Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 21:37:08 -0500
From: Rhaven <rhaven2002@hotmail.com>
Subject: Averys World Chapter Nine

This story contains strong language and sexual content between boy/boy
and boy/man.


Avery's World
By RHAVEN2002

Chapter Nine
Rico was off the boulder and racing towards Brandon King as fast as
the water would allow.
"I'm going to kill you!" Screamed Rico as he dragged his restrained
legs forward.
"Yeah, right." Brandon laughed. "Sure you are, fuckin' faggot!"
Avery moved off the boulder and watched Brandon disappear into the
woods with his clothes and all hope to save Eric.
"Come back here you bastard!" Yelled Rico as he finally made it to the
beach.
By the time Avery was back on dry land, Rico had also disappeared into
the woods. He knew that there was no way he'd be able to catch up with
either of them. And truthfully, the thought of encountering Brandon
alone, in the woods, wasn't something he wanted to do again. He felt
ashamed; he was nothing but a coward.
Avery wasn't sure how long he waited for Rico to return, but when he
finally did, Avery almost cried, Rico was safe and unhurt.
"He got away." Rico said as he approached Avery. "He got away; I am so
sorry Avery... so sorry."
"Great!" Avery barked, suddenly feeling angry over the situation. "The
only person in the world that could save Eric has disappeared again
and this time with our clothes!"
Rico stepped back.  He had been reaching out towards Avery ready to
embrace him, but quickly withdraw his hands.
"I'm sorry I really tried to get him." Rico tried to explain.
"Yeah, right. We were too busy jack each other off." Avery kicked at a
pebble and missed, he kicked again but only managed to bury his foot
into the dirt. "What are we going to do now?" Tears raced down Avery's
face, he almost felt feverish from the uncontrolled anger. He sat down
on a large rock, defeated and broken.
Rico didn't say anything, he stood there and watched Avery cry.
"Bullshit!" Rico shouted. "This is all bullshit!"
Avery looked up at him confused.
"Sure we can sit here feeling sorry for ourselves, hell we could even
jack each other off. But you know what, none of that going to help
Eric."
"What do you think I've been saying?" Avery quickly stood.
"I think you've been feeling sorry for yourself."
Avery almost turned completely red, he was so angry. He wasn't sure if
it was hate for Rico, Brandon, or himself all he knew was that he was
pissed.
"Let's go home." Avery said heading toward the bike.
"Okay." Was all Rico could say, throwing up his hands in surrender and
looking down at his naked body. "I'm sure two naked boys will have a
ball traveling through town. Hey why don't we call all our friends to
join us?" Rico said sarcastically.

Now riding a bike can be tricky on a decaying pothole infested road,
but riding a bike on this same road and being naked was almost
impossible. The boys had to stop several times to rub their jarred
testicles or sore butt. At the edge of town Rico stopped.
"Now what?" He asked the still brooding Avery.
"What do you mean?" Avery said flatly.
"We are naked, Avery. I think we may draw a little attention riding
through town like this."
"I don't care, whatever."
Rico jumped off the bike so quickly that Avery almost stumbled to the
ground.
"That's it, screw this Avery. I'm sorry I didn't catch Brandon, I
tried that's all I can do." Rico paced around the bike with Avery
blankly staring at him. "I don't know what else to do for you. I...
just don't know what else you want from me."
Avery opened him mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Rico calmly got
back and rode off without Avery.

