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 Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:10 pm
It had been an eerily silent ten minutes... or was it an hour? Half an hour? Johnny had had no concept of time. Only pain, only shock, only horror as he had fallen in the bedroom and been unable to find his legs. He couldn't stop staring at his father's body, limp and ashen. How long had he been like that? Why?
Why?
The boy's body shook and tears sprang to his eyes. Something had to be done about this, right...? But what could he do? Thoughts whirled through his head like the wind in a tornado. Johnny was torn - could he leave his father? No, his father was already gone. What could he do? Who could he call? Could he feel his legs again? His lungs didn't want to take oxygen and his legs didn't want to take weight. Blue eyes darted around the room, blissfully broken from their gaze upon Joseph's body. A cordless phone sat in its hostler on the bedside table. Johnny crawled to it. Hands shaking, he dialed the only number he could remember: Alex's.
He prayed and prayed that the blonde would be home. The dial tone seemed to repeat endlessly, Johnny's breath quickening and his lungs near bursting. "Alex...? Alex... somethin' real... real bad, Alex... he's gone... Alex... What do I do...?" came the sobs.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:18 pm
Alexandre had been enjoying the quite time at home, save for when Cadha decided to start squeaking one of his numerous toys. He'd even started preparing things for dinner, while Cadha followed him into the kitchen, likely wanting to con him out of some food. He'd just been turning his head away, wiping tears from his stinging eyes, as a half cut up onion sat on the cutting board. Knife in his hand, held close to the cutting board, he was interupted by his cell phone ringing. The small device, wrapped in a black rubber case, sat on a counter top two feet from where he stood. Taking advantage of the distance it put between him and the onion he went to answer it.
"Johnathan?" The other sounded distressed. Something was wrong but what? Already he was pressing the phone to his ear with his shoulder while he went to put the knife in the sink and move the cutting board, onion and all, into the microwave so it couldn't something be knocked off the table top.
"What's wrong...take a deep, slow, breath and tell me what's going on?" Already he could feel a spike in adrenalin, something he closely associated with battle and preparing for something big, as he went to wash his hands. He had a feeling he'd be leaving the house to do something and he needed to be ready.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:53 am
If only Alex could hear the shaking of the phone on the other end. he boy found a spot on the wall and concentrated on it, taking deep and shaky breaths while ignoring the tears sliding down his cheeks. "Alex... dad's... see, I came over here and wanted to s-s-surprise him an' I made a steak an' I came into the bedroom to wake him up an' he..." He couldn't stop himself from looking over his shoulder and to his father's body, laying limp in the bathroom. Joseph looked ashen. How long had he been there? "...he's dead, Alex. He's dead... Dad, he... Alex... what do I do?" The idea to call the police or at least attempt to call 911 didn't even occur to the boy. He didn't call his mother. He simply panicked and called Alex, the blonde who had always been there for him. "He's just... he's just hanging here, Alex. I didn't touch him but he's not moving an' he doesn't answer me an' I just know that he won't and..." The rest of the conversation became stunted as Johnny collapsed and sobbed.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:26 pm
Hearing the others words it was like a physical punch to his stomach, like someone had hit him and went through his stomach and just squeezed. Oh god...He couldn't imagine seeing what he was sure the other had just seen - was still seeing? He didn't know and it didn't matter, or at least not as much as the fact that Johnathan HAD seen it!
That surge of adrenalin which had filled him before got a second dose as Alexandre went into the living room to slip his shoes on and he hurried up stairs to get a coat, having forgotten he should have gone to get that first. "Johnathan...I'll be there in a few minutes, just - just stay in where you are. I'll knock when I get there." Fighting to get his coat on, while shifting his phone around from shoulder to hand and back to shoulder as he went on to getting the buttons done. A scarf was thought about last minute, as he'd just been leaving his room. Moving back into his room to get it he wrapped it about his neck while hurrying downstairs and to the front door. Grabbing his keys from the small table by the front door.
