Fourth Down - 7. Chapter 7

I felt weak, but oddly enough I felt a comfort I had not felt in a while. I was on my back. Had Mayson rolled me over after I fell unconscious when he last used me? Did he now pity me and finally clothed and draped a warm blanket over me? Hopefully he’ll feed me, and give me a drink of water after I fully wake up.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw that I am no longer in my cell. It’s dark in here with light streaming in from what I am guessing is the door to this room. The ceiling looks to be paneled, and a rail running around what I am guessing is my bed. I look to the side, where the door is, and notice a tv, It has my name displayed in a corner, with multiple zig zaggy lines, and numbers on it. Beyond that I noticed a couch, tucked away in the corner, with two figures sitting on it, the bigger one holding onto the smaller one as they slept. In the darkened room, they were only slightly illuminated by the little bit of light spilling in from the outside. They looked familiar to my sleep hazed mind.

“Mom?” came the word spilling out from my mouth. It sounded weak and needy to my ears.

Immediately the smaller figure burst into motion and was beside my bed, one hand resting on the guard rail that was raised on that side of the bed, the other caressing the side of my face. From this distance her identity was easily recognisable of that of my mother. Then that meant that the other figure must be my father.

“Dad?” I asked just as weakly as before.

“It’s ok Kiddo, I am right here.” he said, taking my hand and gently squeezing it. Offering strength and reassurance that everything would be ok.

Relief flooded me as sobs burst out from me, both happy that I was now safe and away from Mayson, and scared at the thought of how they might react to the news of what I am, and what had happened to me. I was immediately enwrapped by two sets of arms from both sides, as father had run around to the other side of the bed, to embrace and comfort me as my mother did the same from her side.

“It’s ok, you’re safe now. It will be alright.” they both said. I could tell they had both been crying as well.

Several minutes later I was feeling better, and just bathed in the love my parents offered. Hoping I would never have to give it up. A man and a woman soon entered after I had calmed down enough. They looked at me and both smiled at me.

“Hello young man, I am Dr. Funderrmerver.” the Dr said, “and This is Sister Harper.”

“Kaitlyn is fine.” the lady said.

“Is she your sister?” I asked the Dr.

He smiled gently at me. “No, it's just the way we still sometimes address the nursing staff back in South Africa. It’s not so commonly used anymore” he said.

So that explains the accent, and why his name on his ID tag said; Dr. van der Merwe.

“Now how are we feeling this morning, young man?”

“Weak, thirsty, and hungry.” I respond.

“Well that is to be expected.” he said.

He then proceeded to ask me a few more questions, and did a few tests to test my physical responses. After being satisfied, they removed the wires that were on my chest, but left the finger clip on. Then left the room, leaving me alone with my parents.

I was snoozing when there was a slight knock on the door. “Can I come in?” came a voice I had not heard in what felt like forever. Dale had come to visit me. He looked at me, and relief seemed to flood his face, and his patented blinding smile spread on that beautiful face of his. A face I thought I would never see again.

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he approached my bed.

“Feeling better now.” I smiled as I took his hand in mine.

“Hello Dale.” my mother says from the couch. Fuck I totally forgot they were here. Dale looks at me, and smiles, as he quickie releases my hand. He then turns to greet my parents. I hope they did not see me hold his hand.

We were just chatting about nothing important, when there was another knock on the door, and two men walked in. One was clearly a police officer. This was it. I would have to tell them what happened.

“Mr McIntosh. Hi, I am detective Bullock, and this is officer Santiago.” Introduced the man in more formal clothes. “Would you mind if we asked you a few questions? Your family is more than welcome to stay.”

I felt both comforted and scared at the same time. At least Dale is here, he won’t turn his back on me. My parents, I am not so sure, but this needs to be done. What if Mayson hurts another person. Steeling myself for what was to come, I nod.

“Ok.” he smiles, while placing a recording device on a table that ran across the bed. “Are you able to tell us what occurred in your apartment, that left you in a state that required you to be hospitalised?”

“I was being blackmailed.” I say softly.

“Who was he blackmailing you?”

“Mayson. He made a video…” I start, but stop shortly after I began, as I’m feeling like I’m going to throw up.

“A video of what? He gently prods me.

“Us having s… s… sex.” I stammer. My head covered in beads of sweat. “He drugged me, and filmed him having… his way with me.”

My mother gasps, I begin crying, I suddenly feel arms embracing me. My father has taken me into his arms, and just holds me.

Ignoring the situation in front of him, as if this was an everyday occurance, Detective Bullock continues with his questions. “Are you able to tell us why he did what he did?”
I look at my parents nervously, “He found out I was… gay.” I say shutting my eyes. Scared of what my parents were going to do. Surely now that they found out that their only son is gay, I would now be abandoned. They would not want the embarrassment of having raised a faggot in thier home. Tears stream my face as my fathers arms grow slack from around me, only to get in a better position for him to draw me in further into him. My mother on the other side of the bed, trying to do the same, to my surprise but struggling due to my fathers strength and unwillingness to let me go. Forcing her to lower the guard rail, and climb into bed with me, just so she could hold her baby, as she constantly whispered into my ear. Even Dale was offering his support by holding my hand.

