Love the Lost

Moving?

Moving?

Remus woke to quiet talking.

"I'm packing his lunch right now." P said. "I do feel sorry for him, but he really can't stay right now. The cops are really on our butts."

"I know, sis." Eric sounded sad. "I'll wake him here in a bit."

Remus sat up and began to pack as slowly as possible. He didn't want to leave, but couldn't risk getting P into trouble.

He walked into the kitchen, and the smell of bacon filled his nostrils. A plate of bacon and eggs were waiting for him. There was never a time that he didn't love P. He smiled a sad smile as he ate. Soon he knew he'd have to leave his home behind.

P handed him a bag full of bread, crackers, and canned food. "It isn't much." She said. "But it's better than a single sandwich. Hide it well."

Remus blushed and nodded. He hated having to hide the food. He hated being seventy pounds at five foot six. The lack of nutrition made his brown eyes look more like a lifeless gray and his chestnut hair held no life.

*

Eric walked him home. Neither spoke, but Remus noticed that Eric kept looking over his shoulder. He seemed worried about something, but wouldn't say a word. Eric appeared to calm a bit when they reached Remus's house. He smiled and c****d his head to the side, letting his hair cover his left eye. "I'll see you tomorrow, kay?"

"Sure thing." Remus nodded. He tried to smile, but fear was gripping his heart. He knew that he was about to walk right into abuse. Eric backed away with a wave. Remus took a breath, opened the door and walked inside.

His cheek stung as the back of his mother's hand met his face. He grabbed the door frame and stumbled backward.

"Now dear, don't leave a mark." His father kept his mother from hitting him again. "We can do that after the b***h leaves tomorrow."

"Grams is coming tomorrow?" Remus rubbed his cheek. "She's not supposed to come for two days."

"She's coming early, and you didn't clean the house!" His mother was furious. "We did! Where the hell have you been today?"

Remus stifled a laugh. He couldn't believe that his parents hadn't noticed that he had been gone for three days.

"Walking" He grumbled then pushed past his parents. "I'll go clean my room. Wake me in the morning."

He couldn't believe she'd decided to come early. If he missed one dinner, he'd get the beating of a lifetime. Remus was supposed to clean the entire house, buy food, make dinner, and act like everything was normal with his family. The one time he tried to tell his grandmother the truth, he was six; his parents just laughed it off as a child making up stories. After she had left, they beat him black and blue.

Remus's father woke him up. He put on his best clothes, brushed his teeth and hair, then went straight to the kitchen. He began by boiling corn and prepping a pot for spaghetti. His grandmother would only stay for four hours. She'd ask him about school, his health and if he had any friends. It was always the same questions, and he always had the same answers.

*

"So, Remus, how has your schooling been?" His grandmother took a sip of wine. "Oh, Marlene, this meal is delicious. The mashed potatoes are just right."

Remus's mother smiled. "Thank you."

"Remus, answer your grandmother." His father put on his "best dad" voice.

"School's fine. I've got A's in all my classes." Remus tried to put a cheer in his voice.

"Good, good." His grandmother nodded. "And your health? Does your medication still give you delusions of Marie?"

Remus choked down some corn. His grandmother had never mentioned Marie before. He didn't think his grandmother even remembered him talking about her.

It was when he was five. He asked his grandmother why his big sister didn't have to eat with them. She replied simply with "what big sister?". He'd pointed to the corner and said: "Marie, there." His parents told him to shut up.

Later he had asked Marie why they couldn't see her. "Because I'm dead, little bro." She replied.

Now the air was electric. Remus's grandmother had, unknowingly, started a s**t storm.

"Mom...Remus switched his medications years ago..." His father began to shake. "He...he doesn't have hallucinations anymore."

"I was just asking." His grandmother continued to eat like nothing was wrong.

Remus also began to shake as his anxiety went through the roof.. He could feel his heart racing. He stood up and rushed to his room. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself by counting his breaths.

"Brother?" Marie knelt beside him. She touched his cheek, sending chills down his spine. She made him look into her hazel eyes. "Remus, calm your breathing."

He began to hyperventilate. "Brother." Marie used what energy she had to float his pills to him. The lid popped off. "Take one." She urged.

Remus reached for the pills with blurred vision. He could hear his grandmother scream. "Call for an ambulance!"

*

"Hello, I'm Doctor Adams." A middle-aged man with graying hair and worn eyes, wearing a lab coat, entered the hospital room. "How are you feeling?"

His grandmother sat in a chair beside him while his parents stood at the window, twitching. The medics had managed to get his airway open and gave him oxygen, then a drug to regulate his heart rate. He was stuck with oxygen entering his nose from a tube, in a hospital bed. The drugs were making him feel calm.

"Good." He answered in almost a whisper. "Can I take this out of my nose now?"

"Remus," His grandmother hissed. "be nice."

"He's fine, ma'am, he's had a rough couple of hours." Doctor Adams stated.

Remus thought it was peculiar to hear his grandmother being called ma'am, considering the doctor looked only slightly younger than her.

