Date: Mon, 08 Nov 2004 20:25:29 -0500 From: rhaven Subject: Beyond the Pale Chapter Four This story contains Man/Boy situations. This is a work of pure fiction, words on a page, nothing more than fictional fancy. The phrase `Beyond the Pale' is used to describe people that live an unusual life... doesn't that depict us all? If you like this story please check out www.rhavenlore.com for more. Beyond the Pale By Rhaven CHAPTER FOUR Mason awoke feeling wonderful. It had been the best night's sleep he'd ever had, so comfortable and comforting sleeping next to Victor. He rolled over and rested his head on Victor's shoulder, who was snoring gently. Mason ran his hand down Victor's chest and stomach, loving the fact that he had no fear in touching this man. Mason leaned over, kissed Victor's chest, and giggled from the pleasure he felt from the sensation. "Someone woke up feeling good." Victor said quietly. "Good morning." Mason said cheerfully, hugging Victor's chest tightly. "Um... I need to go to the bathroom." Victor said prying Mason's hands off him. Mason moaned, sat up and watched Victor head for the bathroom. He never wanted to leave this bed, this was his paradise. Victor finally reappeared, but ignored Mason who was patted the bed next to him. "Aren't you coming back to bed?" Mason asked as he watched Victor getting dressed. "Can't stay in bed all day." Victor said flatly and left the bedroom. Mason moaned again, he was getting the feeling that he had done something wrong. He crawled out of bed and slipped on his clothes, it would have been nice to go a whole day nude, but Victor was acting too strange for that. Mason found Victor standing in the kitchen staring out the window. From his posture, he seemed tired. Had Victor been troubled with more nightmares last night? Mason walked up and joined him at the window. "Looks like it's going to rain today." Mason said casually, hating the awkward silence in the room. "This was a mistake." Victor muttered as he lowered his head. "Mason I think you should go home." "Home... why?" Mason staggered away from Victor. "What did I do?" "You didn't do anything Mason, it's just that right now... my life..." Victor clinched his fists. "I'm not sure how long I can stay here... it's not fair to you..." "But Victor... I..." Mason grabbed his chest, feeling as though his heart was going to explode. "Go on Mason... I don't want you here anymore. Just forget about me." Mason opened his mouth, but had no voice, why had Victor suddenly turned on him? Hadn't they had fun yesterday? Victor never turned from the window as Mason left the apartment. His heart pounded, sucking all his strength, Mason fought to remain standing as he descended the stairs. "Excuse me, young man." A tall bald man said with a smile as Mason bumped into him. Mason barely looked up as the man started up the stairs. He was glad it was a gloomy day; he would be able to handle the sunshine. No one deserved the sun today. The gloomy day turned to a gloomy night. The rain had started in the afternoon and only increased as the day went along. Mason didn't care that it was raining, he didn't care about anything. Not even his comic books helped him now. Batman was stupid, something for ignorant kids to read. He had decided during the day, that all adults were bastards. It was something he had already known, but Mason had thought Victor was different. Never again would he let an adult fool him. It had been raining for three days straight, Mason watched every drop fall from the sky. His room was his prison and his protection. Inside that room, he didn't have to worry getting hurt any more, but it hurt to be alone. Though Mason had been in bed for days, he was feeling exhausted. He barely had the energy to move. Every since he had left Victor's apartment, Mason had been sick to his stomach, now it was worse. Every joint and bone ached, along with his head, that throbbed with every beat of his heart. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten, not that he was hungry. Mason rubbed his aching stomach and wondered if he died in his room, would his grandfather eventually find him? That old man would probably just leave him there to rot. Why had everyone he loved left him, leaving Mason in the hands of a man who hated the very sight of him? The day his mother lost her mind, Mason though very young, he remembered the horrific sound of the gunshot. He remembered the blood splattering across the wall. Mason remembered the sickening laugh that escaped his mother's lips. Mason knew what his problem was, he remembered too much. All he wanted was to forget all the pain, but the harder he tried the more he hurt. Mason heard the television downstairs turn off; his grandfather was off to bed. He forced himself to sit up. No matter how bad he felt, he needed to see the tree and maybe get naked. He was sick of feeling sick; the tree would make him feel better. No matter what happened to him in life, the tree was always there for him. Mason slipped out of his room and made it outside. It wasn't raining very hard, but Mason started to shiver as his shirt became soaked. Hitchcock Street was as quiet as Mason had ever seen; it made him feel that he was the only living person left on earth. Mason made his way around the building and saw his tree and patch of grass. He had almost expected them to be gone. He