~&~
I'm back, guys...
So, from here on the real story starts. Things will unfortunately stay a little 'gory', because flashbacks can be very overwhelming. If you can't handle it, there's nothing wrong with that. You are most welcome to skip. I will indicate when the flashbacks end. 

Btw. You're talking  to the girl who got scared in The Maze Runner. No shame here!

Thanks for sticking with me until now. 

~&~

"Carson, call an ambulance..." my mother choked on the blood pouring out of her mouth. "No mom, please stay with me," I cried as I dialed the emergency number. They picked up and I explained the situation, tears streaming effortlessly. The crowds were growing and growing, mainly consisting of the students from the party. They all saw me crying there, but no one came up to me - no even Ethan. "C-Carson..." my mother said, her eyes getting glossy and losing focus, her actions beginning to get slower as she got weaker and weaker. "Mom, no! No, mom! Please no, mom!" I screamed. My mother closed her eyes. I knew she didn't think she'd make it and didn't want me to see her dead eyes looking up at me. "No, someone help!" I cried as I felt her body go limp in my arms. "I-Iove you..." she stuttered before everything went silent, only my crying could be heard. 

~&~

"You are a failure, you worthless child!" my father yelled as we returned home after the funeral. "It wasn't my fault there was a drunk driver!" I yelled back at him, my emotions getting the better of me. The next minute I was lying on the floor in pain. He picked me up, threw a punch at me, resulting in me being hurled across the room. "Speak to me like that again and soon you'll have a gravestone next to your mother's, you hear me?" he yelled at me from across the room. "I will get revenge for her, I don't love you - I never did!" he walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a six pack of beer. And that's where it all started...

~&~

 He was holding up his phone, taking a video of me lying on the ground surrounded by my own blood on my front yard. "Adam," I called out, trying to convince myself that it was the loss of blood that was making me see things. He chuckled and came closer. "So, the truth is out, huh?" he asked. "I guess you can stop acting like the golden boy now. You don't have to lie to everyone anymore, huh?" he asked harshly. He chuckled. "Suck on that, you little piece of trash." he said turned off the camera. "Goodbye, Carson." he said and jogged off.

 ~&~

(Flashback is over)

I gasped as I sat up. My eyes were wide with fright and my mouth was wide open, trying to catch my breath. I heard my name being called from multiple different directions and then held my hands to my ears. "Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" I screamed as their words became louder. I felt a hand touch my forearm, it gave me shivers. I looked up at the person connected to the hand and realized why I got those shivers. It was Mrs Peters. Everything became clearer now. All of the bad things and images were gone. I looked around and found myself in a hospital room. A feeling of deja vu came to me. It hadn't even been a month since the last time I was here. I looked down at my body. I was yet again in one of those weird hospital dresses. 

I hate these things! 

"Carson, how are you feeling?" she asked me, again with the clipboard. I was about to answer when a wave of nausea took over, resulting in me bending over the railing of the bed and throwing up.  I heard her gasp as I did so, my throat burning. "Oh my - Carson," she said quietly. I opened my eyes and looked down. I saw blood. I puked blood! My breathing hitched as a sob made its way to my throat. "What sort of sick joke is this?" I cried as I stayed in the same position, another wave of nausea hitting me. I threw up again. 

"What's happening?" I asked her. She sighed and looked at me carefully. "Carson, your father stabbed you in your digestive tract, which does involve throwing up blood sometimes. Your body is just reacting to what happened." she explained sadly. I sat up and breathed deeply. She leaned in and wiped the blood off my chin and mouth. Instead of flinching away like I usually did, I leaned into her touch so she could clean me up properly. The event flashed through my mind, causing another wave of nausea. I bent over the railing again and threw up. I heard the door open with a squeak. "I am so sick of throwing up and seeing blood." I mumbled under my breath and sat up. I saw a man standing at the door, looking at me, somewhat concerned. 

