Six Years Ago

I was sitting in the backseat of dad's car, dad was driving and mom was sitting in the front passenger seat. They picked me up from school today.

Just another day during the fall season, and now we're almost home on the highway that's near the dirt road that takes us to our house.

I was deep in my thoughts when I heard dad's voice, "Hey are you listening to me?"

I looked at him and asked, "Sorry, what was that?"

Dad said while still driving, "I said you outa get ready to study for your drivers written test, you're getting bigger by the year now."

Mom turned her head to look at me from her seat and smiled, "Yeah my baby boy, is now fifteen years old. I'm so happy for you."

Dad chuckled, "Yeah and perhaps you outa think about what career you want to have when you graduate from school."

I laughed and exclaimed, "Dad! I won't graduate until a few years away. There's still time for me to think about having a career for me."

Dad asked while taking a glance at the rear view mirror, "Have you ever thought about what you wanted to be?"

I shrugged, "I'm still wondering. Maybe I want to be a doctor someday. After watching all the Grey's Anatomy episodes on TV, I think I want to be a doctor."

Mother beamed at me, "That sounds great! Our son being a doctor."

Dad nodded, "Yeah, wait until you tell uncle Ben about it. He would probably be so shocked about you being a doctor, his feathers would fall off!"

All of us laughed at that, and I exclaimed, "Perhaps knowing him, he would be." Then I grinned at them, "I can't wait to rub it in his beak, when I do become a doctor. Ben shows off most of the time, now lets see how he feels when I show off my career."

Dad and mom laughed again. Then mom turned her head to look at the windshield. She said, "Ben would be proud of you as well. He really does like being with you."

I nodded in agreement, "Me too. I like being with Ben as well."

While dad was driving, he held out on hand to mom and she grabbed it. They both stared at each other, grinning.

I smiled at the scene. How lucky can I get? Most of the kids that I knew had parents who are divorced, but for me my parents have been together for years. I'm very lucky.

I don't know what I would do without both of them.

Well Ben would cheer me up and he would cheer up mom as well. They always seem...Close.

Of course I wonder why really, but I guess it's because they really are best friends.

Ben is a funny guy too.

Then my thoughts went to my future. Now that I think about it, what'll happen to Ben when I'm gone off to college? How would he take it?

I usually hang with him when I'm on summer break, but oh man he would miss me when I'm going away to college.

He...Really treats me like I'm his son. A son he never had.

Dad took a right on the pavement road, then a car from out of nowhere was speeding at us and it ran into the side of dad's car. Making our car flip over to the side.

We all screamed, glass breaking, metal cracking. Then my vision went black.

*****

I groaned and I slowly opened my eyes. For some reason I could see that I was upside down and I realized that the car is upside down on the road. And since I wore my seatbelt, now I'm hanging upside down.

I shook my head, trying to shake the dizziness out of my head. I groaned again. My leg is sore.

How long was I out? I looked out of the window and noticed the car that hit us is gone. Where did it go? They just hit us and drove off.

Who did this?

I looked at mom and dad, they were hanging upside down as well. They weren't moving and I called out to them, "Mom? Dad?....Say something!"

I heard mom groan and I could hear her voice, "Jason? Are you okay?"

I answered, "Yes, I'm fine."

I saw her move in her seat and she asked, "Can you get free?"

I said, "I can unhook the seatbelt. I can move my arms." Then I asked, "Is dad alright?"

That's when I saw mom's hand reach out to dad and tried to shake him awake. She sighed and groaned, "No, he's unconscious." Then she took her attention on me, "Jason, you need to get out now."

I nodded and I reached for the button of my seatbelt. I pressed it and I fell out of my seat, landing my head and body first on the ceiling of the upside down car. I felt pieces of glass, but they didn't hurt me. I rolled onto my stomach and tried to crawl slowly to the passenger door.

I said to mom, "Don't worry, I'll get you guys out of here, I promise."

I heard mom crying, "Thank you son."

I crawled a little bit more to the door. I reached for the door handle and it opened. I pushed the door open and I crawled out of the car.

I cried out in pain when I stood straight up. My leg really hurts.

I heard mom call out, "What's wrong?"

I looked back at mom in the car and said, "My leg hurts. It's probably sore, not broken." When I looked around I saw that the car is now on fire. I gasped.

