Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This morning was the same as the other. It was calm in the street, but one particular house was loud as usual. It was Blake family's house. After Finneys mother committed suicide, his father got more deeper in his alcohol addiction. Not to admit that it was bad before all that happened. His father was terrible abuser not only to him but what hurted Finn the most, to his sister Gwen.

Every day was basically the same, finney had to wake up early in the morning and quietly make breakfast for everyone, and then just listen to his fathers harsh words how he will leave him like his mother did. Finn didn't mind though he was happy that his sister was safe, he cared for her so much that he completely forgot to care about himself. As if it wasn't bad enough he was also bullied at school by three boys. He didn't have any idea why are they doing this to him. He assumed it was for his feminine looks that he has after his mother, or maybe his sexuality. Finn was confused about this topic. He knew there was one girl named Donna who was always watching him playing baseball, but he couldn't care less.

Finneys life started to fall apart but there was always someone to make it better. Even though he wasn't exactly mister popular he had a small friend group. First there was Bruce, Bruce was member of an opposite team in baseball, people would assume that they would be enemies, but no, they were actually close that Finn could though of him as his friend.
Then two "younger" boys Griffin and Billy. These two were indivisible and that meant they were basically always together, but Finn liked them though. Vance was his another "friend" he didn't know if Vance was thinking about him the same way as Finn does. But that doesn't really matter, they don't talk a lot because Vance is always with Bruce. And then was his dilemma, meet Robin, Finn first thought it was normal to feel like this to your best friend, but it wasn't. He started to think of these rumours about him being gay were truth, after all it was Robin who saved him after his bullies tried to beat him up again, it was always Robin who comforted him. Robin was the only one who knew what was happening . He could maybe say that he fell for him.

It was about 5 am and young boy was laying on his bed, he knew what would happen if he wouldn't make breakfast, and he wasn't in the mood to be beaten up again. So he stands up and immediately felt a sharp pain around his stomach. He groaned and grabbed a bandage he left here last night and began to bind his stomach. Once he was finished he walked to kitchen that was near his room and started to cook breakfast for his father and sister.

As he was making breakfast he noticed on his phone milions of notifications. It was their group chat, who would guess that someone else is awake at this time.

Group chat

Best player- that is what I am saying Billy they are dead

I love my dog: it is 5 am Bruce, do you really expect someone like Vance or even Robin to wake up at this time?

Best player: I mean it isn't even that early

I love my dog: it is 5 am school starts in 3 hours

Best player; yep you have a point. Why you are awake anyway

I love my dog: I was delivering newspapers.

Best player: oh make sense

I love my dog: why you though?

Best player: I had to study for an exam. Math is bad

I love my dog: interesting

Finney: hey guys!

Best player: oh you are awake too?

Finney: I am always awake at this time

I love my dog: oh cool, well something weird happened when I was delivering newspapers

Best player: huh what?

Finney: ?

I love my dog: someone in black van was following me

Best player: that sounds scary

Finney: agreed

Robin: hola amigos

Best player: hi Robin

I love my dog: why is everyone awake

Best player: not everyone Vance and Griffin aren't

Robin: yup I would sleep if someone wasn't spamming the group chat

I love my dog: turn off the notifications

Robin: smart

Finney: anyway I need to go, I will see you in class

Robin: see ya

——————————————————————————-

I was preparing last meal when I hear a loud noise coming from upstairs.

How unexpected it was my father, he looked that he was drinking a lot last night.

He took one weird look on the  food and sat to the table.

I quietly walked away and tried to make minimum noice.

It was around 6 am at that time and the group chat haven't gotten quiet. So I started read what have I missed

Group chat (again)

Angry chihuahua: WHO DID MY NAME LIKE THAT

I like poems: 😊

Angry chihuahua: you are lucky that I like you

I like poems: Who wouldn't

Robin: wait why me and Finn don't have any nicknames?

I like poems: just wait

*I like poem changed nicknames*

I love my best friend: TF it this! You traitor!

Mommy issues: do I have to  comment?

I love my best friend : he did not 😭😭

I love my dog: interesting chose of names Griffin

I like poems: ofc

Best player: Who is that lucky friend Robin

I love my best friend: NO ONE

I like poems: Bruce you are acting like Robin has any other friends than us

I love my best friend: that was rude
If you tell them i will tell them something too

I like poems: oh shit no i am sorry

I love my best friend: you better

Mommy issues: but seriosly Who is that friend?

