Toxicity

Seven

Mackenzie's P.O.V.

27 November, 2018

I stop my car in front of Austin's school and get out. Today Austin's teacher, Mrs. Anderson called. She told me to stop by his school cause she needs to talk to me and Johnny about Austin. I wasn't supposed to be picking up Austin today cause Johnny would. But at last I ended up coming down to his school.

"Thank you very much for coming Ms. Ziegler, please take a seat." Mrs. Anderson greets me and gestures me the seat beside Johnny after I get in. Johnny was already there, he must've reached before me.

"So what would you like to talk about?" Johnny asks her and I also wait for the answer.

"I told you, about your son. I know that Austin is a really talented boy, he is smart and active. But I think he is going through some problems." She says worriedly.

"What problems?" I push her to speak more.

"He has a friend called Charlotte. And after talking to her it felt like that day by day she is getting pissed off by his company. She says that he is really protective and possessive some times, which she doesn't like."

"Yeah, her mother told us about it. And we're...trying to do something." I silently say and give a glance at Johnny, he had his lips bitten by his teeth, saying nothing.

"Not only this, her mother complained to the school authority that while playing at school, Austin and Charlotte had some sort of argue in some matter. And Austin took her doll away." Mrs. Anderson continues and a thought hits my mind.

"What do you wanna say? That he stole her doll? But he's only four." Johnny's voice was full of concern.

"And I've noticed something in him, it's like he has some sort of sentiment in him that he has to win in everything. Consider it a game or anything. By any means, he has to win. He takes everything as a challenge and if he fails once, he gets really mad about it. Even once, he pushed another student in the race cause that boy was ahead of him. We didn't tell it to his parents, because we wanted to know you about it first." While Mrs. Anderson was talking, I look at Johnny.

"So I wasn't wrong that day that he got your genes more." I quietly mumble to him, without letting the teacher hear it. He gives a glance at me and again looked away, his jaw clenching with anger.

"Did anything else happen to that we don't know about?" I ask her.

"Yeah, today we couldn't find Austin anyhwere. We searched the whole school and found him in the backstage of the auditorium, crying silently. When I asked him what's the matter, he told me what he feels like and-"

"And?" Johnny says before I could say the same.

"And after hearing him out, I think he really has some problems. He feels like he is alone, he has no one. Nobody loves or cares for him. He feels that his friends are also distanced. He also said that's why he talks to one of his toys, tells it everything. But people say that the doll wouldn't listen to him, which makes him even more sad." Mrs. Anderson finishes and I remember what happened this morning, when I told him that his Bunny is nothing more than just a doll.

When I could feel my eyes getting watery, I hear her voice again. "I'd advise that you take the best care of him. He is only a kid, he shouldn't be this much depressed. You guys might have some problem among you. Every parents does. But for the sake of your son, try to solve the problems."

"I get it. I don't want him to be like-"

"Me." Johnny finishes my sentence while his eyesight was down. "Thank you very much Ms. Anderson." And without saying anything else, he leaves.

"Thanks. I'll see what I can do." I also thank her and get out. I fast walk to catch him. "Johnny, wait."

"What do you wanna say? Blame it all on me? Then do. But know it for sure that you are also at fault. And now I'm gonna go get my son and try to understand what is really bothering him." His voice was quiet. But I knew that he was boiling with anger.

"I also need to talk to him." I walk towards the play ground where I saw him when I entered the school. There were other kids, but no sign of him.

"Where is he?" Johnny's voice could tell that he had started to panic. I look around a couple times and see that Charlotte was sitting at a corner, playing. And without any delay, I reach her.

"Hey." I kneel down. "How are you Charlotte?"

"Hello, you're Austin's mom, right? I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm also fine dear. So, do you know where Austin is?" I concernly ask, praying that she gives me a good answer.

"Yeah." She nods her head. "He went there." She points out a certain place and I turn my head towards the direction. It was towards the gate.

"What do you mean? He left? Alone?" Johnny almost shouted.

"No not alone." She shakes her head. "There was an uncle with him."

"Do you know that uncle?" I ask her again, my body trembling with fear.

"No." Charlotte replies and I stand up, facing Johnny. "Do you know who can it be?"

