Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 21:01:57 +0300
From: Benjamin Conner <bjconner@mail.ru>
Subject: Not as it seems (Chapter 7; Gay YF)

This is a story involving scenes of consensual sexual attraction between
the characters as they discover their love for each other. However, it will
be more a love than a pure sex story. If this type of story offends you, is
not to your liking or is prohibited by the means of national or regional
laws, don't read it!

The author - that's me Benjamin J. Conner - claims all copyrights to this
story. This Story is not for sale and it`s forbidden to copy, print or
publish it on any other site without asking me for permission. Thanks for
respecting this!

E-mail comments and feedback are very welcome to: bjconner@mail.ru

********************************************************************************
Attention Readers: I'm looking for help publishing my stories. Since I'm
not natively English, I need someone to look over my chapters before
posting them online, so the quality stays high. So, if you are good at
grammar, punctuation and phrases, you may want to spend some time helping
me. Contact me, if you'd like to do so. Thanks!
********************************************************************************

Enjoy the next chapter!

----------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7

It was half past eight o'clock in the morning. Thirty minutes left to
change one's mind before the transport would pick the two up for their
journey to re-union.

Peter looked down at Ethan and was still unsure if he made the right
decision to go there and take his son with him. But he couldn't back down
now and tell his boy, who was sitting on the stairs in the hallway, that
this has only been a dream. Ethan's eyes were so full of hope and happiness
about seeing Darren again that it would break his heart if they changed
their minds now. Beside's Peter hasn't seen a smile on his boy's face since
his mysterious new friend had been taken away. So there wasn't really a
choice for him.

"I need to make some phone calls. Stay inside the house - I guess we'll hit
the road in a couple of minutes."

"Okay." Ethan said and after a moment asked, "Uhm Dad?"

"Right here buddy."

"You won't be telling anyone where we go, right?"

"No, of course I won't, besides I don't even know where we are going."

"No, I mean, you remember that we can't tell anyone, right?"

"Yeah, I know...what's wrong?" Peter inquired while he squatted down and
stroked through Ethan's hair.

"Nothing."

"You can tell me. Are you scared?"

"Nooo..." The boy looked up into his father's face. "...little bit
perhaps."

"About what?"

"I don't know. It's Darren, I hope he's alright....and all that."

"Me too, but I'm sure he's okay and is waiting for us."

"I hope you're right, Dad. I really miss him."

"I know you are even though I don't have the faintest idea how the two of
you became such fast friends and connected to one another in only a few
days."

Ethan shrugged his shoulders, looked up at his father and tried to
explain. "It's just that I like him, Dad, and he likes me. Sometimes I know
what he feels or needs - I mean, don't ask me how, but it's like as if he
talks to me."

"Yeah, he's special, just like you."

"But what if he doesn't want to see me anymore?"

"Don't worry son. I'm sure he is looking forward to seeing you again."

Ethan so much hoped for this to be true and searched for the right
words. He was incapable of explaining what and how he felt. The only thing
he was sure about was that he wanted to die right away if Darren didn't
want to see him anymore. The expression on his face became more and more
distressful looking and thinking about it nearly made him cry in
anticipation.

"Ethan, don't worry your little heart too much. Everything will be fine, I
promise."

"He needs me Dad...and I need him."

"What do you mean?"

"When Darren feels good, I feel good. When he feels bad, so do I. As if
I've known him forever and I have no idea why. I can't do anything about it
and I feel stupid, but still I'm scared."

"You don't have to feel stupid. It just shows that your heart is in the
right place and that you care for Darren. Besides, it's not important how
and why, because just like between your mom and me we have always been one
in a simple but mysterious way."

"What would she have done?" Ethan asked with mixed feelings and looking for
approval. He didn't even understand all of this himself.

"I guess she would have adopted him right away; especially, after the news
about his parents."

"What news?"

"Oh yeah," he sighed, "I didn't tell you....we'll talk about that later,
okay?"

"No Dad, what happened? Are they...?" Ethan didn't dare to say it.

"Yes son, unfortunately. They died trying to find him."

"What? Why did that happen?"

"I don't know." Peter lied to protect his son.

"Does Darren know?"

"I don't think so. We have to be very careful with this information okay?
You have to keep it to yourself. Remember, I'm the one who has to decide
which information Darren gets and which information he doesn't get, Okay?"

"Okay Dad, but what can we do about it?"

"I'll tell you later. I've got to make those phone calls, before our
transport arrives."