"I have to hang up with you. I need to place a call someone." He had to do what he knew Johnathan couldn't. The police needed to be called and for that he needed to leave the other on his own, if only for a few minutes before he could call him back.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 5:09 pm
".....kay..." came the reply. Johnathan sniffed and hung up the bedside phone, curling his knees up to his chest. Wrapping his arms around them the boy couldn't pull his eyes away from the body of his father. He was shaking, blood running like ice in his veins. Knuckles went white and Johnny rested his chin on his knees. He couldn't stop staring, praying, waiting for Alex. Listening, counting his heartbeats. The Miller family had never been particularly religious but the boy with snow blue hair found himself asking whatever cosmic force was with them one thing: why? Why hadn't Joseph said anything? Why hadn't Bethany been warned? Why did Johnathan have to find his father like this? ....why couldn't he stop staring?
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:03 am
As soon as Johnathan had hung up Alexandre was on the phone again. He knew there were laws against driving while on the phone, and he also knew it could be dangerous to do both at the same time, but he really had no other option. As he climbed into his car and started it up he was already wondering just what sort of mess Johnathan would be in when he arrived at the others home. He really should also call the others mother, he had gotten her personal number from Johnathan at some point early on in things.
He'd call her, she did need to know, but first he had another call to make. Dialing 911 he waited till it picked up, it was only seconds, and he was talking to the operator giving Johnathan's parents address to the male on the other end of the line. "The man f the house has died, I can only assume it's suicide. No - no I'm not there myself. My friend, the mans son, called and told me. He's unable to call you himself." Too broken up and just unable to deal and cope with things. "Yes, it sounds like a suicide and the man is dead. I'm ten minutes away so I'll let the cops in." And the morgue, as he was sure they'd be getting sent. No need for an ambulance to be sent. He just wondered who would arrive first, police or morgue.
When he finally got off the phone with the emergency operator he placed a call with Johnathan's mother, waiting for her to pick up as he drew closer to her son, dead husband, and whatever else awaited him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:42 am
The voice was confused on the other end of the phone, not recognizing the number calling her initially. Bethany cradled the phone against her shoulder having just completed her third massage of the day. "Hello? Who is this?" It was a stroke of luck that she was standing near the front desk where there were chairs and couches in abundance for incoming clients. Bethany's legs couldn't support her and all color drained from her face when she heard the news, eyes stuck staring at a metal rack full of massage oils. Mandy, the student who worked the front desk, rushed over to the older woman, trying to support her on her feet. "Beth? Beth, what's wrong? What happened?" Tears rolled from her eyes. "Alex... thank you but... I have to go..." The sentence trailed off into a whisper as the masseuse looked at her coworker. "My husband... he's killed himself... I have to go..." Mandy jumped to her feet, hand over her mouth. She nodded in silence, rushing to the front desk to notify the rest of the massage parlor and to cancel Bethany's remaining appointments. Bethany was in her car like and drove away like lightning. She was roughly 20 minutes away. Meanwhile, the front door to the Miller household was unlocked but Johnathan couldn't bear to leave his father to wait outside for Alex. Would he be angry if he knew his son left him in his time of need? The thought terrified the young teen and he rocked back and forth, back rigid against the side of the bed. He was humming a tune, a nondescript tune, and he wasn't even aware of it. Sleet Tempest Snape I figured it might help/make things easier if I just had Alex explain what happened in this post. <3
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:01 pm
Hanging up with Johnathan's mother, feeling bad for being the one to tell her the news, he set his phone down in one of the two coffee cup holders the front of his suv had. Racking his fingers through his hair he sighed heavily. This was a mess and he felt bad for everyone involved right now, he just hoped that being as far removed as he was (or wasn't) would allow him to help everyone involved.
Parking in front of a neighbors, leaving the curb parking in front of the Miller house open for the police and morgue's people. He had beaten then, as he'd figured he would, it was almost as soon as the car was parked and the egnition turned off that he was hopping out and running for the front door. Banging he called out and tried the door knob then. Finding it open he threw he door open and closed it behind him not too gently, he had much more important things on his mind than handling a door gently. His shoes were toed off and he hurried through the house.