wrapped his arms around the rough trunk of the tree and cried. The emotions poured out of Mason like a great flood. He fell to his knees, no longer strong enough to stand. So tired, all Mason wanted to do was sleep and never wake up again. The grass, though wet, felt better than any bed. `Home is where you hang you hat.' Grandma used to say. Mason hated that saying. It made home sound so common. Home shouldn't just be where you hang your hat, it should be where you hang your heart. Mason saw his grandmother, sitting in her favorite chair and knitting. The cancer had made her so weak; it took all her strength just to knit. Mason saw his grandmother, so much blood spilled from her mouth that Mason held a bowl under her chin to catch it. His life was stained in blood, proving that he was cursed. Mason could no longer feel the grass under him, he felt hands lifting him. At last, the darkness of death, the eternal peace. Mason smiled at the idea of no longer hurting. He was ready for it all to end. "I'm ready." He whispered to the angel carrying him. "I'm ready to die." "It's not your time yet sweetheart. Open your eyes and live." Grandma said, her face glowing as bright as the sun. He was glad to see the blood had been cleaned from her face, she looked happy again. He craved that happiness. Mason opened his eyes. The sun shining through the window surprised him, not that it was day, but that he was no longer outside. A bald man leaned over him and smiled. Mason didn't know that heaven was indoors and had ugly angels. "Sir, he's awake." The bald man said. Someone who looked exactly like Victor stood over him. It was comforting to see there was beauty in heaven. "Get the doctor." The beautiful angel said. Now nice heaven was, Mason closed his eyes again, though he wanted to see more of heaven, he was just too tired for it right now. But that was okay, he had an eternity to see all the glory. The next time Mason opened his eyes, heaven was gone, replaced with a hospital room. He wasn't sure if he should feel disappointed or happy that he hadn't died. If he had died, then there would have been change, maybe happiness. However, being alive, gave him a second chance, perhaps this time, he could change his life. Overall, the hospital wasn't a bad place, the nurses pampered him like a little baby, which he loved. The food was fantastic and he could eat as much as he liked. One nurse, Terri Blaine sneaked candy bars to Mason every time she made a visit. She was also the nurse that gave him a sponge bath. Mason knew he should have been embarrassed, but he was just glad to get out of that stupid gown for a little while. The hospital was a blessing, never in his life had so many people paid attention to him. Though he knew it was their job, it was still a nice feeling. His doctor, Dr. Norton had gone into a long explanation of Mason's medical condition, but finally chose dehydration, malnourishment and exhaustion, so that Mason could understand what had happened to him. "Hello Mr. Eiden." The bald man said as he entered the room. "My name is Davis and I'm a friend of Victor Hauser." Mason remembered seeing the bald man in his dreams, though he hadn't noticed his flaming red eye brows. It gave the man's rough face a bit of comedy, like a twisted clown. "I'm here on behalf of Mr. Hauser." Davis said very seriously. "I would like to be honest with you Mr. Eiden, Victor is a troubled young man. He needs your help." Mason shook his head in disbelief. "How can I help him, I don't even know him or you!" Yelled Mason. Davis smiled and started walking around the room. "Victor Hauser, CEO of Hauser Corporation, one of the wealthiest men in the United States, all inherited from his father's passing two years ago. I've been Victor's personal servant since he was in diapers, trying my best to prepare a boy for all his future responsibilities." Davis pulled a chair next to Mason's bed and sat. "Victor isn't just my employer, I've raised him, he's a son to me and I have watched a shy little boy die more every day because of his last name is Hauser." Davis reached out and took hold of Mason's hand. "I know this may sound silly, but Victor has runaway from home. That is why he's living in that rundown apartment, that is why he tells everyone his name is Houseman, that is why you must help him." Mason felt the pain in Davis's voice; he envied Victor for having someone who loved him so much. So the mystery was solved, Mason didn't feel happy or sad at the revelation, Hauser or Houseman... whatever he wanted to call himself, had kicked him out, no longer wanted to see him. "Victor... Victor doesn't want me around." Mason whispered sadly. "You remind me of Victor, you know." Davis said smiling again. "I can see in your eyes that marvelous fire." "Fire?" Mason wrinkled up his nose at the comment. "The fire of passion. Not a lot of people have that flame, to love completely; Victor has that love for you." Davis squeezed Mason's hand. "You want me to convince him to go back to work?" Mason said trying to comprehend all Davis was telling him. "No, he needs to know that he doesn't have to work. Victor won't allow himself to enjoy life. I fear he is heading down the same path as his mother." Davis said quietly. Mason nodded, though he couldn't see how he would make a difference. "I'm also here to tell you that Victor has prepared