"I didn't tell Caleb to pick him today. He knew it that I would so it so there's no chance that it's him." He runs his fingers through his hair a couple times.

"If it's not your manager then..who is it? I'm sure it's not Matt, cause we broke up."

Johnny quickly gets his phone out. "We need to call the police." He quickly says and I nod my head while millions of thoughts were crossing my mind.

It's not Caleb. It's not Matt either. Then...is it-

●●●

All my life, all I did was just miserable things. Even after being a mother, I was the most terrible one. And now whatever my baby's going through, it is happening all for me.

"Nora? Did you find anything?" I asked after wiping the warm tears dripping down my cheeks. She had started calling every parents of Austin's friends just to make sure if he is at some of his friends home. What if the man he went out is one of his friends' Dad?

"No, nothing." She inserts her phone in her back pocket. "He's not at any of his friend's home."

I let out a sob and dug my face in my palms. It's almost ten at night and my son is with some stranger and God knows what's happening to him. Johnny and Sam didn't even find him anywhere after like searching through the whole Toronto. I also searched for him with Nora, but nothing. We informed the police, but who trusts them? They're no good at finding Jessica, how are they gonna find my baby?

"It's gonna be fine, alright? We're gonna find him." My Mom tries to console me while numerous thoughts were entering my mind. Dangerous and scary thoughts of what worse my son can face.

Matt was on the phone with the police. I know we haven't talked in a few days but I called him to know if he took Austin. Unfortunately he wasn't the person. But now he has come over here. Though he hasn't utter a word to me, I can say that he's pretty tensed for Austin.

I stand up and walk towards the stairs, skipping them up. "Kenzie? Where are you going?" My Mom's voice followed.

"Give me some time alone." And with that, I shut off my bedroom door and lie down on my bed, I know I'm a total mess. I didn't even have a shower today but despite feeling physically disgusting, I'm feeling like I'm so mentally disgusting. How the hell did I let this happen to my son?

Without delaying a bit, my phone starts ringing. I jump up on my bed and quickly see the screen. It was Johnny.

"D-did you, did you find him?" I stuttered to say. But I'm pretty sure he got it.

"Yeah Sam did." Johnny says and my phone almost falls off my hand. And soon, the doorbell rings. "He's on his way to your house with him."

"I-I think he's here. See you later." I quickly hang up and rush downstairs, finding out that I didn't guess wrong. He was right there and like always with his Bunny.

"Oh my baby," I cry out and run to him, hugging him tightly. "Where were you? I missed you so much." I start kissing on his head and face.

"Mommy, everybody is watching." He quietly says, probably referring the fact that I've started to kiss him rapidly.

"Where were you huh?" I sob and pull out from him. "Don't ever leave Mommy like this, get it?"

"Don't cry Mommy, I'm fine." He gives me a comforting hug. "I'm sleepy now. I should go to bed." Austin pulls back and as if nothing happened, he walks upstairs.

"Where did you find him?" I ask Sam after I wipe off my tears. "Was he with someone? Was he hurt?"

"He was at the school compound. I was just searching through the area and I found him there, at the playground. Sitting on the swing with his doll." Sam replied me as if he's as much shock as I am.

"Wait, what do you mean? He was playing on the swing at ten pm?" It was like Nora stole the words stuck in my throat.

"Yeah, I asked him what was he doing here but he didn't say anything. And I brought him home." Sam says and in a second the bell again rings. And this time it was Johnny.

"Where is Austin?" Was the first thing he asked after getting in. "Is he fine?"

"He's fine and he's upstairs. He is probably-" without letting Nathan to continue, Johnny rushes to the second floor. "-really sleepy.."

I decide to go and join him too. And when I reached Austin's room, I find Johnny sitting on his bed while he was tidying up his clothes.

"Austin? What are you doing?" I get down on my knees in front of him.

"I won't ever create any mess, I promise. I'd be a good boy and listen to both of you." It was like something had possessed him. All of a sudden, the old Austin had disappeared.

"You are a good boy Austin, you don't need to be one." Johnny runs his fingers through his hair.

"Now do you wanna eat something? Your favourite pasta?" I try to cheer him up and making him forget what happened today.