"Johnathan?!" He didn't know the lay out of the house so was clueless where his friend was.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:38 pm
Hearing Alex's voice brought Johnathan out of the trance he was in, eyes locked on his father's body. He somehow managed to push himself up off the floor and wander out into the living room where his blonde caretakers could find him. The boy looked aged, weary and terribly distraught. He hadn't the tears to cry anymore. His snow blue hair was a mess, his skin pale and clammy. Was his mother on the way? He should have called... maybe called 911 for help too but Alex seemed like the best choice at the time. Why am I always so dumb?Johnny voice was hoarse. "Dad's... in there." he said, listlessly pointing to the back bedroom from which he had come. Sirens had begun to blare outside, drawing closer to the Miller household. Johnny took a deep breath and sighed, wandering aimlessly until he found himself leaning heavily on Alex for support. "...didn't know... wasn't home long... dunno why, Alex..." came the incoherent murmurs. The police and coroners arrived shortly after, pushing their way into the house. Johnny looked up at them with cold eyes. The coroner, a stocky man of middle age had pushed past even them to question Johnny, who still clung to Alex as if the blonde was the only thing keeping him sane. "Are you the son?" asked the man, voice low and humble as police started to cordon off the house from the outside. No doubt neighbors would come out into their lawns to figure out what had happened at the Miller house. Johnny nodded in the affirmative. "Do you know where your father is?" and the boy pointed again to the back room, saying nothing. The coroner nodded and disappeared. One of the other police officers indicated that he needed to speak with Johnathan, but the boy refused, pushing himself further into Alex while whispering. "Can we just... go to the Rift, Alex...?
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:15 pm
Seeing Johnathan he let out a sigh of relief. He looked broken up but at least he was up and moving, not too much in shock to stay on a floor somewhere shaking. Moving swiftly to stand in front of the other he drew him into a tight hug. "I've called the police and your mother. People are on the way." Wanting to get that out, it was the most important thing, Alexandre pet the others pale blue hair
"It's best we don't go back there. Let others handle it now. You need to sit down." Working to lead them to a couch, walking backward to do so. "Do you want something to drink? Water, tea, anything?" The other needed to be comforted and calmed and Alexandre would do his best to do just that, he had a feeling he might have to help Johnathan's mother as well. He'd never done something like this, he'd not been alive for a death in his family yet, and so this was new turf for him. Alexandre figured with his work with Johnathan till now that he'd do well enough, he just hoped it was enough.
The coroner seemed nice enough, seemed to understand, and didn't push for anything from Johnathan. Though Alexandre also was sure he could have been nicer, a sorry for your loss or a hand on the shoulder. But he supposed the man was so used to this business that over time certain things, behaviors, vanished. The cop was next and Alex held onto Johnathan tighter before holding up a hand to the cop. "We can't now but once they leave. You should wait and see your mother - she'll need you." He whispered for only Johnathan to hear. His attention than went to the police officer. "Can you wait a little while, perhaps till his mother arrives? She's been notified and is on her way." And hopefully she could help Johnathan and he could answer things and Alexandre could play comforter for both members of the Miller family...and buffer, keep people at bay when it was needed.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:29 pm
Bethany had burst through the door in a wailing fit. It was a small miracle that she was fit enough to drive the distance back home without bringing serious harm to any other motorists on the road. The woman, bleary-eyed and shaking, sought out her rather apathetic son. Before she could find him, she ran into Alex and gave him a sobbing hug. "Mom..." came the voice behind him and Bethany ran to her son. "Mom... they gotta... take dad out of the back an'..." His mother was inconsolable and hysterical, running from her son to the police officer nearby and then to the back room where the coroners were cutting down the body of her husband. She shrieked and dropped to her knees. Johnny winced from the sound and sniffed, shrinking onto the couch and pulling his legs up to his chest. He looked up at Alex, broken and forlorn as the police tried to calm his mother down. "Alex? Could... you come sit with me, please? I think... maybe some warm tea... might help a little..." Johnny wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 9:09 pm
Looking from one Miller to the other he mentally steeled himself and went to hug them both. This was going to be a long day, he just hoped he could handle comforting them both as much as they would need it.
