After a couple of hours I start to get my strength back and turn to my mum who’s not left my side for a long time.
‘What happened to me mum?’ I ask.
‘You were found near the new forest lying on the side of the road with a cat. No one knows how you got there but you’ve had an overdose on some drug and the doctors have been carrying out some intrusive examinations on you.’
‘I don’t understand, how long have I been here?’
‘You were in a coma for about sixteen day’s dear, you came around this morning; your body has been through hell of an ordeal.’
‘How did I go into a coma?’
‘Because of the drugs that’s been given to you’
‘What drugs was I given?’
‘Cetirizine, a very high dose too.’
‘What's Cetirizine?’
‘It’s a drug used to treat allergies which cause drowsiness. You’ve had such a high dose it caused you to go into a coma.’
‘Ok, but why was I given that?’
‘Well at the moment we don’t know the police are looking into it.’
‘The police?’ astonished at the thought the police are involved as I have absolutely no memory of what happened to me. The last thing I remember is arguing with my mum and her boyfriend.
‘I don’t understand why the police are involved?’
‘John you’ve been missing for two weeks a major search went out, appeals on the news and we even held a press conference to try to find you.’
‘The last thing I remember is arguing with you.’
‘The doctor said your memory will come back to you gradually and the police will want to speak with you.’ She bowed her head and burst into tears. ‘I’m so sorry John that you felt the need to run away, so is Mark he’s been really worried about you.’
‘I find that hard to believe Mark was worried.’ She rolls her eyes at me as if to bypass my comment.
‘John there’s something else you should know and the police feel its best coming from me.’ Again she bursts into tears, her face glows and a small vein pops out of the side of her head like it does when she's normally really angry at me.
‘What mum what is it?’ Having no idea what's she's about to tell me.
‘John love no one thinks any different of you ok and there are lots of people who can help you through this.’
'Please mum can you tell me.’
‘After examinations from the doctors there are signs of physical assault.’ She squeezes my arm hard almost painful but bearable. ‘I can’t say the words John; do you know what I'm talking about?’
‘No not at all did someone beat me up?’
‘Yes someone did beat you up dear but you were also sexually assaulted.’ She burst into tears slapping her hand on the bed frantically not able to comprehend the words that have come out of her mouth.
I’m shocked at what I've heard and find it hard to believe. I think it’s a blessing that I have no memory of it, hopefully that never comes back. The thought of someone doing that to me makes me feel sick but the fact I can’t remember and don’t know what happened makes the blow a lot easier.
‘John you need to get some rest ok.’
‘How long will I be in here?’ I ask holding back the tears.
‘I’m not sure sweetheart.’
‘I want to go home.’
‘You can’t darling the doctors still have a lot of tests to do on you and need to keep you in under observation.’
‘Ok, does dad know I'm here?’
‘Yes your dad is here in Portsmouth staying in a hotel nearby, he’s been visiting you daily and is really worried.’
‘Great!! Hopefully I’ll see him soon then.’
‘He should be here this afternoon dear.’ still crying.
I notice two uniformed police officers walk onto the ward and come over to me.
‘John Malcolm? Hello my names PC Douglas and this is my partner PC Jones. Your doctor has said it’s ok to talk to you if you feel up to it?’
‘Yes that’s fine.’
‘John I know these past weeks has been extremely difficult for you and we’ve arrested two men in connection to your kidnapping.’
‘Can you tell me their names?’ He pulls across the curtains and sits down next to my mum. PC Jones turns to my mum and says.
‘Mrs Malcolm I’m afraid we’ve arrested Mark Somers. He has been charged with connections to what's happened to your son John.’
‘What!’ She said looking shocked ‘Mark? There must be some mistake?’
‘Madam I'm sorry he’s already admitted to all the offences.’
‘But I don’t understand Mark would never do that!’ She turned to me, ‘Mark loved you like his own there’s no way.’ She burst into tears knowing this was no mistake, the look on her face told us all how sorry she was for allowing this monster into our lives.
‘Mum its ok I'm safe now please don’t blame yourself.’ She looked at me again stood up and ran out of the ward crying. Her world must have fallen apart right there and then.
PC Jones then turned to me.
‘John, I need to run something past you. How well did you know Martin Soil? I understand he goes to your school and was in your class?’ My heart must have stopped beating for a second; it all came back to me. Why I ran away in the first place which was to get away from what I did to him.