But as Johnny always has been, he starts inquiring Austin without thinking anything. "Where were you today? Who took you?"

"Johnny I think you should ask him it later, he needs to-"

"I need to know what happened to my son." Johnny interrupts me. "So Austin? Mind sharing it with me?"

"I can't." Austin replies.

"Why?" I interrogate him but he stays silent. "Austin?"

"How about I spend some time with my one and only favourite nephew?" Sam's voice booms through the room and we find out his existence here. "Even though he's actually not uh- my nephew. He's just-"

"What do you want Sam?" Johnny cuts him off and I stand up, with an idea in my head.

"Yeah let's go and let Sam spend some time with Austin." I start pulling Johnny up.

"But-"

"Try your best to get something out from him." I whisper to Sam before I make myself and Johnny get out of the room, closing the door.

"What are you doing?" Johnny frees himself from me.

"Look, Austin isn't comfortable talking to us. So we need Sam to do it, you know how Sam is. He obviously can take it out from Austin that what happened to him." I answer Johnny and place my ear on the door.

"Now you're eavesdropping?" Johnny archs an eyebrow.

"Shh!" I try to shut him up and listen to their conversation.

"Austin, don't you feel boring to talk to your Bunny all day?" Sam starts asking Austin.

"Can you hear what they say?" Johnny asks me and I gesture him to shut up, which makes him place his ear on the door too.

"No I don't feel bored at all." Austin replies.

"Oh okay...so can I talk to Bunny too?" Sam continues.

"Yeah you can." Austin says.

"So, um, hi Bunny!" Sam starts talking again and Johnny furrows his brows, probably thinking what he is up to. After a moment of silence, Sam again speaks. "Well, Austin, I don't understand Bunny's language. Can you please translate it to me?"

"Bunny is saying hi to you uncle Sam." Austin adds to the conversation.

"So Bunny, do you know why Austin is sad?" Sam further asks.

"Bunny says that Austin is not sad." Austin chirped.

"Alright, so what happened to Austin, Bunny?" Sam continues.

"Bunny says that nothing happened to Austin."

"Okay so, what were you and Austin doing at the playground tonight? Why were you sitting alone in the dark?" Sam questions.

"Bunny replied that he and Austin did it cause they were asked to." Austin answers and my mind starts getting foggy. Who asked him to do it?

"And who asked you and Austin to do it?"

"Bunny says that it is a top secret." Austin's voice gets a bit low.

"Why is it a top secret? Why can't you tell it to me?"

"Cause it is a secret and secrets can't be shared."

"You wouldn't even tell it to uncle Sam? I thought he was your favourite." Sam tries to act a bit emotional.

"Um...well, okay. I'll tell it to you but promise me you'll keep it as a secret."

"Promise!"

"It was an angel." Austin replies.

"And from where did that angel come from?"

"That angel came from heaven." Austin replies.

"You know what's heaven?" Sam interrogates.

"Let's ask Bunny. Bunny, what is heaven?" Austin keeps the conversation going.

"So what is Bunny saying...?"

"Bunny is saying that heaven is a place where good people go after dying. And he also said that there is also a place where bad people go after dying. That is hell." Austin points out.

"Oh...so am I a good person or a bad person?" Sam asks Austin and I narrow my eyes.

"Where is this conversation going?" I quietly mumble and Johnny lets out a deep breath.

"A dork, always a dork." He says.

"Bunny says that you are a good person! So you will go to heaven!" Austin chirps.

"Wow that's incredible! So um, Austin? Can you tell me how that angel looks like? I mean like a man or an animal?" Sam starts asking some good questions again, well half good perhaps...

"Surely he is an animal, how dare he-" I place my hand on Johnny's mouth to prevent him from talking.

"He looks like an angel!" Austin replies and I sigh. Please baby, answer nicely.

"Oh..but what kind of angel? A devilish one or a good one?"

"A good one. He was really good and he always smiled every time he talked to me." Austin was hearing really happy as if he enjoyed a lot.

"So, what did he tell you?"

"No, no, no, I can't tell you that. The angel, me and Bunny are on a mission. And I can't reveal what he said to me. Or else our plan would fail." Austin answers in a cautious voice.

"Please....?"

