Chapter 2: The Boy In The Alleyway
August got up and started to head home for real this time. And in the meanwhile, Easton had called to tell them he was going home too.
August got out of the building and locked the door. He started to walk down the street. All the streetlights were on the people were also out at this time so it was never really that dark. He got to the coffee shop, it closes at 10 so he had about 15 minutes. He open the door and saw the look of dread and tiredness on Cams' (The Barista) face.
" Sir, we are closed... Oh, it's you. Don't you fucking come here again," Cam said, moping the mud-filled floor.
"And why not? I fund this place." August said, getting himself comfy on a seat. as the one in his office felt like a rock
"Because that little winning of yours got people here because they saw you walk in this shop. So get the fuck out." Cam said, still mopping the floor.
"Fine, but I want a free coffee in the morning then. For the very rude customer sever" August said, getting up without his beloved coffee.
August walks out...Coffeeless and started to head home. He was wearing a mask and had put a wig on before he left so no one notices him. About one block from his apartment, he heard a large scream coming from an alleyway behind him. It was empty in this area because this isn't the safest part of the city (hence why the rental fees are so low). But it was well-lit enough that made August want to go in.
Curiosity killed the Cat but August wasn't one to be killed so easily. August approach the alleyway to see a boy... Standing in the middle of the alleyway, his head facing down. Blocking August's view to his face. The boy was wearing a ripped hospital gown and have bruises all over his body. His hair was jet black and looked about 12-13 years old, skinny to the bone. August felt a strange presence coming from the boy. One that was so injured yet so angry. The boy looked up at August and fear ran down his spine. The boy had almost demonic-looking red eyes. Once their gaze met, suddenly the boy fainted. Landing hard on the ground.
August didn't hesitate and called the police. He ran up to the boy to check his pulse... it was slower than should be. The boy opened his eyes and August knew this kid didn't have much longer. His eyes were glassy, his skin slowly becoming paler by the second and his body temperature lowered drastically. August pulled the boy closer as the sound of a siren started to approach. He could feel the boy's breath become slower against his chest. These are the signs of death August thought. The only way to save him would be serious medical attention. As the boy's pulse become slower to almost nothing the Ambulance arrived. They quickly got the boy on a stretcher and gave him oxygen along with a quick zap to the heart. They rushed him to the ambulance along with August. The boy seemed to be dead but the monitor said otherwise.
They arrived at the hospital, rummaging through the whole crowd to get the boy to emergency care. August was forced to sit outside of the operating room. Allowing crippling guilt to climb up on him. Not to mention the fact it would take a miracle to pull the boy out, August couldn't help but feel it was his fault. Had he called them before the boy fainted, maybe he would have had more of a fighting chance. Maybe it would have been easier to save him, they would have gotten there faster. Had he just reacted on spot, and investigated later, he could have been more helpful. No, he thought, it wasn't the time for that.
August waited... about 5 hours went by, doctors trading in and out as some were too exhausted to go on. After another 30 minutes, all the doctors came out, one stayed behind to tell August the News.
"Mr. Dexter, I am happy to report the boy has survived and is on a speedway to recovery." The doctor said, whipping off the sweat on her head.
"Thank god he's alright! But may I ask, do you know where the causes of the bruise or his red eyes are?" August asked, internally screaming in joy.
"I'm sorry, bruises? There were none of the sorts, and the boy has brown eyes. I can see why they could look red in the dark, but they were in fact brown. Anyways I need to rest for a bit, I'll get a nurse to take him to a room. We don't have any information on the boy so if you have any, please give us some."
The doctor waved her hand to a nurse, who with August's help moved the child to a room. August stayed in the room, the nurse left after fixing him up for UV. And everything went silent. August didn't have any records because he didn't know the boy. But one thing bothered him, he had heard of brown eyes look red in the night, and had seen it happen before. But never before were they so evil looking, along with the mysteriously disappearing bruise, it seemed very strange to August.
Suddenly the boy woke up, August noticed and got closer. The boy opened his eyes, and just as the doctor said they were brown, but they did have a red tint.
"Where am I?" The boy asked, slowly rubbing his eyes, getting used to the light.
"At the hospital, are you feeling alright?" August wanted to ask more questions but now wasn't the time. The boy seemed to get a bit more worried once the word Hospital came out.
"Why am I here?" The boy seemed ready to run, but notice he was attached to the UV machine.
"So you don't know yourself? Because I just say you hurt in an Alleyway." August wasn't surprised, forgetting what happens before/after a large incident is normal.
"No, I don't know. I don't know... I can't remember anything." The boy said, looking as if he was trying to remember.
