House of Wolves

Help came and pulled me away from Frank. I screamed and kicked, so they locked me into one of the cars. The cops took Frank’s unconscious father to the station. They loaded Frank into the ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. The cop who was watching me let me out but made me stay for questioning.

“What happened kid?” he asked.

“Please, let me go with him.” I begged. He got very stern with me.

“You need to tell me what happened right now.” I put my head in my hands and started crying. A small gathering of Frank’s neighbor’s stood in the street, watching the scene disintegrate.

“Where do you live. I need to talk to your parents.” he put me in the front seat of the car and made me lead the way to my house. It was about five in the morning. He helped me out of the car and into my house.

“Gerard, where have you been it’s been much long-” she stopped in the middle of her sentence when she saw the police officer, “Gerard, what’s going on?” She turned on a lamp. She rubbed her hands together and stood in front of us.

“Are you his mother?” he asked my mom.

“Yes I’m Ms. Way. Is there a problem, is my son in trouble?” she saw that I was had been crying. I kept myself silent.

“No your son is not in trouble. He is a witness to a situation that we are sorting out at the moment. We just need to ask him some questions but he’s a little scattered. We decided that it would be best if he got some rest,” he handed my mom a small business card, “I’m Sheriff Donaldson. We would like to speak with your son as soon as possible so when he’s ready give me a call.” he made his way to the door. My mom rushed in front of him and opened the door for him.

“Yes of course. Thank you for bringing him home, uhm, drive safe.” she mumbled.

“Thank you Ms.Way, have a good night.” she nodded and closed the door. My mom turned to me.

“Gerard, what’s going on?” I sniffled. She put her arms around me and I started to cry again.

“It’s all my fault.” I whimpered.

“No sweetheart, I’m sure that whatever it is, it wasn’t your fault. Lets get you to bed.” She helped me down to my room and put me to bed. She got me an ice pack for my face.

“Do you need anything?” she asked me and brushed my hair out of my face. I shook my head and she left my room. My bed felt so empty without Frank in it. I wondered what kind of things they were doing to him at the hospital. All the chaos he was going through, and here I was, lying in the safety of my bed, unharmed. It was all my fault. He warned me and I just didn’t see it. I was selfish and didn’t take into consideration what could happen to Frank. I didn’t deserve him. I tost and turned all night, getting little sleep. My mom made me pancakes and it started to snow hard. She didn’t speak much to me, she seemed confused. I wasn’t very hungry.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked. I nodded yes, even though I wasn’t. I didn’t want to relive what happened that night. She drove me to the police department and they brought me into a small room with a table and two chairs. When I sat down, I could feel the criminal in me. I belonged with the other criminals that sat in this chair.

“Hello, I’m Detective Jones, you must be... Gerald?”

“Gerard.” I corrected, staring off into space.

“Yes, well it’s nice to meet you,” she held out her hand, but I just looked at it and kept still, “Well then, let’s start. Do you just want to start from the beginning?”

“How far back do you want me to go?” I said blankly.

“How about since yesterday afternoon, how about that?” I told her about the party and my brother and his girlfriend. I told her about Julianna and the rules. I told her about how I pushed Frank into going to his house, and then I paused. I couldn’t lie to an authority figure, but I promised Frank I would keep our relationship secret.

“And then what?” she asked as she leaned against the room.

“He uh... let me in his room and said we couldn’t be loud but we uhm...” I couldn’t say it. She stared at me and waited, “I’m sorry.”

“Gerard,” she sat up a little straighter, “Were you in any form of romantic relationship with Frank.” I looked at her. How could she figure that out. What if everyone secretly knows about us?

“Please don’t tell anyone.” I whispered.

“Well, I have to tell the department, but I will try my best to keep it from the public. Now, continue.” I took a deep breath.

“Well, we started kissing and he just walked in and he... he pulled us to the basement. He tied me to the water pipe and then he... he started... beating on Frank, and..” I wiped tears from my eyes and she offered me a tissue but I didn’t take it, “ he started screaming how fags are worthless... and... how bad of a son he was...” I had to stop.

“What happened after that Gerard. How did you get untied?” she was pushing me but I didn’t want to speak.

“I uh, broke the cloth and took a bed frame and smashed it against his dad’s head.” I sobbed into my hands, thinking about what happened next.

“Then?” Damn this bitch really can’t see when someone can’t take it anymore.

