that was Sage," He panted. "And I need to find Detective Cornflower."
"Why?"
"I'm another one of the kids Midnight has. I know where Purple is."
"You do?!"
"Yes, I do," He gasped. "Please. I need to get to the cops. Please. Before Midnight does any more damage."
Holy shit. That was insane.
So now everyone is getting caught up. Second and the others are alive, Saffron is going to the station, as are King and the others.
Soon they'll realize just how bad Purple's situation is.
Anyways, keep running up those hills, dreamchasers! And stay tuned!