�--Awakenings--


�Elijah! Will you fetch me a cloth and stop worrying!�

�But what if he�s hurt bad? It�ll be my fault.�

�He don�t look good.�

�Who is he?�

�God we�ll fetching any ole� strays in now?�

�Why are there so many of you in here? Get out plague someone else give me peace to treat my patient. Stuart don�t give me that look! Out!�

On and on the voices continued, blending into each other occasionally jolting me out of unconsciousness. On these occasions I would ask for water and hungrily gulp it down my dry throat before succumbing to the deep dark rivers of sleep once more. When I finally awoke the pressure underneath my back confused me it was so long since had been near one that at first I did not know or recognise the feel of the mattress. Realising that I had not awoken in my usual alley I was immediately frightened I opened my eyes and tried to take in the sights of the room but without lights it was pointless. Out of my mind with terror now I was about to leap up when I heard someone enter binding my eyes shut I feigned sleep and listened to the new entrants� conversation.

�So he just came out of no-where?�

�Apparently so.� The second voice belonged to the man in the alley.

�And you just fetched him back? God Paul! He could be anyone!�

�He risked his life for Elijah I saw myself he jumped on that lummox�s back like Jacob on an Angel.�

The first voice snorted �I hardly call Buck James an angel.�

�Your right this is quite the role reversal here.� The voices were nearer now no more then a foot away. I struggled to keep my breathing steady and that of one in deep sleep. �We have the angel right here.� I fought the urge to gasp as those fingers once again returned to my face this time following my jaw line and stopping just below my ear.

�He is very beautiful don�t think I haven�t noticed Paul but he�s a liability�he could��

�Don�t lie to me Damian you�re so blinded by your precious Stuart you couldn�t hope to notice Michelangelos �David� brought to life.� The fingers were stroking above my left eyebrow now and I nearly jumped in shock at the first mans loud reaction.

�HOW DARE YOU PAUL! How dare you come in here and throw that in my face, I�ve spent the entire night looking after this boy for you I�ve barely slept. The only times I�ve had a minute to myself Elijah has plagued me with questions�� He was once again interrupted by the second man known as Paul

�Yes he is rather taken with him isn�t he?�

�Who Elijah?�

�His been pestering me as well with questions about our hero. No doubt your Stuart will have words about that. Whatever will he do without his own personal cheerleader?�

� �My� Stuart won�t have any words this boy won�t be staying.� The man named Damian sounded as if he was holding desperately onto his temper.

�Oh please Damy! Look at him! If this child has lived anywhere in the last six months I�d be amazed. You think he�ll turn my offer down?�

�If he had sense.�

�Your naivety is so charming Damy.� He chuckled

�My naivety died when I came here Paul...as did the rest of me�

�I will not discuss this any more I�ll return when you�re in a logical frame of mind.� The one called Paul spat angrily I heard heavy footsteps �Let me know when he�s awake.� He said letting the door slam. Me and �Damy� were finally alone.

The man was quiet for a full ten minutes and when I had begun to wonder whether the Academy handed out Oscars for greatly convincing sleeping roles a voice whispered in my ear �You can stop pretending now.�

My eyes flew open and I found light grey ones above only inches away from my own face. �Who...who are you?� I whispered, never tearing my eyes away from his.

�Damian.� He winced �Not Damy.�

�Ahhhh�� I answered feeling every bit the feeble minded moron that reply made me seem.

We sat like that for a while our glances never leaving each other. He studied me as much as I studied him. He was a tall man of around 30 years of age, his height was about six feet, lanky but athletic with it and to finish it off a shock of red hair framed his face. He was what one would call �old school� handsome I did not find it difficult to imagine him lighting Rita Hayworth�s cigarettes or seducing Grace Kelly. Finally he let out a deep sigh.

�What now?� He asked

�Huh?� Damnit, the village called they want their idiot back.

He grinned broadly at me �What�s your name kid?�

�Darren�

�Darren what?� I shrugged and he sighed again while looking past me and out the window. I turned to look as well but all I could see was blue sky. Where in hell were we?

�You�ll say yes.�

�I�ll say yes to what?�

�You won�t realise at first what you�ve done but when you do�you�ll regret it. That is if you�re smart. There are many here they act like they love it. The house, the money the security but they can�t not really. Nobody could.� He continued speaking to the window, never once looking at me.

�Love what, what are you talking about�am I still unconscious?� He gave a braying false laugh and met my eyes. Leaning closer on the bed he whispered

�Good luck little Darren No-name.� And kissed me gently on my forehead while I gaped back at him like a fish. He stood up and left the room never looking back.


tbc