“He just slid down the wall all limp and... and he was bloody... he was gone... and it’s all my fault.” Finally she decided to stop.

“Thank you very much Gerard. You’ve helped us a lot. You can go home now.” she gestured toward the door.

“No, can I see him?” I wanted to make sure Frank was okay, and safe, and I wanted to apologize.

“Gerard, I don’t think-”

“Please!” I begged. She looked at me for a long time then she finally cracked.

“Okay, but a police officer will need to escort you, he’s in a secured room.” I don’t know what possessed me at that moment but I ran up and hugged her. She awkwardly patted my back.

“Thank you.” I whimpered. She waved down an officer who took me off her hands and took me to the hospital. He led me into the urgent care unit, which meant no good.

“How may I help you officer?” a nurse behind the desk asked.

"May this young lad visit?" He seemed so formal.

"Which patient are you wanting to see?" She seemed so perky.

"Frank Iero." The nurses expression faded to a depressed look.

"Uhm, yes. He's in room 206." She pressed a button and the door unlocked. The officer let me go in alone. I followed the room numbers, 203, 204, 205.... 206. There was a panel of windows that looked into the room but the curtains were drawn. I inhaled and slowly crept into the room and closed the door behind. It was an uneasy feeling. The windows that led outside let in the pale white light snow in. On the bed, Frank lay limp, hooked up to an IV and oxygen. He word a medical gown. His head slowly turned to md. It looked so agonizing to move.

"Gee?" I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. His face was no longer bloody, but still badly bruised. I stepped forward and to his bedside.

"I'm so sorry Frank. I should've known, this is all my fault." I looked at Frank. He just stared at me. I knew he didn't know what to say, so I got up and I kissed him gently. His lips were chapped and I could taste blood that lingered in the cracks.

"Gee..." he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Is my dad dead?" He looked genuinely concerned, which baffled me.

"I don't think so." He took hold of my hand and laid his head back.

"Thanks for saving my life." He whispered. He tried to squeeze my hand. I saw tears fall down his face as he stared out the window.

"Frank," I said, "how... how long has he done this to you?" I felt like I was asking for things that were none of my business. He stared at the window and just blinked. Before he could answer there was a knock on the door. I let go of his hand, a habit of our promise.

"Frank, Dr. Abbey is here." A tall woman came in holding a coat and a folder. She came in and sat at the bench in front of the window. She looked like a therapist.

"Hi Frank, do you think you can talk about it today?" She seemed so caring and gentle. I wished I could have her for therapy. Frank looked down at his toes and nodded, but looking uncertain.

"Wonderful. Now remember, you only have to tell me what you're comfortable with." She looked at. Her look told me I needed to leave. I stood up and made way for the door.

"Can he stay actually?" I heard Frank ask.

"If it makes you feel more comfortable." She said. I didn't want to be a distraction so I sat against the window pane.

"Alright Frank, just start whenever you feel like it." Frank looked over at me and then to the window, and he began to tell his story.

"My dad had lost his job in Belleville, so my mom suggested we move here. They were happy then. My dad got his plumbing job and my mom worked as a bank teller. But my dad got tired of being a plumber, so he picked up on his drinking problem. He started arguing with my mom a lot and he started to beat me in front of my mom. This went on all the time. And ever since, he's been drinking and hurting me, and making me take care of him. Soon, I just got used to it and it didn't bother me much." He breathed in.

"And what about your mom. What happened to her?" Dr. Abbey leaned in. Frank closed his eyes and tears came out of his eyes. She put her hand on her chin and just waited.

"Her death was a lie." He whimpered. Both Dr. Abbey and I perked up at this.

"What do you mean?" I had no clue how she was being so calm.

"One night, my dad had been drinking. My mom had been out. Both of us waited for her to come home. Finally she came home. She had been cheating on my dad with a coworker. My dad flipped out and he... he just.... he pushed her down a few steps and she just laid on the ground... she must've broke her neck..... so my dad tied her up on a rope and made it look like a suicide, " he sobbed and curled into his hands, "after she fell, I went to her side, she was just so limp.... there was nothing left in her... I didn't even get to say goodbye," Frank let out a small harsh scream, "why didn't my dad love me!" Dr. Abbey had a tear in her eye. She noticed I was still there. She came to me and had me get up.

