Raises By Humans

Chapter 5

Cindy follows him inside, “I have not seen him since we brought Sky in.”

“Luke, what are you doing here? How did you get in?” Cindy asks when she sees Luke coming from the side of the kennel.

“I used my mother's keys,” Luke says, fear all over his face.

“You look terrible, what happened to you? Your face? Are you ok?” Cindy asks, looking him over.

“Luke ran away from home, and it only dawned on me now to come and check here,” Kieran lies, realizing that Luke is in a really bad state that can get him arrested for child abuse.

“Luke, is that true?” Cindy asks, embracing him.

Luke notices Kieran’s warning look, “yes, it is true.”

“His mother’s death is not easy on the both of us. Let us get you home,” Kieran says, putting his arm around Luke, making Luke’s body go stiff.

“Is that Sky? I thought you said he is dead?” Kieran lets go of Luke and makes his way over to the kennels, taking his gun out of his holster.

“Officer Kieran it is against the law to kill Sky! His species are on the endangered list,” Cindy runs after him, not speaking the whole truth. They were never able to confirm Samuel’s (Sky) breed and do not know if he is a Mackenzie Valley Wolf (Canadian Timber Wolf) that is endangered but not protected or a Mackenzie Tundra Wolf, that is endangered and protected.

Kieran stops in his tracks and calmly turns to face Cindy, “just be careful, he is dangerous.”

Kieran shows the bandage that is still around his neck, “for some reason he just went crazy and attacked me.”

“My word, glad that you are ok,” Cindy says, regretting that she saved Sky, thinking the world of Officer Kieran.

“Come my boy, let me get you home,” Kieran puts his arm around Luke lovingly.

‘Shame, he must have been so worried about Luke. When is that boy going to come right,’ Cindy thinks, seeing them out.

Once they drove off Kieran grabbed Luke behind his neck and slams him into the dashboard, “don’t think for one moment that wolf will get to stay alive.”

Luke grabs his bleeding face, blood running out of his nose.

“If you get blood in my car, you will regret it,” Kieran warns him. Luke pulls his shirt up to stop the blood from messing all over the place.

Luke starts to notice that they are not going in the direction of home, but he is too scared to ask. After driving for an hour, the next town starts to appear in the distance.

‘Where are we?’ Luke wonders, looking around.

“Come,” Kieran says, getting out of his car. Luke obeys and gets out but then he notices where they are.

‘Institute for rehabilitation of troubled boys,’ Luke reads the sign that is big above the building.

“Please sir,” Luke pleads.

“Either you walk in, or they will come and sedate you and carry you in; up to you,” Kieran warns, standing with his hands on his hip.

Luke looks around him, wondering if he can make a run for it. ‘Don’t think I can outrun Kieran,’ Luke thinks, dragging his feet over, his eyes on the ground.

Kieran puts his hand on Luke’s one shoulder, “don’t say a word, I will do all the talking. If you ever want to get out of here, you better tell them that you did this to yourself.”

Kieran walks ahead and opens the door and holds it open for Luke.

“Good morning, I phoned yesterday about my son,” Kieran greets the receptionist.

“Officer Kieran? You must be Luke?” the receptionist looks at Luke, pulling her face at his awful appearance.

“He tried to kill himself by bashing his face in the car, but it does not look like he broke anything,” Kieran says.

“Seeking attention young man?” the receptionist asks in a disapproving tone.

Luke does not respond and just looks down.

“Sorry for bringing him in such a dirty state; he refuses to clean up,” Kieran lies.

“Don’t you worry about a thing sir, he will be a well-adjusted boy in no time, just leave it to us,” the receptionist says, passing Kieran a clipboard with some paperwork to fill out.

“While your father fills out the forms I will show you your room,” the receptionist says, asking Luke to follow her.

“Actually, I will leave after filling the forms. I did not plan to bring him today, so I have to get to work asap, and it is an hour away,” Kieran explains.

“Of course,” the receptionist says.

“Bye my boy,” Kieran pretends the loving father. Luke does not respond and follows the receptionist.

‘What a rude young man, his father seems so nice, and it is not even his biological child. This kid doesn’t deserve mercy,’ the receptionist thinks.

“First let’s get you cleaned up,” the receptionist decided right there and then that Luke will go straight to the strictest part of the facility to teach him a lesson.

Luke follows the receptionist, down a hallway that has padding from floor to ceiling, even the doors are padded. ‘What kind of place is this?’ Luke wonders.

They walk past an open double door and Luke notices some boys playing soccer.

“Don’t think you will be playing outside anytime soon, first you need to learn respect for your elders and how to appreciate your own life,” the receptionist says with a stern tone.

“Luke joined us a few moments ago. Very troubled and disrespectful. I recommend the harshest treatment but that is just my opinion, you know best,” the receptionist says, handing Luke over to the manager.