"I'm sorry uncle Sam. But I can't."

"Alright then, so where did he take you?" Sam keeps on continuing.

"He took me to a house." Austin said.

"A house? Where? And how did he take you there?"

"With a black car. But I don't know where is the house."

"A black car..." I quietly mumble to myself. "Wait! You have a black car!" I point at Johnny.

"What do you think? That I'm gonna kidnap my own son?" He widens his eyes. "I was with you all the time!"

"And he gave me a lots of food! All of them were my favourites, like pasta, pizza, chocolate and a lots of things!" Austin continued with a happy voice.

"That guy gave him food to eat? Oh no, what if there was poison in there?" Johnny says with a panicking voice.

"Easy, easy. If his food was poisoned, something worse would've happened to him by now. Don't worry." I calm Johnny down.

"Really? But how did he know that all of them are your favourite?" Sam inquires.

"Cause he is an angel!" Was Austin's reply.

"So you won't tell me what that angel told you?" Sam again tried getting this information out of him.

"No, sorry. But I can't." Austin replies the same. "But why are you asking me about that angel?"

"Uh I was just curious you know..." Sam nervously chuckles. "Well, is there any scope that I can meet him? You see, I have so many problems in my life and I need him to help me out."

"Okay. When I'll meet him again I'll ask him to help you. But you have to promise me that you won't tell it to anyone." Austin quietly says.

"Yeah promise! Okay so...good night. We'll meet soon." Sam starts coming towards the door and we all step back from it. When Sam closes it behind him, he quietly starts speaking,

"I got it out who's the man."

We three were left totally speechless cause none of us heard anything like Austin saying something about the man's name.

"Who's that?" Johnny asks.

"An angel..." Sam replies.

Johnny lets out a groan at his answer and rubs his temple. "Please Sam, at least for now try to be a bit serious."

"I am serious. Look, we can search it on google, 'Angel looking man face' and then we're gonna find the kidnapp-"

"Thanks for your opinion. But we don't need it." I interrupt him. "So, how are we gonna find the guy? I don't think Austin's gonna split it out."

"Who knows what that guy said to my son. He also gave him his all favourite foods? How?" Johnny's jaw clenches.

"I think we should take him to a doctor's check up. It can happen that there was some dangerous substance in those foods which can harm him. Like drugs." Sam shows his point and Johnny pats his back.

"At last you said something helpful."

"Do you guys think it's related to Johnnys's fiancée getting missing?" Nora quietly mumbles. "I mean, his fiancée is missing, his son got kidnapped. Even though he's back now, who knows that all of these aren't connected to Johnny?"

"Yeah, who can it be? Some business rival? Or..."

"Someone you shot with a gun." Nora cuts me off.

"I've never shot anyone with a gun." Johnny glares at him.

"Look bud, you have a lots of enemies. Can you make a list of them? Please? For your son?" Sam asks with a husky voice.

"My number one enemy is standing here." Johnny points out at me.

"I didn't kidnap him. Obviously not." I clear him out and look at Sam. "Is there any chance that we can ask Austin by showing him some pictures of whom we suspect? We can get it out who's the abducter easily then."

"No, no, no." Sam quietly but hurriedly replies. "He made me promise that I wouldn't tell it to anyone what we talked about. And if you go and ask him about it, he'd understand that I told you guys about everything. He must be Johnny's son, but he is way beyond smarter than him."

"Excuse me?" Johnny narrows his eyes.

"How about you go and show him the pictures?" Nora asks Sam.

"I'll try my best but I think it's better if we take it slow. Give him some time." Sam replies and I sigh.

"I'll go get some water. It's just so frustrating." Without saying anything else, I skip the stairs down. The lights were off, mom must've done it and went to sleep. Matt is also gone by now.

I turn on the kitchen's light and grab a glass. When I reach for the tap to fill water, I notice something pressed under a jar beside the sink. Curiously I take it out and after seeing what I didn't want to see, my hands started to get cold. It was an envelope.

With shaky hands, I open it up and there was a letter, like always written in cursive letter. After gaining some courage, I finally read it.

'See? How easy it is for me to take your son away? He could've ended up just like Jessica. I guess you know where she is. Just. Say. It. Out. Loud.'