Hidden In These Walls

7- Past and Present, Hope.

//Jason//

The real nightmare is about to start this weekend, as the Christmas vacation starts then.

They say Christmas is all about family, when all family members meet together on Christmas Eve and sit around the Christmas colorful tree to open up all the gifts wrapped up in papers that make you hesitate before tearing them because of how neat and happy they look.

I’ve watched “Home Alone”; how Kevin always gets left behind on Christmas. He would be sad and afraid for losing his family; despite the horrible things he does to those two creepy men. He would want to be with his family on Christmas Eve and same goes to his family. Even though they forgot him, they would eventually realize that and do everything they can to have him back.

I wish I could feel the same though. I remember the last pleasant Christmas I had. It was four years ago when Mason was still alive.

*Flashback-Four Years Ago/Christmas Eve*

“Boys! Emma! Come down here, its opening gifts time!” I heard mom yell from downstairs. We always open gifts on Christmas Eve because we can’t wait for the next morning.

I quickly jumped from my bed where I was writing a song that came to my mind and opened my door. I looked up to see Mason opening his own door, and then his evil grin could be seen on his face.

“Oh, hell no!” I yelled while attempting to run downstairs.

“Not so fast lil’ bro!” Mason said just as I felt him lift me up of my feet and place me on his back with my legs wrapped around his waist.

“Ugh! Mase, come on! I’m not three anymore. I’m thirteen! “I wined.

“You’re still my little brother, I don’t care.” He replied, and that’s why I love him. I couldn’t ask for a better brother than him.

We reached the living room and saw dad, mom and Emma sitting beside the tree.

“Kids.” I heard Emma mutter under her breath which caused me to roll my sparkling green eyes.

“You can put me down now.” I muttered, and fortunately he complied.

“Before we open anything, I want a family picture.” Mom said while setting the camera on an upper shelf facing us. She then set the timer and came back.

Mase placed his arm around my shoulder and the other one around Emma’s. Dad was beside Emma smiling and Mom was beside me, her cheek against my own.

“Smile!” Mom yelled.

We all grinned, and the camera took about four pictures of us.

I didn’t know that this picture was the last one we will ever take together.

*End Of Flashback*

Christmas Eve was the last night I spent with my brother. After I got tired and sleepy, I went upstairs to my room and slept.

I do not know what happened while I was sleeping, but I remember waking up by loud screams and a bloody knife in my hand.

Yes, a knife, which I then knew that the blood that stained it was my brother’s blood.

I remember looking up to see my father, mother and sister looking at me with teary accusing eyes; but it wasn’t me.

I remember asking them about Mase, where was he?

My father only replied with one thing.

“You killed him.”

From that night on, the beating started and the whole town knew what happened. I don’t really get how they know what happened because all what they know is that I killed him which is not true. However, people around here believe anything.

So, long story short is that during this vacation, I either spend my whole time locked up in my room to avoid dad or sit alone in the park with the freezing wind for also the same reason. I wish something new could happen this vacation, but I know nothing will change. I will wake up, take a shower, and spend the entire day reading old books that I’ve came to memorize. If I do not read at home, then it would be in the park.

But isn’t this vacation slightly different? I mean I have Helda to talk to now. Helda, the girl who gives me hope every morning when I wake up. The girl who managed to bring the word “love” back to my dictionary. I mean I don’t really love her yet, but I think if we keep on talking like that every day, this feeling will eventually reach my heart.

Helda is my new hope.

//Hunter//

“I know that Nick. I’m sorry I won’t be here on your birthday.” I spoke.

“It’s fine. Jason is more important to you right now so I understand.” He said while hugging me.

“I just can’t believe it’s Friday already! I mean it felt like yesterday when you decided to go to Cheshire.” Toby commented.

“I know, and I’m so happy I’m leaving soon because I can’t tolerate any more of Jason’s heartbreaking messages. It kills me to see him this hurt and I want to make him happy, even if it’s for just a few days. Can you believe that in these past four days, his dad beat him up on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday? Wow, he is such a good father for skipping Wednesday!” 

“Hunt, calm down! You’re going to see him soon.” Toby said.

“Yeah, I will.”

“How will you, like, introduce yourself to him?” Nick asked.

“Hello, I’m Hunter Jones and I’m here for the holidays. I was wondering if you could show me around?” I replied.