Mom heard me, "Jason? What is it?"

I shouted, "The car's on fire!"

Mom gasped and she hollered, "Get us out!"

I limped to mom's side of the car and I tried to open the door. But it wouldn't move.

Damn, it's stuck!

I shouted fear in my voice, "I can't get it open!"

That's when I heard wings flapping and suddenly Ben came out of nowhere and I turned my head to look at him. My eyes went wide, "Ben!"

Ben bounded to me, fear in his eyes as well, "Jason? What happened? I heard the crash from where I was at and-" Then he saw the fire on the car and he gasped.

I nodded when I knew what he saw, "Help me open the door, mom and dad are in there!"

He sucked in a breath and nodded, "Hang on guys, we're coming!"

I tried the door handle again and it still wouldn't open. Ben got closer to the car and he gripped his paws on the door. He looked at me and said, "Try opening that door again."

I nodded and I pulled on the door handle again. Finally with me and Ben working together, the door swung open. Ben backed away and I opened it a little more.

I saw the fire on the car is getting intense. My eyes went wide. The car's going to blow up if we don't get them out of here!

I got on my knees and crawled to mom who is still upside down in the car. I reached my hand to her seatbelt button, pressed it and she feel off her seat.

Mom grunted in pain and said to me, "Jason, get me out of here."

I grabbed ahold of mom by her arms and dragged her out of the car. I managed to drag her all the way out of the car and saw the fire is getting worse.

I called out to dad after I dragged mom out, "DAD! Wake up, the car's going to blow!"

He didn't answer.

I tried to get to the car to save him and then Ben stopped me with a paw, "Jason no. There's no time, it's gonna blow!"

I looked at Ben with sadness in my eyes, "But dad's in there!"

Ben saw the fire and saw some flames bursting from the gas tank, he shouted, "Run!"

I caught his gaze and I ran while Ben grabbed mom with a paw and carried her far away from the car as possible.

When me and them were far enough away, the car exploded in flames.

Ben and I gasped in shock and sadness. Then I tried to run to the car and Ben stopped me. I shouted, "DAD!!!!!!" Then I broke down in tears and got on my knees in the middle of the road.

I shouted at the skies, "NO!!!!!!" Then I slammed my fists in the ground.

Ben cradled mom in his paw and he said to her in sadness, "I'm sorry Cassandra. I'm so sorry. We...." He closed his eyes.

Mom said to Ben in a weak voice, "It's alright Ben. You and Jason tried your best."

Ben frowned at mom, "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Then he noticed something on mom's body. He gasped in fear.

He looked back at me and shouted, "Jason, something's wrong with your mother!"

I looked back at him and I got up on my feet and ran to him. I looked at mom while she is still in his paw and gasped.

I saw blood soaking on her shirt and I saw the problem.

Apparently there's a piece of metal that's stuck to mom's body, puncturing her. Blood squirting out.

My eyes went wide. No, she's dying!

I shouted at Ben, "We have to get her help!" Then I tried to find my cell phone, but I lost it in the crash.

Ben said with determination, "I'll take her to a hospital."

But mom stopped him with a hand to his leg, "Ben....It's no use. There's...There's no time."

Ben looked at mom in his paw and shook his head, "No, you're gonna make it."

Mom shook her head, "I've lost a lot of blood Ben. I won't make it. I...I feel cold."

I said to mom with tears in my eyes, "Mom..." I sobbed, "Please don't go."

Mom looked at me and she reached for my cheek and said, "You really are the greatest thing that has happened to me. I'm very proud that you're starting to grow up. I'm proud that you're my son and....I know you'll do great things."

I shook my head, "NO! I won't let you die too! You can't give up on me, I NEED YOU!"

Mom said to me with a trembling voice, "You have to take care of yourself Jason. And you have to be strong. No matter what, you understand? You have to be strong, for me and your father."

I shook my head again and said softly, "No...." Then I reached up to my face and grabbed her hand that was still at my cheek. I gripped it tightly.

Mom coughed and then she let go of me and looked at Ben, "Ben...Remember that promise you've made to me a few years ago? Do...You remember it?"

He nodded slowly, "I remember it well." Then he added when he shook his head, "But I don't want you to go, please don't leave us. DON'T LEAVE YOUR SON."

