In The Dark (Cliff's Story)

With this, I’m breaking the tradition of having the chapters exactly correlating. That worked at first when there was minimal dialogue, so that it was interesting to see the story from each point of view. What they were feeling, what they were thinking. But it’s not as necessary now. Plus, I really want to write this chapter from Cliff’s point of view, but I’d have to write two chapters to get Cliff past Winter Thanksgiving (regular story Chapter 15.)

So, here goes!

Chapter 14

It was the last day of the year. Ann and Doug had specially requested for me to help out at the inn all evening. It would be my first New Year’s Eve in Mineral Town, and apparently the whole village turned out at the inn every New Year’s Eve to drink and celebrate the new year’s coming. Gray understood that they needed me, and he decided to come down and join in the festivities so that we could be together.

He sat at the bar, sipping a mug of beer, so that he could be close to me as I mixed drinks. I was all over the floor all night, so I didn’t get to stay beside him, but we were able to be together whenever I was behind the bar.

I noticed that Rick was in the bar that evening. I avoided him as much as I could, and even quietly asked Ann to wait on him. She nodded in silent agreement, and I sighed in relief that I didn’t have to deal with him.

Finally, it came time for the countdown. Everyone was pairing up, getting ready to kiss at midnight. I surreptitiously took my spot near Gray, acting like I was intently polishing an empty mug. When everyone yelled out “Happy New Year!” I leaned in, quickly pecking Gray on the lips. He blushed heavily as I pulled away, grinning into his face. Everyone else was so wrapped up in kissing their loved ones, that no one really noticed us. I tried to stifle my stupid grin as I turned my attention back to polishing the mug. Gray smiled sheepishly, taking a drink of his beer.

“Got a New Year’s resolution?” I asked him.

He mused it for a while. “I guess…all I really want is to keep being with you…” he said quietly, and my face flushed with happiness.

“Me too…” I whispered, and he smiled into his glass. “Be right back,” I said. “I have to pee.” I headed for the bathroom, quickly doing my business and washing my hands. As I turned the knob to leave, I was surprised to feel someone pushing it from the other side. I let go of the knob as the door swung inwards sharply. On the other side was someone that I did not want to see.

Rick narrowed his eyes dangerously at me. He staggered a little bit, and I realized that he was drunk. I lowered my head and tried to brush past him, but I cried out as he pushed me back into the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it.

“What’s the rush, gay boy?” he asked me, breathing heavily. His red hair was slightly mussed, and the way he was looking at me made me feel very uncomfortable.

“Let me out,” I muttered, but Rick stumbled backwards, blocking my exit.

“Oh, come on…it’s New Year’s Eve…don’t you want to give me a kiss?” he slurred at me, and I made a disgusted face. “Come on, faggot, you like kissing guys. I watched you kiss Gray…” My face flushed, and he advanced on me. I screamed as his hands flew out, trying to grab at me. “Don’t yell, it just turns me on,” he hissed, and I shuddered in fear, my knees giving out. I fell to the ground. Rick growled in a frightening way. “Oh, is that what you want, faggot? Well, I bet you’re really good at it…” My eyes widened in fear as his hands went to his pants, unzipping them.

“No!” I cried, covering my face with my hands. “Go away!”

I could hear Rick’s voice still taunting me. “Come on, faggot, I know you like sucking dick…” I could hear the rustling of his pants falling, and I heard his breathing get louder as he got closer.

“No…” I moaned, terrified. This was horrible! I didn’t know if it would do me any good, because the party outside was so loud, but I began to yell. “Help! Gray! Gray!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, still trying to shield my face and body from Rick. My entire body was shaking in fear.

Suddenly, I heard the most beautiful noise in the world. It was the sound of the door splitting from its hinges. I lifted my face quickly from my hands, looking up. Rick was frozen with his hand on himself, his pants around his ankles. The bathroom door was kicked in, leaning forward haphazardly, and standing in the doorway, practically breathing fire, was Gray. My heart leapt with joy. “Gray…” I managed to choke out as tears sprang to my eyes.

