Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:48:51 -0400
From: Ronyx <ronyx@woh.rr.com>
Subject: Down the Darkened Path   Chapter 16

The following is a work of fiction. Any similarities to anyone are purely
coincidental. The story is intended for a mature audience. It may contain
profanity and references to gay sex. If this offends you, please leave and
find something more suitable to read. The author maintains all rights to
the story. Do not copy or use without written permission. Write
ron@themustardjar.com with your comments. Ronyx is a prolific Nifty
author. You can find more stories online at www.themustardjar.com by Ronyx.



Down the Darkened Path     Chapter 16



Troy was exhausted by the time all the guests had left. Even though he had
worried about people seeing him for the first time, he didn't feel that
anyone had been awkward around him. In fact, after the first few minutes of
entering the room, he had become comfortable with people sitting down and
talking to him.

He could hear Claire and Allison scurrying around the room His mother was
telling the girls where to return items on the table.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat, Troy?" He heard his mother
ask.

"No." He was hungry, but he was afraid to eat without Jayden around. At the
hospital it had been Jayden who had arranged his food on his plate so he
could easily find things. He had a clock system he would use.

"The meat is at 9:00," he'd tell him. "Your potatoes are at 2 and the beans
are at 6." He found it much easier to find things rather than digging his
fork into a plate and eating whatever he managed to scoop up.

His mother returned a few minutes later and placed a plate in his
hands. "Here, Troy," she insisted. "You need to eat something. You haven't
eaten all day." He took the plate and tried to figure out what she had
brought him. When he spilled what he thought was gravy in his lap, he
reached out and felt for an end table and put the uneaten meal on it.

"Aren't you hungry?" This time he recognized Allison's voice. She sat down
beside him and placed the plate back into his hands.

"I said I don't want anything to eat!" He angrily threw the plate onto the
floor.

"Troy!" His mother shouted. "What is wrong with you? You've made a mess."

"Get me a rag, Mother," he shouted back, "and I'll clean it up."

Suddenly, he felt a hand grab his. "Come on." Claire was pulling him to his
feet. She wrapped his hand around her arm and led him from the room. He
could hear his mother muttering angrily behind him.

"I want to go to my room," he insisted as he walked beside Claire.

"Fine." They walked until they came to the staircase and stopped. "Raise
your right foot," she said. They then climbed up the stairs and into Troy's
room. She led him to the bed and they sat down.

"What is going on?" She looked worriedly at Troy. He had appeared happy
earlier, but his mood had changed after everyone left.

"Go away, Claire." He lay down on the bed, turned away from her and curled
into a ball.

"Troy?" She started to rub his back gently. He turned and faced her.

"I said, go away!" He shouted. She stood, looked down sadly at him and then
left the room.

He fell asleep, but he didn't know for how long when he was awakened by
someone sitting on the side of the bed.

"Troy? Are you asleep?" It was his father's voice.

"I was." He replied sarcastically. "I guess it's hard to tell, huh?"

His father ignored his crude statement. "You want to talk, Son?"

"Yeah, Dad," he replied as he sat up in bed. "How about we talk about the
shining moon outside? Or maybe you want to talk about how blue the water is
at the pool. Or maybe how nicely decorated my cake was earlier."

"Troy, don't." He grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Don't do this to
yourself again?"

"Do what Dad?" He pulled his hand away. "Feel sorry for myself? I'm just
supposed to go around acting like nothing happened?" He lay back on the bed
and turned away from his father.

"It's going to take time, Troy."

"Yeah, Dad." He sat back up and faced his father. "I've got a whole
lifetime ahead of me. Isn't that just great, Dad? I can look forward to you
and Mom taking care of me for the rest of my life like I'm some little
child."

"That's not true," his father replied. "You can live a normal life. You've
been hearing what they say in those counseling classes."

"A normal life!" Troy started laughing. "Yes, Dad. It's going to be a real
normal life, living alone and afraid in this dark world I now live in."

His father reached out and pulled Troy into him and held him tightly. "I'm
so scared, Dad!" He wailed as he clutched desperately to his father. "I
don't know what to do." He continued to rock his grieving son in his arms
for several minutes.

"It's going to be alright, Son." He pulled away and ran his hand over
Troy's head. His hair was beginning to grow back and the scars weren't as
noticeable.

"You've got a lot of people who love you," he said softly. "Your mother and
I will always be here for you. Claire will always love you, and then
there's Jayden."

"What about Jayden?" He pulled away and faced his father. His father
studied his son's face.

"You don't have any idea, do you?" He asked Troy.

"About what?"

"How Jayden feels about you."

