Thick Skin and A Jeweled Heart [7]

      William Carter, aged 45 years old, with a mop of black hair and brown eyes to die for.

      Liam's dad.

      The person who raised Liam. Loves Liam. And hurt Liam, both physically and mentally.

      Liam's resemblance to his dad is unmistakable; strong jaw, broad shoulders, determined eyes. William stared at a photograph of Liam and his wife. Both were young and happy in the picture, smiling. They have the same smile, with matching dimples. Oh how he missed those dimples. Seeing them smile and be the reason behind it feels rewarding for William. Shame he couldn't do that anymore. He's and embarrassment to himself.

      A failure of a dad.

      He knew he should've been there for his son these last 6 years and not succumb to grief. He wasn't the only one who lost a loved one. Liam had no one after his mother died. His mother. William's wife, his dear Stella. He drank and drank and never stopped after her funeral, and Liam watched as he lost another family member.

      Those 6 years were hazy, memories with blurred edges, the stench of alcohol prominent along the way. He did terrible things to his son, he knows that now. He was always aware, awake at night and sober, wondering why he did it. To his son, of all people. But he couldn't bring himself to stop. Everyday he's reminded of Stella. Everyday he sees Liam and sees that ghost of a smile on his face, and he goes on another drinking spree like he did for all those years.

      A way to forget his sorrows.

      And now his son is gone, hasn't come home for two days.

      He called Liam's school.

      "Hello. Uh. Did Liam come to school yesterday? He... He hasn't come home."

      "Is this his parent?" a lady on the other end asked.

      "Yes, his dad, W-William.  My son is Liam Carter. Please, I'm really worried." he pleaded to the woman.

      "I'll do what I can, sir. Let's see... He did come. Although he was in terrible shape. We don't know anything beyond that."

      "Do you," William took a deep breath. "Do you think he ran away?"

      He was met with silence. William gripped his phone and fidgeted with his fingers. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the woman spoke.

      "Sir," her voice was soft with sympathy. "My work doesn't involve personal matters therefor I don't know what happened to your son, but I know someone who might."

___

      William sat nervously in the school's counselor office on a brown, battered down sofa. The leather was already peeling off and William took the opportunity to pick on it absentmindedly, trying to think about how this conversation would go.

      "William Carter?"

      William quickly stood up to shake hands with the teacher who just came through the door. "Mr Smith, pleasure to meet you."

      Mr Smith was a tall man, slightly shorter than William with a balding head. He has dark skin and a pretty average looking nose on which sat his spectacles, thick and round. He smiled, signaling to William to sit down. He did as he was told and Mr Smith followed suit. "I understand from an employee of mine..." he paused, hesitating. "that Liam went missing?"

      "Yes!" William bursted out, shifting to the edge of the sofa. Barely sitting now, basically squatting. "He hasn't come home for two days and I'm so worried. Do you have any idea where he is?"

      The look on Mr Smith's face was undecipherable. He was silent and it stretched on forever. William's legs were starting to ache from not sitting properly but he didn't dare move. He was, quite literally, on edge.

      It went on like that for a few minutes, William occasionally shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Finally the silence broke.

      "Didn't you know?" Mr Smith started. "This is normal behavior from your son," his eyes  turned cold. "You raped him. He's scared of you." he spat, face twisted in anger and disgust. "Did you really think he'll come back to you?"

      He stood up as William's eyes watered. "I-" William stumbled for proper words, taken back by the sudden change of atmosphere.

      "Get out." Mr Smith said, angry. "What?" William stuttered, standing up shakily on his aching feet. He towered over the bald teacher, but the height difference didn't falter Mr Smith's anger. "You're disgusting," Mr Smith spat, looking up at William through his round glasses.

      "GET. OUT."

      William flinched and trudged towards the door uncertainly, glancing at Mr Smith with sad eyes. Mr Smith stood his ground, staring William down.

      "I'm sorry. I truly am." William whispered, sounding genuine. He was genuine. He felt guilty. Of course Liam was scared of him. Who wouldn't be, after what he did? With one more regretful look towards the teacher, he left, shutting the door silently behind him.

      As soon as the door closed shut, the teacher slumped on the closest chair tiredly. "Please..." he whimpered.

      "That was not fear." a voice answered, seemingly coming from withing Mr Smith's chest. He whimpered again, shifting as opaque , black water spilled out of the corner of his mouth. "That was disappointment... Regret."

      The sound of rumbling water from Mr Smith's chest got increasingly louder. He arched his back, mouth wide open in a silent scream as dark liquid rushed out of his mouth, spilling onto the carpet, fast and unforgiving as the teachers choked and gagged, eyes stinging with tears.

      He gasped for breath as the water moved restlessly on the carpet, his body going limp. Strangely, it didn't seep into the carpet. It moved as if alive, darting here and there between his legs.

      "You've failed me again." the thing drawled, voice gurgling like boiling water. It started to sidle up Mr Smith's leg, talking slowly. "What should I do with you..." it taunted. Mr Smith started to panic, attempting to stand up and run away. "No. No! Please, no--"

      His shouts got muffled as the creature lunged and wrapped itself around his head, drowning him, torturing him. He fell to the ground, twitching madly as it talked, "You will not disappoint me next time. You are my servant. You will obey my orders and please me!" it raged on, the sound of rushing water getting louder.

      Mr Smith stopped moving, eyes blown wide with fear, mouth open. The thing slipped away from his head, gurgling, "Petrified with fear. How pathetic. You would've been dead by now if I didn't like you so much." it spat as Mr Smith gasped a breath, still unmoving.

      "I will come back tomorrow, do not disappoint me again." it went through a crack on the floor, the sound of bubbling water faded, leaving Mr Smith alone. He was breathing hard, eyes staring at something far away.