I love my best friend: eh some childhood friend Yeah

Mommy issues: oh

I like poems: the urge to expose

I love my best friend: griffin don't you dare!

„Finney get out of bed we need to gooo" i hear my sister yelling from the downstairs. I have completely forgot about time. I jump out of bed and ran for my bag, I checked if I have everything and began to run to  her.

„what took you so long" She says while fixing her shoes

„i was just texting my friends, and kinda forgot about the time" i look and her and notice how her smile began to show on her face.

„I am glad you are having friends, after all what happened I have never seen you that happy"

„but you should really get a girlfriend" Gwen laughs as my face turned red.

„aww someone is blushing, tell me is it Donna? Donna right?" She asks while still laughing. I felt really weird about that question.

„No I don't like anyone" I calmly reply her and she nods while turning around.

As soon as we were close to school I spotted one person standing close to my locker, firstly I thought it was some of the bullies. But to my surprise it wasn't, it was Robin.

He was standing there looking at his phone. He was clearly ignoring what was happening around him. And it was rare to not find him beating another student.

I walked up to him and his eyes immediately met mine.I don't know how long I have been staring to his eyes because they were really pretty

„eh do I have something on my face" Robin asked trying to clean his face. I couldn't help but giggle a bit.

He looked at me again with annoyance.

„what is that funny amor?" Amor? What does that mean? Has he called me an idiot now?

„what does that mean?" I asked him with slightly confused face. Firstly he looked like he was thinking about the right words but couldn't find any.

„ehm it means a good friend" he laughed and looked away. I was suspecting his answer not being truth because he looked nervous to me. But I cannot speak Spanish so who am I to judge.

„earth to Finn" Robin waved his hand in front of my face.

„Finn have you been  listening?"  Robin said who was looking extremely annoyed.  I was thinking about lying but, even though I can lie to other people but I really cannot lie to him, and he can read me very well so it wouldn't be even effective if I even tried to.

„No I haven't" I bow my head down to avoid  his face.
Suddenly I feel how are two fingers touching my chin and lifting it up to face him.  I have never noticed how beautiful his face actually is...

„Finn i was asking if you will help me with math. Well I don’t do well on that exam" he says avoiding my face

„again?"

„that teacher makes stupid final exams, they are impossible" Robin says while dramatically putting his hand on his head.I couldn't help with laughingly

And then is the embarrassing silence. No one of us knows what to tell next. We just look at each other and are deadly quiet.

„Finn"  I look at him in confusion and he continues

„what is happening?" He asks while putting his hand to my hair.

„nothing" I reply. When I said that Robin can read me, I really meant it. He knew something was off. Even though I told him everything I have never told him about my abusive father.

„Finn don't lie, you know you can tell me everything right? "

I was about to tell him about all that was happening at home until I heard two familiar voices.

We looked at the side where the voices were coming.

They were Griffin and Billy. Both looked very exhausted.

„looks like waking up at 5 am isn't that much effective" Robin said his teasingly.

„we could be here earlier if someone haven't overslept" Billy looks at Griffin.

„hey! Don't blame everything on me! I just wanted to sleep more" Griffin slightly yelled and Billy laughed at his reaction.

As I was looking at them, I noticed one missing person

„Wait where is Bruce?"

Chapter Text

They all looked at me with a pure shock as I mentioned Bruce.

„i think he is already at school" Griffin said, the atmosphere started being very uncomfortable

„I don't think he is alright" Robin then says and we all look at him how he was trying to find something on his phone.

„here look" Robin shows us his phone, I take it and look at the messages

Chat

Bruce: hey Robin, I have bad feeling

Robin: huh,  what is wrong?

Bruce: there is a black van following me

Bruce: HELP

We were staring at the last message with shocked look on our faces

„At first i though it was a joke, but this is Bruce he would never done it?" Robin confess and put his phone back to his bag.

„maybe it is just a misunderstanding"  Griffin said trying to calm  us down, however Billy just shook his head in disagreement.

„No that van was following me too, remember? This morning at around 5 am as I was delivering the newspapers. It is definitely not a coincidence"

„do you think Bruce maybe got kidnapped" Griffin asked to brake the silence between us.

„I don't want to believe he was" Robin replies and sit on the ground.