He had been watching Jayden's actions closely the past two week. He watched
how he gently attended to his son at the hospital. He observed how he would
sit and just stare at Troy when he was sitting in the hospital bed. And he
saw the look in Jayden's eyes when he leaned in and kissed his son in the
garden. Over the past two weeks he watched as Jayden fell in love with his
son.

Troy turned away from his father. "I know he likes me."

Mr. Neal gently took his son's shoulders and turned him towards him. "He
doesn't just like you, Son. He's falling in love with you."

Troy knew his father's words were true. He could feel the tenderness in
Jayden's touches. He could hear it in his voice when he spoke. He also felt
it in the kiss they shared.

"I can't, Dad." He laid his body down and turned from his father.

"Can't what, Troy?" He rubbed his son's back. "Love someone? Just because
you're blind doesn't mean you can't find love. You're a wonderful person,
Son. Except for your sight, you're the same person you were a month
ago. And if I recall, you had a lot of people in love with you then."

"It's not the same," muttered Troy. "I don't want someone's pity."

"Pity?" His father laughed softly. "Is that what you think about people who
love you? You think our love is only pity?"

Troy sat up and faced his father. Tears were falling down his
cheeks. "Well, that is what it is, Dad."

"No, Son." He pulled his son into a hug. "We love you. We always
have. Don't close your heart to us, Troy. If you do, you're going to live a
very lonely life." He wrapped his arms around his son tighter when he began
to sob loudly.

"I'm so scared," he cried.

"Of course you are," he said softly. "We all are. But just remember, we
love you and we're here for you."

"I love you, Dad," Troy cried into his father's shoulder.

"I love you, too, Son." He squeezed his son tightly. After a minute he
pulled away and looked at his son's tear-stained face.

"And remember," he said, "there's a certain boy downstairs who feels the
same way."

"But, Dad." His father put his finger to his lips.

"Just keep your heart open, Troy." He replied. "Maybe Jayden isn't the guy
for you. Just don't turn away without at least finding out. Okay?" He
smiled when he felt Troy nod into his shoulder.

He pulled away and had Troy lay back on the bed. "Now get some sleep." He
kissed him gently on his forehead.


"Dad?"

"Yeah, Son?"

"Thanks."

Mr. Neal patted Troy's hand and then left the room with tears in his eyes.

**********

Claire looked around the cafeteria, watching for Jayden to enter. She
hadn't talked to him since Troy's homecoming on Saturday. She had tried to
call him, but Mrs. Neal said he had spent the weekend holed up in his room
downstairs. She and her husband had attempted to get him to join them for
dinner on Sunday, but he told them he didn't feel well. The food she took
him was left untouched. Mrs. Neal also told her that Troy had spent most of
the weekend asleep in his room.

"Maybe he didn't come to school," offered Allison as Claire continued to
watch everyone who entered the room.

"There he is!" She shouted excitedly. She jumped up and ran over to
him. She took his hand and tried to pull him over to the table.

"I've got to get something to eat." He pulled away and headed to the food
line with Claire following closely behind. After getting a salad and an
apple, she took his arm and led him to the table.

"Hey, Allison." He tried to force a smile as he sat down.

Before she could speak, Claire asked him, "Where were you all weekend? I
tried to call you, but Mrs. Neal said you wouldn't come out of your room."

"Yeah, well," he replied. "I wasn't feeling too good." He looked over and
noticed Allison staring intently at him.

"How was Troy this morning?" Claire asked.

"How would I know," he snapped back. "I'm not his keeper." Claire's eyes
widened in surprise.

"What is wrong with you?" Claire reached for his hand, but he quickly
pulled it away. "That wasn't a very nice thing to say."

He rose to his feet. "Maybe I'm not a very nice guy." He turned and walked
away, leaving his untouched food on the table.

"May I have a pass to go home?" Jayden was standing before the nurse in her
office.

"What's wrong?" She reached out and felt his forehead. "You don't seem to
be running a fever. Have a seat and let me take your temperature."

"It's my stomach," he moaned as he bent over as if he was in pain. "I think
it may be the cafeteria food."

"Let me get you something for your stomach then," she said with
concern. She disappeared and returned with a small bottle of Pepto
Bismol. "This should help."

He bent over and moaned again, only this time louder. "I think I should
just go home," he insisted. "I think I'm going to be really sick."

"Then let me call your mother," she said.

"I don't have a mother," he responded angrily. "I'm nineteen, so I'm old
enough to sign myself out."

"Yes, of course," she said sympathetically. "I'll write you an excuse to
leave. Come see me when you return to school tomorrow."