"I think it's best if you stood outside." She led me out the room and shut the door. I slid down the wall. I couldn't believe what I heard. It pained me to know that that wasn't even the rest of it. I felt so angry with the world. Why did the person that I love had to suffer so much. Tears filled my eyes and I pushed them back. "I should've killed him." I thought as a fire raged inside me.

"Gerard?" I heard a familiar voice. It was my mom.

"Mom!" I jumped up and hugged her. I cried on her shoulder in the middle of the hallway for what seemed like an hour.

"Son, lets go sit somewhere, okay." I nodded and she led me to an empty sitting area.

"So I talked to the detective, and she told me about the situation," she looked at me and I knew where this conversation was going, "why... why didn't you tell me?" I sighed. She already knew so I might as well tell her about it.

"Frank made me promise not to tell. I thought it was just because he was embarrassed, but now I understand why," I paused a moment, "this is all my fault." She pulled me into her arms.

"No, none of this is your fault."

"But it is mom. If I hadn't gone to his house, none of this would've happened." She looked at me straight in the face.

"Gerard, don't you think that for a second. Hunny, Frank has been going through all this for years." My moms painful honesty made me feel better.

"What am I supposed to do, I feel so helpless." She chuckled, which angered me.

"Your helpless. Imagine how Frank is feeling. He's gonna lose his last family member on top of years of hate and pain," that honesty bit me in the ass, because she was right, "now Gerard, I know you have your problems, but your strong, Franks not. What you need to do is be there for him." I squeezed my mom. I forgot how supportive she was. It made me feel even worse about ever arguing with her.

“What do you mean that he’s going to lose his last family member.” she sighed, which worried me.

“I shouldn’t tell you this. Frank’s dad is the only relative that he has and if he is found guilty, which he is, he will be sent to death row and put down like a dog.” I know it was sick, but I was happy that he was going to die.

“Oh.” I said.

“Don’t tell Frank, Gerard. It will kill him to find out right now, okay?” I couldn’t understand why it would hurt him so bad, but I promised I wouldn’t tell. We sat in the little room huddled together for awhile.

“Gerard,” Dr. Abbey came into the area and she looked at my mom, “Is this your mom?”

“Yes, uhm mom this is Dr. Abbey.” My mom shook hands with her.

“It’s very nice to meet you Ms. Way. I thought I would talk to you guys, specifically Gerard,” she handed my mom and I her business card, “Gerard, I know this has been a traumatic experience, so if you need someone to talk about it, or anything at all, call me and I am more than happy to talk with you.”

“Thank you so much Dr. Abbey.” My mom said with a smile. She got up and left the room.

“Oh and Gerard, Frank said he wants you to go back to him.” she waved goodbye. My mom patted me on the back and I went back to Frank’s room.

“Hey Frankie.” I whispered as I stood by his bed. He turned to me and tried to smile.

“Hi Gee.” he whispered back. I grabbed his hand and sat back down in my chair.

“Sorry you had to sit through that, I just wanted you to know the truth about me.” His eyes were red and glossy, like he had been crying all his life.

“No, it wasn’t a problem, I’m just glad you’re safe.” he smiled and squeezed my hand.

“I’m sorry you had to see all that.” he looked down at your feet.

“Don’t worry about it,” I wanted to change the subject, “What’s the damage to you?” It wasn’t the best subject but it was just going to have to do.

“Internal bleeding, a broken rib and severe deep slashes to the back,” he frowned, “Can you come lay down with me?”

“Sure, can you move?” I asked, thinking of his ribs and bruising.

“Yeah.” he maneuvered himself to the side and I crawled up next to him, still holding his hand.

“Where are you going to live?” I asked. He tried to shrug.

“Dr. Abbey said I only have to be in the system for a year. She also said that if anybody wants to take me in, that they could make arrangements, so I told her to get ahold of Ethan.”

“Good, I know Ethan will let you stay.” I gently brushed his hair out of his face, making sure not to hurt him.

“Yeah, he won’t be very happy about what happened.” he moved his toes around.

“Well, is anyone really happy about it?” that made him smile. It started to get dark outside. He turned his head to me. When I looked at him, I could see the Frank that I met in the back of school, leaning against the tree, mysterious and charming. He laid his lips onto mine and I could no longer taste blood or feel chappedness. They were sweet and gentle.

“I love you Gee.” I wrapped my arm around him and clothed my eyes.

Notes

Yet another chapter. I'm just on a role with writing this thing. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS ONE (thought you could use a break so didn't pile on all the twists and emotions BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THATS THE END)

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!