It took Avery over an hour to get back to his house, there had been
many narrow escapes, and several times, he had to jump into the bushes
to avoid from being seen. He wondered how Rico had managed, but
thinking of Rico only made him want to cry, so he tried to think of
something else. Once inside his house, he dug out his old overalls and
slipped them on. There really wasn't any reason to put on clothes, he
wasn't going anywhere, he wasn't going to have any visitors, but he
just felt uncomfortable being naked. It occurred to him that for the
first time in his life, being naked wasn't any fun.
Night rolled into Haven, as Avery sat in his favorite chair staring
out at the town he so hated. This was going to be his last night on
Earth, for tomorrow his father was coming for him during the lunar
eclipse. For something he had dreamed of for so long, Avery was
dreading it. There was too much that needed to done before he left.
They were friends now; at least he hoped they were still friends. He
didn't want to leave like this. Rico had been right; he had been
feeling sorry for himself. Rico had done so much for him and how did
he repay him? By remaining silent. Avery started to cry.
Avery was staring blankly down First Street, not really looking, but
in deep thought of tomorrow's event, when movement outside drew him
back to reality. Someone was moving towards the front door. If he had
had a porch light, he would have switched it on, the way the person
was dragging himself forward, didn't look human. Avery jumped from his
chair; a weak knock came from the door. He inhaled deeply and took a
cautious step to the door. Another knock, this time a little louder.
"Who... who is it?"
"It's me."
That didn't help, Avery thought. "Who's 'me'?"
"Rico, damn it! Open the door."
Avery exhaled with relief and opened the door. A bloodied Rico
stumbled into the house.
"I found Brandon." He said as he collapsed to the floor.
After helping Rico to the couch, Avery quickly checked his friend over
to see the severity of his wounds. There was a long gash on his right
arm and leg, though it didn't look deep. Rico had several scratches to
his neck and left cheek and his knuckles were red and swollen.
"What happened?" Avery asked once he was sure that Rico's injuries
weren't life threatening.
"Stupid, I was stupid."
Avery grabbed a towel from the kitchen and moistened it. He carefully
dabbed at the cuts on Rico's arm and leg.
"What happened?" Avery asked again.
"It occurred to me, that Brandon had found us, not us finding him.
Brandon is deathly afraid of water. He can't swim."
"I know." Avery said, not seeing where Rico was going with this.
"Why would he be hiding at the lake then? Ouch!"
"Sorry." Avery apologized as he tried to be careful cleaning the cuts
on Rico's leg.
"The twins had set us up. Brandon was hunting us, not us hunting him.
No telling how long he had been following us."
"But where did you find him?" Avery assumed that King King had caused
Rico's injuries.
"Where I should have looked in the first place." Rico shook his head.
"In the twin's tree house."
"Rico... I'm sorry." Avery managed to say. "I..."
"It's okay Avery. It's been a hard day." Rico smiled. "Ouch!"
"Sorry." Avery apologized again.
"Stupid bastard pushed me out of the tree." Rico explained.
"You fell out of the tree house?"
"Yeah, I was beating the crap out of Brandon when he kicked me and I
lost my balance." Rico whistled like a bomb falling from the ground
then ending by yelling; "Boom!" He flared his fingers to illustrate
the explosion. "I think I hit every branch coming down." He tried to
laugh, but Avery could tell his cheek was too sore to form a smile.
"Aren't we the pair?" Avery whispered. "Where's Brandon now?"
"Don't know." Rico said slowly. "He ran away again. But..." He quickly
added. "I'm going to tell my father. The twins don't stand a chance
against my dad." Rico sat up and grimaced as he moved his leg off the
couch.
"I'd better get home." Rico said standing up carefully. "My mom's
going to freak." He added looking at the clock on the wall.
"Can you make it; you want me to come with you?"
"Nah, I'll be okay." Rico stepped up to Avery and took his face in his
hands. He kissed him hard, tasting his lips, his love. "I'll see you
tomorrow?" He finally said breaking the tender kiss.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow." Avery whispered. Rico limped towards the
door, but suddenly stopped.
"What if... "He stopped and rubbed something out of his eyes.
"What?" Avery asked rushing to his friend to see what was wrong.
"What if... you didn't leave tomorrow night? Couldn't you just stay
here?" Rico wiped his eyes again. "Avery... I don't want you to
leave."
Avery looked down at the floor; he wasn't sure what to say. When had
this all become some confusing? How many times had he dreamed of
traveling through space with his father, leaving Earth behind forever?
Now, it was all screwed up.
"I don't know what will happen tomorrow." It was all Avery could say.
Rico nodded sadly and left the house. Avery watched as his friend
limped off into the night. He wasn't sure what was going to happen
now. Once Officer Martinez talked to the twins, then surely, Eric
would be in the clear. It was almost two in the morning before Avery
could fall asleep, his mind refused to be quiet. Even in sleep, his
dreams were jumbled, with thought of Eric and Rico and then of
traveling through the galaxies. He wanted both lives, one here with
Eric, Rico, and one with his father. However, he knew that reality
could not happen. He had to choose one or the other. His father and
his destiny or remain here on Earth with his friends.
When Avery finally woke up, the sun had already high in the sky. It
had been a long time since he had slept this late. He quickly got
dressed and stumbled his way into the kitchen. He had expected to see
his mother, but a quick search revealed that he was home alone. The
thought of being alone made him sad, why wasn't she here to comfort
him?
Avery waited most of the day by the window. Jumping every time a car
appeared or a kid on a bike rode by. But none were Eric or Rico, had
they already forgotten him? Did they even care that this was going to
be his last day on Earth? Avery couldn't believe that, so he waited
several more hours before finally surrendering to the idea that they
were not coming. Avery left the house; it was the feeling of a
conquered nation being banished from the land they would have died to
protect. The walk up First Street was frightening; it was almost as if
he didn't belong there. The trees seemed threatening, the fields
forbidden; even the white picket fence appeared as barbwire. Avery
knew this was all a mirage, his mind trying to play tricks on him,
trying to confuse him. On the other hand, maybe it was the Earth's
revenge for him wanting to leave it behind. It didn't matter, he was
leaving this here, no more worries, no more pain. His father was
