Chapter 7 There were woods just outside and they headed for them. Justin stumbled and went down on one knee, breathing hard. Lance knew it was from the pain but he couldn't think of any other options but to keep moving. Lifting Justin up, staggering himself, he held the younger man at the waist and let Justin lean into him. "A little farther, baby, and we can stop for a minute." Justin didn't respond, his whole being concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. They moved slowly deeper into the woods, Lance biting his lip to stifle his groans.  He looked up through the trees and realized that the sky was lightening just a little. He couldn't see his watch but he knew that they would be coming for them soon and when they weren't there... How long would it take to find them in these woods? Justin moaned, "Lance? Can we stop a minute, please?" Lance peered at Justin in the dark. He could see the sheen of perspiration on his face from the effort he was making. He knew he couldn't push him any further.  The beating had done some major damage. "Sure, baby," he said gently and lowered him to the ground, his back against a tree. Kneeling down beside him, he pushed the wet curls off his forehead. Justin's eyes were closed, the pain evident on his face. "Justin, stay here. I'm going to see if I can find the car." Justin's eyes flew open and his fear was obvious, "No, don't leave me." Lance stroked his arm, "I'll be back. But you can't keep going and we can't just wait here for them to find us." Justin sighed, knowing Lance was right but terrified of being alone out here. "OK, just hurry, please." Lance kissed him gently and started to get up but Justin grabbed his hand, "I love you, Lance." Lance knelt back down, "Me, too. So much." He ran his hand down Justin's cheek and then he was gone. Justin took a deep breath and tried to think about anything other than the fear that was coursing through him. He thought about Lance and started listing everything he loved about him and his breathing slowed until he was almost dozing. Lance limped as quickly as possible, the adrenaline blocking the pain, and then realized he needed to pay attention so that he could find Justin again. The trees weren't marked after all and his boy scout training was limited. He did remember something about breaking branches, so pretty frequently he did that and hoped it would look familiar when he returned. While he was concentrating on that, the woods had started to thin and he found himself on the edge of a clearing with a house, yellow light coming from the windows. He circled the edge to see if he was in the town but when he got to the drive, he realized that this home was by itself, probably just outside of town. There was an old car in the driveway and he cursed his goody-goody childhood . If he knew how to hotwire cars.... but you don't, he said to himself. He'd have to knock. He chewed his lip and debated but he desperately needed help.  A picture of the assembled townspeople flashed in his head, not one friendly face visible in the group. Why would there be one here?  But the thought of Justin bolstered him and he had just started across the lawn, willing to take the risk, when the door opened. Lance fled back into the safety of the trees and watched. A young woman with long blond hair appeared in the doorway, her head turned back as she called over her shoulder, to someone inside. "No, Mother, no. I will not watch Lou hurt those two any more." "Britney, come back inside. What if someone hears?" Britney continued out the door, "I don't care." Her mother caught up and grabbed her arm. Lance could hear the fear in her voice, "Please Brit, just come inside and we'll talk." "I'll come inside but I'm not going," the young woman said, an angry set to her mouth. With that she turned back. Lance moved toward the house hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation. Through the window he could see them arguing in the hall but he could only hear occasional words. Slinking around to the front door, he realized that the girl had not closed it tightly and he could hear everything clearly. "... sick shit," Britney said angrily. Calmly her mother responded, "We just have to *be* there not participate." "Being there *is* participating! They didn't do anything to deserve this." "Britney, I need this job. I've told you that already. We *are* going." There was a pause. "It's 5AM. We'll wait as long as we can so there'll only be space at the back." Lance could hear the sobs, "Please Mom, don't make me go. I can't stand it. Those guys are gay, that's all, and this is torture. That one boy is a mess. Can't you go by yourself?" "Billy will notice you're not there. What will I say?" her mother asked quietly, pushing the guilt button. "Say I'm sick. Say I'm busy. Say I'm not gonna watch them whipped because they love each other." Britney responded, actually hoping never to see Billy again after last night. "Enough, Britney," her mother said in a familiar stern voice. "We have to live here. They'll be gone later today." "Fine!" he heard the girl say through clenched teeth, " I forgot my brush in the car. I'll be right back." Before Lance could react, she had thrown the door wide and collided with him. Her mouth dropped open, "You! How...uh...what? And then she was speechless. Her mother came up behind her and seeing Lance standing wide-eyed in shock, she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, "Oh my God, no." For a minute, they all stood staring at one another.  Lynn was the first to recover. "Get him in here and shut the door,"she hissed. Britney reached out and pulled gently on Lance's arm. He stumbled across the door sill and stood there watching the two of them. When the older woman reached for the phone, he said, "Please don't." There was such a note of despair in his voice that she hesitated and then stopped. Lance wasn't sure what to do next. All he knew is that he had to get Justin out of the woods before the men found him. "My friend...he's hurt... I need to go get him." "We can't help you," Mrs. Pearson said flatly. Britney whirled on her mother, her eyes blazing. "What?  