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Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
 
 
 

Devil Days - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Missy Red and Kaleidopy
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 3

Early the next morning, Therese came into the guest bedroom the find Jean-Luc sitting in a lazy boy chair rocking the small boy, who lays asleep in his arms. He glances up to greet her, " Y' startin' a lil' early dis mornin'?" He asks her by whispering the question. " It's not even daylight outside an' yet y' ready t' work."

" Got a lot to do today, Mr. LeBeau. And you know I have only three more weeks left before I go back to Washington to finish my schooling." Therese walks over to the man, looking down at the child, she whispers. " Do you want me to put the boy back in the bed?"

" Non, de boy is fine where he is," Jean-Luc continues to rock in the chair. He manages to pull the blanket up a little closer to cover the boy completely. " De chile woke up screamin' from a night mare several hours ago, took me an' Henri both t' calm him down b'fore he fell back t' sleep."

" There's no telling what things have been done to this little one," She stoops down and softly touches the little boy's hair before she sighs. " You wouldn't believe the horrible stories I have heard about what happens to these kids, and this one is so young to be placed in that kind of environment."

" Henri's been tellin' me dem stories most of de night." He gets to his feet and carries the boy back to the bed, covering him up with the sheets and blankets, he waves Therese out of the room. Closing the door behind him, Jean-Luc walks down the stairs. " Y' best start down here so not t' wake de boy. Tante should be here soon, tell her t' keep de boy here as long as he wants t' stay."

" When should I tell Tante Mattie when you are returning, Sir?"

" Late tonight, Dere's business wit' de guild t' do an' anot'er matter dat's more important at de moment." His voice trails off as he glances upstairs. " Tell Henri, t' cancel his plans for de next few weeks an' t' invite a few very close friends over." Jean-Luc smiles slightly noticing her confusing look. " Therese, mon fils will know what I mean just make sure y' deliver dis message t' Henri, caprice?"

" He will get the message and should I tell Tante Mattie as well?"

" Oui!" He answers quickly before leaving

Several hours later, the little boy opens his eyes and looks around his surroundings. He remembers his stash under the bed, quickly getting out of bed he reaches under the bed and pulls out the shirt and the merchandise he had stolen. He puts the shirt back on and places his stash inside the shirt, he opens the door and looks both ways down the long hall, seeing nothing or anyone, he takes off for the stairs. Before he can take three steps down the stairs, a wonderful aroma catches his senses. He follows the smell downstairs and into the kitchen.

" Y' ready for breakfast, chile?" Tante Mattie greets him at the doorway entrance with a smile.

" Oui!" The boy answers quickly and runs to the table. He watches her cook, finding the courage to strike up a conversation, he begins. " Where's M'sier LeBeau?"

" In town." Tante answers quickly as she adds several spices in with the eggs. Pulling down two plates from the cabinet, she walks over to the table and places them down on the table, one in front of the boy and the other one directly across the table from him.

" Y' tell me 'bout M'sier LeBeau, non?" The boy flashes her a huge grin.

" Chile, y' tryin' t' con Tante?" Tante lifts the iron skillet from the stove and brings it over to the table and begins to fill both plates with eggs. " With a smile like dat one, y' gonna be breakin' a lot of hearts when y' grow up." She returns to the kitchen and gets another skillet and puts bacon on the plates. " Jean-Luc is a very kind and honorable man an' dat's just de beginnin'." She sits down at the table and puts salt over her eggs. " Tell y' what, y' ask Jean-Luc y'self all dese questions if y' want t' know more."

" Non, just wanna t'ank M'sier LeBeau for his hospitality, b' I got t' be goin'."

" Y' goin' t' eat b'fore y' walk out dis door, chile." Tante motions with her folk for him to eat. She watches as he obeys her. " Jean will b' back late tonight. Y' want t' stay here an' spend de day with Tante?"

" Non, mais, merci beau coup."

" Y' more dan welcome t' come back again." Tante lets him out of the house and watches as he runs off down the street. Sighing deeply, she shakes her head. She knew the little boy had managed to touch everyone's heart in the house, but the problem facing everyone was getting the boy to open up to them. Trust, she knew did not come easy for him. He had been hurt deeply and what ever had scared him in his sleep out there was still waiting for him in the streets.

In town, the boy was searching for his hiding place to add his new treasure to his other collection. The streets were unusually quiet for a Sunday morning. Maybe he would not see his tormenters today. Turning a street corner, he suddenly realizes his dream just turned into a nightmare.

" Well, well, well, look who we have here, boys." The leader of the group speaks up as he walks in front of the boy. " Whatcha got in your shirt, devil boy?"

" Yeah brat, you think you can escape us?" The second teenager replies as he grabs one of the trinkets out of the boy's shirt and studies it. " Hey Jarod, he's been holding out on us again."

" Give me that, Paul." Jarod, the leader, grabs the item from the second boy and holds the trinket in front of the boy. " I thought that last beating I gave you smarten you up some." He throws the trinket down on the ground and breaks it. " I can see you need to be punished for not listening to me." He starts beating his fist into his other open palm. " And this time you will not be so lucky." Turning to his two companions. " Paul, you and Wayne hold him good. He screams just once, cut him and give him a reason to scream."

The boy suddenly ducks in between Jarod's legs, grabs the broken trinket and takes off running. He turns around and laughs. " Y' be not'in' but idiots, y' couldn't catch me even if I let y' try." He runs down the streets as fast as his legs can carry him, he dodges down several streets, knocking over several people who got in his way. Hearing but not paying attention to their curse words they yell at him, he finds his hideout, an old abandon shack. Opening and closing the door behind him, he quickly puts the old rusty office chair next to the door knob to keep anyone out that might hurt him. Catching his breath, he slowly lays down on the dirty mattress that he uses as his bed. He watches for several minutes and begins to pull out all the things that was in his shirt including the broken trinket. A slight noise catches his attention as he sees a huge rat crawling across the floor moving towards him, he picks up a rock from the pile he keeps by his bed and throws it at the rat, making it disappear into the darkest part of the shack. Remembering all the warm food and clothes that the people from the huge house had given him, was making him regret stealing from them in the first place. He gets back to his feet and quickly stuffs the trinkets back down his shirt. He waits until it gets dark before he leaves the safety of his shack.

Around eleven the same night, the door bell rings. Opening the door, Henri LeBeau glances down at his visitor. " 'ello petite, we were hopin' y' come back. Y' want t' come inside?"

" Is M'sier LeBeau home?"

" Oui, just wait in de livin' room," Henri answers while grabbing his car keys. " I got an errand t' attent t', y' can wait for pere in dere if y' want."

" Merci," The boy nods and walks into the living room. Hearing the door slam behind him, he quickly looks around to see if anyone was watching him. Satisfied that the coast was clear, he quickly puts back the things he had stolen the night before. Unknown to him, the owner of the house stood in the shadows watching his every move. The boy finishes and sits down on the couch waiting.

A few minutes later, Jean-Luc enters the room and pretends to act surprised that the boy was back.

 

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