As Johnathan's mother moved about the house he averted his attention to Johnathan. It looked like he could focus on Johnathan at the moment, and only him. As Johnathan beckoned him over he moved to sit back down with him. Taking the other into his arms as much as he could. "I can't stay here, on the couch, if you want me to get you some tea. Why don't you lead the way into the kitchen and take a seat and I'll make you tea...and your mother?" Or did she prefer coffee? He didn't know but felt the need to ask right now.
The shriek from the others mother he tried to force from his mind, forget it, but it just reminded him of the horror of this. He wished he could take Johnathan from here, hide him away from it all.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:21 pm
Johnathan lifted himself from the couch in a daze, grabbing Alex by the hand. The boy led his roommate over to the kitchen in silence where a few police officers waiting. Johnny opened one of the cupboards and pulled out a small tin full of tea bags and the tea pot next to it to boil water. The taller of the two police officers nodded to the boy and placed his calloused hand on Johnny's shoulder. "We're going to have to ask you a few questions when you're ready." Johnny nodded solemnly. His mother was a sobbing mess and had a blanket placed around her by one of the coroners on the scene. They were leading her out of the house with her head in her hands, her throat choking. Johnny just stared as she walked by. He knew he'd join her later but detested the idea right now. Right now, he just wanted some tea with Alex. He wanted to forget everything that happened. One of the coroners came in and explained something to the police - something Johnny didn't hear until the tall one approached the boy as he was filling the tea kettle with water. "We'll need you to come down to the station to give a statement but your mother will be going on ahead of you. Do you need an escort?" he asked. One could tell this large man of mid-forties and gruff exterior was trying to be sympathetic but wasn't sure how. Johnny shook in head in the negative. He had Alex. He didn't need anyone else. "After tea." was all he said, walking up to Alex and resting his head on the blonde boy's shoulder.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:44 pm
As everything went on around him he stood still and took it all in, observing and not saying or doing anything. Watching Johnathan's mother be lead out and the body, watching the cops and the cornor talking to them. He watched Johnathan and finally Johnathan's head of pale blue hair was bent down and onto his shoulder.
Petting the others hair gently he stepped away from him slowly. "I'll make tea for you." Since he didn't like tea himself. "I'll make some to bring for your mother as well...if you have a container we can pack it in." He didn't want to have Johnathan doing things for him but he also didn't know his way around this kitchen and din't think it proper to go digging about, especially now. If this were some social visit it might be more proper to dig about. But given the emotions one could feel in the air he knew this was far from the time for something like that.
Turning then to the cops that were in the kitchen he smiled lightly, a barely there and certainly forced smile. "Tea or coffee? I'm sure it's a long, and cold, day for you each as well." Though longer for Johnathan, his mother, and himself. At least in his opinion.
"I'll take him down. So once you've warmed up with a drink you can finish up here or do what you need to." If he could he'd tell them they could finish here and leave, once they'd had a drink, but he didn't want to rude and bluntly tell them they could leave. As much as he wanted to tell them to leave, to stop talking to Johnathan, he knew he couldn't. He'd really been learning to hold his tongue in certain situations, one more thing he'd learned from being in the Negaverse.
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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:04 pm
The policeman lifted his hand to Alex and shook his head. "No thank you. Today's been rough on all of us, most of all you guys. I'm gonna need a different kind of drink when this is all over." He coughed and turned away, almost numb from what he'd seen from all his years on the force. Johnathan paid him no mind and sighed into Alex's shoulder. The boy wished they'd all leave so he and Alex could just go to the Rift and pretend like none of this ever happened. Johnny preferred it that way. He overheard a few things about hiring a cleanup crew but the coroner had said the mess was minimal. Would the Miller family have to pay for that? Johnny didn't want to think about it. "...tea would be great, Alex. I dunno if mom drinks it but... she'll probably want something, huh? I'll go get a thermos." The boy lifted his head and wandered to the cabinet, pulling out a stainless steel mug and left it on the counter. Johnny sighed and sat down at the modest kitchen table in the dining area of the kitchen, sinking into folded arms. "...things'll be different now, huh, Alex?"
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