Eclipse Of The Moon ~ Book 1 of Aaron
Chapter 18
The Ultimate Threat

Wednesday 30 October 2002

"You're underage, go away!" the old man growls when I ask him for a pack of cigarettes.

Well, there is not point insisting. I am underage indeed and he is not one to infringe the law, so I bid him goodbye and walk out of the pharmacy. Shit! I need to find another place, and soon, because the guys are waiting for me at the park. As I walk into a gas station, I think I have a better chance here with the emo girl standing behind the counter. She looks bored, but her eyes sparkle when she sees me, and her black lips stop moving as she was noisily chewing her gum.

"Hi there!" I cheer with my huskiest voice. "One pack of Marlboro, please, and a lighter," I then say confidently, as if all was normal and I were legal.

The young woman rolls her eyes, but she still turns around to grab a red and white box that she drops on the counter together with an igniting device, cashes the ten-dollar bill I left and gives me the change.

"You look a bit young," she trails off, giving me a flirting wink. I lean over, rest my arms on the counter, and offer a charming crooked smile.

"Yeah, I know... People often tell me that, and trust me, it's kind of annoying when you're twenty... But I guess I'll appreciate that when I'm older!" I reply, wriggling my eyebrows before I pull back and walk away. "Bye, Beautiful!"

Once outside, I hurry back to where I was coming from, that is the park where my friends and I now hang out after school. It's not as quiet as our former place, but we still have found a spot where there are not too many strollers. I wish we still had our old shack though, because we could indulge in much funnier activities there. However, I wouldn't take the risk to revive bad memories I have managed to bury at the back of my head so far, so the park will have to do.

We can also go to Mark's or Joshua's places when the weather is too bad, but between their parents and Liz, we don't have too much privacy in their houses, so we prefer the park for now.

When I get there, only Camden is sitting at our usual spot and I wonder where the other two are. I plop on the ground next to my backpack, which I had entrusted Cam with after school – because well, you can't pass off as an adult with a high school student's bag on your back when you are 17 and try to buy cigarettes, right? – and open the brand-new Marlboro pack.

"Where are Mark and Josh?" I ask absentmindedly.

"Hmm... they were wondering what was taking you so long and decided to go and look for you... What the heck are you doing with this?"

"I'm going to stuff them up my ass..." I reply, rolling my eyes while I pick the first cigarette and bring it to my lips.

"So very funny! You could at least offer me one!" Cam grumbles.

"Help yourself!" I say as I throw him the box and light my cigarette.

This is only my third time smoking so I can't avoid coughing a bit when I inhale the fume that stings my throat and trachea, though not as badly as Cam for whom it's a first I believe. He enters a coughing fit, becoming all red in the face and his eyes start tearing.

"Just don't pump on it like you're sucking a cock!!" I exclaim. "You need to take just a little at first, let the smoke cool a bit in your mouth and then you inhale!"

"Ugh, it doesn't taste great... And where did you learn that?"

"Danny taught me. His parents both smoke, and he sometimes steals a cigarette or two from their packs at home. I tried it a couple of days ago at his place. It doesn't taste great indeed, but it's fun!" I explain, dragging on my roll and shooting the smoke back in his direction.

To be honest, it doesn't taste good at all, but I think it's cool and it's mostly another step into defying my parents. Although it has nothing to do with their religion, my parents have always led a serious and healthful life: they next to never drink alcohol, only consume healthy food, and of course, tobacco and drugs are forbidden. They are probably right in a way, since at 60, they are in perfect physical condition, but my physical wellness is not one of my preoccupations at the moment. Instead, I am more inclined to seek wilder explorations, and however stupid it may be, smoking is one.

"Kay... I'll try again..." Cam says eagerly, and this time, he doesn't drag too much and manages to inhale the bit of smoke without coughing so much.

"What the fuck are you two doing!?" Mark growls when he and Joshua come back.

