Unbroken

Fuck.

I tried not to think of those interrogation rooms, and what it might be like to get questioned. I’d get Good Cop, and he’d be sweet, and I’d be sweet back, but I wouldn’t say anything, and he might secretly get annoyed. Then he’d leave for “coffee” and Bad Cop would replace him (Bad Cop would wear black sunglasses, have cropped black hair, look ex- military). He might swear and threaten to lock me up in juvie or something, which didn’t really sound so bad. I would have a bed, food, and water in juvie. For free. It wouldn’t transfer into my adult years, either.Right?

There were all kinds of silver linings in sight, I realized. I could totally be an accomplice right now and not have my life totally obliterated.

Right?

Fuck x 2.

When I returned to my room, Hunter was back under the windowsill, the towel draped poorly over his lap. I sighed and tugged him back up, motioning to my bed. “Get in,” I practically mouthed. “I’m going to find you some clothes.”

He didn’t resist as I dragged him into my bed and threw the covers over him. Then I threw on my cardigan, slipped into my slippers and stepped out of my window. I moved in the direction of his house, knowing already that his bedroom window (similar to mine) was always unlocked. I planned on slipping in and grabbing a change of clothes for him. Then I’d return and demand answers, though I wondered if I even wanted to know…

The housing division was dead quiet as I walked through mud and light rain in the direction of his place. My breaths clouded around me as I went, shivering along the way. He wasn’t far, maybe a dozen or so houses away—

I stopped dead on the trail when I saw two figures standing on his front yard. My heart jumped in fear. What if this was the police? What if Good Cop and Bad Cop were onto him already?

I moved to a bush beside the path and squatted down, poking my head to have another look. The two men moved about, flashing a light at his front door, then along the grass.

“He hasn’t come back,” one man said.

They were looking for him. Yes, this was bad, I thought. He was in trouble.

“We have to find a better way for him to channel his rage,” said the other.

“He needs a fucking mental institution, Roy.”

“He needs guidance, Miles.”

The other man scoffed. “You’re dreaming. That boy’s fate is behind bars—”

“Let me worry about him, alright?” The older man cut in gruffly. “He ain’t here because he’s found a safe place to crawl into. He’ll be back, and I’ll figure out a way to fix this.”

They started to move out of the yard, and if they were going to the parking lot, they’d have to take the path I was on. Still kneeling, I spun around and waddled back, knowing very well how ridiculous I looked if anyone happened to be watching, but I couldn’t risk them catching sight of me.

Hunter was lost to the world when I climbed back into my bedroom. I grabbed his clothes and towel and snuck out of the room. The laundry room was on the other end of the home right beside the kitchen. It was a tiny room, about the size of a closet. I piled his towel, shirt and underwear into the washer, and then I quickly checked the pockets of his work overalls. I pulled out his brown wallet and what felt like another card. Then I put so much laundry detergent in, he would be smelling like Sunshine Lavender for weeks.

I returned to my room and looked through his wallet. He had a few twenty-dollar bills and his ID. The loose card I dug up from his pocket was a credit card, but it wasn’t in his name. I quickly glanced at his unmoving frame in my bed before bringing the card under the lamp light, reading the name.

Jonah Walker

My heart was in my throat as I slipped the card into my underwear drawer. A weight of fear coursed through me. What if who was looking for him checked his wallet and saw that card? What if it was the police? What if this Jonah Walker was badly hurt, or maybe even dead?

Nononononono, I can’t run the risk of anyone seeing it.

I was crazy to take the card, but I wasn’t going to have him walk out of my life, especially in cuffs.

I needed Hunter.

Hunter needed me.

I let out a shuddering breath as I realized I would do anything for him.

I crawled into bed and laid next to him. I was on my side, staring at his peaceful face. I was wrecked, but I couldn’t fall asleep just yet. I needed to put his clothes in the dryer, and then I’d need to keep an ear out if my folks got up and happened to check in on me.

It was going to be a long night.