Dark Days

Improvisation

©JRF2016

Charlie reaches the window and he watches Tommy pacing nervously.  He raps on the glass and Tommy spins to look at the window.  He seems petrified for a brief moment before he finally moves over to open it.  "Hey Charlie," he says slowly as Charlie climbs in the window, "How's Riley?  I was over earlier but she was resting."

"Yeah, I know you were there earlier. I overheard my dad talking with Conner and Darrick."  Tommy sits on the edge of the bed staring at his feet, barely listening.  "Riley told her dad what happened."  Charlie states calmly so as not to alert Tommy.  He looks up at Charlie wide eyed, "How mad are they?  What are they going to do?"

"Why should they be mad at you?"  Tommy looks up at Charlie now, "You weren't with the guys that took her."

"Oh, uh, I just thought they'd be mad because she was only out there in the first place because of me."  Tommy breaths a low sigh of relief that Charlie didn't seem to know what he had actually done.

"Well, if they are mad at you they won't do anything to you if we get you out of here." 

Tommy looks a little relieved as he asks Charlie, "You're going to help me?"

"Why shouldn't I?  Is there something I should know?  You weren't responsible for those guys getting hold of her, were you?"'  Tommy is staring at his feet again.  He doesn't move his head but his eyes move up to see Charlie's face which is completely calm.  Tommy shakes his head no as he looks up into Charlie's blue eyes.  The look in those eyes calms his nerves and he relaxes his tense muscles.  "Okay then," Charlie tells him, "Let's get you out of here before the Dillon brothers show up."  Tommy starts for his bedroom door when Charlie grabs him and shakes his head.  "Rose is still up right?  You feel like answering a bunch of questions and risk still being here when they show up?" Tommy turns and looks at Charlie again realizing he is right and shakes his head.  Charlie extends his arm toward the window and Tommy climbs out first with Charlie right behind. 

It was a short walk to the fence where Enid always crossed.  "We're going out there?  But it's after dark?"  Charlie was nodding his head as Tommy was asking the question. 

"What are you more afraid of, being out there or Conner Dillon?" Tommy hesitantly turns and starts climbing the fence.  Charlie follows closely behind him. 

They walk through the woods in silence for about an hour before Charlie finally speaks to him again.  "You love Riley?"  Tommy glances back confused and only half nods.  "I know you were jealous of me and her.  Is that why you did it?  Were you mad at her?  Do you still think we're sneaking around behind your back?"  Tommy stops walking and stares at Charlie, "Yeah I know the truth."

"So you weren't really trying to help me?  You were just trying to get me out here alone?"  Charlie nods and Tommy releases a long sigh.   "They promised," He says finally, "They promised if I could bring them a girl, it didn't matter who really, but they wanted a young girl.  They would leave the rest of us alone.  I was trying to keep the whole town safe. I didn't want anyone else to die.  She was the only girl I really had access to."

"She would have been another death, you realize that, right?"

"They weren't going to kill her."  Tommy argues.  Charlie runs his fingers through his long, dark hair. 

"You really believe that?  Even if they didn't kill her, the things they were going to do, she'd wish she was dead.  It's the same thing."  Charlie shoves him, "Keep walking asshole."  Tommy's eyes lock with Charlie's before he turns around.  He knows by the look in his eyes that Charlie isn't going to buy any of it.  Tommy drops his head and keep walking.  Nothing was exchanged between the boys for a long while.