Lost Time Lullaby

SCENE REJECT - Kees

DRAFT

The alarm clock sang its horrible song.

Stay in bed.

One minute of hell.

School isn't important

One minute of the screaming song.

YOU aren't important. The voice in his head chanted.

The boy climbed out of his bed, and turned off his alarm clock. Could he stay home today? Probably not, he'd stayed home so many days already. He took a deep breath, stood up, and dragged himself to the bathroom.

He avoided looking in the mirror, he didn't like what he'd see anyway. Come on, he attempted to encourage himself, you can survive today.

His desire to give up didn't fade.

He stepped into the shower after undressing. In a daze, he washed his ash blond hair and with bones and scars marked skin.

His pure white sink was stained red. He stared at the splotches for so long they seemed to belong. A feeling he'd never felt himself. He closed his eyes, drew several deep breaths, and left the bathroom. He took out the most comfortable sweater and jeans. He quickly dressed and went to school.

'Kees,' his teacher called out.

His name sounded like Case. It was kind of funny, considering he'd wanted to become a detective for so long. Kees. A simple Dutch name, yet so fitting.

'What is it, sir?' Kees absentmindedly replied.

'I need to speak to you after class.'

'But I have a test.' He didn't actually care about this test - he just didn't want to talk.

'That doesn't matter, I'll write you a note.'

The bell rang about twenty minutes later.

All of the other students left the class buzzing like bees in a hive. Kees stayed behind, playing with his pen.

'Do you know why I kept you here?' Who cares?

'No.' Too blunt, fool.

'I heard that you've been going through a rough patch lately?' He found out. How? Can we let him get away with this?

'No, sir. I'm completely fine.' Kees was left expressionless, staring blankly into the eyes of his teacher. 'Can I go now?' Mister Holt gave him a look and sighed. Kees did horribly on the test, like many before. He didn't care about school anymore. He didn't care about anything.

When it turned three, the final bell rang for Kees. He could go home, finally. He took his bike, like practically everyone did.

The road to his house was gorgeous. Kees couldn't see its beauty. Trees on both sides of the grey asphalt road. The sun shone bright on that cold winter day. The sky was clear, more beautifully so than any day previous summer. Some snow still lay on the grass, but it wasn't much. Kees didn't take in much of his surroundings.

His trance was interrupted by a van on the road. It stood still, not allowing anyone to pass it. Two men were leaning against the side. The tall one had a scar right across his face, and he was smoking a cigarette. The smaller one didn't quite reach Kees's shoulder. 

'Is that him?' the short one asked. Kees wondered why they were speaking English. He reckoned they might be tourists. But why they would be waiting on a quiet road in a small city, Kees couldn't figure out.

'Yes, Will,' the tall one sighed, 'we were told to find a tall boy named Case or something. He's tall alright.' He chuckled, then turned his attention to Kees, who was watching them with curiosity. 'Are you Case?'

'I am.'

'Get in,' Will commanded.

'Why?' Kees became defensive.

'Because.' Will pulled a knife. 'Yeh wouldn't want to get hurt, would yeh?'

Kees didn't answer. He was his own demon, they couldn't hurt him more than he hurt himself daily.

'Will asked you a question, brat.' The taller of the two approached Kees slowly, but it didn't have the effect he'd hoped for, as Kees was half a head taller.

Kees remained silent.

'Well, yeh asked for it.' Will marched towards Kees.

'Wait, Will.'

'Why? Graeme, don't go telling me yeh've got soft?'

Graeme let out a short laugh. 'Of course not. I just don't think our young Case here is strong enough to resist us, even without weapons.' 

Kees wasn't. Will put away the blade and together with Graeme he pushed Kees into their van. They used magnetic handcuffs to keep Kees from moving. Kees tried struggling, but his efforts only resulted in him getting drugged. He was awake long enough to notice Graeme slamming the doors closed and the motor starting. Kees's bike was left on the road. When the world around him faded to black, he could hear a voice speaking Dutch from outside.

'Police? My name is Alex Smit, I just witnessed a--'