Chapter Nine

Shawn made his way down the stairs not long after Hunter had left.

He didn't want to be alone, desired to be comforted by someone, even if he had to give in a little of what he wanted. The TV was on in one room, Hunter wasn't in it though. He quietly roamed around looking for the other man. Found him in the kitchen on the phone.

".... I know you can't tell me everything Kevin but I need to have some idea what I'm dealing with here. You know how difficult Shawn can be at the best of times let alone when he's in full psychotic mode...." Shawn backed away from the door for a second while Hunter was silent. "Look, fine, just tell me what happened."

Shawn could tell that Kevin was talking about it now, Hunter's reactions said it all.

Shawn had heard enough. He backed away from the room, hurt by what he heard. Eyes stung with tears that dared to fall unless he regained control. He went back through to the lounge, ready to retreat back upstairs. He spotted Hunter's cell on the side. Kevin still had his. It was probably hidden somewhere here, but he couldn't look for it, not with Hunter here. He quickly slid the phone in his pocket, watching all the while to make sure he wasn't being spied on by Hunter and went back upstairs.

He packed the few things he'd taken out of his bag and made his way back downstairs this time with his bag in tow. Hunter was still in the kitchen.
He didn't even know Shawn had left.

**

Reading the messages received and sent from the phone made for an interesting, albeit disturbing, conversation.

'Did you mean what you said?' One message asked and the reply; 'You're the only one for me. But I don't deserve you.' was almost sweet. If you didn't know the situation was what it was, you could pretend it was normal. A messed up relationship and two people working to fix it.

If only every was as simple as that. As black and white. It was never that simple. Could never be like that between the two of them. There was already too much history. Sadly it wasn't ancient history, it was still fresh and the wounds, quite literal as they were, were not healed, let alone faded by time.

'If I were with you, I'd tell you I loved you every day. I'd never let you out of my sight again. Give me another chance, take me back.'

It was pleading, begging for another chance. Not that he was worthy of it. He should beg for forgiveness and then leave forever. That wasn't what he had planned though. He didn't want to be forgotten.

'I can't forget what you did to me. You hurt me and not just in the obvious way.'

The obvious way... the physical abuse was the obvious thing, the mental torture was something else entirely. The emotional was what caused the most pain. Once the physical scars healed, they just became more emotional baggage.

'It's because of him, isn't it?'

Even reading it, it sounded forceful. An accusation more than a question.

'No one else matters. It's between me and you and it's you I can't trust.'

He sounded defiant, even if it was just masking fear.

'It is him then. It's always been him coming between us. Why don't you get it- he doesn't want you.'

Those mind games, yet again. Take him on a ride he didn't want to go on.

'You're wrong. You don't know anything about us. But he'll always mean more to me than you ever could.'

Just because his name was never mentioned, Kevin knew it was him. He felt proud of Shawn, standing up for himself.

'Then why have you ran away from him.'

No reply from Shawn.

'Why are you right now sat at home alone, texting me. If I mean nothing to you.'

He still didn't reply.

'Your silence says it all.'

'It means nothing. I was busy.'

He was growing weaker. Defeated by the truth.

'Busy sitting, staring at your phone.'

The messages had taken an eerie turn. The next one continuing it with 'Aren't you going to answer your phone?'

'Leave me alone!' Was Shawn final reply.

Just one message left to read. Kevin clicked on it. 'Not until I'm finished with you.'

**