Hide and Seek

“Excuse me, ma’am. Is this your purse?” Jonas asked.

No. The lady rushed outside the train with her heads low and walked towards the stairs.

Jonas watched the lady, run up the stairs through the window. He sensed something was wrong for a moment, but thought he was just wasting his time.

It was his stop. He just walked across the door and stepped outside that he heard a loud noise behind and everything blacked out.

                                                  *** *** *** ***

Jonas woke up in a hospital. There were people surrounding him making weird, shocking faces. There were flowers inside the room everywhere. He could see his mom, distancing herself a little bit far from the bed. The nurses were shouting at the visitors not to crowd the room. All of them left the room with her order. He could barely recognize half of his visitors. He was glad that he had so many dear ones but he had no clue, what had happened to him.

There were scars visible all over his arms. He was scared as he couldn’t remember getting himself injured. He could feel the pain on his backside. His eyes were acting weird, giving translucent vision, maybe because of the morphine. He could see the used syringes of Ketorolac inside the dustbin, below his bed.

He was inside the joint cabin, lying patiently in a tidy bed, covered with white sheets, the usual color for a hospital; the white color had been sabotaged with muddy rashes but that goes unnoticed. The saline water was placed on the left side of his bed, with the injection attaching it to his wrist. He couldn’t see the other patient in his room as the other half of the room was separated with a spotless, blue colored curtain. There was a small television straight above where, both the patients could watch. He couldn’t clearly see outside the room as the door was almost closed. There were some reports and files right behind the saline stand.

“How are you feeling now?” One of the nurses asked in a low, polite voice.

“What happened to me?” Jonas asked.

“You were in an explosion.” She turned on the television.

There were images of the explosion all over the news.

At 5:30 this evening, an explosion hit Eupen Railway Station in Liege, Belgium, killing almost 80 lives and injuring hundreds of the passengers. The experts say that it was a bag from where it all started. They found the traces of Petroleum Jelly on the crime scene. They say it was C4 that caused the mass murder.

 Jonas finally remembered the lady, who left the bag inside the train and when he asked her if she had left it, she declined and ran towards the subway.

He asked for his mom. His mom rushed inside the room towards the bed, sitting next to him.

“How are you now, baby?” She asked in tears.

“I hope the one who did this to my child burns in hell.” She shed some more tears.

“Don’t worry mom, I will be back in no time.” He tried to cheer up his mom.

There were no major injuries on his body but the explosion had affected him mentally. He thought he could have stopped it if he had just tried to look inside that bag.

After almost about a month, he was fully fit, and the people were over the destructive explosion. They moved on with time. The railway station was on renovation stage.

Jonas could walk; he could live his normal life now. But after the explosion, his family was taking extra care of him, with one of his relative always had an eye on him. Jonas had developed a fearless nature after the incident. His parents could observe some changes in his behavior but no one really cared much.

Eventually, time flew like a bird as it always does and everything was flowing like a river in a normal manner. Jonas would stay alone, interacting less with his family and it was increasing day by day.

He would lock himself up in a quiet room and stay inside.

“I think I need to go out, I feel dull.” Jonas said.

“Nahh, I don’t think so. The room is fine. Moreoever, I like nobody interfering.” Starc said.

“You have been always there for me, after the accident. Thank you.” Jonas said with a smile in his face.

“I know. Others are acting weird: they are treating you like a prisoner, always having an eye on you 24/7.” Starc replied.

It was almost five o clock in the evening. The sun was almost about to dive in the river of the west, splashing the drops of darkness in people’s lives.

“I need to go out now. Let’s go now.. It’s almost night. After all you like darkness too. Don’t say ‘no’ now.” Jonas pleaded.

“Don’t whine like a baby now. Okay fine let’s go.” Starc said with some anger inside.

The cool breeze of the evening was assisting the walk. The stars were almost about to appear on the clear, black sky and the view was amazing with the lighting effects of the moon.

“I wonder, if Rusty would torture me again tomorrow. Maybe he would show some pity and leave me alone this time. After all I am a survivor of a horrible incident,” Jonas wondered.

“Don’t worry. If he lays a hand on you this time, I am there. You were alone then. You are not, anymore.” Starc said with a grin.

“Thanks mate. I am so lucky to have you.” Jonas said.

“Lose the girly line. Let’s move, back home. I wanna rest now.” Starc said.

The walk, back home was too quiet as the strange sound of the pitch dark could be heard clearly. The howling of the wind could be felt. The chirping of the birds was mesmerizing. Maybe they were calling their loved ones, or maybe bidding everyone good night.

The next day, Jonas went to college after a long recovery period. Everyone was delighted to see him. There were many faces surrounding the victim of the dark event.

Rusty showed up. Jonas was scared as he would again do something.

“I am sorry to hear about the event. How are you feeling now? Rusty said in a low, polite voice.

Jonas felt amazed with such a drastic change.

“..Does it feel like my beating? I meant the pain, sucker.” Suddenly the polite voice changed into a fierce, witty grin.

Jonas was shocked to observe such a change. He lowered his head and was almost about to cry.

“Step back you asshole. Or you will know what pain is.” Starc said.

“Don’t Starc. Leave him. He is too big and dangerous.” Jonas pleaded.

“Don’t be a baby now. Let me fight him. He needs to be taught a lesson.” Starc said with courage.