coming in a few hours and rescuing him from this hell.
Avery looked up from the road and found himself standing in front of
the Old Hoffman House. He had walked right pass the field without
noticing. He did want to see Eric again, but was afraid, he was afraid
that once Eric was before him, he wouldn't be able to leave him.
Hesitantly Avery entered the house. It seemed so small now, as if he
hadn't been inside for years. Avery moved from the kitchen to the
living room, then to the room with the meditating light. After
checking upstairs, Avery had to come to the realization that Eric was
not here. Everyone he loved was gone, disappeared or perhaps avoiding
him, on this, his last day on Earth. Avery left the house, almost glad
that Eric hadn't been home. He still wasn't sure if he could have left
the man. But not seeing him, had left an emptiness in his heart. Avery
headed into the field. It didn't take him long to find the circle,
after all it had appeared in his favorite spot next to the old willow
tree. Avery took a seat in the middle of the burned circle. It smelled
like an old fireplace, abandoned of its warmth and comfort. Avery
didn't know what time it was, but he knew he didn't have a very long
wait. His father would be there soon.
The ground wasn't very comfortable, not with all the grass burned
away, but Avery was afraid of leaving the spot. He figured his father
would transport him out of this circle, if he was out of it, then he'd
miss his chance to leave Earth. Therefore, he sat there, uncomfortable
and hungry. Uncomfortable and lonely. Uncomfortable and sad. Avery sat
there hugging his legs tight against his chest, waiting for the sun to
set.
The sun moved agonizingly slow across the sky, the blue finally fading
to purple and then to purple and finally black. Avery yawned and
rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes. He hadn't gotten enough sleep the
night before and now he was paying for it. He yawned again as he
stared up at the moon above him. It was only a matter of minutes
before the eclipse began, Avery found himself shaking uncontrollably.
The time had come.
Avery watched as the shadow of the Earth began to move across the
surface of the moon.
"Damn." He said as puffy white clouds floated across his view. Avery
wiped his eyes, the clouds were smothering his face, making his eyes
tear up.
"What's going on?"
The clouds were surrounding him, making him cough.
"Bye Bye, faggot. I hope you burn to death." He heard someone say in
the field. Avery turned around slowly, a fire blazed across the field,
growing, building and moving his direction. Behind the yellow dancing
flames stood a figure. King King was in the field laughing and waving.
Avery knew he should run, the fire wasn't blocking him yet, but if he
left the circle then he would miss his father. He wouldn't allow King
King to destroy his only chance for freedom. Avery stood defiantly,
glaring at King King with the all the hate he could muster up.
"You won't win." Avery whispered and coughed from the suffocating
smoke.
The fire advanced closer, the smoke was almost blinding him. The moon
seemed something out of a dream, barely visible, yet full of
substance. The eclipse crept slowly across the scarred surface of the
moon, all Avery had to do was wait until it was completely cover, then
his father would appear and save him.
Avery coughed again, unable to clear his lungs of the thick smoke, his
eyes burned, but he knew he didn't dare move.
"Only a few minutes more." Avery begged. The fire began to circle
around him, growing in anger and power.
"AVERY!" Someone screamed. "Avery!"
Through the dancing flames, he could see several people running his
way, only stopping when the fire forbade them.
"Avery! Get out of there!" Eric screamed, waving his hands
frantically.
"I can't, not yet!" Coughed Avery, he pointed up at the moon for them
to understand.
"It's a lie Avery." This time it was Rico speaking. "I was stupid, so
stupid!"
Avery smiled; Rico would say anything to stop him from leaving.
"Think Avery! How did the circles get painted on Brandon's walls?"
Screamed Rico. Flashing lights had now joined the party, Avery
couldn't see where they were coming from, they seemed to feel the sky.
The moon was only half covered in the eclipse; it couldn't be his
father, not yet.
"I was so stupid not to think of it before! Brandon broke into Eric's
house and painted the walls, as he painted his. He knew you would be
here, because he heard us talking at the lake!" It sounded to Avery as
if Rico was crying, his words forced over despair.
"Please Avery listen to him!" It was his mother now speaking. "I went
to the police yesterday and told them Eric wasn't responsible. Please
Avery get out of there!"
The flames were closer; his skin felt as if it had if was sunburned,
his lungs ached from the hot air and smoke he was inhaling. It was
hard to keep his eyes open for any length of time, they seemed to dry
instantly from the powerful intensity of the flames.
"Avery, please before its too late." Eric yelled.
"I can't my father is coming!" Avery yelled back.
"Avery..." Eric said in a calm voice. "Listen to me. You are not an
alien, you're father isn't coming for you now. You are a very special
person, you are different, but that doesn't make you an alien."
The fire moved closer, eating everything in its way. Avery looked up
at the moon, the eclipse was almost complete, so was the now forming
circle of fire around him.
"Rico is different... "Eric yelled over the roar of the flames." I'm
different, even your mother is different. That doesn't make us aliens.
It's the way of life, it's what makes this world so wonderful and
surprising. We are all unique. Please Avery, come to us, don't let
your greatness die... I can't live without you."
Finally, the moon was consumed by the dark shadow, the night turned to
a sickly black and the stars sparkled with a brilliancy rarely seen.
Avery fell to his knees, he couldn't breath, the heat was sucking the
very life out of him. His skin was an odd shade of red and he swore it
was bubbling. Then as quickly as it began, the eclipse ended, the
shadow racing across the moon in departure. His father hadn't come,
his father never was coming. Rico had been right; it had been a cruel
trick of King King all along.
"Please Avery get up!" Eric begged.
"My baby, my baby." He heard his mother crying.
"Don't leave me Avery. Don't leave us." This time it was Rico.
Avery forced himself to stand; he could barely see his family now. His
mother, his father Eric and his brother Rico, for that was what they
truly were, and more.
"Move Avery, there's not much time. In all my life, I have been
searching for why I am here. What my purpose is, do I belong
 anywhere?" Eric tried to remain calm, but Avery could hear the fear
in his strong voice. "I belong with you Avery, I live for you. Please
live for me."

