In The Dark

“I need a word.” Dan smirks, pushing his way in as Lucas tries to slam the door in his face.

Lucas’ attempt to keep him out fails, so he quickly steps away from the door, running to grab the phone.

Dan calmly strides over and pulls the cord from the wall, before throwing it across the room. “That little stunt you pulled earlier…did you really think I’d just let you get away with that?”

Lucas is practically frozen in fear, all the courage he’d had with Nathan by his side lost, as he faces down the one man in the world he wishes were dead. “Nathan’s right outside…he’ll be back in a minute.”

“Nathan’s already gone.” Dan corrects him, smugly. “Which means you and I can have a little talk.”

Lucas is struggling to breathe and quickly running out of space to move away from Dan. Even worse, he’s heading straight for the bedroom. “I don’t want to talk to you. I warned you I’d call the police if you ever came near me again!”

“You should be more careful about where you have your private conversations, Lucas. And more importantly, you should always make sure your curtains are fully closed when you’re blowing your own brother. You never know who might be watching.” Dan advises him.

Lucas can feel the colour draining from his skin; he hadn’t thought the situation could get much worse until now. “Y…you’re wrong…you…”

“I’m so glad I let Deb talk me into getting this new cell phone. She kept saying mine was old, that I should invest in a camera phone.” Dan pulls his phone out and waves it proudly at Lucas. “When are you boys going to learn, there’s nothing you can do without my knowing?”

Lucas’ back collides with the bedroom door. He’s trapped, in more ways than one. He can’t stop the tears from falling, as much as he wants to.

Dan isn’t impressed; he just shakes his head at his eldest son. “Nathan never cried, not once.”

“Shut up.” Lucas grinds out, not wanting to hear this.

“Even when it hurt, he never cried.” Dan adds, smiling at his son’s discomfort. “I did come here to beat some sense into you. Teach you some respect so we can avoid any more temper tantrums in the future. But things are different now. This thing between you and Nathan…it ends now. And I’m going to make damn sure it does.”

Lucas feels his anger rising at Dan’s words, finally overcoming the fear holding him back. “What do you care what Nathan and I do? It’s better than what you’ve done! At least we love each other. We don’t get off on raping teenage boys in their sleep!”

Dan’s hand snakes out and wraps around Lucas’ throat, pinning him to the door and preventing him from breathing. “This is exactly the kind of behaviour I won’t tolerate.” Dan hisses at him. “You don’t have a shred of evidence against me, but I have some very interesting pictures of you. If you want these pictures to stay secret, you’re going to do exactly what I tell you. If you’re really good, Nathan doesn’t even have to know.”

Lucas shakes his head weakly, his head starting to pound from the lack of oxygen. He tries to kick out to push Dan away, but the older man makes it too difficult to move. Desperate to breathe, Lucas relaxes his struggling and hopes it will be enough to convince Dan to let him go.

Satisfied, Dan releases his son and watches as the boy draws in much needed air through his bruised throat. “This is going to happen whether you agree or not, Lucas. You don’t get a choice. Then you’re coming home with me, Nathan too. And this little relationship you think you have, is over.”

“If you touch me, I swear I’m going to the police.” Lucas threatens him again, his voice hoarse.

Dan just laughs and reaches over to open the bedroom door, grabbing Lucas by the arm as the boy begins to fight back. “Stop fighting me.” Dan demands, managing to overpower him, before shoving him down onto the bed. “You know, this is the first time I’ve done this sober.”

“I’ll call the police! I don’t care if people find out about Nathan and me.” Lucas yells desperately as Dan’s hands lock around his wrists. “You can’t get away with this! I won’t let you!”

Fed up of Lucas’ threats, Dan returns his hand to Lucas’ throat, only allowing him enough oxygen to breathe, not enough to speak. “That’s better. We don’t want the neighbours interrupting, do we?”

Weakened and his vision blurring slightly as he struggles to get enough air to fill his lungs, Lucas just about notices his clothes being forcibly removed. He can feel the material being dragged from his body, leaving him exposed to Dan’s touch, each one feeling like acid on his skin. He wants to struggle, kick out and do anything to get away from this monster, but his body’s failing him. He tries to force out the word ‘no’ as if it will somehow make a difference, but it’s sickeningly obvious Dan isn’t asking permission.

Lucas closes his eyes to the inevitable. Stops struggling, stops trying to breathe, just lies there to wait until it’s over. He’s got through it once before, he knows all he has to do is get through it again and he’ll have the evidence he needs to put Dan away. And he knows the more he fights it, the more it’ll hurt…and the more Dan will enjoy himself. Lucas won’t give him that satisfaction.