a room for you in his apartment. You will be staying with him for awhile." Davis stood. "The true purpose for my visit is to retrieve you, you're being released today." "What about my grandfather?" Mason asked, not sure why he was suddenly concerned about his Grandpa. Davis got a troubled look on his face, the wrinkles across his forehead deepened. "Your grandfather... your grandfather had informed me that he didn't..." "He doesn't want me back." Mason finished for Davis. "I rescued your possessions and have moved them into Victor's apartment. You should know that Victor will do everything in his power to make sure you are well taken care of." Davis tried to sound comforting, but Mason already was feeling the weight of his situation. He could probably work his way back into his grandfather's house, but what was the point. His grandfather had used Mason getting sick to kick him out, how could he live with someone that hated him that much. Mason was now homeless. "I know you have a lot on your shoulders, Mason. But you're not alone now. I would hope that you could call me a friend." Davis reached into his pocket and handed Mason a card. "In case you need to talk, here is my number. Call me anytime, night or day." "You won't be staying with us at Victor's apartment?" Mason asked as he looked at the card. "I will visit from time to time." Davis said happily. "Let's get you dressed; I am sure you are ready to leave this hospital." Mason sat up and watched Davis gather up his clothes. It shocked him to see Davis now, no longer was he an ugly bald man, Davis was handsome, warming the room with his smile. How could he have thought Davis was unattractive? Mason let Davis dress him, it was obvious that he had done this before; Mason tried to imagine Victor as a kid sitting on the edge of the bed as Davis dressed him. The image only made Mason angrier, how could Victor be so miserable, when he had someone like Davis to love him? "I don't know if I like Victor." Mason muttered as Davis pulled on his shirt. "Don't judge him so quickly. Victor has lived a very confined life; his father was a strict man, never allowing Victor to be a child, never allowed to show emotions or cry. Victor's father even forbade him to mourn for his mother. But I know there is a special person, hiding inside Victor... You've seen it haven't you? You've seen who he truly wants to be." Mason smiled as the thought about that night, playing Monopoly, lying next to him; yes he had seen someone special and he did still loved Victor. However, he didn't want to be hurt again, he didn't want to feel that pain of rejection again. Mason didn't think he could survive the loss of that Victor again. "Have courage Mason." Davis said kindly. "Have courage for yourself and Victor." Davis surprised Mason by kissing him on the cheek. "Love is worth the battle. Even if the battle is within yourself." The nurse appeared with a wheelchair and helped Mason sit down; they headed out of the room and down the white corridor. Mason kept looking back to Davis; he'd never met a man like this before. How could Victor not feel lucky for having someone like that in his life? It never occurred to Mason that someone with tons of money could be unhappy, even now; it was hard for him to imagine. Mason still wasn't sure what Davis wanted him to do, he was only a kid, kids don't have any power over adults. The idea of him changing Victor was ridiculous, Mason didn't have that ability and wasn't sure he was strong enough to try. If Davis didn't want Victor to return to his job, then what did he want Victor to become? It was all too confusing for Mason; he had fallen in love with a Victor that wasn't Victor. "Here's our ride." Davis said as the taxi pulled up to the curb, Mason had half expected a Rolls Royce. He was a little disappointed about traveling in a plain old taxi. Emotions were so hard to deal with; there was the excitement of going to live with Victor, the confusion of what he had to do there, the resentment of being turned away by Victor and the loss of his home. How could anyone deal with all these conflicting feelings, the struggle he felt fighting inside of him. Mason missed the bliss of unconsciousness, the moment of nothingness, dreaming of that black void of un-emotion. The sight of Hitchcock Street scared Mason; he slipped from the unreal to reality, those stacked building of brick and cement, painted in depression and isolation taunted Mason for returning. His old house loomed in front of them, shaded with memories. Mason, wanted to get sick again, life was nicer in the hospital. Why couldn't life be like a hospital? Every house needed a nurse. "We're here." Davis said pointing to Victor's building. "Victor is expecting you." "You're ... you're not coming up?" Mason gasped when Davis didn't get out of the car with him. "I'll be around in a few days." Davis gave Mason a quick smile, before the taxi drove away. Mason turned towards the building and sighed, thankfully Mrs. Molino wasn't on the front porch in her rocker. Mason wasn't sure he could handle the rude comments from that old bat today. He closed his eyes and pulled out of him memory that perfect moment in time when he had been happiest. He could feel Victor kissing his shoulder, his hands on his bare stomach. It was the strength he needed to enter the building and see Victor again.