The universe is boundless, a house with no walls. Beyond the farthest
galaxy are... more galaxies and beyond them, more.  What a wonderful
adventure that could be. However, not all adventures must take place
so far from home. Living can be an adventure, loving, and caring; now
these are grand adventures for all. The man that seeks no quests, no
adventure, he is lost. The one who believes all should think as he
does, do as he does and nothing else. This man lives in a cage. The
universe is boundless, as is humanities possibilities.
Eric lay in the cool wooden deck and sighed. The slow moving river
tickled his bare feet hanging over the edge. Rico lay next to him
humming some tune that was stuck in his head. They came to this quiet
place to think and recover. They came here to relax and live in that
special moment, that is life. Avery rolled over on his side, resting
between Rico and Eric he didn't have much room to move. They crowded
him for a reason; they crowded him because they loved him and wanted
him close. He wasn't alone anymore, nor would he ever be again. He
giggled, with the thought of his wonderful family. They had always
been family, but Avery just hadn't realized, until the smoke cleared
from his mind.
"You okay?" Eric asked caringly, staring over to the giggling boy.
"Forever." Avery replied and he closed his eyes and pulled himself
closer to the man.
"Forever." He repeated to himself and slipped into a peaceful sleep,
dreaming not of space and the universe. But of home.

THE END