Chapter Thirteen – Thank You

-Sydney's POV-

I opened my eyes and looked around in fear. Doctors were shuffling everywhere and others were holding me down to a bed. I realized then, that they were looking at all of the scars, burns, and bruises I had on my body. I started to cry, from shame and from relief. I could finally have a normal life.

I open my eyes
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light
I can't remember how
I can't remember why
I'm lyin' here tonight

-Patrick's POV-

I started to thrash around; the doctors were making me really scared. They were saying things like, I would have died and why I didn't talk to someone sooner. But I couldn't, because I was too afraid of getting killed from that. Nobody would understand what we went through.

It was the unspoken genocide in our own backyards.

In our own neighborhoods.

And I was ashamed.

And I can't stand the pain
And I can't make it
go away
No I can't stand the pain

-Noah's POV-

I screamed for them to let me go. I just wanted to get out of the hospital and to run forever. I know that the people in the Tipton hotel could hear our screams, but they ignored us. Everybody who heard our screams ignored us. People say we're heartless, but the truth is they are if they can't pick up a stupid phone and call in their suspicions. If only we weren't born to a family that was so screwed.

If only we weren't born…

If only…

If only…

How could this happen to me
I've made my mistakes
Got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

-Chris's POV-

I stared at the empty desk in front of me and looked at Dante. He looked sad too. Of course he was sad. Our best friends are in the hospital because of child abuse.

Child Abuse.

They wouldn't have had to go through all of this torture if they were born to a nice family. But they weren't and there's nothing we can do to change that.

Absolutely nothing.

If only we knew before…

If only…

Everybody's screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I'm slipping off the edge
I'm hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again

-Val's POV-

I wiped away tears from my cheeks. I just couldn't stop crying. I pretty much begged my mom not to let me go to school, but I went anyway. My best friend and his siblings are abused. They don't deserve to be. I can't help but think of Sydney, their youngest brother being abused. He's only five, and he gets hit every day. And every day he has a slim chance of surviving.

But the good thing is that he does survive, and he's getting all the help he can right now. The class is over and Johnny and I are headed to the cafeteria for lunch, but Jake and Mike, some of Julius' friends stop us.

"Hey, where's Julius?" Jake asked.

"Uhh" I stalled.

"Fiji" I said

"Egypt" Johnny said at the same time. We looked at each other.

"I mean, Egypt"

"Fiji"

"She went on an early vacation around the world" Johnny said and pulled me out of the school building. I knew he wanted to go to the hospital. I didn't need to ask him, I knew him well enough that we didn't have to say anything to know what each other was thinking. So I called my mom and she agreed to take us there. I hung up the phone and noticed the tears streaming down his cheeks. And then I noticed mine.

I hugged Johnny as hard as I could as I cried harder.

So did Johnny.

So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can't explain what happened
And I can't erase the things that I've done
No I can't

"What's wrong with them?" a doctor asked, motioning to Riley's and Rhuben's lifeless form.

"They've been hurt so much over the years, their bodies are shutting down" another doctor replied. "From what I can tell, they took the most abuse to make sure their brothers stay alive"

"Brave girls" another doctor murmured.

"I CAN'T LET THEM DIE, I'LL DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THEY LIVE!" The lead doctor yelled as he rushed back and forth between the twins.

"There isn't much time left"

"We're losing them"

How could this happen to me
I've made my mistakes
Got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

"Clear" a doctor muttered, pressing the paddles against the girls' chest. Their bodies rose, but nothing happened.

"Clear" he said and did it again. Again nothing happened.

"Clear" he said one more time.

Again nothing happened.

Riley and Rhuben Hiroshima were dead…

"Write down, that these two girls died on March 21st, 2006 at 12:00 PM." The doctor said, turning to the other doctors who bowed their heads. They were either crying or shaking their heads in shame.

He moved to put the blanket over the girls' faces, but stopped.