Mom reached up to his head and he lowered it so she could reach it. Mom started to stroke it and said slowly, "Please Ben....Take care of my son.....Look after him...."

He pleaded for her life with fear and sadness in his eyes, "Cassandra-"

"Please Ben...For me! Do this for me! I know you! I know you care about Jason so much! Please...Just for me, You...Would do anything for me. Don't give up on him." She coughed again and pleaded, "Don't forget me, don't forget your promise."

Ben only looked at her while she was stroking his feathers. He started to have tears form in his eyes.

Mom smiled at him, "You can still be Superman, Ben. Be Superman for Jason. You can do great things as well. Do this for me....Please. Don't ever let that go."

Ben stared at her for another moment and he muttered, "I promise. I will keep that promise Cassandra."

Mom nodded in contempt, "Good." Then she started to gasp in pain and she coughed again.

Ben and I looked at her and I shouted, "Mom? Mom!?"

Finally she let out one last breath and then she stopped moving. She stopped breathing.

Her eyes only stared blankly back at me.

I gasped and so did Ben.

I tried to shake mom awake and shouted, "No! No, no, no!! Wake up! Wake up!"

Ben started sobbing and muttered softly, "Cassandra...." He shut his eyes tight.

Ben then lowered mom's body slowly on the road. And I got on my knees and cried into her body. I said in disbelief, "...No....No....Don't....Go." I said through sobs.

Ben then let out a high pitch eagle cry. A cry of sadness.

I sobbed very loudly in mom's body.

Mom...Dad...

Come back! Come back!

Don't leave me! I need you!!!

Ben came to me and he wrapped his paw around me, comforting me. I looked at Ben and he lowered his head to my level. I let go of mom and wrapped my arms around Ben's neck. Crying in his feathers.

Ben said to me, his tears matting his feathers, "I'm sorry Jason....I...I'm so sorry."

Both of us just hugged each other in the middle of the road, crying into each other.

*****

I sat down in the hospital the day after...Mom and dad died.

I buried my face into my lap. I can't believe it.

They're...Gone. They're both gone.

I feel so alone. I...I don't know what to do.

After Ben left after he heard the sirens, that's how I wounded up at the hospital. He didn't want to be seen.

So right now I'm sitting in the hospital waiting room, after they saw that there were no injuries on me. Of course, they did wrapped up my leg with a bandage. Told me to take it easy on that leg.

I was still sitting on my chair when I saw a woman wearing a suit, came to me with a smile, "Jason Morgan?"

I looked at her and said, "Hey."

The woman asked, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head and muttered softly, "....No."

The woman put on a glum look and said, "Look Jason...I'm your case worker. Since I've been notified that you don't have any family to take care of you."

I waved her off, "Don't put me in a foster home. I don't want to go in one."

She shook her head, "Jason...I'm sorry about your loss. But you can't just live out on the streets. You're fifteen years old."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "I don't care."

She put on a smile and said, "It's not so bad. It's supposed to help you start a new life. I'm sure your parents would want you to be happy."

I looked down at my lap and muttered, "I do have other family."

She frowned at me, "Who?"

I didn't say anything and she sighed, "Well if your surviving family member has time, tell him to give me a call. But until then, you're going to have to stay in a foster home, for the time being." Then she shrugged, "I'm sorry."

She backed away and said, "There's a car waiting outside for you. I'll take you back to your house and you can pack your things." Then she sighed and had a look of sympathy, "I'm VERY sorry for you loss. I know how that feels." And with that she walked away.

I sighed to myself. I can't go to a foster home, Ben would be alone without me. But I don't want to tell anyone else about him, that could be bad. I don't want to tell anyone that a gryphon is the only family I have left. Everyone would be afraid of him. I can't take the chance.

Mom and dad are gone and he won't have anyone else to be with him.

I had a look of determination on my face. I won't let him be alone. Mom and dad would want me to be with him.

Ben said he would take care of me. I don't care what everyone thinks, I'm not going to a foster home.

Then a idea popped in my head. Maybe I know who to call about this.

I could call dad's friend, Clifford Brewer about this. I could tell him what happened and he would take care of me.

