an honest mistake

Sitting on the floor with his knees pressed against his chest, Justin watches his parents pace the living room floor. It’s almost ironic that this is the first time, in a very long time; both his parents are in the same room together, actually agreeing in something about one of their children. He watches their arms flail as they try to express themselves in a way that their bodies cannot articulate. Their speech is high and the pitch is almost questionable on whether or not it borders on hysteria. Closing his eyes, he knows he has made a mistake. He should have woken Brian up. He was impulsive… again. One would think his impulsivity would decrease in age, but that hasn’t seemed to be the case. Quickly opening his eyes, he gasps as he feels as though all the air has been swooped out of the room from an angry hand. Jumping to his feet, he tries not to fall back down as his knees shake. “They’re coming!” But who? Is it the agency or the fundamentalist group? At this point, it doesn’t matter. Craig turns his head towards the front door and Justin takes a quick step towards the back, when the blond yelps and stumbles backwards. They are surrounded! The front door bursts open at the same time as the back. Jennifer screams. Craig grabs Justin’s hand, pulling his son close to him so roughly that they both stumble forward. “No!” he yells, “You can’t have him!” Jennifer runs over to her son, hugging him tightly, “We’ll do anything, please!” Justin shuts his eyes tightly: afraid to see the faces of the people wanting to take him away from the world he knows. Craig’s voice booms in his ears and Justin listens as his father tries his business tactics to make a deal. He promises money, stocks, bonds… even his own company… Justin knows it’s useless and when he hears the terrified shriek from his mother, he lets the tears slide down his cheek. A hiss can be heard and then all Justin can feel is a cold wind swirling around him, forcing him to open his eyes in confusion as his parents’ grip on him weaken. White smoke is all around him. Justin knows immediately that it won’t hurt him. It isn’t meant to. It’s meant to make people lose consciousness. People that aren’t part of LINE26. Stumbling backwards, both Jennifer and Craig fall onto the floor unconscious, while the group of assailants wearing full face oxygen masks comes into view. Justin drops to his knees, letting the smoke cover him from their line of vision, and quickly scurries out of the house. He doesn’t stop running until he’s out the door and miles away.