“But…But...” Jonas was trying to speak when Starc said, “Oh shut up now.”

Everyone around there was shocked to see the scenario. They had no idea what was happening. But then one of the teachers came by, to know the reason for such a big crowd.

“What’s happening here?” The teacher shouted, when he suddenly saw Jonas and thought everyone was there to see him back after the explosion.

“Scatter around now. Get back to your classes now.” He added.

He smiled at Jonas and welcomed him back to the college and walked away.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you or what has happened to you kiddo, but you’ll pay for your words.” Rusty whispered in Jonas’ ear and left.

“I told you not to mess with him. Now I don’t know what he’s gonna do to me.” Jonas was scared.

“Don’t start crying now, for fuck’s sake. I am gonna handle that asshole.” Starc said boldly.

The class was fine and everything was going well for the day. The college was off for the day.

Jonas was walking back home when he met Rusty outside the college. Rusty blocked his way and pushed him.

“What did you say to me, in the morning?” Rusty shouted.

Jonas fell down. “I didn’t say that. Starc did.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Who’s Starc?” Rusty said.

“I am Starc.” Starc got up, picked up a stone and threw at Rusty.

Rusty was all confused, and was struck by the stone when he got a concussion. The concussion was followed by another punch which made him, fall down to the ground. Starc then jumped on him and started throwing all his anger at him, added by the kicks, severely injuring him. His nose was bleeding with his face, getting ready to swell.

“Stop now, Stop for Christ’s sake. Let’s go now.” Jonas cried.

“No. This pussy needs some more pain. Remember how he bullied you. I am gonna kill him.” Starc said.

One of the guards of the college heard some noise and came running by to stop the fight. He was very shocked to see such bloodshed. He called the faculty members as soon as possible.

Rusty was rushed to the hospital. Jonas’ parents were informed about the incident.

Jonas was asked to wait inside the detention room until his parents arrive.

“Now you have ruined my life. They are surely gonna press charges.” Jonas said.

“Shut up now. It felt good though, didn’t it?” Starc smiled. The smile was devilish.

“Now shut up and let me rest for some time.” He added.

After half an hour or so, his parents arrived. He was called to the principal’s office.

He stood still where his parents and the principal were staring at him. They could clearly seethe traces of blood on his shirt.

“I didn’t expect this from you, Jonas.” The principal said.

 “You have crossed you limit Jonas. I feel ashamed to be called as your mother.” His mom shouted.

“You should serve some time for this, you asshole.” His father shouted.

All three of them were firing their anger towards him.

“I didn’t beat him. Starc did.” Jonas shouted.

“What the hell are you talking about? Who’s Starc? You were all alone there. “The principal said.

“The guard found you all alone beating that innocent child fearlessly.” His father said.

Jonas had his head held low, when suddenly he was murmuring something to himself.

“I am Starc. And that dickhead was not innocent.” He had his head back to the normal position.

The people present there were shocked to observe the scene.

“Stay away now. Just go away. I don’t need you here. You are gonna make this even worse. Go away.” Jonas said.

“Shut up. They need to hear the truth about how that innocent guy bullied you all the time.” Starc said.

The people present there were feeling like they are in some kinda nightmare.

Jonas was talking to himself. One moment he was being one person, another moment he was someone else. His mother could only shed some tears.

She ran towards her child and shook him. “Jonas, Jonas what has happened to you?”

“I don’t know mom. I don’t know. Starc never lets me go.” Jonas said.

“Who’s Starc? What has happened to my baby?” She cried.

“I am Starc. You must not cry mother. I take good care of us.” Starc smiled.

After an hour of this weird session, Jonas was asked to wait outside by the principal to have a conversation with his parents privately.

“I think the explosion has affected him from deep inside. He needs some mental help.” The principal advised.

His mother could cry her eyes out and nothing else.

“He is depending on Starc all the time, who he thinks exists in the real life. He would always stay locked up, all alone. He wouldn’t even go, visit his friends after the explosion and moreover didn’t let anyone come inside his room.” The father said.

“I am not going to let anything happen to my child.” The mother walked out of the room.

“I am going to explain the situation to Rusty’s parents and ask them not to press any charges. And you should take the boy to a psychiatrist. I wish him a speedy recovery.” The principal said.

“Thank you.” The father shook his hand and walked outside the room in deep thought.

“Just leave me alone, Starc. Leave me alone.” Jonas said.

“Shut up. You are nothing without me. You must be thankful instead.” Starc said.

   
                                              ***  *** *** *** ***

Jonas was admitted to a mental care.

"The accident had piled up more fear inside him so he created a fearless character inside him. We call it "split personality' in our term. Your son needs our help. We will make sure that he is treated well."The doctor said.

"Do whatever you need to do, doc. We need our son, Jonas back." The parents said. 

He was getting the needed help and was progressing slowly. His parents claim themselves as the ‘unluckiest’ as their son had to go through such explosion, and which resulted with some bitter side effects.

Maybe time has something good for them. Or maybe time is just an illusion. They crave for changes in their life, good, happy changes.

                                           
                                                 ----------------------------------

Jonas was resting all alone in a room quietly. He had his head rested on his right shoulder. Suddenly he stood up, all straightened up.

“I am never leaving you. We are made for each other.” Starc laughed out aloud.