Splinters: Part One

Part One | 1

I felt awkward. Now I had to sit next to them. It'd be rude to refuse and they'd notice that I'm uncomfortable. Hesitantly, I got up and advanced towards them, sitting on the far end with a small gap between Greg and I.

Greg lifted a remote, pressed a few buttons and suddenly the lights began to dim. He grasped another remote and then the plasma screen turned on. Then the movie started...

...

"Brayden... Brayden..." 

My eyes were blurry as I slowly opened them. 

"Wanna go to bed, son?" Greg whispered.

I nodded groggily. Greg helped me up from the couch as he walked me to the room I was to sleep in. I laid down onto the smooth mattress, and was close to falling back to sleep. I heard them leave the room and close the door slightly, but not completely.

"Should we get him more blankets? Do you think he'll be cold?" Melissa asked.

"He'll be fine, Lissa."

"I'm just-"

"I know," he interjected, "but he'll be fine."

"I don't want him to think that we don't care about his warmth," she said, as if she genuinely thought I couldn't hear her.

He let out a small chuckle. "That should be the least of your worries."

Melissa sighed. "Let's not wake him. I need to tell you something."

Instantly awake, I opened my eyes but was surrounded by complete darkness. Slipping off the mattress in a dizzy state, I crept towards the door and opened it slightly. Light came through the room, showing a small strip of carpet, making it appear yellow with the dimmed light.

"He got scared of the dog earlier today."

"Potey's a scary pup," Greg said lightly.

"No, Greg. I mean he..."

Greg didn't answer for a while.

I slid down the wall and put my knees up to my chest. I leaned my head back and listened to them.

"I let Potey inside and when he started jumping on top of Brayden, he started freaking out."

I shut my eyes, a frown beginning at my lips. I suddenly wished I was asleep.

"Do you think something might've... happened?" Melissa asked, sounding almost scared of his answer

"Liss, you read the files."

"I just... I want to know what kind of life she gave him."

"Melissa, it's over. Brayden's going to be fine here. Forget about the life he had with them. He's with us now. He's okay."

"But-"

"And he'll get used to Potey. He'll get used to it all."

"I just hope he's okay."

"He's okay."

"But if he's not..."

"Then we'll get him help."

Melissa didn't give him a reply for several seconds before agreeing.

"Okay."

Without another word, I heard their steps go further away. Realizing it was probably the end of the conversation, I closed the door and went back to the bed. Unlike before, it took me hours to fall asleep. 

...

The bright orange sunlight shone through a window, casting a bright reflection on the walls. I squinted my eyes, slowly sitting up. I was confused for a few seconds, and then the realization that I was in Melissa and Greg's home came to mind.