Albert closed his eyes from frustration and regret. A million thoughts ran through his head. He knew the voice belonged to a small child. Given what the voice had said, Albert also knew that the woman before him was the child’s mother. Albert opened his eyes and stared down at Tony. Tony would be a corpse shortly. Albert grabbed the white bed sheet and pulled it over the young woman. Tony looked past Albert in the direction of the doorway.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Looks like you’re going (hic) to need Walter after all.” Tony said with a cold uncaring tone. If only Tony understood what that would mean for the boy, perhaps Tony wouldn’t have been so cavalier.
BUUURRAAAAP! A belch from Tony to shatter all records.
Albert shook his head in shame at Tony and turned around to see the child for the first time. The child could only weigh the same amount as one of Albert’s legs. He was five-years-old, at most. The little boy stood wearing navy blue pajamas with some sort of yellow cartoon character that has a rocket for a head patterned all over them. Albert stared for a moment at the boy and wondered, is there any chance that this boy could live?
“Your mother is sleeping. What’s your name?” Albert asked in a tone that showed heart.
“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.” The boy stated clearly frightened.
“Andy.” Tony slurred to Albert. “His name is Andy.” Tony motions towards the woman, “Her kid. Other then that I don’t know much about the little… (hic).”
Albert turned back and looked at the little boy named Andy.
“This is Albert, Andy. He’s a doctor and he’s come to make a (hic) house call, to fix your mommy up.”
Albert thoughts rolled on like a car stuck in a round about. Going in circles he could not decide which course to take.
What do I do? Return to Mel with money or one head, possibly two, but not a third. Not this boy. Christ! He is only five years olds! That is old enough for Walter to have his twisted fun with. What do I do? Return to Mel…
KNOCK, KNOCK!
“You doing their taxes or something in there, Al? Come on son, boss is waiting!”
The sound of Walters voice on the other side of the unlocked apartment door gave Albert clairvoyance. Now there was no choice as to which course to take. Albert let his reflexes and instincts take over and did several things in about two seconds: First, and before Tony could utter another word, Albert jabbed the needle gun into Tony’s neck and pulled the trigger. The needle came out of Tony’s neck and he dropped instantly on his back against the bed next to the female outline under the white sheets.
Please don’t scream Andy. If you do, your dead! But Andy froze of fright.
Second, and also before Andy could say anything, Albert spun and grabbed Andy holding his mouth shut and lifting his entire body off the ground. Pressed firmly against his chest Andy tried a little to kick himself free, but there was no fighting Albert.“Al, you need help in there?” The second question of Walters was louder and accompanied by the sound of the apartment door opening.
As Albert carried Andy over to the right side of the bed he let go with one hand to put the needle gun back in the case. He then grabbed the phone cord from the wall next to the dresser and pulled it right out of wall with his right hand. All this happening well being held against his will frightened Andy more then he had ever felt before. If Albert’s skull-palming hand wasn’t over Andy’s mouth, Andy would be heard screaming for miles.
The sound of Walter shutting the door could be heard. Albert had little time now. He said the only words he could think of to calm Andy down.
“I am here to save you Andy. That man coming in here is the boogieman. If he finds you here he will kill you, painfully. I need you to lay flat on your face on this cot, and cover your ears while I slide you under the bed. No matter what you may feel or hear, do not move. If he finds you, I can’t protect you.”
Before Albert finished his whispers he felt the vibrations of Andy’s muted screams against his hand stop. Albert took his hand off Andy’s mouth.
“Protect me? You hurt mommy’s friend.” Andy whispered.
Walter’s footsteps indicated that he was just a few feet from the open bedroom door. Just a few feet, a few seconds and Andy’s worst nightmare would begin.
“Tony?” Albert states crouched over Andy. “I’ve come to take you and your mom away from Tony. I have come to protect you, but the Boogieman is coming. The Boogieman wants Tony and whoever is with Tony so you have to hide now.” As Albert said this he flipped a more relaxed Andy on to his front and pushed the entire mattress under the bed.
“I will protect you from the Boogieman.” Albert whispered under the bed.
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