"Yeah, sure," he replied as he took the paper from her hand and left the
office. He walked down the hall and left the building.

**********

The phone rang in Mr. Fallingsworth's office. "There's a Detective Wallace
here to see you."

"Show him in," he replied. He put on his coat jacket and opened his door
just as Wallace approached.

"Come in," Fallingsworth stepped back and let the detective pass. He took a
seat as the principal walked around and sat at his desk.

"Do you know what class the Henderson boy has right now?" Wallace asked.

"Why?" A worried expression came over Fallingsworth face when he heard the
anxiety in Wallace's voice.

"His cousins were released from jail last week," he informed him. "We got a
tip this morning that they are trying to find Jayden."

Fallingsworth grabbed the phone and called Jayden's senior advisor. He
waited patiently for a few minutes before putting down the phone and
looking worriedly at Wallace.

"He's not in school," he told him. "He left about an hour ago. It appears
he went to the nurse and signed out sick."

"Shit," spat Wallace. He pulled out his cell phone and talked to someone on
the other end. "We've got a code red," he said urgently. "I need an officer
to get over to the Neal home and see if the Henderson boy is safe. Call me
the minute you get there." He rose from his seat and headed to the door. He
turned, "If he comes back to school, call me immediately." He handed
Fallingsworth his card and hurriedly left the office. The principal rushed
out, searching the halls in hopes that Jayden had not left the building.

**********

"Hey, Girl!" Trixie had just run up to Troy as he lay by the pool basking
in the warm sun. It was a welcome relief from the hospital bed he had been
lying in for the past two weeks.

He laughed as she wormed her way into his lap. "Stop it, Trixie!" He
giggled as she nuzzled into his shoulder. "You're going to tip us over." He
had no sooner said that when the lounge chair rolled over, tipping them
both off. Trixie immediately jumped on him and started licking his face.

He could hear someone running down the steps toward him. "Are you alright?"
His mother shouted loudly. Seconds later he could feel her hand on his arm
trying to pull him to his feet.

"I'm alright, Mom!" He hollered. "Trixie and I were just playing."

"You must be careful, Dear," she warned. "You don't want to hurt yourself."

"I was just having fun!" He screamed. "I'm not an invalid!" He pulled
himself to his feet. Trixie jumped on him, wanting to continue playing.


"Down, Girl," he said angrily. "I'm not allowed to have fun. I might hurt
myself."

His mother looked sadly at him. She had been trying to stop being so
protective, but it was hard to break a mother's instinct to keep her child
safe. The counselors at the hospital had been telling her that Troy needed
to be allowed to experiment with his freedom, so he could learn what he was
capable of doing and what things he would need someone`s assistance. It
troubled her to see him searching with his hands as he tried to find his
way around the house. The cane he was given helped him from walking into
objects and he was learning quickly how to move around without much
trouble.

"I'm sorry, Troy," she apologized as she took his hand and wrapped it
around her arm. "I'm really trying."

"I know," he replied. "It's just frustrating sometimes. All I think about
is being back in school with my friends. What time is it?"


She looked down at her watch. "Two fifteen."

"I'd be in Mr. Linder's sixth period English literature class." He started
laughing. "That guy used to bore the hell out of me, but right now I think
I'd like to be there. It sure beats being bored sitting around her all
day."

"Why don't you have some friends over tonight?" His mother suggested as she
led him up the stairs.

"And do what?" He replied sarcastically. "Sit around and watch television?"

She looked over as tears filled his eyes. She could only imagine what it
must be like to be so young and not be able to see the world any
longer. Things that he had previously been taken for granted, like watching
television or surfing on the web, had now been taken from him. Tears fell
down her cheek as she thought he'd never again see a rainbow in the sky or
the smile on someone's face. She tried to silence her crying, but she
stopped and buried her head into Troy's shoulder and started sobbing.

"I'm so sorry," she cried. He stepped away and started searching for the
next step with his cane.

"I don't need your pity, Mom," he said angrily. He found the step and
walked up. "I don't need anyone's pity."

She wiped her eyes dry, and then rejoined Troy who had managed to walk up
three steps by himself. "I don't pity you," she said. She took his hand and
squeezed it. "At least I don't try to."

"I know," he sighed. She helped him up several more steps until they came
to the deck. Most of the furniture had been moved to the side so he could
find his way outside better.

"Are you hungry?" She asked. "You didn't each much lunch."

"Alright," he responded. "Is there any chocolate cake left from the
Saturday?"

"Of course." She smiled as she led him into the kitchen. She took him to a
seat at the island, and then cut two large pieces of cake. She placed a
fork in his hand and then sat down next to him.