"Who are you?" I asked. He smiled. "I'm glad to see you're okay, son. Keep well." he said then left. I squinted at the door as it closed. I turned to Mrs Peters. "Who was that?" I asked her. She smiled. "I think that's something we should discuss later," she said. I shook my head. "At least tell me something, please?" I asked. She sighed and nodded. "Okay, that man's name is Samuel Cordero and he'll be taking you in." she said. I frowned. "As in foster care?" I guessed. She nodded. I shook my head. "No, I don't do foster care." I said. She shrugged. "Your father's been arrested, you have no choice." she said. I sighed and nodded. "Fine, but I'm not comfortable with this." I said. "How does he even know about me?" I asked. She smiled again. 

What is wrong with her face today? There is absolutely nothing to smile about here! 

"Well Carson, that's his story to tell. Besides, I don't even know the whole story anyway." she said and placed her clipboard down on the side table. She walked toward me. "But for now, all you need to worry about is getting better. I need to run some check ups to see if everything's alright, if you don't mind?" she asked. I frowned at her. "What do you mean, if everything's alright? What's wrong with me?" I asked her. She sighed. "Carson, you've just been stabbed, you've lost a large amount of blood. I just need to check the basics. Your father broke your nose and you twisted your ankle on those steps. Due to the adrenaline, you probably didn't feel it at the time." she said. I nodded, but didn't reply. 

Then Adam came to mind. "Adam," I blurted out. "Excuse me?" Mrs Peters asked, looking at me weirdly. "Adam, he took a video of the stabbing." I panicked. "My life is over." I breathed. She shook her head. "No it's not. Give me this boy's name and I'll track him down and get the video." she said boldly. I shook my head. "Give me your phone." I said simply. "No," she said. I rolled my eyes. "Give me your phone." I repeated, my voice a little lower this time to indicate that I was beginning to grow impatient. She sighed and handed me the phone. I quickly went onto YouTube and typed in my name. A video popped up named 'Carson Henderson in Action'. It was the video of me being hit by that car. My blood started boiling. Who took this video? I looked  at the username to see who posted it. It was Adam's username. I was fuming. I scrolled down, looking at all of the funny videos we had posted online for fun, when something popped up. 

It read: Adam_the_Wylde just posted a new video. I quickly clicked on it. I watched that little circle in the center of the screen that everyone hated. It turned around and around, driving me crazy in suspense. I scrolled down while I waited and read the description. People aren't always what they seem, not even The Golden Boy. P.S. I've never seen you cry before, it was quite entertaining! I was crying now.  How could he? The little circle finally stopped and the video started playing. I saw my father as he stabbed me in the leg. I was bleeding everywhere. I watched as he yelled at me then stabbed me in the abdomen, leaving me out in the cold. The camera shook, meaning Adam was moving closer to me. "Now I see why you never wore anything but those stupid hoodies or went to parties anymore." he said. "You're too busy being a fake, weak, cry baby. How does it feel Carson, to be alone?" he asked then chuckled. The video ended. I stayed silent as Mrs Peters grabbed her phone from me and told me repeatedly that he'd pay for what he had done. 

"I'll kill him," I said quietly. "I'll kill Wylde!" I yelled in anger. 

~&~

After 3 weeks, the hospital finally let me leave. Mrs Peters was helping me walk to Mr Cordero's car, since I was staying with him now. "How big is his family?" I asked her as we walked into the lobby. "He has a family of 6, including you of course." she said with a smile. "5 more people, are you people crazy?" I asked her. A few people turned their heads toward us and stared. I rolled my eyes and ignored him. "He is a big family man and offered to help you, so you better appreciate it." she warned. I nodded and sighed. "I'll try," I said. She smiled. "That's all we want." she said. We walked out of the hospital and into the parking lot. I saw Mr Cordero leaning against his car, his arms crossed and a pleasant smile playing on his lips. 