It isn’t lost on Dan. He smiles at the new development and removes his hand from Lucas’ throat. He pulls a condom out of his pocket and rips the pack open, making sure Lucas sees. “Do you have any idea how many accusations actually lead to convictions, Lucas?”

Eyes still filled with tears, Lucas can only just make out what Dan’s holding. When he realises, his head drops back and he closes his eyes once more, his body shaking with the need for oxygen.

“You have no idea what I can get away with in this town. With no evidence, I can make it look like you and Nathan are trying to set me up.” Dan taunts, stroking his erection. “You should have gone to the police when you had the chance.”

Lucas clenches his jaw and swallows hard, wincing as his throat burns. “If I go back with you, will you leave Nathan alone?” He asks, barely above a whisper.

“Too late for that.” Dan leans over him, touching his son’s face and enjoying the look of revulsion Lucas gives him as he tries to escape it. “But the more you cooperate, the less I have to keep you in line. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

“Then stop.” Lucas begs, desperately. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

Dan grabs hold of Lucas’ thighs and pulls them apart easily, sliding in between and towering over the trembling teenager. “Consequences, Lucas. You have to learn…”

Lucas braces himself as Dan presses his cock against Lucas’ barely healed ass. He tries everything to relax, in the hopes he can prevent as much damage as before. But as Dan forces his way inside, Lucas can’t help but tense up from the pain that reacquaints itself with his entire body.

“Just relax and take it.” Dan orders, grunting as he forces himself in deeper.

Lucas bites down on his own arm to try and focus the pain somewhere else, anything to get his body to stop clenching down around the assault and making the pain that much worse.

Dan isn’t as careless as before, he gives Lucas enough time to adjust before picking up a decent pace. It’s not so much for Lucas’ sake; Dan still wants it to hurt enough to teach the boy a lesson. He also wants to ensure Lucas isn’t too badly damaged. Dan has no intention of letting his wayward sons use this against him.

Tears rolling down his cheeks, Lucas sobs into his arm, his body so weak he couldn’t fight back even if he tried.

Dan doesn’t bat an eyelid at Lucas’ distress. As far as he’s concerned, the boy deserves all he gets. Dan hates insolence. He demands respect, just like his father had demanded it from him. “Good boy, you’re learning.” He encourages as Lucas manages to relax enough to make it easier for both of them. “You can’t fight me, you might as well just give in.” He continues slamming into the abused body, spurred on by the whimpers of pain Lucas is trying to keep from him. “You and Nathan are so alike. He gave in easily too. Eagar to suck my cock to earn some money. Don’t you feel at all guilty he was forced to do that for you? Making your own brother sink to such levels for your medicine.”

“I didn’t know!” Lucas tries to scream, but his voice is faded and hoarse, it doesn’t quite have the same effect.

Dan laughs at the reaction he gets, finding great pleasure in tormenting him while he’s already weakened. His fingers dig into Lucas’ hips as he feels an orgasm hitting. Thrusting deep inside the boy, he comes with a satisfied growl. He gently caresses the area of skin he’s bruised with his fingers before slapping it, and pulling out of his son.

As soon as he’s free, Lucas rolls onto his side to ease the pain. He doesn’t care about getting away from Dan, that’s pointless anyway, all he needs is his strength back.

“See, that wasn’t too bad, was it?” Dan asks, running his hand across Lucas’ hair almost affectionately. “You didn’t even fight me. Maybe its not just Nathan…maybe you just love getting fucked by family.”

Lucas tries to block the sound of his voice out to no avail. He’s so lost in a world of pain; he doesn’t need Dan adding insult to injury. Especially while it hurts to talk and he can barely argue back.

“Does Keith fuck you too?” Dan asks, cruelly, grabbing Lucas’ arm and forcing him onto his back so Lucas has to look at him. “Would you like him to?”

Anger-fuelled adrenaline forces it way through Lucas’ body and out through his fist. He lashes out with the little strength he has. He barely touches Dan before he’s brutally pinned back down and struck repeatedly by Dan’s own fist.

“How. Many. Times?” Dan rages. “You’re weak and pathetic and it’s about time you learnt never to mess with me.”

Lucas tries to cover his face, which is burning with the sting from each hit. “Keith would never…” Lucas manages to grind out between each painful breath.

“You really are my son.” Dan smirks. “Keeping it in the family.” He climbs off the battered boy, disposes of the condom and then pulls his pants back up and looks round the room. “We’re going to collect your things together and go home tonight.”

“Deb.” Lucas mutters, trying to move off the bed without too much pain. He slowly puts his clothes back on, hating being so vulnerable in front of Dan.

“Don’t worry about Deb, she’s not due out for a few weeks.” Dan states, pulling things out from the closet. “Nathan’s going to be a problem. We can do this one of two ways, you talk to him, or I make him. I don’t care which.”

