The Boy's Children

Chapter 23

                               Raven's POV
We must've sat in the shower for more than an hour. Once the water was off, I started to get cold. I ran to my closet and grabbed clothes. I threw them on then jumped onto my bed. I heard my bedroom door open.

"Daddy?"

I heard footsteps running towards me.

"Are you okay?"

"No. I'm not."

She climbed onto my bed.

"I'm in so much pain."

She laid down next to me. She started snuggling with me. I sniffled.

"Ven? I have your meds."

"Oh thank god."

Marionette walkover to me with a drink and a pill. After I took my pain meds, Marionette laid down on the other side of me.

                                Malakai's POV
I've been having trouble sleeping. I keep hearing the gunshots. I keep seeing blood. I keep seeing bodies laying on the floor. I keep seeing Raven covered in blood. No matter what do...it won't leave my body. One morning, I just decided to go check on Raven.

Mari did say he's home.

When I got to his house, I knocked on the door. Brittney opened the door.

"Hey B. Is he awake?"

"Mhm. Be quiet though. Nov just fell asleep."

She let me in then.

"He's upstairs in his room. Your sister has him on bedrest."

"Why am I not surprised?"

Brittney shrugged. I walked up to Raven's room. I knocked on the door. Marionette opened it.

"Hey!"

"Hi Mari. How is he?"

"He's fine. What about you?"

I shook my head.

"Horrible. I have flashbacks. I'm hearing shit. I-I can't sleep. Everywhere I look....I see blood."

She started hugging me.

"He's been worried about you. I have been too. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you."

"It's fine."

"Do mom and dad know?"

"Yeah. They do."

She started rubbing my back.

"It's gonna be okay."

"I know."

I started crying.

"Mally..."

I felt someone else hugging me.

"Thanks man. I owe you one."

I cleared my throat.

"You're sure you're fine Ven?"

"Yeah. I'm sure."

"Bro you look exhausted."

"I am. I really am. I'm not sleeping."

"Shit. Did you talk to your therapist yet?"

"I'm talking to her tomorrow."

"Good. That's good."

I covered my mouth while I yawned.

"Go sleep in my bed for a bit."

"No. I-I'm okay."

"Then go in the guest room. It's down the hall and to the left."

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine. Don't let me sleep too much."

I dragged myself to the guest room. I walked in and threw myself onto the bed. I woke up when I heard someone poking me. I opened my eyes. I saw Novalyn.

"H-hey?"

"Hi! Marionette told me to check on you!"

"Oh well...thank you."

I ate dinner there then, ran home. I was able to sleep when I got home.

That's strange.

Maybe I just had to see that, he was still alive.

I still talked to my therapist the next day. At school a few weeks later, I finally walked up to Ryker. I gulped them took a deep breath.

"Hey Ryker."

"Hey Malakai. I have a question for you."

I gulped.

"Are you free on Saturday?"

I saw his friends snickering behind him.

"You're doing this as a dare, aren't you?"

He started scratching his arm.

"I-I'm sorry man."

"I knew it was a bad idea to talk to you." I said as my voice cracked.

I turned around and walked away. I went to find Raven. I saw him talking to Tia.

"What's wrong?"

"I made a mistake and talked to Ryker. He asked me out as a dare."

Raven and Tia's jaws dropped.

"Are you kidding me?!"

I shook my head.

"I'll go talk to him."

"No. Don't. It's fine. Tia did you find anything out about Gianna?"

"Yeah. She's bi. She's talking to a girl from another town currently."

"Great. Well...thanks."

"Kai I'm serious. I'll talk to him."

"No. This will only cause problems. Just...let it go."

"Dude...I can't do that."

"Yes. You can. Him and his friends embarrassed me as it is. I don't want everyone else to know."

I walked away. At home, I ran to my room. I shut my door and jumped onto my bed. I screamed into my pillow.