Chapter 14

Man, Matt had looked good, Avery sighed as he curled up in the chair in the living room staring into space as he remembered meeting up with Matt at the coffee shop earlier today.

Matt had beat him there and ordered a couple hot chocolates and brownies. Matt was already sitting on the loveseat by the fireplace, their drinks on the coffee table in front of him.

Matt patted the seat next to him and Avery easily settled next to him. When Matt grinned down at him with those adoring bright blue eyes, Avery felt himself sink into the couch against him. He vaguely remembered them pulling out a textbook and they made a show of pretending they were studying. But Avery felt Matt's arm drape gently over his shoulders, and Avery couldn't help but lean into the protective warmth of Matt's body. He wished he could stay there forever.

When Matt shifted, he felt Matt's lips ghost a kiss on his forehead. "We should probably be going soon."

Avery leaned forward to put his books in his backpack, and he felt Matt's hand slide down his back, rubbing softly. Matt's fingers slipped under his sweat shirt at the small of his back just above the waistband of his jeans, caressing the skin there, and Avery tensed. Quickly rising, he tugged down his sweatshirt over his hips. God, had Matt felt any of the scars?

"Yeah," Avery said at the slight frown on Matt face, praying it wasn't because of what he may have felt on his back, "Dad's probably expecting me home soon."

He'd practically run out of the coffee shop, afraid he'd crawl back in Matt's arms and beg him to make everything go away. But he was so afraid of Matt finding out how he'd let his father use him like a whore, that he had felt so dirty all of a sudden being near his perfect Matt.

He curled up further in the chair, afraid of what Matt might be thinking of him. He heard the door to the garage open.

"Of course, William," he heard his father's voice from the kitchen, and he tensed at the mention of Mr. Degasio's name. He felt himself curl deeper into the chair. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. ... I think we can come to an agreement .... Two million? Let me think it over. ... Yes, well, I'll need a little time to make excuses as to where he's gone...."

Avery froze. Two million? Where he'd gone? No, way. There was no fucking way his father was giving him to that sadistic bastard again, was there? No, not giving, SELLING.

He heard his father come in the side door through the kitchen, dropping keys on the counter. Avery couldn't move, he was so stunned that his father would really do such a thing. His heart was pounding in his ears. Had the man ever cared for him?

"Hey, boy!" his father greeted jovially as he came into the living room, and Avery flinched violently. He was beaming down as Avery glanced up at him from under his bangs. "I think we should go out to eat tonight. I'm feeling like celebrating."

I just fucking bet you do, Avery thought.

"Get up, let's go," he demanded.

Avery managed to uncurl himself from the chair and follow his father to the door. He couldn't help the clench in his stomach at his father's jovial attitude.

As they made their way into the popular little diner in town, Avery was hazily aware of several people greeting his father. Mr. Hanson, the mayor, asked Avery how classes were going, and Mrs. Peterson gave both of them a warm hug and wished them a happy new year. None of these people could see who his father really was, what he'd done to his son for years. He wanted to scream at them.

Avery allowed the buzz of the voices to swirl around him. None of these people would matter anyway. He fought back tears. Shit. He vaguely wondered just how much time he had left here. Would he have time to say goodbye to Matt? His dad had mentioned taking time to make excuses--what excuse would he give for his son disappearing?

He straightened. Maybe Matt could help him. If he could get up the nerve to tell Matt what was happening. Would Matt hate him then, after he knew what his father had done to him? Would he find him disgusting?

"Hello, Sheriff," his father called as they were seated, and Avery snapped his head up at the friendly face of the local law enforcement.

"Hi, Carl," Sheriff Nelson greeted. "Hello, Avery."

Avery had a momentary urge to blurt out his father's plans and beg the man's help. But he knew he wouldn't be able to stand the look of disgust in the man's face at what he'd allowed to happen to him.

Sheriff Nelson must have seen something in Avery expression because he frowned down at him. "You okay, son?"

Avery cast a glance at his father, who must have seen the same thing that the Sheriff had because his father quickly cleared his throat. "He's fine," his father answered for him, casting a quieting glare at Avery. "He's just worried about exams next week."