"But Dad, if he has no home anymore, can't he stay with us, I mean
forever?"

"It ain't that easy, buddy. I wish it was."

"Why not, I can go without birthday and Christmas presents...and you don't
have to give me pocket money....please Dad!"

"Later, okay? Now relax, I'm on the phone!"

Ethan seemed to be a little distracted by the news - his head was spinning
about his own feelings and what he could do to help Darren cope with all of
this.

Peter noticed this so turned back and once again squatted down in front of
his little man. "I know how much you like Darren. And I also know that you
would do anything to help him, but we have to work as a team here, okay?!"

Ethan slowly nodded while his father continued.

"I'll talk to some friends now. If anybody asks I'll tell them we are going
for a little vacation after what happened the past few days, and when it
comes to school, you're sick, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks dad."

A quick kiss on Ethan's forehead later, Peter was on the phone and told his
lovely neighbor Vivian, his assistant Carol, and Frank about the
plans. They all thought that this was a good idea and wished for all the
best. Frank was a little wary about the vacation story because Peter didn't
want to tell him where they would be going. But in the end, he could only
wish for them to have a wonderful time and offered to be there in case he
was needed for a talk.

After school was informed that Ethan was sick and would not be attending
classes for the week, Peter took a seat at the kitchen counter and wrote
some things down. It was a kind of insurance backup plan in case something
happened and somebody needed to know why they left and where they might
be. Time would show if this would end up being a smart move.

A couple of minutes later, the door bell rang and a taxi driver stood in
front of the Bennet's house.

"Taxi for Mr. Bennet?"

"A taxi? Well, yes wait a minute! Come on let's go buddy." Peter nodded to
his son to grab his backpack.

"Where are we going?" Peter asked the old and musty smelling taxi driver.

"Wembley!"

Both father and son looked at each other with a questioning look. Wembley
is a shopping mall in Parksville in the middle between the Morningstar
Championship golf course and Hampstead Street, where they lived.

Arriving at the parking area, a black suited man with sunglasses and a
bulge under his jacket, obviously from a gun, was waiting for them in front
of a van. It was, of course, black. The taxi had been paid already so drove
off right after the two got out.

"Mr. Bennet?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"Can I see your ID please?!"

"Sure." Peter handed over his identification.

"Thank you Sir. Would you please give me your cell phones?!"

"Can I see your identification first?" Peter asked.

Without a word, the Agent showed his badge.

"Thanks, Agent....Rodriguez. Why do you need our cell phones?"

"Cell phones can be tracked very easily Sir, and we don't want that. I'm
gonna make sure that this is not gonna happen."

"Understand, when can we get them back?" Peter turned towards his
son. "Ethan, please give the man your cell!"

"You'll get them back, when the job is done, Sir. Now please take a seat in
the back of the van! I'll take you and your son to the safe house."

"And that is where?" Peter asked before they climbed into the van.

"The reason why we call it a safe house is because it's a secret and if I
tell you where we are going it no longer is safe, right?"

"Yeah, right, I just meant if it's very far away... Whatever, Ethan come
on!"

"Can I get something to drink, Dad?"

"We prepared something for you in the back of the van so feel free to help
yourself." The agent added as an afterthought.

"Okay thanks, hop in buddy!"

The van didn't have any windows in the back. They were blind and couldn't
see where they would be going. The interior was clean and very comfortable
for an agency van. It even had a little refrigerator in the middle, which
made a weak buzzing sound. However, it was an odd situation and one could
read that in both of their faces. But Peter and Ethan focused on what this
all was good for, still hoping for the best.

Thank god the van had air conditioning, because it was about to be a hot
day on Vancouver Island, and the journey was going to end up being quite
long.

Three and a half hours along with a short stop for peeing later, the back
doors of the van opened once again. Immediately after leaving the vehicle,
they both stretched and yawned while Peter's mind tried to estimate where
they could be. It was a peaceful place at the foot of a mountain and in the
middle of an unknown forest.

It was colder than at home. Not much colder, but somehow fresher. The air
was clear, the sky was blue, and the smell of forest crept up their
nostrils. A mix of Fir needles, Oak trees, and Canadian spruce, which in
combination with the snowy tip of the mountain in front of them, reminded
them a little bit of Christmas or at least winter holidays.

But they had no time for memories, so the two Bennets grabbed their bags
and as they had been advised, walked about half a mile on a stony trail,
before they reached a large glade with a little inconspicuous wooden house
in the center of it.