"Don't start me with all your bullshit on how dangerous it is to smoke, Mark!" I warn him, knowing full well he will lecture me on the subject.

"It is dangerous, Aaron!!" he argues as he takes a seat further away, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "Besides it stinks!"

"Where did you even get those?" Joshua asks sternly though he still sits down beside me.

"You don't want to know," I simply reply.

"You're scaring me, Bro..." he sighs. "I heard you got a U in Math today?"

"And?" I reply bitterly, flashing a glare toward that traitor of Mark since he's the only one who could have leaked the information. I can't deny this is the mark I got for returning a blank page with only my name at the latest test.

"And I get you're in some sort of rebelling phase, but don't you think you're taking it a bit too far?" Josh asks nervously.

"It's not a phase. It's the new me, so you'd better get used to him," I reply harshly.

"Well, I'm worrying for the new you, then. I don't know how you've been doing in the other courses, but it hasn't been much better in Computer Science from what I've seen. Defying your parents is nice, but think about your future too... And avoid dragging others in your wake..." he then adds, peeking at Camden who is enjoying his cigarette.

"Mind your fucking business!" I grunt, rising to my feet. I grab my backpack and start heading away.

"Ron!!! Can't we talk seriously without you taking a huff?" Joshua exclaims.

"Fuck you, Josh!" I shout, throwing the butt of my cigarette away.

I have barely made ten steps that a heavy weight brings me down and pins to the ground. Mark is straddling me, an unusual anger plastered on his face, and his hands fisted on the lapels of my jacket.

"Josh is just trying to reason you because you're fucking up a bit, Aaron! You're really unfair!" he growls in a low tone.

"GET.OFF.OF.ME!" I stammer seething, trying to push him.

I believe that Mark and I are pretty equal in built and strength now, but driven by the adrenaline coursing through my body, I manage to overpower him and roll us. Mark does struggle back, which earns me a punch in my face, and as we begin to fight, both Camden and Joshua interfere and separate us.

"Are you guys crazy or what?" Joshua shouts as he releases Mark, but Cam is still holding me back.

"Cam, let me speak with him. I swear we're not going to fight..." Mark says as he approaches us.

"Behave!" Camden warns me as he lets go and joins Joshua further away. There is a long minute of silence while Mark and I stare at each other.

"Listen, Ron," he says, scratching the back of his head before he closes the distance and rests his hands on my shoulders. "We're all worrying for you and..."

"Then don't! I'm perfectly fine!"

"I know you're fine, but you're still going a bit overboard on certain things. We're your best friends and we have every right to worry about you. I know you've gone through a lot recently, and I totally understand your reaction, but... just be careful, Ron... We don't want you to ruin your life all the same."

"I'm not ruining my life, Mark! I'm just enjoying it!"

"There's a difference between enjoying one's life and doing stupid things. We just want you safe and sound. You know we're here to talk... about anything if you need it."

"Yeah, I know that... But don't worry for me, I'm totally fine."

After this short lecture, we return to our usual spot and spend another hour there talking about lighter subjects, including Danny.

Danny and I had a serious conversation after the fun we shared on that Sunday afternoon about ten days ago. Now that I no longer give a fuck about what people might think at school regarding my homosexuality, I would have liked to make him my official boyfriend, but Danny rejected the offer. He said he would rather not engage in anything stable because he doesn't want to fall for anyone just yet. However, he affirmed he won't mind dating me – or my friends – occasionally, because he truly liked what we did.

It stung a bit on the moment, but after a night pondering on it, I decided he was right. Benefiting from the sexual advantages without having to bear with the bonds of a serious relationship sounded good enough to me. After all, what I was mostly looking for was the pleasure I could get in sex. Since then, Danny and I have had sex twice at his place after school, the last time being just two days ago and that's when he mentioned he would like to renew the experience with the guys at some point.