"I still think you should have some friends over tonight," she said. "It's
getting warmer out, so you could swim for a little while."

"Maybe," he mumbled as he stuffed a large forkful of cake into his
mouth. After chewing it, he asked, "Where's Jayden? I didn't see him all
day yesterday and he was gone when I got up this morning. I thought he'd
stop by my room and say goodbye."

"I don't know," she replied worriedly. "He stayed down in his room
yesterday. He said he wasn't feeling very well."

"It's not like him not to come visit, though," Troy said. "He used to come
to the hospital everyday. Now we're living in the same house and he can't
even come see me."

She looked over and studied him before speaking. Her husband had told her
the prior evening what he suspected may be happening between him and
Jayden. She just wasn't sure how to approach the subject.

"What do you think of Jayden?" She asked. He sat silently for a minute to
respond.

"Why does everyone keep asking me about Jayden?"

"He's become a part of our family," she replied. "I just want to know how
you feel about that."

"I don't know," he said. He ate another mouthful of cake before
continuing. "I'm in the hospital because a couple of guys beat the crap out
of me. I awaken and suddenly there's this guy I've never met coming into my
life. All of a sudden he's there all the time, helping me out and doing
things for me. I know he likes me, but I'm just not feeling anything right
now." He turned toward her. "Does this make any sense?"

"I think I understand," she said as she took her hand and squeezed
it. "Jayden is such a wonderful young man. I think all of us have been
hoping that there would be some kind of chemistry between you."

He started smiling. "I don't need a matchmaker right now, okay? This isn't
a scene from Fiddler on the Roof. Like I told Jayden, I need some time."

"So you've talked about this then?"

"Yeah, sure." He laughed. "In the garden the other day."

She gave him a worried look. She now understood why Jayden had been acting
strangely the past couple of days. Her husband had told her about seeing
them kiss, but she wasn't aware that Troy had probably made Jayden feel he
had been rejected by her son.

"You know he cares deeply for you?"

"Yeah, I know," he started laughing. He was remembering Jayden's lips
pressed to his. "Dad told me the same thing."

He continued eating the cake, trying to decide if he wanted to know the
answer to the thing that had been troubling him for several days. "Can I
ask you something?"

"Yes, Troy," his mother responded. "What is it?"

He hesitated again before asking. "Has Will asked about me?"

One of the reasons he didn't feel that anyone could love him again was
because of Will's actions. Even though they had only dated a few months and
he had decided they should wait to be intimate, he realized that Will no
longer loved him. If he did, then he would have visited him in the
hospital. He wasn't even present at his homecoming on Saturday.

"No, Dear," replied his mother. She reached out and held Troy's hand. "But
he has asked Claire about you a few times."

"Yeah, right," he said sadly as he pulled his hand away. He pushed his
plate away and stood up.

"Can you take me down to the basement? I want to play the piano for a
little while."

"Of course, Dear." She was glad to hear him ask to play the piano. He was
extremely talented, and she was afraid that he might never want to play
again. There had been many days that she had enjoyed listening to him
practice as she prepared dinner.

She stood and took Troy's arm and led him from the kitchen to the stairs
leading to the basement. As they were getting ready to descend the steps,
the doorbell rang.

"I wonder who that could be?" She let go of Troy's arm. "You wait here
while I answer the door."

When she opened the door, two uniformed officers were standing outside.

"What's happened?" She asked excitedly. Hearing the tension in her voice
Troy became upset.

"Who is it, Mom?" He took several steps in the direction of the door.

"We're sorry to disturb you, Ma'am," said one of the offices, "but is
Jayden Henderson here?"

"No, Officer."

"Who is it, Mom?" Troy shouted several feet away. She walked over and
grabbed his arm.

"It's the police, Dear."

"What's happened?" Troy asked anxiously.

"We need to find Jayden," replied the officer. "We have reason to believe
he may be in danger. Do you have any idea where he is?"

"What kind of danger?" Mrs. Neal squeezed Troy's arm tightly.

"His cousins are looking for him," they informed her.

"Oh, God!" She screamed. She walked Troy back into the kitchen as the
officers followed them. Once there, she turned and asked, "What's
happened?"

"They were released on bail last week," one of the officers responded.
"Detective Wallace told us to get over here because we have reason to
believe they may be looking for Jayden."

They were interrupted by the dispatcher on the officer's radio. "We have a
report of a shooting on Broadway Avenue. One person is down."

Troy grabbed his mother's arm and shouted, "No!"

*******

Contact Ronyx at ronyx@themustardjar.com

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