Nelson's gaze raked over the teen, and Avery looked away. Did he really want this nice man knowing what he'd done, what he'd allowed to happen to him?

"Hmm, that right, son?" Nelson asked carefully, and Avery felt like maybe the man could see right through the lies.

"Yes, sir," Avery stated as confidently as he could manage.

Avery felt the sheriff's hazel gaze shift between his father and himself before patting him on the back.

Avery kept himself from wincing.

His father was smiling at the officer. "Plus, Avery has been invited to spend the next semester with my sister in Florida at a charter school down there," his father said abruptly, and Avery suddenly knew how he was going to 'disappear' from Euphoria, SC.

He managed to keep his expression neutral.

Sheriff Nelson's brows shot up in surprise as he smiled. "That right? Well that sounds like a great opportunity."

"It is," his father beamed, and Avery fumed at how easily he could lie to everyone. Of course, he'd been lying too almost half of his life. "He's leaving after exams this week, so we are having a nice dinner out."

"Well, good luck on those exams then," the police officer said. "Have a great dinner. We'll miss you around here."

Yeah, right, you will, Avery thought. "Thanks," he grumbled, causing the man to frown.

His father laughed off Avery's attitude. "He just doesn't want to leave his friends around here, even if it is to get a better education."

Travis Nelson nodded understandingly, but Avery saw a hint of doubt in the man's eyes. His father must have seen something in the sheriff's eyes as well. Something that worried him enough to pull out his phone and text someone.

Probably Degasio.

Avery felt his father's hot glare on him as the sheriff walked off. "Eat your dinner, Avery," his father stated carefully. "We'll talk when we get home."

Avery's stomach plummeted. Of course, they would.

@@@@

The 'talk' consisted of more bruises as he pummeled Avery before roughly 'punishing' him, although of course he avoided Avery's face. But Avery was beyond caring. His father's fists would be nothing compared to what Mr. Degasio would do when he had him permanently.

Avery curled on his bed in his warm cotton pajama bottoms, shifting uncomfortably from the ache in his bottom. He'd been furiously drawing, taking out his anger in the only way he knew.

He'd been plagued with nightmares of returning to the house of that sadistic Mr. Degasio and had only slept a few hours off and on, so it was still really early, just before dawn. How much longer would he have? Would he get to say good-bye to his teachers? To Matt? His dad had originally said the end of the week, but he'd been worried about the look in the sheriff's eyes. He may decide to move up his plans.

His heart tightened at the thought of not seeing Matt again. Guess he would be the one leaving, not Matt.

Maybe he could leave and go to Matt, he thought. Would Matt take him in? Would his dad come and drag him back home? His thoughts raced along with his heart, panicking as to what was coming.

Finally setting aside his drawing pencils and notebook, Avery reached in the drawer and pulled out his phone, seeing messages waiting from Matt.

Hey, I had fun this afternoon. I'd like to see u again tomorrow if u want.

Hope I didn't scare u off. Let me know.

Hey, Avery, god, I hope I didn't screw this up. Talk to me, Ok?

Shit, Avery sighed, he couldn't let Matt think that he didn't like him. None of this was Matt's fault.

I really enjoyed it too, he texted back, pressing send. He knew it was really early in the morning, and didn't expect Matt to see the text until later, but his eyes started to tear as he wished he could just hear Matt's voice again.

R U sure?

He jumped in surprise when the phone vibrated a response. Apparently, Matt was already up. He glanced at the clock. Well, it was four-thirty in the morning, and Matt did work at six. He hoped he wasn't waking Matt up too early.

Yes, Avery typed, then he hesitated, knowing it was late, or, well early, and added, can I call?

The next thing he knew the phone was vibrating silently in his hand with an incoming call. Avery smiled as he pressed the button to answer.

"Avery, is everything alright?" Matt's worried voice echoed in his ear.

Avery nearly lost it at the concern in Matt's voice. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep."

"I'm glad you called."

Avery smiled to himself. "Even so early?"

"You can call me any time. You know that," Matt said, pausing, and Avery knew he could hear his ragged breathing as he fought back breaking down. "Are you sure you're alright? Do you need me to come over?"

"I--I just wanted to hear your voice."

He could almost hear the smile across the phone. "Really?"