Of course, my friends totally agree with this. Since Joshua's parents are back though, we will have to do this either on an afternoon after school or over a weekend, but at Danny's house when his parents are at work. We eventually decided to try and set it up for next Tuesday since it'll be Election day and we won't have school while Danny's parents should be working. We will have to confirm with him, but it seems like a plan.

It's getting dark and cold, so the guys decide to go home, and Camden needs to go take care of Sony too. As soon as we have parted ways though, I return to the park because I am not ready to go home as far as I am concerned. It's barely 5pm! And the later I get there, the better for me! The park has become quiet now, so I don't have any problem to find an empty bench where I sit down and light a new cigarette.

The last ten days have been horribly painful and rhythmed with conflicts after conflicts. In a way, I like how I have been able to stand my ground against my parents. I have even exulted at seeing my mother's disappointment and my father's wrath, but this is getting exhausting because I just can't seem to find any peace of mind.

When I got home and found the house locked on that Sunday, then the note on my window, I just drew back and went to the shed in the garden. I almost had a mind to go to Mark's, because I knew his family would easily welcome me for the night, but I didn't want to disturb them, much less worry my friends. Somehow, I was pissed at my parents for doing this to me, but at the same time, I felt relieved I wouldn't have to face them that evening and go through a painful conversation. It was only putting off the inevitable, but once I was more or less comfortably settled, wrapped in a canvas sheet, I was glad nothing else would ruin what had been a great day.

Well, a few spiders spoiled my fun, but I still had a good night and when I woke up the following morning, to the sound of my father's car starting off, I sighed in relief at hearing him leave early enough. I snuck back into the house, ignored Catherine's glare and once I had stolen a bit of bread and a yogurt, I escaped to my room. My mother was using the bathroom, so I had to wait for a while, but then I went to take a shower, dressed up, took my backpack and escaped without even a word to my mother.

That Monday evening was quite difficult though. My father was already back when I returned home in the evening, and there we had the painful conversation, even if it was the briefest discussion we ever had, I think. He was ready and waiting for me in the hall, and I wasn't really expecting him. He welcomed me with a huge slap in my face that threw me to the floor and clearly caught me off-guard.

"You little devil!" he shouted, while I was trying to recover my spirits. "How could you do this? What got into you? How could you sneak out and avoid the Sunday mass at church? Such shame!! You're only causing us embarrassment... Your behavior is so detestable... I'm going to teach you some good manners!" he seethed through his teeth, already slipping his belt off his pants.

For a brief second, I got really scared and his icy tone had frozen me on my spot. I couldn't move, my muscles wouldn't obey, and I could barely breathe, but flashes of my recent realizations and my determination to hold on to my resolve eventually made me react, fast enough to avoid the first blow. I rose to my feet and pushed my father aside, which caught him by surprise.

"Don't you ever dare lay a hand on me again. NEVER EVER AGAIN!" I shouted. "If you only ever try to touch me again, I'll go to the police and press charges!" I screamed before I ran off to the staircase and went to my bedroom.

There, I discovered that my father had dismantled the handle, together with the latch, so I quickly shut the door and sat in front of it. My father did try to force his way in, but I was strong enough to resist his shoves in the door and he eventually gave up when my mother came to reason him with her bullshit on anger. He still promised me hell again, but I ignored him and dragged the smallest of my chests of drawers to block the door. I spent the rest of the evening there, listening to the sounds of the house, and two hours after they had all gone to bed, I sneaked back downstairs to eat.

Surprisingly, there was no other conversation after that. Each evening, I have been expecting the worst when I get back home, but it still hasn't happened. My mother tried to talk to me once, but I just told her to leave me alone. When she offered to take me to church to speak with Father Joseph, I just ignored her. On the Tuesday evening, I thought my father was going to resume our conversation, and I was ready with arguments – and my legs to flee – but it didn't happen. He plainly ignored me!