Mrs Peters smiled. "Good afternoon, Mr Cordero. This is Carson, as you already know." she said then turned to me. "This is Mr Cordero, remember him?" she asked. I nodded, suddenly losing my voice. He smiled. "Wonderful to meet you properly, son." he said and held out his hand. I shook it and drew my hand back to my side. "Mrs Peters and a few other people went to collect some of your things at your house. I have them here with me, to save time." he said and pointed to the trunk." he said. "We live a bit further away from your house." I nodded. He smiled and walked toward the passenger seat and opened the door for me. I turned to Mrs Peters, feeling like a uncertain little boy on his first day at school. She smiled and rubbed my shoulder. "Don't worry, you're in good hands. He's a very nice man." she said. "I'll keep in touch." she hugged me. 

I stiffened up a little then she let go. I turned to Mr Cordero and got into the car. He closed the door and thanked Mrs Peters for the last time. "Let's get away from this stinky hospital." he said and drove out of the parking lot. I gave him a small smile and looked out of window. The stupid hospital wanted to run some more 'late check ups', which resulted in us leaving just before dark. We drove at a steady pace and music was softly playing through the stereo. Mr Cordero turned the music softer and turned to me. "So Carson, what sports do you like?" he asked. Great, small talk! "Uh, I like football and soccer." I said. "Awesome, I think Kyle will like you, maybe Luke too?" he said. I frowned at him. 'Who are they?" I asked. He chuckled. "Kyle is my eldest son, he's your age, and Luke is my silly 7-year-old." he said. "Mrs Peters said you had three children?" I recalled. He nodded. "Yes, Kyle has a twin sister named Rachel. She's a sweetheart, very kind." he said. I nodded, not really interested. 

"Do you have any siblings?" he asked me. I got a bitter taste in my mouth and shook my head. "No, after me my mother couldn't have anymore kids." I said. He sighed. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that." he said. I nodded and looked ahead through the windshield. "I'm sure she was an amazing woman." he said a few moments later. I nodded and smiled. "She was, she really was." I said. He smiled and then turned the music louder. I started paying attention to the lyrics, since there was nothing else to do. 

You're the God of this city,

You're the King of these people, 

You're the Lord of this nation,

You are...

You're the light in this darkness 

You're the hope to the hopeless 

You're the peace to the restless 

You are... 

There is no one like you 

There is no one like you 

 Oh, this guy was religious. I never had a religion; it just seemed to strict and judgmental. 

For greater things are yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things are yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done in this city 

The song made me feel weird, like I wanted to run away and hide in a corner. I blinked twice then looked out of the window. I saw Mr Cordero turn into the driveway of a double story house. The car turned off as well as the weird song. "Welcome to my home," he said. "You're new home, for a while at least." he looked at me. I nodded and looked down. "Don't get your hopes up, I'm every parent's worst nightmare." I warned him. He chuckled. I looked at him confused. "Carson, I'm not expecting you to be this perfect teenager. I offered to help and that's what my wife and I want to do." he said. I shook my head. "No one can help me, I'm a lost cause." I said, my voice cracking ever so slightly. He shook his head this time. "No one is a lost a cause, they're just simply in a fog." he said. I shrugged. 

"Carson, I'm here for anything and so is my wife." he said. I sighed. "I'm not sure I trust you, or your wife." I said quietly. He chuckled. "I'm not expecting you to, well not right away, but you'll learn to as the time goes by." he said. "And Carson, nothing that has happened in the past is your fault and nothing that your father did to you will ever be done to you ever again, you hear me son?" he asked me. I nodded. "I know I'm not the best man, but thanks anyway, for volunteering." I said with a small smile. "And I want to wish you luck, you'll need it." I chuckled. He laughed and shook his head. "I don't need luck, I have something better." he said and got out of the car. I smiled and followed him. We got my bags, Mr Cordero carrying the larger ones while I carried my backpack, since I was still recovering. I climbed the steps leading to the porch. I walked up to the front door with Mr Cordero. He smiled at me then opened the door. "Honey, we're home!" he bellowed out. 

Here's to a new start...  I hope?