„let's just not think about it, I believe he is fine. Plus first lesson starts in few minutes we should go! At least If you don't want a detention" Griffin said in funny voice to cheer us up, put I could notice the worry in his face.

The classes were boring, we had only had one math exam, which I was studying with Robin. I hope all this hard work we have done haven't been a waste of time and he will pass.

After the math final I was going to my locker but it was blocked my three guys. I turned around and began to run to the bathroom with them following me. I locked myself in one of these cabins and put my bag in my hands as I heard someone enter.

Three taller boys walked out of the door and were opening cabins one  by one.

„, you stupid idiot, you should do what your mom did all those years ago" one of them said and rest of them began to laugh

I sighed and walked out of the cabin and our eyes met

„what are you looking at queer, do you like me?" One shouted and the rest started laughing even more

I just stood there unable to speak, they probably noticed and started walking towards me, but at the same moment the bathroom door opened.

They turned to that person who was responsible for distributing our conversation, ready to beat him up.

Until they realised who it was.

Now I wasn't the one who was standing in shock. Robin was standing in front of us with his typical annoyed face that he always had when he beaten up someone. But that wasn't the only thing that scared them, his hands were full of blood and little bit of blood was still dropping  on the ground.

They were frozen in place and were just looking at at him.

„move!" He shouted and one of them instantly walked the other way. Robin went to the sink and washed his bloody hands.

As they were about to leave Robin interrupted them.

„if you ever come near Finn again, I will make sure you will end up like moose, now leave " Robin said with slight anger tone, and they ran from that bathroom as fast as they could.

„Thank you" I thanked him and he smiled.

„don't thank me, I am glad that I didn't come too late"

„Wait let me repay you" i say while leaving him confuse, as I am trying to find my box with bandages that I have in my bag. When I found them I show it to Robin and he looks more confused that ever.

I take his hands and put the bandages on it. Robins face is getting more red every time I touch it.

„does it hurt?" I asked with a worry face.

„No" he replies while covering his face, and turning his head the opposite direction.

„Then why is your face so red are you sick or?" I asked again

„No i am fine Finn"

„If you say so" i reply and make last changes on the bandages

„by the way, why have you been fighting with Moos again, you guys are fighting like every day" I asked calmly

„maybe if he didn't have the need to talk shit about the person I lov- I mean care about, he wouldn't need 10 plastic surgeries to fix his stupid face"  he says. Wait what person he likes?

„who is that person you like? Is that Donna or?"

„Huh no! Donna isn't even my type!” He shouts and I couldn’t help but giggle his reactions are sometimes funny, but then I realised something.

„wait do you like my sister!!”

He stares at me with a look that I cannot read if he is surprised or angry.

„Eres tonto, Finn” Robin says calmly and then looked at the ground

What the hell does that mean, does he admit that he has feelings for my sister, or he is calling me by some stupid names

„by the way can I come over today” Robin asked and crossed his arms on his chest

„is it math again?” I mumbled and Robin simply nodded.

„that teacher cannot explain anything, but you are the only person that can” Robin says and that made me feel weird, i could feel my face getting warmer

„okay then see you at 5 Finn” Robin smiled as he started to walk away.

„Te amo” he mumbles something but I cannot hear what exactly he said.

———————-

“Eres tonto”- you are dumb

“Te amo” I love you

Chapter Text

Finney pov

Because Robin saved me before the bullies could beat me up I had one problem solved. The others were what will help Robin to finally get A or at least B from math, I have tried everything but nothing worked. The other one is to find out who’s Robins crush. It must be Donna or Gwen but he is probably too embarrassed to admit it that he likes my sister.

„earth to Finn!” Gwen yelled out of nowhere

„Jesus, what happened Gwen”

„You are ignoring me, again what is more important to think about then your sisters math homework” Gwen says with her dramatic tone which made me laugh a little.

„I was just thinking about Robin, he said something but I haven’t quite understood what he said” I reply which made Qwen worried

„well what he said then” she asked

„something like te tamo? Ami, amu”

„te amo?” Qwen asked and I nodded, it was the closest word that kinda matched what he said

She was just staring at me and then started laughing, I haven’t understood why she reacted that way, Robin would never say something mean to me, right?

„why are you laughing!?” I ask her while she is still laughing like crazy, some people even turned their heads to us which made me uncomfortable

„Finn, what idiot doesn’t know what te amo means” she said after she calmed her self down

„How am I supposed to know what that means when I don’t even speak Spanish” I reply to her slightly annoyed.