To be honest, I don't really like the self-confidence and determination he has been displaying since then, and I sometimes wonder what he is brewing, but all that matters is that I can have dinner on my own in the kitchen and that they leave me alone. I can tell I am hurting my mother, and it sometimes makes me feel bad, but being the bad son I am, I never worry for very long. I think we have fallen too much apart now for me to really care. It is sad, but that's what it is. The good thing is that they also more or less left me alone last weekend – mostly because I made sure to get up before them on Sunday morning and escaped early, but I was still allowed back inside in the evening when I returned.

Of course, the situation is not ideal, and all this tension is tiring me, but I keep telling myself that it's only a matter of barely twelve more months before I am of age and then, I will be out of this house. Meanwhile, I can endure this as long as they don't force me to deal with all their rituals and they cannot kick me out either; they have to provide for me until I am 18. The most important is that I can still spend time with my best friends and at the end of the day, they are what keeps me holding on.

Enough dwelling on this anyway, my growling stomach reminds me that it's time to head back home. On my way there, I smoke another cigarette and throw the butt at the end of our street. It's barely 6pm when I open the entrance door, so my father hasn't arrived yet. Since I am not allowed to join them for dinner – because I refuse to pray with them – I go directly to the kitchen to see what I could eat.

"Did... Did you smoke?" my mother exclaims with obvious disgust in her voice when I pass near her. Well, I hadn't planned on hiding this to my parents, but I guess it'll only add to the tension.

"Maybe," I just reply.

"Aaron!! This... this is getting out of hand here!! What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong, Mom! I'm just being me!!!" I chuckle as I gather some stuff in the fridge to prepare a club sandwich.

"Being you? Well, I do not like the you at the moment! Your behavior is getting inacceptable! You had better change, Aaron! And sooner than later!" she says angrily.

"Or what? You can't force me to go to church and follow all your bullshit!" I reply while I quickly assemble my sandwich.

"Oh, dear God... Such foul language... You'd better pray for God's forgiveness!"

"Fucking sure... Mom," I reply sarcastically.

"I am not joking, Aaron!! I hope the mass on Friday for All Saints' Day is going to bring back some sense into you, and on Saturday, Father Joseph will say a special mass for All Souls as well. We will pray for your dear brother, and..."

"I won't go to either of them, Mom! All this is over for me in case you hadn't understood!" I say harshly while I put the leftovers back in the fridge.

"Oh yes you will! You will go back to church, I'm telling you!"

"You can't force me!"

"Aaron!" Catherine suddenly interferes from the entrance of the kitchen. "How dare you speak this way to our mother?"

"Ugh you just shut up and mind your own business!" I seethe at her.

With that, I grab the two sandwiches I prepared, my backpack, and I scamper upstairs, fuming inside. I had hoped my mother had understood I was never going to return to church, but it seems like I was mistaken. How can she be so sure I will? I mean, she just can't force me!!

Once in my room, I drop everything on my bed, not caring that there will be annoying crumbs on my bedsheet, then storm out again because I need to use the restroom. I relieve my bladder and wash my hands before I get out again. In the corridor, I can hear my sister and my mother talk downstairs. I shouldn't care because I know they must be talking about me, but my curiosity is piqued when I decipher the word school. It's true I have been messing up a lot in school recently and I wonder if my parents have already heard back from teachers or the Principal, so I silently walk to the top of the staircase and prick my ears.

"When is Dad going to tell him, Mom? Next week will come soon now!" Catherine whisper-yells.

"I don't know, Sweet Angel. I believe he wants to wait for the last minute..." my mother replies in a hushed tone, but I can hear the light sobs in her voice.

"He deserves to know, Mom..."

"Shhh, we'll discuss this later, Catherine. Your father has just arrived..." my mother then says, trying to recover a normal voice.