Gray was on Rick in a second. He yanked him by the neck out into the hallway, roaring at him. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” he screamed, throwing him to the ground. I crawled to the doorway, looking out at the spectacle. Rick was trying desperately to crawl backwards, his pants still around his ankles. He looked absolutely terrified.

The whole town was watching in disbelief from the main area of the inn. Rick tried to sputter some excuse, and Gray leaned down swiftly, grabbing him by the collar and punching him across the face. Rick cried out, his glasses flying across the floor. “What did I fucking tell you?!” Gray yelled at him. “I told you I’d kill you if you messed with Cliff again!” Gray punched Rick in the face again and again. The crowd gasped.

“What is the meaning of this?” Harris, the local constable, rushed forward, splitting them apart and trying to take charge of the situation. Rick tried to wipe the blood from his face as Gray seethed at him.

Tears of embarrassment sprung to my eyes, but I spoke up. “Rick…locked me in the bathroom and tried to force himself on me,” I sobbed. Gray’s face broke with pity, and he rushed over to me, gathering me up in his arms. I clung to the front of his shirt, sobbing into his chest.

Gray pressed his lips to the top of my head as he squeezed me reassuringly. “It’s okay now, baby…”

Harris looked a little stunned, but he turned to Rick. “Rick…is this true?” Rick started to protest, but his girlfriend Karen staggered forward drunkenly.

“You…son of a bitch!” she screamed. “So this is what that was all about…you can’t talk about anything but Cliff and Gray and how they’re so nasty, even when you’re fucking me! You just wanted him all along, you sick fuck!” She threw her mug at him, beaning him in the head and splashing beer everywhere. Rick fell sideways, apparently unconscious.

Harris sighed heavily. “I have no idea what’s going on…Doctor?” Doctor came out from the crowd, advancing on the strange scene. “Will you help me get this mess out of here?” Doctor nodded, and together they carried the passed out Rick out of the inn.

Gray stroked at my ponytail, murmuring comforting things at me. I buried my face into his chest, hiccupping a little. I could hear whispering coming from the crowd, and I lifted my red rimmed eyes to look at them. Gray turned to face them as well.

“What? Are you shocked?” He gave a low laugh. “I don’t give a damn what any of you think. If you don’t want me to be your blacksmith any more, then we’ll go somewhere else.” I stared up at him as he spoke, and he looked down on me, his face softening. “All I care about is you…” he said quietly.

Doug cleared his throat and stepped forward. “This is all so surprising, but…you’re still good boys. I can’t speak for the whole town, but I for one don’t have a problem with it.” Some other townspeople murmured, nodding. Others just looked down into their drinks, uncomfortable with everything.

Jack the farmer also spoke up. “You’re a good blacksmith…we need you,” he said quietly. Ann was by his side, and she nodded resolutely, looking at me with sympathy in her eyes.

Gray sighed heavily. “Let’s go home, baby,” he whispered to me.

I nodded, then looked at Ann. She waved her hand dismissively. “We’ve got this. Jack can help clean up.” Jack nodded, and I lowered my head, murmuring a thanks. Gray linked his arm with mine, intertwining his large fingers with my slim ones, and we left together.

We were silent on the way home. Gray unlocked the shop, and I shuffled inside. We headed to the bedroom, where I stripped down to my underwear and crawled into bed. Gray removed his clothes and switched out the light, climbing in next to me. I sniffled a little, and Gray pulled me in for a hug, hushing me gently. “It’s all over now, baby.”

I pressed my face into his chest. “I was so scared…he was acting so weird and I couldn’t get away…I…I…” I burst into tears again, and Gray embraced me more tightly.

“Shhh…baby, it’s okay…” He rocked me back and forth slightly. “I heard you calling my name…”

I swallowed a sob. “I hoped that you would…”

I felt his strong hand stroke at my hair, working it loose from my ponytail. “I’ll always protect you…I promise…” he whispered, and my tears stopped flowing. I nuzzled my face into him, falling asleep feeling warm and safe.