The outside of the house was painted white and it had dark brown window
frames which complemented the roof. With the large wild grass surroundings
and the smoking chimney, this was the perfect place for a holiday getaway,
or for a safe house. Nobody was able to come close or run away without
being seen from one of the large windows.

                                               ***

As they came closer to the house two men opened the front door and waited
for them to arrive at the veranda - surprisingly they didn't wear any black
suits - normal jeans and shirts. What a pleasure to see.

"Who are you?" One of the men asked.

"I'm Peter Bennet and this is my son Ethan."

"Mr. Bennet, can I see your ID please?!"

"Of course, wait a moment....here it is."

"Okay, thank you, we expected you a little earlier."

"Agent Jones said, that we would be picked up by 9:00 am and well, here we
are."

"Who?"

"Agent Jones!"

"Ahh yeah, I see. So, welcome again. Please come in!"

"Uhm, can I see your badge first?" Peter asked being a little bit leery
about the guy.

"We don't carry our badges around here, Sir. You know for security
reasons. I'll show it to you inside."

                                               ***

An hour passed after they had been shown their bright and large corner
rooms on the left and right side of the first floor.

Sprinkled brown carpets, old fashioned wallpapers, neat wall lamps, wooden
rockers, and two large windows with white curtains - the rooms seemed to
mirror each other. And the little musky smell which was noticeable
everywhere in the house suited the situation perfectly. All in all it was a
warm and comfortable place.

"Dad, when can we see Darren?" Ethan asked while he sat down on the edge of
the freshly made bed in his Dad's room and becoming a little bit uneasy
about all that waiting and the strange guys. The mix of excitement and
anxiety built a strong tension in his little body for being so close to
Darren, yet still not being able to reach for him.

Peter also seemed to be a bit nervous and walked around in the room waiting
for something to happen.

"I'm not sure Ethan, the agent said we should wait for him to get us. I'll
ask if no one comes within the next ten minutes, okay?"

Ethan nodded and began a fast rhythmic tapping with his right foot, which
didn't really help them both calm down and relax. Peter tried to act cool
and sat down in the dark old rocker closing his eyes for a minute.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

The dark wooden door opened and the agent, who had welcomed them in front
of the house, asked for Peter to follow him. Ethan had to stay inside the
room for the time being. He didn't understand why he couldn't see Darren
for as long as they talked about this or that, but gave in after his father
explained that he had to see Darren first.

They way downstairs and into what meant to be the living room, was
accompanied by squeaking sounds from the wooden stairs and the floor.

"Take a seat Mr. Bennet!"

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"My name is Terry Walker, here is my badge Sir. I'm the responsible
Detective and here to protect Darren Anderson, you, and your son."

"Hmm, no agency?"

"No, RCMP, Sir."

"From who or what are you protecting us?"

"I can't tell you from who we are protecting you, Mr. Bennet, but believe
me you wouldn't feel any better if I told you, so let's just leave it at
that for the moment."

"Ok Detective Walker, I understand that you can't tell me all the details
and in fact I don't really want to know everything, but I'm here to help
you, right?"

"Right."

"Okay and I'm going to do my very best, but believe me I can help you even
better if I knew at least what this is all about?"

"The only thing I know is that Interpol needs to ask Darren a couple of
very important questions."

"About what?"

"I don't know."

"Are you searching for something or someone?" Peter tried to find out as
much as he could.

"I don't know Sir, and if I knew, I wouldn't be allowed to tell you."

"Agent Jones told me that Darren might be able to identify some important
people, is that true?"

"As I said Mr. Bennet, I don't know anything about it or Agent Jones and
what he might have told you. My only job is to protect Darren Anderson,
you, and you're son."

"Oh come on, help me to help you! I'm here with my son and I definitely
want to know if we are in any kind of trouble."

"Nothing we can't handle Mr. Bennet. The only thing we need you to do is to
make the boy talk. When this happens I'm going to call a specific telephone
number and somebody from Interpol will come by and talk to the boy."

"And what if he doesn't talk at all?"

"If he talks we all can go home soon, if not, we'll have to stay here until
further instructions."

"And if I would want to go home with my son?"

"That could be a problem, but let's focus on the next step first, okay?"

"Okay.....what will happen to Darren afterwards?" Peter's uncertainty was
readable in his face, but the detective didn't respond to that.

"Usually they are given a new identity and transferred into another state."

"They?"

"The boy and his parents."

Peter thought about what he was being told before he continued.

