Psycho

CHAPTER 2

"S?" The man quirked a questioning brow at the boy, now crossing his arms over his barely exposed chest.

"Um, S" he said in a way like he was trying to convince himself of his own name. He nodded in accordance as well, seeming to give himself more assurance that that was the truth, confusing the man even more.

"S?" He asked once more, clarifying for the final time.

"S, um.... yes, S" the man's brows furrowed and his gaze narrowed down at the smaller boy. His eyes held a hint of intrigue and doubt, he was almost certain that the boy was messing with him.

"Is that some nickname or..." He wondered, allowing his sentence to fade. His stare was getting even narrower as he noticed the boy's face contort in a sad frown.

  The boy looked deep in thought for a brief moment. His eyes poked at nothing in particular as he lips parted ever so gently, light and absent breaths breaching them.

"I..I don't really remember" he finally spoke up, a hint of sadness and exhaustion slipping from his tone. The older man's eyes then moved to his, searching for any form of dishonesty.

  He hated lies with a burning passion and after a few uncomfortable seconds of trying to read him, he found his eyes void of any.

"Colton Acre" he spoke with a small breath while unfurling his arms, signalling a sense of relaxation. The boy's ears seemed to lightly perk up at the mention of the name.

  He couldn't tell if it was because of the aura of intimidation but he was a bit frightened by the name of the man who had challenged the dangerous group just moments before.

"You know those guys?" Colton asked, referring to the boys from earlier while picking up his pace towards the towering apartment building.

"No, I just um... bumped into them" the boy shrugged, looking away as his fiddling fingers anxiously tugged on a few loose strings of his shirt.

  Their light conversation seemed to take a small break once they passed through the automatic doors. The pair had walked passed the beautifully decorated reception.

  The younger boy almost couldn't keep up with the man's leisured strides. His eyes were too busy soaking up the decor, it was a very pleasant sight. He eventually gained on the man, his feet shuffling up behind as the man lead him towards the elevator.

  They'd finally arrived just in front of the elevator. His eyes caught the man's body as he pressed on the button before waiting for the doors to part. He had a good measure of muscle in his back and the shirt did sweet justice to them.

  As the doors steadily came apart, his eyes finally left the man and an atom of sense struck him. A thick knot formed in his stomach, twisting and straining as his mind became overwhelmed with questions. Was he really about to follow another stranger into his home? Escape one only to fall prey to another?

"Right this way" Colton's voice seemed to block out all forms of common sense in the boy. His eyes darted up at the elevator doors. Quickly, he shuffled in, his eyes stinging slightly in discomfort as the man joined him.

  The small space was suffocating and sharing it with a man of such power wasn't helping his situation. The doors eventually came to a close and that's when the boy took in a sharp breath hoping to last him for the full ride to whatever floor.

  Halfway up and Colton never failed to notice the visible trembling coming from the smaller boy by his side. He carefully studied his anxious demeanor with a corner eye. The boy was surely afraid of something.

I have to get out of here!

It took a strainous amount of vim for the boy to contain his urge to claw at the walls for a way out. He mentally prayed to be set  free from the cubicle and it wasn't too long before his prayers were answered.