Mother, who are you? Where is the woman I know and love?" "She's scared to death of what will happen to us if we help them and Lou finds out. Then what? They still suffer and we are outcasts. Britney, I can't risk it." Lance interrupted and said quietly, "I understand. Could you at least not tell them where we are? Pretend you never saw me?" Mrs. Pearson's mouth drew into a frown, "Yes, all right. Just leave." Lance nodded and turned to go. "Wait, I'll help you," Britney said. "Mother, I'm sorry. Just lie for me." Mother and daughter stared at one another. Finally, Lynn's shoulders dropped in defeat. "You are more stubborn than I could ever be and I'm ashamed to admit you're right. Go get the other one and bring them back here, quickly." "Thank you, Mother," Britney said, throwing her arms around her parent. "Are you going?" "*We* are going and we are going to pretend that their disappearance is a total shock to us. Then we'll come back here and figure out what to do next. Hurry! We have to leave in half an hour." Lance and Britney moved quickly through the woods, the broken branches leading the way. They didn't speak at all. Lance dared to hope that their nightmare would be at an end and he could love Justin back to wholeness. Britney felt the snaking fingers of fear reaching into her, worrying that the woods were already filling with searchers. Ten minutes later, they came to the still figure curled up at the base of the tree. It was light enough now to see the vivid bruises on the pale skin and Britney gasped. Justin stirred slightly and moaned at the pain the movement brought. Lance dropped to his knees and gently smoothed Justin's hair back from his forehead. The younger man's eyelids fluttered open and he smiled that sweet smile that lit up Lance's life, "I was dreaming about you." Britney observed the interaction with awe. She prayed that one day she would experience the intensity of a love like that. It was almost painful to watch. Tears coursed silently down her cheeks. Sniffling, she said, "C'mon, we have to go. It's getting late." She moved toward Justin to help him up and he flinched, terror in his eyes. Lance said, "It's OK, baby, she's going to help us." Britney sucked in her breath when Justin turned that smile on her. They each took one arm and helped Justin to his feet. His pain was obvious but he bit his lip to avoid crying out. He knew he had to walk, he just hoped it wouldn't be too far. He leaned into Lance and they started off slowly, picking up speed as they got into a rhythm. Getting him to the house took longer than they had expected and when they reached the clearing, Lynn ran out to assist them, "We have to go, Brit." Turning to Lance, she said, "Go up in the attic. I put some bedding there. Stay there until we come for you." Lance turned to them before shutting the door. His eyes were filled with tears. "Thank you, " he whispered. Lance got Justin inside before they fell to the floor.  They both needed to rest for a few minutes, regrouping for the climb up the stairs. Lance started to get up to get water for Justin but the younger man clung to him, saying, "Don't go." Lance sat back down and placed Justin's curly head into his lap. He stroked his back gently and whispered soothing words. He felt Justin relax and his breathing even out. They couldn't sit here, though, not out in the open. "Jus, we've got to get upstairs. Just a little bit more and you can sleep. Jus, please." Justin opened his eyes and the mix of pain, fear, and exhaustion broke Lance's heart. "Let's go, baby boy." Justin struggled up and they began the slow ascent up the two flights of stairs. At the door to the attic, Justin started crying, "I can't go any further, Lance." "We're here, baby, just three more steps." He opened the door and they entered the room, stuffy and dusty, but hidden. Luckily, Mrs. Pearson had already spread the bedding so Lance just had to lay Justin down. Justin shuddered and closed his eyes. Lance gazed at this beautiful creature who was so hurt. He could barely find a patch of visible skin that wasn't discolored and he knew that beneath his jeans, the story was the same. What really worried him though was what had happened to the childlike sweetness that made Justin who he was. The world had finally caught up with him and every naive belief he had lived by had been stripped away in the last twenty four hours. That had been their one recurring argument. Justin didn't believe that people would not be happy for them. Lance had tried to explain the homophobia that was so common, that could hurt them so badly. Justin would just shake his head and tell Lance that things would be okay. Well, they fucking weren't. He ran his hand through Justin's curls and the boy sighed beneath his touch. Lance knew without a doubt that life without Justin wasn't worth considering. He wondered though if they would always have to keep their love a secret from all but those closest to them. It didn't seem fair that other lovers could walk hand in hand, kiss on the corner, lose themselves in one another's embrace and they couldn't. At least not in the south. Anytime they had relaxed their guard, they had been met with disgust, judgement, horrified looks. And this, this punishment for being who they were and daring to love one another. Lance's tears fell unchecked. Lance listened to the sounds in the house and every time there was a creak, he jumped. He was glad that Justin was only semi-conscious. When nothing happened for awhile, Lance lay down next to Justin and closed his eyes, not really expecting to drop off. Five minutes later his breathing slowed into the even rhythm of sleep. continue menu