“Seriously? Just that?” Toby asked.

“Yes, just that.”

After I left the lads in the school parking, I headed back home to tell my parents. I still didn’t inform them that I’m leaving tomorrow.

“Mom?” I yelled as soon as I entered my front door.

“In here!” Her voice echoed from the living room.

I entered the room to find everyone sitting there. Good.

“Uh, I have something to say.” I said.

“What?” Dad asked.

“Um before I say anything, please don’t interrupt me until I’m done. You need to understand that this is important to me, and I can’t tell you why I’m doing this.” I said.

“Sunshine, you’re worrying me. What’s wrong?” Mom asked, looking worried.

“Nothing to worry about mom. It’s just that I’m heading to Holmes Chapel, Cheshire tomorrow morning.”

“WHAT?!” Mom and Dad said at the same time.

I took a long breath and closed my eyes, “I’m going there whether you accept or not. I’m really sorry that I’ll miss Christmas with you guys, but I need to be there. Please let me go.” I said.

“And why is that?” Dad asked.

“I can’t say.” 

“And you expect us to just let you go without any explanation?” 

“Well, yeah?”

“NO!” They both yelled again.

“But, but I need to go. It’s not a want, but a need. I desperately need to go there. Please, just trust me for once.”

“Hunter, you’re still young to go there alone.” Mom pointed out.

“I’m eighteen.” I said.

“But still, it’s not enou-

“Please!” I pleaded.

My parents shared a look between them, debating on whether they let me go or not.

Finally, mom said, “Okay, but you call us when you get there and every night before you go to bed and I don’t know! Just let us know you’re alright. You should call three times a day. You hear?” 

I ran up to her and engulfed her in a bear hug. “Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Will we ever know what’s up with you?” She asked.

“Maybe.” I answered then ran upstairs to pack my bag.

After I was done with packing, I texted Jason because I miss him even though we talked at lunch break.

Me:-What are you doing tomorrow?

Thankfully, a few minutes later, he replied.

Jason:-Probably spend the whole day at the park. Got nowhere else.

Fuck! I hate his town, I don’t know how I’m going to be there walking between all of those people who despise an angel like Jason.

Me:-Oh, what will you do there?

Jason:-Just read. What are you doing tomorrow?

Me:-Not sure yet, maybe hang out with Nick and Toby. 

Jason:-Don’t you have girl friends? I mean are Nickl and Toby your only friends?

Shit! I totally forgot that I should be a girl.

Me:-Yes, off course I have. It’s just they are my best friends and I trust them a lot :)

Jason:-It’s nice to have friends.

Me:-And you will one day angel. Maybe, you will find a friend so soon, before you even realize it.

Jason:-That’s pretty difficult in this home-town.

Me:-You never know baby.

Jason:-Why do you call me that?

Me:-What?

Jason:-Baby…

Me:-Oh, I guess it just sounds right to call you that. You know?

Jason:-I know. I like it :)

He likes it! I love calling him that. Makes me feel like he is mine.

Me:-Me too :*

Jason:-

We spent the rest of the night talking about nothing and everything. I never left my phone except for when mom called for dinner.

Even though I wanted to keep on texting my angel all night, I had to sleep because I had to wake up early.

I have to admit, I’m really nervous for tomorrow. How will I find Jason? How will the whole atmosphere be when I arrive there? How will I make Jay trust me?

Ugh, I just want to hug him if he’d let me. I want to kiss him if he wouldn’t mind it. I want to be his.

Before I knew it, I was hugging my sisters, parents, Toby and Nick in the early morning as “Good byes” were heard in the air; and then I found myself in non-other but Holmes Chapel.

The first thing that I noticed here was how families were enjoying each other’s companies, walking their kids on the snowy streets and buying them candy and some gifts. Laughs were heard everywhere. It’s like all what Jason told me about them calling him “damned boy” was not true. They looked like normal kindhearted people, especially when a couple of them smiled at me.

After I settled in a room in a quite pleasant hotel, I went back down to the receptionist to ask about some stuff.

“Uh, excuse me. Do you happen to know a Jason Miller?”

And just as those words escaped my lips, the woman flinched and glared at me.

“You mean damned boy? What would you possibly want with such a filthy boy?” She asked.