His father knew my grandpa, so he would never say no to that. Then I won't go to a foster home. And as soon as that problem is settled, I won't get sent away. Clifford and I could stay here at my house near the woods and Ben won't be alone.

I need to find a phone. I need some help with this.

I got up from my chair and saw a phone on the wall nearby. I walked to it and picked up the receiver, held it near my ear.

I remembered Clifford's number and punched it in. As soon as I was done, it started ringing.

But after one ring, the lady on the other end said, "I'm sorry, but the number you have reached is no longer in service."

I pulled my head away from the receiver and looked at it. That number is no longer in service? What gives?

I know it's the right number, I know it was.

I sighed. What am I going to do?

I laid the phone receiver down and walked back to my chair in the waiting room. I sat down, put my hands to my chin and sighed again.

What am I going to do? What am I going to do?

Ben....I don't want to leave you.

You're the only family I have left. I can't lose you too, by going away.

I can't.

*****

I was sitting in the car of my case worker, heading back to my house about an hour later after we left the hospital.

I looked out of the passenger side window, thinking of how am I going to deal with this.

I don't want to go to a foster home. I won't go there.

Then a idea popped up in my head. Maybe...I'll run away with Ben. We'll start a new life together. Move to another place.

Both of us are alone now, there's no point in staying here anymore. We could leave this place.

I won't leave Ben. He's the only family I have left.

I have to think of how I can outrun the case worker. She'll be keeping an eye on me.

I'll think of something.

We pulled up on the driveway of my house and we both got out of my car. I looked at the woods after I got out of my car. Ben....

I'll find a way to get to you.

The female case worker called out, "Jason?"

I looked at her and jogged toward her, "Sorry, I'm coming." She nodded and she opened up the front door and we both went in.

We walked into the living room and the case worker sat down on a chair. She said, "I'll wait here while you pack up your things, ok?"

I nodded and I went upstairs. After I made it to the top step I walked to my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and then I looked out the window. Trying to think of a way to get away from her. Maybe I could climbed down the window.

I looked down and saw there's no way to climb down, I'm kinda high. I smacked the window softly, it made a raddle. Damn, I can't get out this way.

Before I could back away from the window, I saw a few more cars coming up the driveway. I frowned at them. Who are they?

Then all of a sudden, I heard a bang in the house. Like a gunshot. I gasped. What was that?

I walked slowly out of my bedroom, trying not to make too much noise. I was out of my room and looked over the stairway banister. I saw a few men wearing black suits and the case workers was lying dead on the floor.

I almost screamed, until I covered my mouth.

One of the guys in suits said, "Lets find the kid, he's around here somewhere. After we kill the kid, find the gryphon."

I sucked in a breath quietly. They know about Ben? Who are those guys?

Another guy said,  "I'll check downstairs, you go up."

My eyes went wide with fear and I fast walked my way to my parent's bedroom. I closed the door softly and had a worried look on my face.

What am I going to do? Who are those people? And...Why do they...Want to kill me?

I need to get out of here.

Before I could think of something else, I saw the gun rack on the wall. Those are my grandpa's guns, dad kept them after he died.

I could use one of them for a weapon. I need to defend myself. I walked to the gun rack and picked up one of the hunting rifles. At least grandpa taught me how to use a gun.

In my two hands, I looked at it and then I saw the bullets for it and I grabbed several of them. I loaded the rifle until it was fully loaded. After that I slowly cocked the gun.

When it  was ready to fire, I heard footsteps outside the bedroom. I ducked down at the side of my parent's master bed and I put the butt of the gun to my shoulder, aimed the gun at the door and put the finger on the trigger. Ready to fire at anyone who comes through.

Well this will be the first time I would ever kill a person. Might as well live with that, they're going to kill me!

When the door swung open, I saw one guy in a black suit come through and I fired the gun at him before he could do anything.

The gun went down in a instant. I stood straight up and walked past the body, cocking my gun as well. I walked out of the bedroom and saw another guy come up the stairs. He cried out, "Hey!" He pulled out a pistol and I aimed the rifle and fired at the guy, before he could fire at me. The guy took a hit in the chest and his body went tumbling down the stairs.

