Don't Touch!

Aidan's Perspective 2005, Seattle WA "Addy! Addy!" Markus yelled, running into my room. I smiled as I looked up from my homework. Addy was a nickname. My real name was Aidan. Growing up in foster care, you have a lot of brothers and sisters, but Markus was the one I grew attached to the most. He was cute with curly blond hair and bright blue eyes, and such a delicate way of seeing things.  "Did something happen?" I asked, setting my pencil down and giving him my full attention.  Markus beamed up at me as he showed me a piece of paper. "I got an award from the school for being nice."  I gently took the certificate, and my smile grew. It was a certificate of kindness. Markus was always friendly and gentle with everyone. It pained me to see him being nice to those who don't deserve it. I grabbed a tact and nailed it on his side of the room.  "Great job, Markus!" I said, high-fiving him. He was fourteen, but he had a learning disability. He wasn't slow, far from it, but mentally wise, he was stuck at a younger age. He's already doing high school subjects, but he lacks social cues and doesn't mix well with kids his own age, and the adults have trouble with him too.  Before we were able to say anything else or do anything, the loud steps of our foster mother alerted us. Markus, trembling, was standing at his side of the room near his bed. I quickly went to my side of the room and stood near my bed as well. This is how our foster mother expects us to be when she comes to see us. With platinum blond hair and frozen blue eyes, she walked into our room, the clap of her shoes echoing off the walls. Her face was set in a permanent grim look, and we have never seen her smile. I was close to turning 18, and I knew the minute my birthday was upon me, I would be kicked out. Her eyes landed on the certificate, and I knew what was going to happen.  She clicked her tongue and walked over towards Markus. "What is this?" She hissed, plucking the paper from the wall. Markus kept his head down, not answering. She crumbled up his piece of paper and let it fall on the floor. "We won't have this rubbish here." She turned and smacked Markus across the face.  I hurried forward. "Please, wait! I was the one who put it up." She turned and glared at me.  "Stop right there!" She yelled at me. I halted. I was halfway across the room, and I wasn't going to be able to get any further. She knew the connection Markus and I had. We've been in three different foster homes together, and she's heard stories about me taking the beatings instead of Markus. Once we got here, though, she put a stop to that real quick.  Markus cried. "Please, don't hurt him!" She rounded back on him, slapping him again.  She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I told you both when I took you in; that I wouldn't put up with others taking beatings." She turned back towards me. "I don't know if you just like being beat or you just really care for this boy, Aidan, but I won't allow it!"  I hastily took a step back as she stepped toward me. "He doesn't deserve to be hit. He won an award for being kind."  She narrowed her eyes at me. "For being kind?" She grabbed me by my chin and made me look her in the eyes. "Being kind doesn't get anyone anywhere in this world! The world isn't kind or caring. He needs to learn this now, or he will never mature."  I jerked my chin away from her grasp. "He's still a child. He has plenty of time to mature on his own."  I saw her eyes glaze over, and I knew I had crossed a line. She raised her hand and hit me repeatedly. "I won't have any backtalk in this house!" I shrank away as her hits kept gaining force and speed. I covered my head with my hands, but I could already taste blood in my mouth and feel the bruises on my face. When I fell onto the floor, she resorted to kicking instead. Her heels hurt worse than anything I have ever felt. The tips hit my ribs spot on every time. I could hear Markus crying in the background. If I tried to comfort him now, she would just change her attention from me to him, and he's been hurt enough. I would comfort him later. She finally gave up and walked out. Markus ran over to me with tears going down his face.  "You can't say those things around her." Markus whimpered, whipping the tears from his cheeks. "You know it'll just make her mad."  I reached up and caressed the side of his face like I always do. "I know, Markus, but if I hadn't, she would have beaten you."  Markus sniffled. "I don't care about that. I'll get beat as long as I can stay with you."  I stiffened as he lay on the floor next to me. His eyes watched me as I tried to breathe through my nose. I could taste the blood, and I knew I needed to go see our older brother before it got too bad. I couldn't move, though. Whenever I tried, the pain would be too much. Markus knew something was really wrong when I didn't get up after a few minutes. Markus got up and quickly ran out of the room. He ran in the direction of Jared's room. I knew he would get help, but Jared didn't like Markus. I don't know if he'll convince him or not to help. I don't know how long I stayed on the floor. When I opened my eyes again, Jared was there with Markus. That was unusual. Markus must have said something to him to make him act so fast. Jared set down his medical bag and got to work. I could see the anger in his eyes as he worked on him. He was a year older than me and is in med school, in his second year already.  "This is unusual," I whispered to Jared. "Feeling extra charitable today?"  Jared smirked as he wrapped my chest. "Markus made me a deal I couldn't refuse."  I frowned. Jared is known throughout his house as a bad guy because of what he is. He's the real son of the woman who did this to me. He's known for his impossible favors for medical help. Before I could say anything, Jared lifted me and set me on my bed.  "Don't move for a while," Jared said, opening up a bottle of pills. He took one out and shoved it into my mouth. "This will help with the pain. It's going to knock your ass out too."  I swallowed without thinking. "What's the deal?"  Jared smirked as he gathered his materials. "Don't worry about it. It's a secret between Markus and me."  My eyes darted to Markus, standing in the doorway, looking scared and nervous. "You know I like him, right?"  Jared chuckled as he stood up. "Of course, I know. Everyone can see the way you look at him. Although," Jared paused, glancing at Markus, "it takes one to know one. Once I break him in, he'll be all yours."  Anger burst inside of me. I grabbed Jared's arm as he turned. "Don't you dare lay a finger on him!" I snarled at him.  Jared glanced down at me, amusement shining in his eyes. "I don't go back on my deals, Aidan, you know that." Jared pulled his arm away from me. "Plus, you can't do anything about it. You're too hurt to move, and once that pill kicks in, you'll be out for hours."  There was nothing I could do. I couldn't stop him. If I yelled for help, I'd get another beating. If I don't do something, Markus is going to experience the next three hours in hell. Jared loved taking away a boy's innocence. I watched with fear as Jared put his hand on Markus's shoulder, steering him back to his room. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I turned away. I couldn't watch. As I shut my eyes tight, all I could think about was his scared face. Markus's face filled my dreams as the darkness swept over me.