Hearing this, I hurry back to my bedroom, wondering what the hell they were talking about. Him can only be me since I am the sole other male in this house, so what is my father supposed to tell me? I have half a mind to block my door tonight, but my father hasn't tried to get in recently, so I decide to just shut it and settle on my bed to eat my sandwich. I vaguely hear voices coming from downstairs, but I don't pay much attention as I am still trying to figure out what my mother and Catherine could have been talking about.

Big mistake.

I should have paid more attention.

I would have probably heard my father's footsteps in the staircase.

Perhaps I would have felt the dangerous storm coming my way.

But it's too late now.

It can't have been more than a few minutes since my father came back and I am only starting my second sandwich when the door of my bedroom is flung open. I don't think I have ever seen my father this angry before. His eyes are throwing daggers at me. His face is red with wrath. His nose is flaring. His jaw is clenched. All his muscles are tense, but the worst is that he already has his belt in his hand, his knuckles white as he holds it tightly.

I don't even have time to react. He has barely shut the door that he is already reaching me in long strides, his right arm raised in the air before it strikes down.

"How dare you speak to your mother so disrespectfully?" he growls at the same time.

"Dad!! No!!!"

"And smoking..."

Too late. The leather of the belt hits my bare forearms as they reach for my head to protect myself. I curl up on my bed as more blows rain on my body. Pretty much none of my left side is spared by the strap, my shoulder, my arm, my ribs, my hip, my thigh, and even my head once, as my father lavishes the strikes one after the other.

"You are going too far!"

React, Aaron! You can't let him do this!!

I am trying but the blows are downpouring so quickly! Even if most of my skin is protected by my clothes, it is beginning to burn where the belt hits more than once. Besides, my father is not refraining on his strength at all. Shit! Is he ever going to stop? Is he expecting to lynch me until I die? Well, I certainly won't let him! I won't let him beat me to death!

Just as I am about to cower away, having a mind to use the rest of my strength to punch him, it suddenly stops and I can finally only hear his heavy breathing mixing with the light sobs I am trying to contain out of pride. When I dare retrieve my hands from my face, my father's large paw grips my jaw as he leans over me and rests his other hand on the mattress.

The fury in his eyes is frightening, it's almost dementia.

"I am not going to repeat this, so you had better listen to me carefully, Son. You have gone too far. Far enough to maybe endanger your soul, and I still hope it is not too late. You may think you have the maturity of an adult, but you don't. I am not sure what sort of phase you are going through, but I can tell you something. THIS.IS.OVER. Hear me well, Aaron. This is over. You had better enjoy your last two days in this high school, because on Sunday, you are moving..."

"What??" I squeal.

"DO NOT INTERRUPT ME!" he barks, tightening his grip on my jaw, which brings more tears to my eyes. I'm trying to push him away, but I just can't. Fuck! For a man who is about to turn 60, he still has a lot of force! "I am regaining control on you, Aaron. I will not tolerate that my only son goes off the rails and I have now sorted out the solutions for this since you can't seem to learn your lessons.

"On Sunday, I am driving you to Newark. You are going to meet members of Courage. They are going to help you resist this disgusting attraction you have for... males. They are going to show you the way toward redemption and lead you away from sin. They are going to guide you toward eternal chastity. And then, once this first appointment is over, I will drive you to your new school in Newark, and..."

My heart constricts at these words. I know he must be talking about a boarding school, a catholic one at that. I know what this entices. Rigidity far worse than here at home. Hours and hours of prayers, mass, and confessions. The strictest education. And worst of all, it means being away from my best friends.

"No!!!"

"Oh, yes. It is a huge financial sacrifice for your mother and me, but it shows you how much we care for you, Son. We don't want you to fall within the hands of the Devil. We are going to save you from the Devil. This boarding school is one of the strictest in the United States, and they will lead you toward priesthood since this is probably the only way to save your soul. You will finish your last year under the teaching and surveillance of priests. And then, you will start theology. This will help you to enter the best seminaries and allow you to become a good priest."