"Yeah," Avery sighed, but couldn't help the tears forming in eyes. Should he tell him goodbye now? Would he have a chance later? If his father's attitude earlier tonight was any indication, he'd probably be gone in the next day or so.

"Avery, you sound upset. Talk to me, babe, please."

"I can't," Avery breathed, choking back a sob.

Matt's voice sounded desperate as he begged Avery to let him know what was going on. "Yes, you can," Matt insisted, "please, tell me what's wrong. What did I do to upset you?"

Avery choked out a laugh. "It's not you, Matt. God, you're the best--"

"What the fuck is going on in here?!" his father banged the door open, and Avery jumped in shock. "Who are you talking to?"

Avery stared helplessly at his father as the rage boiled up. "Oh, shit," he whispered as his father noticed the small device in his hand.

"What the fuck?!" his father roared as he backhanded the side of his head. As Avery's head hit the wall, he felt the phone ripped out of his hand. "You have a fucking phone?!"

He heard it smash against the wall as his father grabbed him by his thin bicep and hauled him off the bed, his feet catching in the covers and dragging them with him across the room.

"Dad, I--" Avery stammered as he stumbled from the tangle of sheets and tried to get his feet under him, but gave up knowing there was nothing that would appease his father now.

He felt himself dragged through the house and groaned as he saw where they were headed.

"You fucking little shit!" his father was cursing all the way down the stairs. "I can't believe you are going to ruin everything!"

"Oh, god, no, dad, please," he begged, not wanting to be in the cold basement again. "I didn't--"

By the time his father had him trussed up by the wrist braces to the chain hanging from the ceiling, Avery was trembling with fear. The crazed glitter in the man's eyes told Avery that his father had true lost it this time. His father had never been so angry before. He saw his father grab the extra chain from his tool bench and he started shaking uncontrollably.

"No, dad, please," he whimpered, "I--I'm s-sorry."

"Sorry?!" his father roared. "I'll give you sorry!"

Avery felt the chain cut across his bare shoulders, immediately opening healing welts on his already tender back. He screamed as the blows rained down, sharp points where the chain links twisted together catching skin and ripping him open. He felt the blood trickling down his back and starting to soak the waist of his pajama pants.

"You stupid shit!" his father panted, eventually dropping the bloody chain to the floor.

Avery dropped his head to his chest, breathing heavily, vaguely aware of his father pacing in front of him. His father slowed and stopped, apparently trying to collect his thoughts.

"William," his father's voice came through the haze of pain, and Avery realized he was on his phone. "I've thought it over, and you can have him now... Yeah, yeah ... " Avery realized his father was trying desperately to control his voice from panicking. "You come get him now. ... No, I'll make it look like he ran away... Yeah, good."

Avery heard the phone turn off, and his father grabbed his chin. "Who were you on the fucking phone with?"

There was no way Avery was going to cause any trouble for Matt, so he just shook his head stubbornly.

"Tell me! Who were you talking to?!"

Avery managed to raise his head slightly, meeting his father's glare.

"Fuck you," he whispered, not sure where the bravado came from to defy his father, but pretty sure he didn't fucking care anymore. A sad chuckle bubbled in his throat, as he realized just how ironic it was that he'd finally reached the point of just wanting to yell 'Fuck it all' and not care what might happen, what people might think, when it was too late.

"Shit!" his father roared, snapping his head with another blow, apparently not caring anymore if he left marks on his face.

Avery felt blood trickle from his split lip as his father paced restlessly. He snatched up his hunting knife from the workbench pressing the tip against his son's chin.

"Tell me now!" he growled.

Avery felt a chuckle bubble up from his throat, apparently surprising not only himself but his father as well. "Go ahead," Avery dared, "You'll lose your two million."

His father's eyes flared wide with surprise that he'd known about that but narrowed quickly.

A loud pounding at the door interrupted their glaring match, and both Avery and his father looked in the direction of the stairs. Mr. Degasio wouldn't be here yet. Who the hell was it?

Carl Greene yanked his son's head back by his hair, forcing Avery to meet his eyes. "If it's your buddy from the phone, I'm going to gut him in front of you if he doesn't go away."

"No!" Avery croaked, barely able to breathe, "No, please, no..."