Temporary Amnesia, August thought. Possibly the boy was hit on his head, which would explain his fainting.
"Do you at least remember your name?"August asked. The boy shook his head.
"Alright then, you get some sleep, I'll inform the doctors you've woken up. Fine with you?" The boy nodded, August got up from his seat and went to inform the doctors.
The doctor from before came in the check everything, the boy was fine... Even the doctor was surprised, there wasn't a single thing wrong. Just a moment ago he was on the verge of death. But the doctor did find it strange the boy had no memory because there were no injuries to the head. The doctors told the boy to stay for 2 days but called over August to her office.
"So, we had to check dental records while doctors were taking breaks and this boy doesn't exist. He doesn't have any records of being born and we took his hair for a DNA scan and it doesn't match anyone in the Worlds Data Base. This child wasn't seen on any cameras in the past, and the first time he was ever spotted was, with you. So if you wish to do anything further, you have to adopt him. Or get him to an adoption center where they will provide the treatment this boy needs. the choice is yours, but without documentation of any kind, we can't do anything." The doctor said, putting an adoption paper on the desk.
August knew how horrible and cruel adoption centers were. Most children that come out aren't very...healthy. It's just the cruel reality of things. August thought about adoption, it would give him unwanted publicity, but he wasn't going to let a kid fall into the world he once suffered. No, he thought. No one deserves what August had to go through. Plus he liked kids, and would often take time off to do Guest Lecturing at schools.
But, he didn't know if the child wanted to be with him. If the boy even wanted to be with someone. August was hesitant. But it would be better to at least get the kid the help he needs. And without documents, it would be pretty much impossible.
August grabbed the paper and started to fill out everything. He kept the 'First Name', 'Age', and 'Date of Birth' sections empty, but put the last name as Dexter. Even if he didn't end up keeping the kid, at least he will have the last name.
"Do you know the kid's age?" August asked, still wondering about the name.
'He's about 13, maybe a bit younger" The doctor said.
August filled the age part out and gave him the birthday of 'March 18, 2025'. The date currently was March 18, 2038. He did it like that because then they could celebrate his 13th birthday with the boy. As for the name...
"May I go ask the boy for the name?" August asked, already having a name in his mind.
"Sure, but please come back right after."
August filled the form in a way that if the boy remembered anything, it could easily change. August walked to the room the boy was put in and heard a large scream.
August ran into the room the find the Nurse holding the UV pin, and the boy screeching at the top of his lungs. The Nurse look at August with a mix of fear and shock, August knew she didn't do anything to hurt him. He slowly walked up to the boy and in a way hugged him to cover his face. The boy slowly calmed down and the nurse just left without doing anything.
After a while, the boy was completely fine and August asked him about the adoption. But they couldn't get the UV back in him.
"---So are you fine living with me? I'll take care of you and everything if that's what you would like." August asked, talking in the most gentle anyone had ever heard from his mouth.
"Ya... you won't hurt me right?" The boy asked, finally looking August in the eyes.
"Why would I? But if it's fine with you can I na---"
"Azrael... that's my name." The boy said, not knowing the meaning or story behind the name.
"Did you just remember that? I thought you couldn't remember. Who gave you that name?"August asked, slightly concerned about the boy's parents who chose that name. As in a lot of cultures, Azrael is the Archangel who separates a soul upon death. Or the Angel of Darkness. But he was glad a few of the boys' memories were coming back.
"I can't remember... I just know it was the name given to me." The boy said.
"Would you like a different name? Can you remember your birthday?" August asked, wondering what the boy would do.
"No, I-I want this name. But I don't know my birthday, so it's whatever you like" The boy replied.
August nodded him, he walked back over and wrote Azrael in the way he knew it as. August filled out the form. And gave it to the doctor. August look at the time; it was now 4:55 am so there was no point in going back home because August was closer to his office anyways.
He got out of the doctor's office and went to the cafeteria to order some coffee. He truly needed it after the night August had. He planned out the order of things he would have to get done. The boy... Azrael would have to stay another 2 days at the hospital and then go to a psychiatric ward to see if anything is wrong with Azrael and his amnesia. And to see if he had any proper schooling so August could get him into one once he is healthy.
But as for him today, he had to talk to a bunch of 8-9 graders about rape and stuff. And most likely have to deal with another murder case because one has been on the rise. But the biggest problem is the newfound paparazzi after people catch wind of the boy August just adopted. August sighted but then was called to grab his coffee. It wasn't as good as Cams but the amount of caffeine inside was enough to neutralize the effects of an anesthetic injection of the highest dose.
The time was now 5:32 AM, it would take August 20 minutes to walk to his office.
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