After all, his grandmother was only fifty-three, young for a grandmother of a thirteen-year-old.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stone..." the doctor looked at Remus's parents. He turned pale and began to shake. "uh...I...uh...please excuse me." He practically ran from the room.

"Well, that was odd." Remus's grandmother stood. "I will return shortly."

Remus stared at his parents. They had tears in their eyes, and were shaking like tiny dogs. Marie patted each of their backs then sat on Remus's bed.

"Want to know what's up?" She asked. Remus nodded. It wasn't like his parents to show any emotion but anger. "Let me show you." Marie took his hand, and he was propelled into her memories. He was pulled from his body. When this happened, Remus saw more than just what they saw. He saw everything they couldn't see, like a god. It would help those that weren't sure how they died to move on. He saw the answers that they needed.

But as he watched, spirits could read his thoughts or enter his body. He had to be very cautious with whom he let lead him away.

He stood watching a toddler Marie playing in the yard. She was bouncing a purple ball with pink butterfly silhouettes. Marie would bounce it against the house, and it would come back to her, causing her to giggle every time. Her brown hair swayed behind her, and she wore a beautiful blue dress with matching strap sandals. The ball bounced against the house and then over her head. "Ball!" Her little voice cried out.

Remus's heart dropped as he watched a large vehicle drive toward his sister. The ball hit the pavement and bounced into the woods. Marie's feet touched the road. There was a screech but not enough time.

The car seemed to consume her tiny body as she went under the front, right wheel.

A man emerged from the car. A man with light brown hair, wide eyes and a lab coat, sporting a badge with the name Adams.

"The doctor..." Remus gasped.

The doctor reached under his car and carefully pulled a bloody Marie from under his vehicle. Her left arm had been bent at an odd angle, and her right foot was backward. Her chest looked awkward, and blood was around her mouth. But her eyes opened...she was alive.

"Hey." Doctor Adams tried to sound calm. "I'm Jake, and I'm going to get you help." He was already dialing for help on his phone.

Another car pulled up behind him. A frightened woman rushed out. "Oh my god!" She covered her mouth.

The doctor was working on stabilizing Marie. He'd covered her with his coat and checked her vitals.

"Go see if her parents are in the house!" He commanded then relayed Marie's vitals to the dispatcher on the phone.

Remus watched the woman pound on the door and windows. He then directed his attention back to the accident, knowing that his parents wouldn't be answering. Remus knelt beside his sister.

She was paling, and her eyes had glazed. Her lips were moving, but it seemed as though she could only produce silence.

"Rest sweetie." The doctor whispered.

"Mo...my..." Blood splattered from her lips. "Da...dy.." she gurgled. "wha...hap...en.."

Doctor Adams held Marie in his arms; tears began forming in his eyes. "Sssh...sweetheart. Just relax."

Her eyes closed; the gurgling stopped, and she went still. The doctor immediately began CPR. Remus's parents came out of the house as soon as the doctor was starting his second round.

Remus watched as his pregnant mother fell to her knees and screamed a scream he'd never heard a human utter. She began to vomit and wail. For a moment, he felt sorry for his parents. Their beautiful daughter was dead, and they were suffering.

Remus gasped, causing his parents to jump. They glared at him then seemed to go back into their thoughts.

"I'm sorry." Remus whispered to his sister. He closed his eyes, completely exhausted from his trip. He immediately passed out.

*

"Remus Evan Stone," A familiar voice came before the face. "you're going home today." P was standing at the foot of his bed.

His heart sped. He didn't want P to know his real name. He didn't want her to know that he had lied.

"Don't get all worked up." She closed the door. "I've known your first name for a while. I understand, you wanted to stay safe." She sat on his bed. "Where are your parents?"

"Home." He answered. "My grandmother is going to get me."

"How long have they been junkies?" She pressed. "It was pretty obvious."

"Forever." Remus looked out his window. "They pay people off...no one ever arrests them or does anything."

"I'm sorry." P was sincere. "Eric and Haley were asking about you. They wanted to come see you, but you know, Haley's technically missing and Eric..." P stopped as if she were searching for the right words to say. She looked worried.

"What's wrong?" Remus grew worried. "Is Eric okay?"

"He's okay." P reassured him. "Just...the police have been slamming him. They question him every day, and he saw them following him. The only good thing is that he currently can't deal."

"Oh shit." Remus mumbled.

"Language." P sighed. "Besides, if he came here then he'd probably discover your first name." She added. "Don't want him mad at you. Wish he could be just as smart, though. He just lets everyone know his name like they're all his friends. Those people..." She looked at Remus and smiled. "at least he found you. Even though you're still insane for not having an inhaler. You do need one."

"That prescription is useless to my parents." Remus shook his head. "They never refilled my first one because they couldn't get high off of it. They refuse to get me another one."

"Remus, you might die the next time." P stated. "You need one."

"Maybe I should die." Remus grumbled. "I'm useless and pathetic."

P grabbed his hands and squeezed them. She looked angry. "You aren't useless" She growled. "If anything, you're a gift. Eric is getting better with you around. You seem to help his depression, make him smile. I...I don't know why, but you do."