Just then, I wanted to punch the hell out of her, but I refrained myself, just because I respect a girl and wouldn’t hit one.

“Do you know where I can find him?” I asked while glaring back at her.

“No! I don’t know where you can find him. As if I care for such a cunt.”

“What did you just say?! I dare you to say it again!” I growled at her.

Her eyes widened in shock at my sudden rage, and she took a step backwards.

“That’s what I thought.” I muttered before I stepped out of this silly hotel to the freezing street.

I took my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. It said it is 2:30 pm

Wow, I didn’t even realize it took me this long to come here.

Me:-Baby, what are you doing?

Jason:-At the park.

I need to find this park. I can’t believe Jason is minutes away from me! 

“Excuse me, is there a park around here?” I asked a guy passing by.

“The only park is ten minutes away from here.” He answered.

I muttered a thank you and grabbed a cab which appeared after a few minutes. After telling the driver about the park, he said that there isn’t any park other than this one in town and so we went there. Driving there took five minutes and not ten thankfully. So, after I paid the driver, I got out of the car and looked at the small park in front of me.

Jason is in there.

I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, remembering what he told me once about having brown curls and green eyes. I should look for a boy with curls. I then opened my eyes and entered this deserted park. It seemed like no one visits here.

After a few minutes of searching around, I started to hear faint muffled noises of someone painfully moaning and grunting. This had me on high alert. Could it be Jason? Is someone hurting him?

I quickly took off towards the source of the noise and my eyes widened at the sight in front of me.

There were three boys; standing around what I could tell is a curly haired boy, kicking his stomach and legs harshly.

It was my angel.

So then, rage and anger flooded my senses and all what I could think about was Jason and the need to protect him.

Without hesitating for a second, I ran up to them and pushed one of the guys away, throwing a punch at his useless face. I kept on punching his face even though he was trying to fight back. His two friends stopped on hitting Jay and came over to help their friend. One of them slammed into me to push me away from his friend and attempted to throw a punch at me but unfortunately for him, I blocked it and kicked him straight in the gut. 

I stood up and looked at those three pathetic excuses of men. “If you dare to touch him again, I swear to God a simple punch won’t be what you’re getting next time.” I growled at them.

The three of them just glared at me, but I also knew how to keep my ground and glared back at them, my jaw clenched and ready to bounce at them again.

A few minutes later, they turned around and left the park. Then, I hurt a grunt come from behind me.

I turned around for my heart to stop. I could finally see Jason. Jason Miller, the boy who was keeping me restless for the past week is finally in front of my eyes.

And he was perfect.

He had a mop of curly brown hair which made my fingers itch to be able to run through them. He had mesmerizing green eyes, which made me want to look at them forever. His body was, well it was hot. That’s pretty obvious; he had muscles enough for me to drool.

 However, this is not the time to even think of how sexy Jay is. Those green eyes were shedding painful tears. Those arms were clutching a probably bruised stomach.

I hurriedly ran to him and crotched down beside him. He was now sobbing out loud and squeezing his eyes shut in attempt to ease the pain, but we both know this never works. So, I did what I’ve been dying to do for so long. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and let him burry his face in my chest. I shut my eyes and buried my own face in his curls, breathing into his intoxicating scent.

Then, I felt him wrap his arms around my waist, bringing me closer to his warmth. I knew then that he needed someone and as soon as he found someone who defended him, he took the chance to feel all what I could give him.

“Shh, stop crying. I’m here for you. I always will be.” I muttered.

A few minutes later, he pulled away and our eyes locked in a comfortable stare, just enjoying the presence of each other. I placed my palm on his cheek and wiped a tear away, and then Jason surprised me by leaning his cheek further into my palm.

“W-Who are you?” He asked. 

Oh, how I craved to hear his beautiful angelic voice again, and I finally did. It was the most amazing masculine voice I ever heard, like music to my ears.

“I’m Hunter Jones.”

“I’m Jason Miller.”

“I know.” I said.

“Oh, off course you do. How can you not know the damned boy?” He said sarcastically.

“I know Jason Miller, and not a damned boy.” I quickly said.

“You must be insane then, because you’re the first person to ever call me by my name around here.” He said.

I closed my eyes to contain my anger for all of the citizens in this bloody town, and caressed Jay’s cheek again.

“To me, you are everything but a damned boy.”