Lucas feels sick. He half runs out of the room and into the bathroom, collapsing at the toilet and promptly throwing up the small amount he has in his stomach.

Dan appears at the doorway, watching him with a look of annoyance on his face.

“I’ll convince Nathan.” Lucas murmurs, without looking up. “But you have to promise to leave him alone.”

“That’s going to depend on his behaviour.” Dan points out, stepping into the bathroom and standing over Lucas. “And yours.”

Lucas is defeated. His body can’t physically do anything, every argument he makes leads to more pain…he just wants to end it all right now. No more Dan, no more anything.

“Things may seem bad now, but they’ll get better. We’re going to be a family.” Dan tells him, smiling. “Finally.”

Lucas bites back the comments he wants to make and instead nods, with a forced smile. “Okay.”

Dan seems more than satisfied with Lucas’ new attitude; he even leaves him alone to return to the bedroom, starting to toss clothes from the closet onto the bed.

Lucas holds onto the toilet bowl as if it’s the only thing keeping him upright. He wants to keep throwing up until there’s nothing of him left, but he knows Nathan will be back soon and he has to make sure his brother’s safe, it’s the least he can do. Once again he’s forcing his body to do more than it wants to, standing up so he can reach the medicine cabinet. The pills Nathan gave him after last time are still there, so he quickly takes one before looking at his face in the mirror. It hurts more than it shows, but Lucas is sure the bruises will make their presence known before long. Dan can be heard in the background, throwing their stuff around the room. Lucas’ head spins, everything is so surreal. It wasn’t long ago Nathan and he were finally getting somewhere, finally happy.

“Don’t sit in there all day, get in here and help!” Dan yells from the other room.

Lucas doesn’t hesitate to do as he’s told. It kills him that Dan’s so-called lessons are working so well, but Lucas reassures himself that he’s not doing anything out of fear; he’s just biding his time until he can figure out a plan.

He hovers at the bedroom door, nervously, waiting for Dan to assign him something to do. It’s heartbreaking seeing the stuff on the bed, waiting to be taken back to the one place Lucas never wanted to see again.

Dan looks at him, expectantly. “Get this stuff in my car.”

Lucas begrudgingly walks over and starts collecting things together to take outside. Just as he fills his arms, his cell phone starts ringing from the other room. He looks up at Dan, not sure what to do. “That’ll be Nathan wanting to check I’m okay.”

Dan walks past him and goes to collect the phone, while Lucas follows him into the kitchen. Dan looks at it and then passes it over. “Don’t do anything stupid. Tell him you’re okay.” The look on Dan’s face is enough of a warning.

Lucas answers it quickly. “Hey.” His voice is shaking, he can’t help it. “The phone? Yeah, I tripped over the cord and broke it, sorry. My voice? Uh, it’s fine, just coming down with something I think…are you coming home now? Okay... You too.” He shuts the phone with a heavy heart and passes it to Dan when he reaches for it.

“Well?”

“He’s on his way back.” Lucas reports, feeling like he’s betrayed Nathan somehow for not warning him. His eyes fall upon a stray knife in the kitchen sink. He wonders how long it would take Dan to wrestle it out of his hands and turn it back on him and quickly decides its not worth it. He’ll find another way.

“Good to hear.” Dan sneers. “I wouldn’t want him to miss out on any of the fun.”

Lucas can’t stop himself; every time Dan brings Nathan into this his anger takes control. “You leave him alone! I’ll talk to him, there’s no need to…”

“You’re just begging for another round, aren’t you?” Dan laughs, grabbing Lucas by his t-shirt and dragging him close. “It’s just a shame you’re going to have to wait, Nathan hasn’t had his turn yet.”

Lucas’s eyes flash with anger and before he even registers what he’s doing, he grabs the knife and buries it in Dan’s stomach. He’s immediately released, and in utter shock, he stumbles back, completely horrified with what he’s just done.

Dan looks down at the knife protruding from his gut in a confused daze. He reaches to pull it out, but before he can, his knees give way and he lands painfully on them. He looks up at his terrified son with a mix of anger and fear. “You…” He can’t quite finish the sentence; blood is starting to soak through his shirt. Before he can register it, Dan falls unconscious on the kitchen floor.

Lucas stares at the body in total denial. He looks at his hands afraid he’ll see blood, but they’re clean. They are, however, shaking. Panic hits soon after, as Lucas forces himself to realise he’s just killed somebody. He looks around for his phone, before remembering Dan has it in his pocket. He hesitates, too scared to get close to the body. He’s seen way too many movies with fake dead bodies that grab people when they get close and his heart can’t take much more.