Priesthood? Is he kidding me? There is no way I will become a priest! Never ever!!!

"I won't go!!"

"You do not have a choice! You are a minor, so you can only obey your parents' orders. Everything is all set anyway. You have been enrolled in this school for the next years, and you will go, Aaron. Trust me, you will go!"

"I won't! I won't become a fucking priest!" I shout, finally succeeding in pushing him away. I painfully rise to my feet to face him, feeling the burning sting on all of my left side.

"DO NOT CURSE!!" he shouts louder than me. "This is the only solution for you to surrender to God!"

"Because you think this is going to erase my attraction for men? You are so wrong, Dad..." I chuckle.

"You will learn and you will fight it!"

"Oh yeah? Go tell this to all the young boys who have been abused by priests in Boston then! And probably in other places! These priests have greatly succeeded in fighting their urges!" I seethe in answer. "And they're probably not the only ones! I won't be one of them!"

"Of course, you're not! Because you are going to fight better than them! Now, this conversation is over. You have no other choice. You are under our responsibility, legally speaking, and you will have to follow our orders!"

With that, he turns around and leaves my bedroom, shutting the door. I hear some sort of lock clicking and I hurry for the door to open it, but it just won't. What the hell? When did he install a lock on the outside of my door? How could I not notice it?

"Dad!!! Open!!!"

I keep yelling but he just ignores me, having probably gone downstairs.

FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!

I can't let that happen! I know he is right when he says he is my legal representative and I can't do much if my parents send me to a boarding school. Just thinking about it and what I have heard before about these establishments run by monks and priests makes me nauseous. Even worse, it oppresses me, my lungs have a hard time swelling, my ribcage is painfully constricted, and I can't breathe properly.

The worst is the idea of not seeing my friends anymore. I just can't live without them, I won't be able to endure this without their presence, this is going to kill me bit by bit. I will just go nuts in such a place if I can't compensate with my best friends' support. I just can't.

I can't let that happen.

I can only see another option, here and my decision is already made.

On one side, there is the absence of the three people I love the most on Earth, a strict discipline through prayers, masses, learning, and confessions. Insanity too.

On the other side, there is the absence of the three people I love the most on Earth, and the life I want to lead, free for all the strings held by my family. Sanity too.

Tears run heavily down my cheeks as I already form a plan in my head.

This afternoon was the last time I saw my best friends for a long time. But I will see them again at some point. That's if they forgive me.

Tonight was the last time I saw my father forever. I won't see him ever again. And I don't give a fuck if he doesn't forgive me.

Tomorrow will be the last time I see my mother. I won't see her ever again. And I don't give a fuck if she doesn't forgive me.

Tomorrow, I am running away from New Jersey. And I won't come back here ever again. Never. Ever. Again.

Published on 26 August 2019

If I judge by my beta readers' various reactions (here I should take the opportunity to once again thank Fhanth , JaneyJordan , Galagoogoo and DragonFlames32 for their time and precious feedback), this chapter might leave you with mixed feelings. On one side, it feels good to see Aaron rebel, but on the other side, we all know that he's choosing the wrong path, which is certainly a direct side-effect of what he endured, not only through the rape, but also through all these years around such a strict family. However harsh he sounds in this chapter, he truly loves Mark, Josh and Cam, and in the end, the threat to be sent away from his friends is what makes him flee from NJ.

Anyway, we're at the start of his downfall, but as usual, I'll advise to keep in mind the Master Dom we know from previous books, and now you shall prepare for a few painful chapters until he meets Ivan, but don't worry, this bad period won't drag on too much. Just a few themed chapters. As I have already said, Aaron is a complex character with contradictory sides (thank goodness for him, I should say...): smart and stupid, strong and weak, mature and immature, etc. But I'll let you discover this as you read on.

Meanwhile, there's still the run away chapter and this one will come next week as I'll resume a normal publishing schedule. Thank you for your patience 😘