I cocked the rifle again and I looked down the stairway banister. Two more guys came out of the kitchen downstairs. They saw me and I aimed the rifle and fired at one of them. One guy took a bullet in the chest and the other guy pulled out his pistol and started firing four shots at me. I ducked down, the bullets only hitting the wall.

I cocked the rifle and I jumped up, the other guy still firing at me. One bullet almost hit me. I aimed the rifle and fired at him. The guy took a bullet to the shoulder and I cocked the gun and fired again, this time in the chest. That time he went down.

I cocked the gun and I started going downstairs. Taking two steps at a time. Adrenaline pumping inside me.

I heard another guy hollered, "Mark! Anything alright?" I made it downstairs and I aimed my gun, he didn't sound far away. He was coming from around the corner.

The guy came around the corner from the living room and I fired at him. The bullet hit his head, killing him instantly.

I cocked the gun and I saw the front door. I need to fine Ben and get out of here. I ran to the door and opened it. Before I could run outside, ten guys in suits were pointing guns at me.

One of them shouted, "Drop it!"

I just stood there staring at them. Who are they? And what do they want from me?

He sneered at me, "I said drop it!!!"

I ducked back in the house and the guy shouted, "FIRE!" Then the guys started firing at the house.

I ducked behind a wall near the front door, several bullets going through the windows and the walls. I breathed heavily in fear.

Now what do I do?

I'm going to die here.

Then I heard a high pitch eagle scream. I sucked my breath in happiness and relief. Ben!

I heard one guy outside, "What the hell? There it is!" Then I heard the guy cry out in pain. I heard a gunshot as well. I got myself away from the wall and looked outside. I saw Ben fighting two more guys knocking, them away with his paws.

One guy was about to fire at Ben, before I raised my rifle and fired at the side of his body, killing him.

I cocked my gun and fired at another guy, he took the hit in the chest.

Ben picked up another guy in suit with his beak, the guy crying out in shock, "Put me down you big ugly bird!"

Ben swung his hung hard and threw the guy away. The guy screamed until he hit one tree near the woods, killing him.

I fired at another guy who was coming at me with a knife. The guy's body flopped forward after he died.

I cocked  again and aimed the rifle. I slowly aimed around the area, seeing that there are no more guys in suits.

I smiled to myself. They're all gone.

I lowered the gun from my shoulder and whirled around to see Ben. I cried out to him happily, "Ben!"

Ben was breathing heavily and he smiled at me, "Jason."

I dropped the rifle and ran to him. He lowered his head to my level and I wrapped his neck in my arms, hugging him.

I pulled away from him and Ben asked, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Barely. How did you know about this?"

Ben closed his eyes and sighed, "I heard the gunshots in the distance. My cave wasn't too far away from this house, so that's how I know it." He opened his eyes and looked at the bodies, "Who are they? And why are they here?" Then he narrowed his eyes at me, "And where have you been? You haven't came back here since what happened yesterday."

I said, "I don't know who those guys were, they were...Trying to kill me."

Ben's eyes went wide, "They what?"

I nodded, "Yeah and apparently they were after you as well. They actually know about you."

Ben had an angry look on his face, "That's right, before I started attacking, they said there it is. They really were after me."

I shrugged at Ben, "Who are those people Ben?"

He shook his head, "I don't know Jason."

I got near one of the bodies and crouched down and searched the body. Looking for anything about them.

I sighed in frustration. Nothing. No ID or anything that tells me about them.

Ben asked, "Find anything?"

I stood up straight and looked at Ben, "No, nothing."

Ben sighed in frustration, "Now we don't know who they are. Even if we searched the other bodies, we wouldn't find anything. They really wanted to keep their identities a secret."

I suggested, "Ben...I need to go to the cops. I have to tell them about this."

Ben narrowed his eyes at me, "And tell them what? The cops won't believe any of this. They would think that you killed all of them."

My eyes went wide with surprise and I shook my head, "No, they wouldn't I was defending myself." But then a thought crossed my mind. Well what if they don't believe me? I sucked in a breath, they would probably think that I killed my case worker.

Well...Even if they did believe me, I would still get sent away to a foster home. I don't want to go. I don't want to leave Ben.

Ben interrupted my thoughts, "Jason listen to me....We need to leave." He waved a paw, "Right now."