Knowing he has no choice, Lucas forces himself forward, kneeling beside his father and reaching into the pocket carefully. A sound at the door startles him and he drops it, turning round to see what caused it.

Nathan’s standing in the doorway, his eyes travelling from Lucas down to the body on the floor. “Lucas?”

Trembling, Lucas walks away from the body and shakes his head, trying to tell himself this isn’t happening,

“Oh God, Lucas, what did you do?” Nathan asks in shock, running to his father’s side. “Luke! What the fuck happened?” He yells when his brother doesn’t respond.

“I don’t know!” Lucas screams back, collapsing hysterically on the couch, shaking so much he can barely sit still.

“We need to call an ambulance…” Nathan says, trying to ignore the panic and try to fix things. He suddenly notices the house phone lying broken in the corner. Everything snaps into place. “He was here when I called…oh God, are you okay? What did he do? Lucas?!”

But Lucas isn’t hearing any of it. He’s curled up on the couch with his head on his knees, whispering something to himself over and over.

Nathan doesn’t know what to do. He’s running out of time. He knows he has to call the ambulance, but how’s he going to explain this? “Okay, okay, this is what we need to do…” He starts, hoping Lucas can at least hear him. “I’m calling 911. Then we need to make sure this is going to look like self-defence. If we have to tell them what he’s done, we tell them. Everything’s going to be okay…you just have to…Lucas, come on! Please! Snap out of it!”

Lucas looks up, his eyes red from crying. He’s so worked up he can barely get his words out. “He…threatened…to…I didn’t…mean…”

“Listen to me. You need to calm down.” Nathan tells him; trying to focus on anything other than the huge mess they’ve just got themselves into. “I’m calling 911. You need to get your story straight.”

Lucas nods, weakly.

Nathan pulls his phone out and dials the number. He methodically tells the lady on the other end what has happened, not even trying to inject his tone with any sympathy. Dan doesn’t deserve it.

Lucas looks up at him suddenly, once Nathan’s finished with the call. “On his phone…he has pictures of…of us.”

“What?” Nathan’s confused. Nothing is making sense anymore.

“Of us, Nathan!” Lucas cries, panicking. “From tonight.”

Nathan groans and quickly goes back over to Dan to retrieve the phone. He flicks through it, frowning as he realises there are no pictures stored on there. “He was lying. Nothing here.”

Lucas shakes his head in despair. “I should have known.”

“Okay, Dan came over, he got violent…your face is red…did he hit you?” Nathan asks.

Lucas nods. He also shows Nathan his neck, which is bright red from the frequent strangling.

“Fuck! I’m so sorry, I never should have left you…” Nathan starts to wish he’d been the one to kill Dan. He certainly wants to now more than ever.

“I’ll tell them he tried to strangle me and I st…” He breaks off, closing his eyes. “I can’t do this, Nathan…”

“We need to decide about the rape. If we tell them, everyone’s going to find out.” Nathan warns.

“Won’t they be able to tell? Will they check?” Lucas is beginning to hyperventilate at the thought of what’s to come.

“Dan tried to kill you, you got there first. That’s totally legal.” Nathan points out. “Even if he survives, there’s a good chance he’s going to jail. We don’t have to report the rest if you don’t want to. If we don’t, there’s no reason for them to examine you.”

Lucas shakes his head. “I can’t let them examine me, Nathan, please…”

Nathan nods. “I’m gonna check the place over, try and clean up. Just stay here and go over the story. Where did it happen?”

“He, uh, bedroom…” Lucas frowns. “He used a…a condom.”

Nathan nods, holding back the anger boiling inside. He runs into the bedroom, surprised to find everything thrown around the room. He checks for signs of blood, but fortunately finds none. He does, however, find the condom in the bin. Disgusted, he forces himself to retrieve it and takes it into the bathroom, where he wraps it in toilet paper and flushes the evidence away.

Sirens start to get louder as the emergency services arrive. Nathan goes to Lucas’ side and holds him tight; his own tears falling as Lucas sobs into his chest.

“I’m really scared.” Lucas whispers.

“You did the right thing. Dan was going to hurt you. You were just protecting yourself. Everything’s going to be okay.” Nathan reassures him. “If you chance your mind about reporting the other stuff, I’ll back you up. It’s your call.”

“What am I supposed to say if they ask why Dan would want to kill me?” Lucas asks.

There’s a pounding at the door. The police ask them to open up.

“He’s crazy. Look what he did to my mom. To your mom! He couldn’t take it when you left him and decided to get revenge.” Nathan says quickly. “Whatever reasons you can think of.” He gets up and opens the door, standing back as the police and ambulance crew pile in.

The Scott brothers watch in a daze as the whole world changes around them.

*~*~*~*