Frank's POV :

"Police, open the door."

My heart dropped in my stomach. Oh God, they are here to take me away from Gerard !

Gerard and I looked at each other and without speaking a word, we both agreed that I had to hide fast.

"Sure! Just a sec," Gerard told the people on the other side of the door.

Without thinking, I immediatly dashed to the kitchen since it was the closest room. I panicked because there was no hiding spot. Unless...

I opened the two little doors under the sink, moved the bin aside and hid there. I blessed my petite built for allowing me to fit.

I closed the two doors enough to be hidden, but leaving an inch of space so I could peek at the entry.

Gerard opened the door and I held my breath when I saw two men who looked like detectives step in. One was quite small with a fedora, honey hair and a trench coat. The other was taller and even though he was caucasian, his features seemed faintly Asian to me.

I didn't quite catch the names they gave Gerard, who let them in. It was something like 'Stomp' and 'Bun'.

"Gentlemen, what can I do to help?" Gerard asked politely.

"We're looking for a kid who went missing about ten months ago. Frank Iero. My collegues interrogated you about him a while ago," the tall man told Gerard.

I felt the pounding of my heart in my throat and temples but I managed to keep myself together. I glued an eye on the small slit.

"Yes, I remember." Gerard nodded. "Any clue to where he might have gone? I'm worried for the kid."

"We are pretty sure he was kidnapped. We all know that runaway kids are always found eventually, or at least seen. Frank hasn't been seen since his disappearance. This is no longer a cold case," the guy with the fedora said.

I'm not sure I understand what this means for Gerard and I, but this is bad. The police are not people to go to, Gerard taught me that.

"If there's anything I can do to help..." Gerard offered.

"Actually, you can. We have a warrant to search every house in Frank's neighborhood, and in all Belleville if we need to. That will be quick."

"Please do. I was about to go to work but it's fine if you make it quick..."

The taller man left my field of vision to look around the house.
The man with the fedora explained to Gerard they opened this case again for some social and political reasons, elections, blablablah...

"If Frank was abducted like you said, why search in here when he could be anywhere in the state, or even the country?" Gerard asked.

"Well, this is only a start. Besides, if you want my personal belief..." The man in a fedora's gaze wandered around. "...I think Frank is still alive and closer than we think."

"Mmhm. Do you have any lead or evidence to confirm this hypothesis?" Gerard asked but at this very instant, the man's eyes connected with mine. Technically, he had just looked at a badly closed door under a sink.

But something changed in his expression, like he just had a revelation. My blood froze and my heart skipped a beat then.

He didn't even bother answering Gerard and slowly stepped in the kitchen, looking utterly suspicious. Oh no, please don't come here. Shoo, go away !

Gerard followed him and asked him if he was okay. The man told him that he was, and kept his eyes hooked on my hiding spot. I didn't close the door because a door closing by itself was everything but normal.

The man stepped closer and I pressed my hand on my mouth to not make a sound. Gerard followed his gaze and his face changed the way the man's had seconds ago. Gerard had understood I was there.

The man bent, frowning, and there was nothing Gerard could do. My heart was ready to explode when...

"Patrick, you should see this room," the other man called.

The short man dismissed what he was about to check and followed his collegue's voice to what I'm sure was my bedroom.

"A kid's bedroom, with a bed undone..." the short man commented. "Who stays here, Mr. Way?"

"My niece Rowan. She and my brother Mikey are staying for a little while. She's staying in this room, Mikey stays in mine and I sleep on the couch. That's not as uncomfortable as it sounds." Gerard 'confided' with a laugh, lies spilling out of his mouth like spring water.

It was like he had anticipated the detective's question, along with the ones that would have logically followed his answer. All that while staying casual. It was impressive.

Anticipation... I thought of what Gerard had said about chess. It was about predicting the other's moves and anticipate what would follow yours. You have to take the lead of the game to win.

At the moment, Gerard was winning.