Something was wrong…

I've made my mistakes
Got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Riley and Rhuben were alive…

-

We don't have time left to regret
It will take more than common sense
So stop your wondering take a stand
Theres more to life than just to live

"Um, do you want to go for a walk?" Chris asked Riley. They were still sitting in the hospital. She turned to Julius.

"Can I?" she asked. Julius gave a knowing smirk and nodded.

"Ok, let's go" she said and reached for the gloves that came with her wheelchair.

"No, let me" Chris said and grabbed the handles to the wheelchair.

"Fine" Riley replied and Chris pushed her out of the room.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
Its too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

-

One single smile a helping hand
Its not that hard to be a friend
So don't give up stand 'til the end
There's more to life than just to live

Chris pushed Riley slowly through the park. "So, how's school been?" Riley asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Its fine, quiet, boring, but fine" Chris replied. "You two made everything interesting"

"Interesting or noisy?" Riley teased.

"A bit of both, actually" Chris replied.

Riley laughed and pushed the brakes on her wheelchair, almost causing Chris to fall into her lap.

"Sorry" she apologized. "I just wanted to ask you something"

"What's that?" Chris asked, coming around in front of her.

"You know back when the police took us to the hospital. I was only half unconscious and saw you and Johnny come in and beat my dad" Riley said. Chris froze.

"You did?" he asked. Riley nodded. "Oh boy"

"Why did you do it? I thought you hated me?"

"Don't you hate me?"

"I don't hate you"

"I don't have you either"

Cause an empty room can be so loud
Its too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
"You didn't answer my question, why did you do it?" Riley asked again. Chris sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Because, it may seem like I hate you, but in truth, I really care about you and I couldn't stand it when I knew that your father was hitting you" Riley smiled and motioned for him to bend down to her level. He did so and she kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, I care about you too" she said and smiled.

Her first smile in five years…

When you love someone
And they break your heart
don't give up on love
Have faith, restart
Just hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

-

When it falls apart
And your feeling lost
All your hope is gone
don't forget to hold on, hold on

"Are you feeling ok?" Val asked, looking over at Julius. Julius sighed and turned off the TV.

"You've been asking me that for the past twenty minuets and the answer is always the same." Julius explained. "I'm fine" she said and reached over to place the remote on the side table and winced. "Except for that" she said.

Val smiled and laughed weakly.

"I'm sorry visiting hours are over" the nurses said politely.

"We were just leaving" Johnny replied. "C'mon Val"

"Bye Julius" Val waved to him.

"Johnny, hold on a second" Julius said and grabbed his friend's wrist before he left the room.

"What's up?" Johnny asked, standing by Julius's bed.

"Val really likes you" Julius replied. "And I can tell you like her, so go for it"

"Wha, what gives you that-"Julius cut Johnny off.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
Its too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

"I notice when people like each other. They give each other 'the eye'. And you two do too, so go and tell her how you feel"

"Thanks, dude" Johnny replied.

"No problem, but when I get out of the hospital, please no PDA" Julius joked.

Johnny laughed and ran out of the hospital to catch up with Val and Chris. "Val, wait up a second!" he called.

"What is it?" Val asked, turning to him.

"I, um, wanted to say that I really like you, and would like it if we could go out sometime" Johnny said after a series of stumbling over the words.

Val stared at him.

When you love someone
And they break your heart
don't give up on love
Have faith, restart
Just hold on, hold on

"You know, you could answer me, instead of making me stand here like an idiot" Johnny pointed out as Val blinked and a smile broke across her face.

"Sorry, I'm just so happy!" Val said and gave him a quick hug before kissing him.

"Um, hello, little kid right here" Chris pointed out.

Johnny and Val pulled away and laughed, before Johnny pulled Chris onto his back and they walked back to Johnny's house, smiling in happiness, knowing that they're friends were going to be ok.

Cause an empty room can be so loud
Its too many tears to drown them out
So hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

When you love someone
And they break your heart
don't give up on love
Have faith, restart
Just hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

THE END