CIRCLING PASTS V (Ch. 56)

"Ta da!, what do you think?", Hailey inquires as Nathan surveys himself through the mirror, his hair had been cut short with front parted allowing the bangs to fall to either side and avoid obstructing his view, 

"It's nice" Nathan murmurs much to Hailey's delight, 

"I knew it'd look good on you" she states resting chin on his head as she beams him a smile he unconsciously mirrors, 

"Wow" she exclaims,

"Wow?"

"It's rare to see you smile, you should try it more it suits you, and i honestly prefer it to your usual stoic face" she says blithely,

"Well i don't know about that, but i'll smile if i have a reason too",

"And what reason could that be" she inquires

"That's because i like you" he replies, Hailey while still well aware of his mental innocence is unable to stop the blush that comes, 

"We should head out", Nathan states

"Wait" she replies pushing him to take a seat now facing her, Hailey draws in close her lips inches from his as their breathes mingle and deepen,

"I shouldn't be in the same room with a girl or i'll get in trouble"

"I know" 

"If i hold hands with a girl i'll be in trouble"

"I know" her ragged breath mutters

"I...i..."

"I know" she interjects as their lips meet and clothes find the floor beside them.

Morning comes and the sound of shatterd glass and siren blares force Nathan and Hailey up and dressed, Nathan takes a look outside his hear droping at the sight of several police cars and men restraining Warden Drake and Josh, Hailey pops her head out gasping at the sight of her mother who catches the sight of them both, her eyes go livid as the officers barge up racing towards their location, Nathan sprints out of the room jumping several fliggt of stairs before getting to the ground floor to find their newly refurbished home smashed, every piece of new furniture turnt and thing breakable smashed and anything remotely of any worth taken, several police officers run up on him as Hailey arrives in behind, 

"Nathan!, Don't! Don't fight!" She shouts as he struggles against their binds as Hailey's mother comes up towards him striking him with a baton before striking her daughter with her palm, 

"You disappoint me" she seethes before rounding them up and away leaving Elaine alone and sobbing as the boys fought desperately against their binds, several minutes later they find themselves in a joint cell where Hailey's mother glares down at them,

"I have no idea why my daughter went around frolicking with the likes of you but be very sure that if my daughter is not as i remember in any way you might as well kiss freedom good bye!. And you!," She concludes turning to Nathan, "A filthy thing like you has the gall to defile my daughter!, You can kiss ever seeing the outside of a cell goodbye",

She exits leaving the four boy silent and defeated, Nathan racked his brain but could find no way out, there was no justice only those with power got justice or whatever perverted and twisted interpretation of it they wanted, as the hours ticked by and none of the boys broke tge silence Nathan found his mind drifting to Vin as ge recalled his words and as if on cue a shilouette appears before the defeated boys, 

"My what a predicament you're in, i suppose this also works in my favour"

"You!" Warden exclaims, "what do you want?"

"I have no business with you, my business however is with him" he states signalling to Nathan, "i'll give you a choice, your freedom including that of your friends, money to start up the fam and guaranteed protection that the lady won't come after you hell! I'll even train you, in return you lead the fam and pay the dues, as long as you do that i don't care what else you do"

"Don't bother Nathan refuse it" Warden states

"The boss is right", "yeah!" The duo concur

"I accept",

"Nathan!" The three shout as Warden grabs him by the collar, 

"You want to live the rest of your life rotting away in a cell?, You know she's powerful and spiteful enough to do it, i'll take the deal and run the fam" Nathan concludes, 

"Smart choice" Vin replies before making his exit.

      Almost half a year had flow by, Elaine stares out the window wondering desperately to herself where things had gone wrong?, She'd blamed Hailey but even then she knew, she knew it wasn't her fault, not completely, with the boys gone and her life having returned to it's prioe despondence she could quite easily afford her school fees and return she did, she could feel herself floundering aimlessly through the days, she had yet to fix the destruction inflicted inside the conplex despite her ability to do so, she just couldn't, she couldn't bring herself too, Hailey had been present in school but had disappeared from school on a seemingly permanent basis half a year ago, even the boys had seemingly vanished off the face of the earth, they weren't attending school and weren't at the orphanage either. Elaine's glazed eyes comes to focus as the phone within her grasp vibrates, looking to find an unknown number she picks up immediately resisting the urge to cut the line when a certain persons voice filters through,

"Elaine...." Hailey's voice called

"Why are you calling me?!, What for?!" She shouts

"Ple...ase" she sobbed, "he..lp me",

"I'm sorry i can't, i'm to busy trying to help myself" she replies cutting the line.

