Hard Knox

I've got loads of new stuff working, but nothing that's ready for public viewing. For the next several posts, I'll be sharing some of my super short fictional stories (from those 24-Hour Contests) as well as some new non-fictional shorts. 

This week's feature: HARD KNOX 

A LOT can happen in less than a thousand words. 

📷credit: Thank you, Pixabay User

Hard Knox

Tommy shimmied to the top of his favorite lookout tree. The Hawke Farm sprawled out below him. Kids in the group home longed for a spot on the spacious farm, and now he knew why. The surrounding woods were great to roam around and explore. Plus, the Hawkes were nice and fed kids. A lot. To make things even better, Tommy, 14, hadn’t had a single episode since he arrived. 

A week after his arrival, a brother and sister showed up. Jake, 10, and Melody, 12. The three foster siblings had become inseparable in the six months they’d been together. 

Shielding his eyes, Tommy squinted into the distance. It wasn’t his imagination, “Hey, guys...car!” 

A car usually meant one of two things: an arrival or a departure.

Jumping down, Tommy took off after the other two. The cool sunlight danced between the rippling leaves as the kids raced through the woods.

When the trio returned to the farmhouse, they saw a woman in a suit standing on the porch. Child Services. One of them was going. Suit Lady would already be inside drinking tea if it was a newbie. 

The kids snuck through the back door and peered around the corner to listen. 

“I’ve found his parents, and they want him. It’s not negotiable. I’m taking him.” Suit Lady said.

“Well, sorry, ma’am, Tommy’s not here,” Mr. Hawke shrugged. “I reported him unaccounted for days ago.”

Tommy exchanged glances of horror with Jake and Melody. What was Mr. Hawke doing? Why would he want to keep Tommy from his parents? And why would he make a fake report? Days ago? They just had breakfast together an hour ago.

There was no way Tommy was missing an opportunity to be with his real parents again. After all these years. 

Turning, he crept up the narrow staircase to his bedroom and threw all his belongings in his bag. He knew the drill and had learned to travel light years ago.

On the way downstairs, he stopped. This should be a dream come true, but he felt all hot and tingly. Was he about to have one of his episodes? He took a deep breath. He had to find out the truth about who he really was. He needed his family. 

Bounding down the rest of the steps, he stomped louder than usual. After quick nods and half hugs, Jake and Melody waved. Tommy would miss them, but a real family trumped all else in the eyes of foster kids.

“I’m packed. Ready to meet my parents,” Tommy glared at the Hawkes as he strode out from the hallway hiding place. “How could you do this?”

“You’re making a mistake, son,” Mr. Hawke warned while Mrs. Hawke wrung her hands in worry. 

“I see he’s here and fine. You’ll be hearing from the authorities,” Suit Lady said, urging Tommy along, “Let’s go.”

Tommy flinched when she put her arm around him, but he followed her to the car anyway. 

Halfway up the driveway, the Suit Lady’s phone rang. She answered and uttered two words, “It’s done,” and hung up.

She stopped the car and turned to face Tommy in the backseat. Her face twisted, and her eyes blackened. 

Tommy jerked back in fear. What was happening?

Black-Eyed-Suit-Lady slid something out of her sleeve. “Mr. Hawke was right. You should’ve stayed. You stupid kids and your false hopes someone cares about you.”

In a blink, she lunged over the seat and plunged a syringe into his neck. Tommy gasped and clawed at his throat. The world around him darkened as he lurched forward. His body exploded into the seatbelt, and a black nothingness took hold. He was gone.

Tommy’s eyes fluttered open. It took him a minute. He was alive. He had no pain. But he was strapped down. Where? When? What happened? He was about to choke on his own breath when he heard a familiar voice. 

“I think he’s awake,” Melody whispered.

“Oh, thank heavens!” Mrs. Hawke rushed in with a smile and unbuckled his restraints, “So sorry about this. You were thrashing and screaming. That’s over now that the poison has worn off.”

“Poison? What? Huh?” Tommy croaked through his groggy worry.

Before he could ask more questions, Melody set ice chips in front of him and patted his arm, “You’re going to be okay.”

“She right, Tommy,” Mr. Hawke strode into the room, “This Farm is a safe house for orphaned Huntsmans and Huntresses. We have our very own communities all over the place to watch out for our people, especially our abandoned children. Occasionally, an evil force gets through our security. If a child leaves of their own free will, there is nothing we can do. However, if any evil harms a child, like poisoning them, we will absolutely intervene.”

“Whoa… poisoning, and Huntsman?” Tommy sat up. “What’s a Huntsman?”  

“Special humans tasked with helping change the world. For the good.” Mrs. Hawke said.

“That sounds cool,” Tommy replied. That was why he’d always felt different. He was.

“You know what I say... ‘it’ll be hard knocks,’” said Mr. Hawke, “‘but you can handle it.’”

“Hmmm... I’m not sure Tommy can, though, especially with bad people looking for him.” The boy thought out loud.

“What do you mean?” Mr. Hawke asked.

“I want to change my name,” The boy rubbed his chin until his face lit in a hopeful smile, “From now on, I will be known as Knox...Knox Hawke?” 

“I think that sounds perfect, son.” Mr. Hawke smiled and patted the boy’s shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Knox.” 

The End

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Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Aspen ✌️