Fear sweeps through me as I run for my life. I can’t bear to stay with Hypnos and accept that I may enjoy the things he did to me. A whimper leaves my mouth as I continue through the opening in the gate and down toward the water I can see. I hope there is a dock there. I’m pretty sure that the cut gate isn’t a normal thing, but I only have one thought: get away as fast as I can.
Crazy images fly through my brain. It’s why I pushed Hypnos away. He looked down at me and started peeing inside my mouth. When he did, my brain started going nuts. There is no way they are real. Weird images of Kronos and Hypnos in an office assault my brain. It’s like I’m watching a movie happening. I can see myself staring at them, happy to meet someone that isn’t my mother. I remember that she never let me out of the house if she could help it. She feared someone hurting me but I can’t put my finger on who. Back then, meeting new people was a rare commodity.
The sight of seeing my mother laugh with someone other than me is odd. I don’t blame her. The man she is talking to is different. There’s an air about him that makes me stare. He says his name is Charles and his eyes are very similar to mine. They are both bright and emerald green … His sparkle is mischief though. I look at him, enthralled by the way his neck bobs every time he swallows.
Hypnos is quiet and impatient. It seems as if he doesn’t want to be here. This has to be made up. I don’t really have these memories, do I? It has to be a trick so my brain can comprehend my feelings towards these men. There is no way I would have forgotten them. Right?
The doctors told me that the car accident has caused memory loss from most of my childhood. I can remember my mother and some that happened in the past. New memories come to me in bits and pieces and only when I’m asleep. I stand there, mere feet away from the dock, frozen. Wondering what is going on. Kronos’s eyes flash before me. This has to be my brain, trying to rationalize my reactions to them. There is no other explanation. But that doesn’t stop the fact that I have to get away from them. It’s all too much. I’m not sure I should enjoy the darkness that surrounds them. It’s too much. Hopefully, the dock workers can help me. Then I can call Haydes. He’ll know what to do. He always knows what to do. My savior. God, I hope he’s in town and can come get me.
It’s my eighteenth birthday,and I’m tired of it already. The girl I’m following up the stairs has me wrapped around her finger. Fuck, I want to get upstairs and take my frustration out on her. The idea of sinking my eight inches into her quivering hole is calling me. Before I can step up even four steps, my mother calls out to me. She has been difficult the entire day. I want to go upstairs and sleep with this hot piece of ass. I ignore my mother and her shrill voice calls out to me again.
“David, you got a call.” She refuses to call me by my nickname, Haydes. I raise my head and turn on the stairs, glaring at her as if she’s nothing more than an annoying bug. A few errant strands of red hair cross my forehead, and I push them back in irritation.
“Well?” She’s losing patience with me. Good. My patience is gone too. I snatch the phone out of her hand and snarl at her in frustration. My mother walks away, heels clicking and clacking. I turn my attention to the phone.
“Operation Lion is a go.” I roll my eyes toward the ceiling, wishing that my friend, Hypnos, was calling to wish me a happy birthday. Instead, he’s talking about Operation Lion; it’s always fucking about Operation Lion. I’m so Goddamn tired of hearing about it. It’s like Hypnos is just obsessed with fulfilling Kronos’s wishes.
I try to reason with him. I’m certain it’s stupid to try, but I have to. For my own sanity if nothing else. “Hypnos, we get into trouble every time we go out and destroy property. Why do you insist on targeting the slums?”
Hypnos laughs at me. “Kronos says that’s going to be our land someday. He says Dad is molding us to be the next leaders. He also said I must include you because every crime boss needs an underboss. And well, I like you. You are loyal to us and we to you.”
“Your dad says so?” I meant for my words to come out menacing, but they come out as more of a question.
I shake my head in disappointment. The feeling of not being near them eats at me. If it weren’t for Hypnos, I wouldn’t have any friends. His brothers are weird, and their home life is dangerous as hell. Still, I can’t seem to pull away from them. Even if I want to.
“Why do we have to go into crime?” I ask, before Hypnos can even answer my first question. The brothers hate when I ask questions, but this question comes up at least ten times a day when I’m around him. Their desire to fulfill some kind of mission that their father wants them to complete is beyond me.
“Haydes, you know why. It’s about power and money. Stick with us and we will make it. Our father will get his one day.” The uncertainty in his tone worries me. Hypnos is typically a wall of indestructible knowledge and calculation.
“Fine.” I sigh as I cave. I always cave. Hypnos is charming like that. He’s four years older than me and treats me like a brother. They only know me because I saved their little brother on the first day of school last year.
Sometimes I wonder if I should have let him die.
* * *
I blink,looking at my watch, as thoughts from the past vanish. Fuck, the anticipation is killing me. The damn thing shows only two minutes have passed since I last checked. Still no Charlotte. She should have been out by now. I watch the house through binoculars, waiting on the edge of my seat. As the time keeps ticking by, I wonder if I misjudged my little bird and her ability to get free.
“One more minute, then I’m going in,” I whisper to myself. The silence surrounding me is stifling. Hearing myself think drives me insane. I move my hand to my car door and open it, but just as I do, one of the doors to the house flings open. I slowly close the car door so I don’t draw attention to myself. “It’s about fucking time,” I grumble, but quickly change my tune. “There you are, finally,” I whisper to myself as I salivate over her. Her delicate face has shock and guilt written on it.Shit, that turns me on and worries me at the same time.
“What did you do, baby bird?” God, I hope she gutted the bastard. Hands shaking, my mind goes to bathing my baby bird in their blood. Rejoicing our freedom from their clutches once and for all.
“Don’t run back into the house!” I whisper-shout although she can’t hear me. I am shaking as she looks around. She’s undecided on which way to go. My worry rises as she peers at the water.Fuck, why didn’t I park closer so I could yell for her to come to me?
“No!”I pound my fist on the steering wheel. She’s turning toward the docks. It's the worst decision she could make. The docks are swarming with Powers brothers’ goons. I throw the binoculars on the passenger seat as I start the car. I must get to her before she ends up in worse shape than she’s already in.Thank goodness she’s dressed in a long T-shirt and pants.
“Hold on, little bird, I’m coming.” I’m frantic as I step on the gas pedal, and my car shoots forward. It kicks up dust and grass, but I don’t care. My entire plan is going up in flames, and she’s one step closer to more trouble.
As I take the corner, my attention zeroes back in on Charlotte. I almost hit a pedestrian standing on the side of the road. I take my eyes off Charlotte and focus on the person. The man is yelling at me, but I can’t hear him over the pulse beating erratically in my ears. My heart feels like it’s going to thump out of my chest.
If I can’t get to her before she gets to the docks, I may go bat shit crazy. This is supposed to be a rescue mission. I don’t know if I’m going to get to her. This isn’t acceptable.
The road leading to the docks is the last corner I take. I slam on the brakes to keep from careening into the truck that’s blocking my path.What’s going on?A traffic jam has us backed up for a mile.
“Fuck!”I yell out and bang my head against the window. I look to my left and see Charlotte cross into the dock area. Rage consumes me, as I know she’s lost to me for now. The traffic moves again, and I contemplate going to the docks. I decide against it and drive away.Blowing up the dock now would hurt my little bird. I must be patient. Dammit, I’m not good at patience.
By the time I get home, anger is boiling deep inside of me. I storm into my house and down to my cave. I turn the computer on and tap into the dock’s camera system.
I find Charlotte standing in a sea of men. She’s a queen among vermin. They circle around her like vultures. The fear in her green eyes does something to me. I moan in delight as she takes a swing at a man who’s trying to creep closer to her.