"Yes, you did mention your brother had moved to New Jersey," the short one said, more to himself than to Gerard.

"Yeah well, thank you for your time, Mr. Way." The tall man seemed convinced. Gerard really was an excellent liar.

Gerard extended his hand at them and they all shook hands. "My pleasure, detectives."

The tall one left. The short one glanced one last time in my direction before following his collegue. I allowed myself to breath normally again and close my eyes.

Gerard peeked out the window to make sure they were gone and then went to me.

I hurried out of under the sink and hid in Gerard's arms.
"Gee !" I squeaked. "I was so scared! I thought they were gonna take me," I whimpered and Gerard held me.

"It's okay Frankie, it's over. Shhh, you were really brave."

I nodded, still shaking a little. I gripped Gerard tight to comfort myself.

"Frankie, I'm gonna have to go to work now, alright? You be a big boy. If anybody comes, you-"

"-I hide and play dead until it's over. I know." I smiled at the ground shyly. We hugged again and Gerard left. I already missed him.

•••
I was working on my history lessons when the phone rang. I picked it up.

"Hi Pumpkin," I recognized Gerard's voice though the device.

I knew he couldn't pronounce my name as he was probably at work, so that would be to risky.

"Hey Gee, what's up?"

"I need you to do something for me."

"Anything." I stood up.

"Are you in your bedroom? I need you to turn on your TV and watch the news. Can you do that?"

"Yeah but... I thought watching the news was forbidden."

"It is, but you have my permission this time sweetie. Watch CNN."

I sat cross-legged on the floor before the small TV in my bedroom. I turned it on. The blue light filled my dim bedroom.

What I saw on the screen was my own face. No, a younger version of it. A bit chubbier. The subtitle read that I was still missing.

And then I saw them. My parents.

My father had an arm wrapped around my mother. It was a live interview of them. Mom had lost weight and Dad seemed exhausted. Both of them seemed down overall.

My father talked about how empty the house felt without me running around and laughing.
"It's not the same without him. We miss him so much."

When I saw their broken faces, so close and yet so far, I realized how much I missed them. And how much they missed me even more.

Mom started sobbing.
"Please, to whoever took Frank, please don't hurt him." She looked at the camera as to adress to my captor. "We love our Frankie. We can pay to have him back. We can give you anything, but please, don't take our boy..."

"M-mommy..." I breathed out, crawling closer to the TV. I wanted to tell her that I was okay, healthy and happy.

I squeezed Miss Jackson against my chest. My sight blurred from tears welling in my eyes. I was agape.

"We wanted so much for Frank to be a good son that we forgot how terrible parents we were." My father spoke, struggling to keep composure.

I plastered my hand on the screen, unable to even listen to what was happening anymore. I had heard enough.

I sensed tears drip down on both my cheeks. I brought the phone back to my ear, staring at the screen.

Never had I heard my parents say such things as 'I am proud of you' or 'I love you'. But now... I was convinced that they meant it.

"G-Gerard ? You still there?" I faltered. My lips were quivering and my throat felt sore.

"Yes, Frank. I'm still here." I heard his warm voice echo through the device.

I held back a sob and shut my eyes tightly, making tears flow on my face.

"Thank you," I simply said.

"...You're welcome."

And with this, he hung up and I broke down in tears. The interview was over, and I changed channels so there was only snow on the screen.

I stared blankly at it, crying at the thought of what I had seen.

I had never realized how much my parents needed me before. When I was a kid, I sometimes wondered how they would feel if something was to happen to me.

At the time, I was sure that they wouldn't notice. Or that they wouldn't care and move on. Or even that they would be relieved of the dead weight I was for them.

Well, the true answer is there. My parents still miss me, and maybe even genuinely love me now.

Or do they? Can people even change?

If they can be broken, destroyed, and turned into monsters, then I can't see why they couldn't be turned into good beings.

Maybe this is the opinion of a hopeful child, but I do believe people can be fixed. Perhaps there is hope for everyone.

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