"Oh yeah, his parents. Did you ever talk to Agent Jones or anyone from
Interpol about this case?"

"No, we only got a small amount information about it and only follow direct
orders."

This could explain it all, but was it the truth? Peter felt uncertain about
what to do or say - so he decided to focus on what was best for Darren.

"Did you tell him anything about his parents?"

"No, we didn't tell the boy anything....Listen Mr. Bennet..."

"Peter!"

"Okay, listen Peter, you have to trust us! This is our daily business and
we know our jobs."

"So do I Detective Walker. I know how I can help Darren, but to be honest,
I doubt that I can make him talk here. Still I'll do my very best to help
him because that's why I'm here, to help Darren, just so that we are
clear."

"Good, tell me what you need Peter!"

"All I need is time Detective. Where is he?"

"How much time?"

"You won't believe it, but I don't have the faintest idea. If you wouldn't
have ripped him out of my house, he probably would have spoken by now, but
under these circumstances...." Peter shrugged his shoulders.

"I understand. Talk to him or do whatever you usually do and let me know
when you need anything, okay?!"

"I will, if you tell me where he is...oh one thing...did anybody tell
Darren about his real name?"

"Yes Peter. The first day we had a child psychologist from Interpol here
and she tried to make him talk. She also told him the truth about his
name."

"Oh wonderful, the first thing a scared boy needs...how did he react?"

"He was cool. I guess he somehow knew that Michael wasn't his real name."

"Did she talk to him about his parents?"

"No, I mean, I was just observing the interrogation and we didn't know
anything exactly, so we just told him that they'd be here as soon as he
talks."

"Great, this is getting better and better. And you expect me to remediate
your mistakes, right?"

"Peter, this is not helping. We know that we made a few mistakes, but he's
still alive and we are safe."

Peter thought about what was just said. Something was mysterious in all of
this. Why would Darren still not want to talk; especially, if it meant he
could possibly see his parents again just by opening his mouth? He could
have ended all of this within minutes.

There were only three possible reasons. First, he knew that his parents
were dead already and talking wouldn't change anything. Second, he knew
that the Agents or Detectives were lying or had something to do with all of
this. And third, that he wasn't able to talk at all.

"Ok, whatever, where is he?"

"Follow me!"

The Detective walked down the hallway and stopped in front of a book shelf
that was located under the stairs to the upper floor. Peter immediately got
the idea - a secret room. It was brilliantly done and if you didn't look
for the exact structural sizes of the house and the room layout, you
wouldn't have seen it at all.

Detective Walker pulled a hidden handle and the door with the complete book
shelf opened to the inner side where a tiny room with stairs led down into
the basement.

"Wow, never thought there was a basement."

"I guess you didn't expect the book shelf to be a door either?"

"Right you are, but why all this hiding? I mean isn't the house itself safe
enough?"

"Do you now understand the importance of the boy? This is all for his
protection, and besides life is different than on TV, Peter."

"Yeah, I already got that."

At the end of the stairs was another door. Before Detective Walker opened
it, he turned around and insistently whispered "Make him talk Peter!"

He didn't leave any time for Ethan's father to respond as he pushed down
the door handle and with a little squeak gave him access to a large room
without any windows.

                                               ***

Peter sighed deeply still a little puzzled about the the earlier
conversation. He tried to focus on the situation at hand before stepping
into the other room. Detective Walker closed the door behind him.

"Darren?"

He didn't detect any movement or hear any noise inside the warm
hideout. There was a freshly made bed to the left which looked like it had
never been used, a couch with a small table in the middle of the room, and
some old fashioned floor lamps that brightened the atmosphere. This wasn't
meant to be a kid's room. There wasn't anything in the room a little boy
would like, any toys or computer, nothing.

"Darren? Where are you?"

Peter listened very carefully and heard a short constant breathing in the
left corner behind the armchair. He slowly approached it and found the boy
sitting on the floor with his head buried between his knees and arms.

"Heyyy Darren, it's me, Peter." The grown up breathed but the boy didn't
seem to listen.

Peter feared that he might have fallen into a state of shock or some sort
of trauma and silently prayed to god that he might only be sleeping. After
he knelt down and softly put his hand on Darren's left shoulder the boy
slightly cringed.

"Darren, I'm here. Look at me, please! Everything's okay!"

Again no reaction to his words or the contact he had made with his
hand. Peter waited for about 30 seconds to give the boy some time.

"I know you are angry with me because I let them take you. I would be angry
too if I were you, but there was no other choice given to me.....Darren
please, I'm really sorry that all this happened, but we are here now, to
help you."