“How did he discover your sexuality?” Asked the Detective.

“I think he found out about me on my phone,” I say through the silent tears of happiness that have flooded me at my parents' show of love and support. “I was talking to my friend Evan, about having a crush on… Dale.” I say shyly at having to reveal to Dale that I liked him.

Dale looked at me in surprise, then his expression slowly morphed into a smile, as he squeezed my hand. Did this mean that Dale liked me too?

“Is this when Mayson chained you up in what was supposed to be your room?” the Detective asked.

I look back at him, shaking my head. “No. He just forced me into having sex with him.” I then look sadly down at my hand that was linked to Dale’s. “As well as staying away from Dale. He said I was only going to hurt Dale, cause that is what dumb jocks like me apparenty do.” I add quietly.

Dale just shakes his head, “He’s wrong.” he whispered to me.

“So how did you end up chained in your room?”

I shuddered at the memory. “He found out that I went to a tutoring session with Dale.” New tears formed in my eyes at the memory. “ I had come home that night to find that he had thrown out all of my clothes, and every one of my belongings. All that was left was my mattress. He told me, “I began to sob, “that because I didn’t listen, I was to be punished. He said that if I did not lay down on the mattress, he was going to upload the video to pornhub, and link it to everyone in the school, as well as every contact on my phone and friends list on Facebook. He also forced me to wear something on my face, so I would not be able to make much noise.”

My parents only held me tighter, while Dale looked at me sadly, still holding onto my hand.

“Well, young man, it was good when your friends found you when they did. A few more days in there, and I don’t think you would be with us.”

I looked at him in shock. My friends found me? I looked at Dale, who only nodded in confirmation. I then reached for him, pulling him to me, thankful to him and my friends for saving me.

Once I released Dale, he turned to the Detective and the officer. “Do you know if Mayson was caught?”

Detective Bullock looked down at his notes, then towards Officer Santiago, then lastly towards us. “Mayson was involved in an accident, shortly after the call to the apartment. He survived, but was seriously injured, and is recovering under police watch in the hospital's ICU unit.”

“Will he be ok?” I ask, a little surprised that I was worried about a guy who put me through literal hell.

“He is stable,unconscious, but stable, and is expected to make a full recovery.”

“Are his parents here?” My mother asked.

This kinda worried me, I hoped my mother was not going to seek out Mayson’s family, and accost them about what their son had done to me.

Detective Bullock looked a little sad for some reason. “When they were called to be notified about their son’s accident, they informed us that they had no son. They also said some nasty things that I won’t be repeating. They are currently unaware of charges being placed on their son.”

I couldn’t help but feel just a little sad for him. So his parents would not come to his bedside even if he had done nothing to me. What happened to cause his parents to disown their own child? Was he gay too and his parents had a different reaction to my own? Had he hurt anyone else like he had hurt me?

“Well we have enough for now. so we’ll leave you to rest up, and spend some time with your family.” Detective Bullock smiled at us, leaving me alone with my parents who still held me, and Dale who had not let go of my hand.

“I’m sorry.” I cry

“For what Honey?” my mother asks as she wipes away a few tears escaping my eyes.

“For being gay, and getting raped.” I sob

“Shh shh shh, it’s ok. You did nothing wrong.” my father says.

“But… don’t you hate me for being gay?” I ask.

“Sweet Heart, what ever gave you that idea?”

“Because you’re both conservative and religious.” I say as if it should be obvious.

My mother smiles at me, stroking my red hair, “Honey, just because we have certain beliefs, does not mean we are going to turn our backs on you. Was it not obvious how we welcomed Evan into our home, with no judgement?”

“You know Evan is gay?” I asked shocked

“Kiddo, it’s kinda obvious with him, you not so much, but we had an inkling you might be.” my father laughed.

I was in utter disbelief at this.

“Your mother also helps out at the local LGBT+ center, to which our church donates to on a regular basis.” he added

“You do?” I ask

“Yes, I do.” she smiled, “Our church is very pro LGBT. During Pride month, they tell us the importance of loving those that are different, and that they are all God’s children deserving of love and acceptance. That just because they happen to love someone of the same sex, and are same sex attracted, does not mean they are sinners.”

Dale squeezed my hand, drawing my attention to him. “You really are a lucky guy Hunter.”

“I am?” But how can I be lucky with what happened to me over the past month? If anything, that should show how UNlucky I really am.

“You are. You have parents who love and accept you. Not only that, but your friends love and accept you just the same. We are also here for you.” He says, while squeezing my hands to support his words.

I hope he is right.

Thank you for reading Chapter 7, hope you all enjoyed it