I looked at him and he went on, "Look...They obviously were after us for some reason, they wanted to kill us. Wanted to kill YOU. And I can't take any chances. I suggest that we leave now. There might be more of them."

He lowered his head to my level, "We can't come back here Jason. It's too dangerous to stay here."

I nodded in agreement, "I know."

His face went wide, "What?"

I said, "We can't stay here and there's another reason why." I took a deep breath, "The cops probably wouldn't believe me about this, I would go away to prison for murder. Even if they did, I would get sent away to a foster home because I don't have any family left. But they don't know about you and I can't tell them that. I don't want you to be alone." I nodded with a glum look on my face, "You're right Ben, we have to leave. There's nothing left here."

Ben was pretty surprised that I would agree to something like this so fast. Then he nodded and said, "Alright, but lets leave no trace of us. We need to burn down the house and the bodies. We need to leave no trace at all. You can't go to the police about this, they might be working with the guys who wanted to kill us."

I nodded. And I went to one of the bodies and started to drag one to the house.  My mind was pretty nagging to me, what are you doing? You need to tell the cops about this!

To be honest, I want to. But I would either get sent away to prison for murder, or get sent away to a foster home. Either way, I'm leaving with Ben.

I'll start a new life with him. I don't care where we would go. Besides that there might be more of those guys in suits. They really wanted to kill us.

Ben probably does have a point, the cops could be involved in this as well. I don't care anymore, I'm leaving. They will never find us.

*****

Me and Ben were watching the house in flames, with the bodies in there. Both of us were sad and apprehensive about doing this. That we're going to leave the only home that we've known for years.

But we do need to leave, I was going to get sent away to a foster home anyways. Not to mention, I'm scared that those people in suits would find us again and only this time they'll kill us.

We can't trust anybody. Not even the cops.

We're on our own.

But who were they really? Who were they working for?

I guess since we didn't find anything on them, we'll never know. Their answers died along with them.

Ben looked down at me and asked, "Are you ready for this?"

I sighed and looked up at him, "Yeah...I'm ready."

Ben nodded slowly, "I'm sorry about this Jason. But we can't trust anybody. I don't want anyone to hurt you."

I nodded, "I know."

He went on, "And your mother entrusted me to take care of you, and I will do that." Then he pointed a paw at me, "You have to do exactly what I say. We have to stick together and get as far away from here as possible."

Ben looked straight at the burning house and said, "And we'll do some good in this world. We will do good, for your parents. To honor them. I would do it for them."

My eyes went wide at that and then I smiled at him. I'll do good as well. For them.

My life will never be the same again.

Me and Ben started to walk away from the burning house. A bag over my shoulder.

Ben stopped in his tracks and he lowered his body to the ground. I got close to his back and started to climb on it. I sat down on his back and he raised his body off the ground.

Ben looked over his shoulder and asked, "Ready kid?"

I nodded and muttered, "Yeah."

Ben said, "And don't worry Jason. I'll protect you and look after you."

I gave him a smile, "I know." Then I shrugged my shoulders, "So...Where would we go?"

Ben shrugged his wings and shoulders, "Anywhere, we'll travel from place to place if you want. I won't let those people hurt you Jason. I won't."

This time I assured Ben, "I won't let anyone hurt you too, big guy." Then I patted his neck and gripped on his feathers, "Lets go. Lets get out of here."

Ben nodded and he started to flap his wings. Until we were off the ground. Soon we were over the woods and the burning house and he flew forward. Flew away from our home that we have come to know.

While the wind was rushing at my face, my thoughts wandered to what would happen to us.

I never knew that my life would change so fast. First, my parents died and now we're leaving the only home that we know. I'll never leave your side Ben. Never.

I will never attend my parent's funeral. But I'm afraid if I do, the guys in suits would find me. And then they would find Ben.

We were doing the right thing leaving this place. We can't trust anyone now. The cops could be working with them and who knows what other people are working with them.

But me and Ben will also do good in this world. My life wouldn't be the same again after this. I'll never go back to school. Live a normal life.

While I was riding on his back, my eyes started to water. I shut them tight.

Mom...Dad....

I still can't believe you guys are gone. I'll never see you again. I'll never forget you.

We'll never come back here. We'll stay alive for you.

We'll do good for you, we'll do it for your honor. To honor you.

Goodbye guys.