At the moment Peter said "we are here", Darren slowly raised his head,
looked around the room and finally up into the man's face.

Once again he had no expression in his empty eyes, and on his face - no
smile, no grimace, not even the faintest sign of relief. He seemed to be
somewhere else.

"There you are. Can you understand me?"

Darren's eyes seemed to focus and he slowly nodded.

"Thank god, are you okay?"

Another single nod.

"Here, I brought you a notepad so that we can communicate, okay? You still
got the pencil I gave you?"

The boy shook his head and threw away the notepad.

"Okay, no problem, I understand that you don't want to talk and that you're
confused about everyone calling you Darren but they just told me about it
and I can only hope that you're able to remember your real name, which is
Darren Anderson."

No reaction from the boy.

The man sighed," take your time - this has been a long journey for
you. Listen, would you want to see Ethan?"

Darren's eyes started to glow and his face filled with a questioning look
as if he wanted to say "HE REALLY IS HERE?" At least that's what Peter
understood from his expression. For whatever reason he slowly began to
understand what Ethan had told him about knowing what Darren thinks. He
tried to focus and answered the non verbal question.

"Yeah, he is here with me. He definitely wanted to come and see you. There
wasn't any chance of holding him back. You want to see him too?"

Of course he wanted to and showed that with a fast and decisive
nodding. There even was a little smile on his face - a good way to start
even though Peter had wished for an easier one. But after all, he
understood that Darren had somehow lost his trust in him and needed some
time to re-build it.

                                               ***

"DAAD, did you see him?" Ethan jumped up from the bed and impatiently
approached Peter.

"Hey....yes I saw him, but he doesn't want to talk to me."

"Why, I mean, where is he? How is he? Can I see him?"

"Calm down, Ethan! He seems to have lost faith in me and looks a little
worn out, but when I told him that you are here too, his face lit up
and....well, of course you can see him. I guess you're the only person he
really wants to see now."

"Yessss...okay Dad, now?!" Ethan was becoming excited about the upcoming
re-union.

"Give me a minute, okay?"

"No Dad, please! Show me where he is and you can do whatever you want
afterwards, okay?! Please Dad, I can't wait any longer!"

Peter shook his head and gave in. But before he would walk him downstairs,
he had to tell him about the condition Darren was in, regarding his name
and the possible hope for his parents to come by soon.

                                               ***

A minute later, they both stood in front of the basement door. Ethan looked
up to his father with an uncertain expression on his face. His little body
was still filled with a mix of fear, excitement, and hope - all together a
worrying cocktail.

"Ethan, you don't have to be scared! Everything's fine. If you need me,
I'll be here."

"Okay Dad."

Peter opened the door and stepped back to give his son access to the
room. The grown up was as excited as his boy and didn't know what would
happen next.

Ethan took a step inside the room. It felt warm and comfortable and besides
the steps from the men upstairs, nothing was heard. The light from the
floor lamps produced a moody atmosphere, but something was missing.

He looked around and tried to find his friend who was still hiding behind
the arm chair. With his soft and melodic voice, Peter's son spoke up.

"Darren, are you there? It's me, Ethan."

Just by hearing Ethan's voice the lonely boy jumped up from his hide-out
and like a flash ran over to the door. He put his arms around Ethan as if
he never wanted to let go again. Ethan's heart was pounding hard and he
felt a bit dizzy, but as soon as Darren pressed his warm body against his,
it started to slow down - the fluttery feeling gently faded away.

Nothing was said for a couple of minutes. At least nothing was to be
heard. In fact the boys' only form of communication came through their
hearts while they both simply stood there and enjoyed the closeness.

Darren pushed himself in on Peter's son while his head rested on his
friend's shoulder. This moment meant so much to him that a tear of
happiness ran down his right cheek. The wet feeling on Ethan's neck was the
silent expression of sadness and satisfaction which made them both forgive
and forget about being apart for the last couple of days. Now nothing would
able to separate them from each other....just like twin brothers.

Ethan, pretending to be the big brother, slowly began to stroke Darren's
back to comfort him, which felt a little odd, especially in front of his
father. But the most important thing now was that they could be together
again. Even if it was a mystery as to how they grew closer together in such
a short amount of time without being able to communicate properly.

While the boys hugged, Ethan noticed a weird feeling in his stomach
combined with a little stirring in his pants whenever Darren pressed
himself in on him. Perhaps it was the memory of being in the bathroom with
Darren and the sensitive touch of his friend as Ethan stood their
completely naked.

Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with sex or intimacy. It just felt
good to be together again, but not knowing why that feeling was there or
what it meant produced more questions than answers.

Peter watched them for some time before he finally whispered that he would
be upstairs. The man closed the door behind him and let the boys have their
time. He knew that this would definitely be the best thing to help Darren
feel comfortable again and finally make him talk.

                                               ***

A second before Ethan was about to ask his friend to let go of him, Darren
stepped back, turned around, and walked back over to the arm chair. He sat
down on it and left enough space for Ethan to take a seat next to him.

Darren still wore the short pants and the shirt he had been given by
Peter. His tennis socks were all dirty from the wooden floor and his hair
was quite messy. All in all he looked like he could use a shower, but there
only was a tiny sink, a little piece of soap, some yellow towels, and a
wash cloth he could have used.

Ethan, being unsure about what to say, sat down next to his friend and just
began to talk while Darren leaned in and put his head on his mate's
shoulder.

"It feels a bit awkward to call you Darren you know, though it's a cool
name? I mean, Michael is a cool name, too. I like the short forms like Mike
or Mikey. I wish I was named Michael. You can't use any short forms for
Ethan or Darren. But that's okay I guess. You can't choose your own name
after all."

Darren didn't react on anything Ethan was saying. He just enjoyed the
company and continued to listen.

"I hope they have been nice to you. If not, I'm going to kill
them. Actually I wanted killed them, when they came for you. I really did,
but my Dad held me back."

Darren stood up, picked up the notepad and a pen from the table and wrote
the words "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Ethan answered. "It was boring without you and I didn't
feel so good."

A little conversation started between the boys. The only thing was that
Darren didn't use his voice only the pen and the paper he had been given.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad." The silent boy wrote.

"Why? You didn't do anything."

"I did, but now I'm happy YOU are here. Thx."

"I'm happy to be here, too. What do you mean by you did something?" Ethan
asked.

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"Don't know, sometimes I can make people think or feel things."

"I knew it. You did that when we met first, right? How do you do that? I
mean, it was as if you were talking to me."

Darren pointed his pen to the words he had written before "I can't tell
you."

"I don't understand what you mean. You don't know or you don't want to tell
me?"

"Don't tell anyone! Promise!" The silent boy wrote and underlined the
sentence.

"Not even my Dad?"

"No one!"

"Okay, I promise even if I don't really understand what you are talking
about."

Darren ripped off the piece of paper he just used to write down the words
he wanted to say, sliced it into smaller pieces and started to eat it.

"What are you doing?"

While he chew on the first slice, he looked at Ethan and put one finger on
his lips to indicate that no one should read their communication.

"Oh, yeah, I get it."

With that, Ethan picked a slice from his friend's hand and, with a
disgusted grimace, also started to chew on the evidence of talking between
the two boys. Whatever it was, that Darren wanted to hide, it was worth
eating a tasteless piece of paper.

The next hour the boys spent their time enjoying each other's company
without much further communication. It seemed as if they were completly
satisfied with just being together and neither one of them knew why, but
that wasn't important.

                                               ***

The day slowly passed. Peter brought Darren upstairs for further talks and
tried his best to re-establish his trust. He talked and talked, asked
questions about how he was and what happened during the time he was here
alone, or went through the accident situation once again. But nothing lead
to a reasonable conclusion of all the secrecy all around this boy.

Darren sometimes answered with a questioning expression on his face, or a
little nod, a head shaking, or shoulder shrugging. Not once did he write
down any more words as he had done before with Ethan. Not even when Peter
asked about where he was from or where his parents might be now. For some
reason the boy seemed to be scared to talk to anybody but his friend and
therefore remained silent. So did Ethan.

Detective Walker looked for Peter now and then. He seemed to regularly
check that they were still there and sometimes asked the grown up about the
progress he made. But he only got unsatisfactory answers and insisted for
Peter to keep trying.

Later that evening, just before bed time for the boys, Ethan asked if he
could stay in the basement with Darren or if his friend could stay in his
room. Peter denied his requested and justified it by explaining that both
boys needed a good night's sleep for another exhausting day ahead. But this
didn't hold his son back.

At about 10 p.m. Ethan got up from his bed, checked if his father was
sleeping, and sneaked downstairs into Darren's hide-out. Both boys wanted
to be together and nothing was going to prevent this from happening.

End of Chapter 7