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Vic’s POV
I wait anxiously behind the hedge, checking my watch and looking back at the door every few seconds. At exactly seven o’clock, the front door opens and I see Kellin walk out.
His steps are slow and his feet drag along the ground. He doesn’t look happy at all. It’s not the Kellin I remember.
I lift the backpack off of my shoulder and sit it down on the grass.
Kellin carries two seemingly heavy garbage bags down the yard but when he gets to the trash cans, one of the bags tear and rubbish falls onto the sidewalk. This instantly makes Kellin start crying and it breaks my heart. My poor baby must be so stressed.
He puts his face in his hands and I use the opportunity to sneak up behind him. I grab him from behind and as he drops his hands from his face, I cover his mouth with my hand. He screams but it comes out muffled by my hand. I shush him softly and drag him back behind the neighbors hedge.
I sit him down and manoeuvre my way in front of him. His eyes go wide when he sees me and I put my finger up to my lips to tell him to be quiet. He nods so I slowly take my hand off of his mouth. I quickly notice there’s a cut on his lip.
“No, you’re not real.” is the first thing he says.
I frown confused.
“What do you mean? Kell, it’s me, Vic.” I tell him.
“No, I made you up. You’re not real.” he says shaking his head profusely.
“Who told you that?” I screech quietly.
“The Lost Boys.” he says.
I’m confused and horrified at the same time.
“You’re delusional. What did they do to you?” I growl.
He looks down and plays with his fingers. God, I’ve really missed him and he doesn’t even think I exist.
I take his face in my hands and pulls his lips to mine, kissing him softly. Butterflies fill my stomach and my heart begins to beat faster as I kiss him.
I pull away from him and he looks at me wide-eyed. He then throws his arms around my neck.
“Vic.” he gasps. “I knew it. I knew you were real.”
“Did you seriously think I wasn’t real because some boys told you so?” I frown, hugging him back tightly. Fuck, I really missed having him in my arms.
“They were very convincing and you just seemed too good to be true.” he mumbles.
“Well, I’m real. And I’m here.” I whisper.
“You’re here.” he states. “What are you doing here?”
He pulls back and I admire his confused and wonder-struck eyes.
“I had to see you.” I breathe. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too. Are you here to take me home?” he asks and I feel sick having to disappoint him.
“I’m sorry, baby. I wish I could. I brought you some things though.” I tell him, grabbing my bag.
I unzip it and start pulling out some of the contents.
“I brought you your sketchbook, to keep you occupied. And Aladdin.” I say holding up the DVD and his face lights up, making my heart swell.
I place them aside then rumage through the bag.
“You look thinner, bub. Are they letting you eat?” I ask worried, looking him up and down. He hasn’t been here long but I can notice a difference.
“Not really.” he mumbles sadly.
“Well I brought you some ramen cups. You just pour hot water in them and wait a few minutes. Just be careful with the water, baby. Don’t burn yourself. And I brought you microwave mac and cheese.” His face lights up again and I feel tears fill my eyes. He’s not supposed to get so excited over something as simple as food. It’s a basic human right to eat. Not a privilege.
“Mama also got you some chocolate. And I brought you Teddy, but I was wondering if I could keep him for the time being. Unless of course, you feel like you need him.” I blush. I know it’s just a stupid bear but I need something to hold in place of Kellin, and this bear is the closest thing I have to him.
Kellin smiles softly and places his hand on my cheek. He wipes away a tear I didn’t even know was there then drops his hand.
“Of course. He’s all yours.” he whispers and I sigh relieved, placing Teddy to the side.
I clear my throat then continue.
“I put one of my hoodies in there. If you ever miss me then you can just put it on, okay?” I tell him, trying to push back more tears but they just tumble over my cheeks.
“Please, don’t cry.” Kellin whispers. I can tell I’m making him upset by being emotional so I wipe my face and nod.
He leans forward and wraps his arms around me again. I hold him back, burying my face in his hair.
I quickly remind myself that we don’t have a lot of time so I pull away and get the last thing out of the bag. It’s a jewelry box.
“I bought you something.” I whisper, handing it to him.
He takes it and opens it up, gasping as he discovers the gold, heart necklace.
“Viccy, it’s beautiful.” he gasps and just hearing him call me Viccy is enough to make me want to start crying again but I force myself not to.
“It’s a locket. Open it up.” I tell him.
He takes it out of the box and flicks it open, revealing the photo of us I had put in there. Tears well in his eyes and he holds it close to his chest.
“Thank you.” he whispers.
I cup his cheek and just stare at him, unsure of how long I’ll be able to do that before I have to go.
“This is all so wonderful. And I’m so grateful you brought me all this…” he begins. “But when do I get to have you?”
He places his hands over mine that’s resting on his cheek. His question breaks my heart because I know I can’t give him the answer that he wants.
“I don’t know, Kells. Soon, I hope. We’re working really hard to get you home. And even if we can’t get you home, we’ll get you out of this horrible place. Are they hurting you here, Darling?”
He looks down and his hands slips from mine.
“You can tell me.” I urge. “They’ll never know if you tell me.”
He doesn’t look at me but he nods ever so softly. My heart breaks once again. All I want is for him to be safe and escape this pain.
“I’ll get you out of here, Kells. I promise.” I assure him. “And you’ll always have me. I’ll always be with you, you know that right?”
He takes my hand from his cheek and places it over his chest where I can feel the soft thuds of his heart.
“I know.” he whispers and I smile which makes his smile.
“Kellin! Hurry up! It’s your night to do the washing up!” I hear someone call from inside.
Kellin looks instantly panicked.
“Oh no, the rubbish.” he whimpers looking at the mess that’s still on the pavement.
“I’ve got it.” I tell him. “You go inside so you don’t get in trouble. I’ll leave this bag here and you come and get it when you can.”
He nods and gives me a teary smile before he wraps his arms back around me tightly.
“I love you.” he whispers.
“I love you too.” I tell him.
He then kisses me quickly before rushing back inside. I watch him disappear from sight then hear some yelling from inside the house.
I sigh sadly and pack everything back into the backpack before hiding it in the hedge. I clean up the garbage, grab Teddy then I sadly walk home.
I decide to call Tay in the morning, to tell her about what Kellin told me, but it’s me who wakes up to a call from her.
“Tay,” I say groggily. “I saw Kellin last night.”
“Vic,” she sighs but I don’t listen.
“Those kids are hurting him, he told me. And they’re psychologically abusing him. They convinced him that I wasn’t real.” I ramble.
“Vic.” Tay says sterner which cuts me off.
She sighs and then says something that makes me feel sick.
“Kellin’s missing.”
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