The door opened, causing P to jump. Remus's grandmother stared at P before smiling.

"Hello...how are you?" P stood. "Mr. Stone and I were just talking about you coming to get him."

"Ah." His grandmother nodded. "Come, Remus, let's go."

"Have a great day." P said, cheerfully.

Remus didn't want to go home. He knew something would happen; his parents would surely hurt him again. They were shaken pretty badly from the memories that resurfaced. Surely they would beat him. After all, it's his fault that they had to go to the hospital. Never mind that it was their fault for not getting him an inhaler. Never mind that his mother was the one that caused him to have anxiety and his heart condition. But to them, it was his fault for being sick. It was his fault for being weak. It was his fault for being alive.

"Are you excited to go home?" His grandmother asked.

Remus sighed. He couldn't believe how stupid his grandmother was. She had to know that his parents were abusive. There was no way that she wouldn't know.

"They use you for your money." He stated. "They want me dead."

His grandmother was quiet for a bit before she began to laugh.

"Oh Remy, you should get that prescription of yours fixed." She patted his leg. "And your parents love you, sweetie."

"And when I die?" Remus became angry. "Will they still get your money?"

"Stop it Remus!" His grandmother yelled. "You are not going to die. Your parents love you. They may have considered giving you up, but that was from grief. I may have threatened the money, but that was because I knew that they had bills that they had to pay and because I wanted you. I've watched you grow into a fine young man. Now stop it. It looks like I'll have to talk with your father again."

"No!" Remus begged. "Grandma, please! Don't tell them or they'll hurt me!"

"They won't hurt you, Remus." His grandmother was irritated.

"Please grandmother." Tears formed in his eyes. "If you really do love me, then you won't say anything."

His grandmother was silent before nodding. "I won't be coming to dinner this week. Please let your parents know that I'll come by next week. Goodbye, Remus."

*

His parents were unconscious on the living room floor. He saw their chests rising and smiled. He turned around and left the house. It was time for him to go home.

*

"Evan!" Haley leaped on him. She smelled of blueberries and pineapples.

Eric quickly rushed at the door and slammed it shut. He took a few breaths then straightened himself and smiled. He hugged Remus.

"We've missed ya, buddy." He whispered in his ear. "You had us worried. I thought your parents had killed you."

Remus held his friends close to him. He could feel how much they loved him. Haley was kissing his cheek, and Eric was squeezing him.

"What's all the commotion?" Peter entered the room. "Oh, hi Evan. Welcome back." He turned around. "Please keep all the windows and doors shut. Damn police keep watching the house."

Remus was a little dumbfounded. Peter rarely ever cussed and seemed cold toward him. Have things gotten this bad in the short time I've been gone? Are the police really watching the house?

"They really are after ya, huh?" Remus stared at Haley. She backed away and nodded.

"They think that Eric probably killed me." She whispered. "They...they were told, by people we don't know, that he had a bad temper and that they've seen him hitting me before. But that's a lie!"

Remus nodded, but he knew that it was true. Eric had a bad temper; he'd gotten it from his father, and would lash out if he got angry enough when he was high. He'd hit Haley a couple of times. But he never meant it and apologized, in one way or another.

"But I'd never kill an innocent person.” Eric stated. “You know that.”

"Yeah." Remus nodded. "I know. You're a good guy."

"Yeah." Eric rubbed the back of his neck. "Anyway, wanna get f****d up?"

Remus chuckled. "f**k yeah."

*

Eric and Haley were breathing hard. Remus heard the familiar moan of Haley finishing. It was only a matter of time before Eric would do the same.

"They'll be done soon." Marie grumbled. "What the hell are you doing here? Mommy and daddy are incapacitated. You could've called an ambulance."

"And get a beating when they get out?" Remus huffed. "No f*****g way."

"You could've proven to grandmother that they are drug addicts." Marie offered her opinion. "You should've done it."

"Nah, sis, they're perfect." Remus sighed. "No matter what."

Remus heard Eric roll to the floor. He could finally open his eyes. Both Eric and Haley lay on the floor sweating. They were smiling and seemed relaxed. Haley placed her head on Eric's chest.

"Your heart is skipping, Eric." She whispered. "You alright?"

"Yeah." Eric placed his arms around her. "It's been doing that for a bit now."

Remus heard a loud bang from the front door. P soon came rushing into the room. Eric, Haley, and Remus jumped up. P didn't seem to care that Eric and Haley were naked; she was in a full panic.

"Eric, the cops are catching on." She was out of breath. "They plan on getting a search warrant for the house."

"Fuck." Eric ran to his closet and grabbed a suitcase. He paused for a moment. "Is it time?"

P nodded. "I wish it weren't, but we ain't got a choice. It's time to move."

"P's friend had warned her that the police were going to search for evidence. Her plan was to send Peter away with the children and Haley; she and Eric would join them once things settled down. P couldn't risk her and Peter going to jail, or they'd lose the kids. They had to leave without me. If I went with them, then Haley would've been caught. Their world would've fallen apart. They were my family...I couldn't let that happen to them. So, I let my world die."