   Hailey sobs letting the phone drop between her fingers, she gathers herself before heading over towards the last hope of reaching Nathan she had.

Oren wayne,

"What the hell ate you doing h....." Oren freezes as his eyes land on Haileys bulging belly,

"No way, no way, no way!, I...is..that Nathan's?"

"Ple...ase" she sobs, "i..i ..need..to tal..k...to him" she manages

"Alright alright" Oren replies putting out the cigarette he'd been smoking before taking the phone she'd given him, 

"th...is is is ....one of mine, i... i'll te...xt.....h...im, you when it's time" he states, 

"Th..ank you" she replies wiping away her burning tears.

      "She wants to speak with me?"

"Yeah, she said it was pretty urgent, here" Oren replies handing Nathan the phone, 

"I advise against that, you can't allow a girl distract you, we've just finished establishing the chain of command, don't tell me you're going to throw all this away to play house?" Vin interjects, Nathan holds silence staring intently at the phone, 

"I don't have a family, and i don't need one"

(Yes! Yes!, I knew you didn't need her!, Not her or that stupid baby!), Oren mules smiling maniacally, he swifly exits the HQ premises before picking up the actual ohone Hailey had handed him,

(Good thing i swapped them out),

Oren laughs at the message that popped up after her initial text,

'im pregnant', 

(Don't worry Hailey!, I'm doing this for both your sakes!)

"'Abort it'" Oren replies, Hailey's eyes burn as her phone slips between her hands.

  (Why isn't she replying?), Nathan's brows furrow as he stares at the chat screen intently, he paces fevrerently when he decides to find Oren, finding him in a secluded alley not far fron the HQ engrossed with two phones in hand he stealthily walks up behind him when a quick read across the screen has his soul dropping,

"NO!" he screams

"Huh?" Oren turns finally released from his stupor as Nathan's fist crashes against his Jaw, Nathan tries desperately to reach the line but is unable to get through,

"WHERE IS SHE!" he screams slowly choking the boy to death, "TELL ME!"

"I don't know " Oren replies, "I'm just helping you both!, Why don't you ever se....." Nathan's fist crashes against him repeatedly the sounds of his scream finally drawing the attention of the surrounding fam member, a hand catches him by the shoulder holding him in place, 

"What the hell is going on here?" Vin inquires, Nathan's attempt to run pass him to get to a car is blocked,

"It's about that girl again isn't it?" He mocks, 

"Get out if my way before i kill YOU!" Nathan roars as their battle begins

    Nathan staggers away while Vin watches him silently puffing a smoke, a long jagged and bleeding injury ran across his chest as he smiles, 

"You pass, as of now you're the strongest of all the leaders",

(I'm having troubles healing this,seems it'll scar, he really is an animal, who would've thought he'd learn to infuse force into objects, and his nails non-the-less) Vin muses,

  Day's later Nathan finds himself standing before Hailey's mother as shes screams and shouts tears burming her eyes, the las few days had been a haze, her death, the baby, his baby, 

"Why?!, Why?!, Why did you tell her to do that!, Why'd you maje her abort it" 

Warden and co's eyes go wide, his anger blazing as his fist crashes past Hailey's mother and into Nathan's face, Elaine who'd balled her eyes knowing her fault in the matter sobs anew,

"You're fucking scum, you fucking caused this!, YOU KILLED HER!" he screams.

  The day's fly by bleakly Nathan heads over to the hospital where the his child was before receiving her, he moved quick to avoid her mothers intervention before heading to the complex to see them one last time, 

"Leave!, There's no place for you here!, You bring misfortune to everything you touch" Nathan opens to speak before returning to silence as he watched them return into the complex, his gead turned towards the pouring sky as the rain washed away his burning tears,

"You said i should try smiling more, so i won't cry anymore" he murmurs, before turning away,

(Afterall, i have something to protect).