‘Yes I knew Martin he bullied me a lot, why do you ask?’
‘He was badly attacked a few weeks back.’
‘Is he ok?’
‘Yes he’s pulling through and will be fine. Can you tell me the last time you saw Martin please?’
‘Yes was in school and he handed me a note?’ I took a deep breath; I bet the PC could read me like a book.
‘What did the note say?’
‘I can’t really remember but was a threat to have me killed.’ My eyes filled up with tears and I found it hard to hold back.
‘It was me, I hurt him because he was attacking me, I’m sorry, I'm really sorry that’s why I ran away.’ The PC looks at me with relief and no surprise to my confession, he writes down some notes.
‘John listen to me try to calm down, Martins ok but we will have to take you in once your fully recovered ok and we fully appreciate your honesty.’
‘I'm sorry I'm so sorry he was going to kill me I promise.’
‘John you need to relax and calm down. You will have a chance to explain everything to us.’
I couldn’t believe I had confessed. I will be in hell of a lot of trouble. I look up and see the curtain open slightly. Staring at me with his cheeky grin was a face I've been dying to see for a very long time.
‘Dad!’! I burst into tears at the sight of him. He came over to me and gave me a comforting hug. I felt now that my dad’s here everything will be ok.
‘How are you feeling big man?’
‘Dad I'm so sorry. I'm in a lot of trouble I hurt someone I'm so sorry.’ He looked at me with his big comforting eyes.
‘Little man it’s going to be fine, you’re safe now I promise.’ He turns to one of the police officers.
‘I’ve heard you’ve charged someone?’
‘Yes sir we have, Mark Somers.’
‘I knew it; I knew that man was trouble.’ My dad leaped up in a rage, his face went purple.
‘Sir, please calm down try to remember where we are.’ He sat down on a chair next to me. I could see the anger in his eyes; the look on his face told me that he would never forgive himself for letting Mark hurt me like that.
‘I assume he won’t be let out?’
‘That’s right Mr Malcolm; he’s been denied bail and will be in custody until his court hearing.’
‘Good I hope that bastard rots. I hope for his sake I never see him.’ his face still purple with anger.
‘John, who did you hurt.’
‘Mr Malcolm we will need to take your John in for questioning once he’s recovered. We need his statement for aggrav
ated assault on a class mate.’
‘Is that right John?’
‘Yes dad he tried to kill me and has been bullying me for ages. I didn’t know what to do; I didn’t mean it or want to hurt him.’ He gave me a hug and said, ‘John you’re going to be fine ok just promise me you’ll tell them the truth about everything ok?’
‘I promise dad.’
‘Mr Malcolm.’ said PC Jones. ‘We’re going to leave now, here’s my card we’ll be in touch as soon as John here is discharged. We’ll take things from there.’
‘Thank you officer,’ they both make their way through the curtains and out of the ward.
Dad and I sit there for hours chatting, having a laugh together. He was telling be about a holiday he had and the plans he had for me and my brother once all this is done with. He seemed completely oblivious to the amount of time he was there. I told him about my vivid dream and how I wanted to live with him. I felt now everything was going to be ok.
***
Chapter 9
Six months has now past and I've been in a young offender’s institution for three months, with two remaining. I got charged with attempted manslaughter on Martin Soil, even though it was self-defence. Luckily for me the note he wrote was found in my school uniform which I stashed under my bed. He admitted writing it.
When I get released I’ll be living with my mum and dad in Portsmouth. They got back together and have a new pet called Hope who was found by my side. Hope sleeps next to a photo of me in the lounge. I can remember everything. Hope kept me strong through my ordeal and I have a lot to thank for that. I never found out why Mark did what he did to me. I guess things happen in life and you never find out the reason however, knowing I got through what I did; nothing in life will faze me.
Sometimes at night I see little green lights above my bunk which give me a feeling of comfort and warmth but I can’t tell if I'm dreaming or not. I will never forget that magical place I visited and always wonder if I died for a second and went to heaven, one day I’ll know for sure but from now on I’ll be making my life the best I can.
***
The End
Thank you for taking the time to read my work, this is my first book and would really appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Gareth Parker
Please feel free to contact me at:
[email protected] or visit my website: www.gpbookshelf.com
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