„well I don’t think I am the right person to tell you this, you will just need to wait till he tells you what he meant.”

„Gwen come on , is it that bad? Has he called me an idiot?” I asked her thinking that she would actually tell me it. She just giggled and pinched my forehead, I groaned which made her laugh even more.

„just forget about it Finn, you and Robin can discuss it later together” Gwen smiled and I nodded, but what it is that not even Gwen wants to tell me.

//time skip\\

I heard knocking on the front door, today is the only day when father is at work all day, so i basically have the entire house for myself

I opened the door and saw Robin with his usual smile holding many books in his hands

„Hola amigo, are you prepared to tutor your dear friend” Robin says with funny voice which made me giggle a bit.

„I wouldn’t be that happy, if you fail this time you will need to repeat this grade, so you better take it seriously” I say with the most serious tone I can make, he just sighed and walked to the house

„something smells funny, like an alcohol” he says after a while

„yeah that is fathers” I reply and look at him, he seems kinda shocked

„You have never told me your father drinks, is everything okay?” He asks with a worry face that you don’t see much often

I was thinking if I should tell him all what happened, after all I have never told it to anyone, it would probably help to get it out of my chest. On the other hand I don’t know if he wouldn’t try to kill my father.

„well, I don’t know how to describe it” Robin turned to my direction now he is looking serious.

„tell me how you feel it” he then says putting one hand on my shoulder.

I sighed and began to talk about all what happened, all the abuse which me and my sister had to go through it , all the harsh words. When I ended I could feel that my eyes started tearing a little bit.

Looked up to see Robin and his face was completely shocked and angry at the same time. He probably noticed that i was close to start crying so he hugged me and started fondling my hair, as I was crying to his shoulder.

„I am going to kill that hijo de puta” he says angrily and wiped tears on my face. I stared into to his beautiful brown eyes that I could lost in.

„well we can talk about it later, your math grade is more important” I say and point to the books that were laying on the ground

„c’mon you are more important than this” he smiled but again I pointed at the books. Eventually he stopped trying and picked them up so we can use them.

//after some time\\

„TF is this, this how is x + x 2x “ Robin groaned and put his head on the paper.

„ because it is addition, not multiplication, however you have everything else correct”

„thank god” he said with a relief

„Well it isn’t that bad as it was yesterday so I think you can actually pass it” I told him honestly and his face lighted up.

„you really think so” he asks and I nodded, but there was still one unanswered question

„Robin what does te amo mean?” I questioned and he instantly froze

„um it means I like you. I mean as a friend!” Robin mumbled while his face was turning more and more red.

„ohh then I like you too” I smiled and he looked at me, well he was looking at my lips if I have to be honest.

„Robin are you ok-“ I was stopped by feeling something on my lips… but then I realised what the hell was happening. Robin was kissing me but not for so long, after some seconds he pulled away, he looked embarrassed by his actions and I probably did too as he slowly stood up and began to walk to the front door while tears running from his eyes

„wait Robin!” I yelled but he didn’t listen or even looked at me, he just ran away fast as he could. I don’t remember how long I stood there, but definitely long enough considering that Gwen tapped my shoulder.

„Finney, is everything okay?” She asked, however I couldn’t find the rights words

„he just kissed me, and then ran away, I thought he liked you but then why would he kissed me”

„Finney te amo means I love you.” Gwen whispers after some time and then it finally hits me. That was why he was so flustered every time we were together, the annoyed look he gave Donna when she was trying to talk to me. It wasn’t Donna or Gwen he liked… it was me.

„but I am a boy, boys shouldn’t be kissing another boys, that is what father always says” I tell Gwen.

„father is an idiot, there is nothing wrong with boys liking boys or girls liking girls” she then replies which made me think even deeper about what just happened.

„anyway you can solve your feelings later, I prepared dinner, it will be cold so you better hurry up!” She threatens and walked in the kitchen.

————————————————

After some time:

After an hour I finally decided to call Robin, but no one was responding. I thought maybe his mother took his phone away because of his bad grades, so I called her.

„hello who is this?” A voice asked

„Mrs Arellano this is Finney yours sons friend”

„oh yeah Finney, well what do you need?”

„can I please speak to Robin? He isn’t answering his phone” I said to her, for some time there was a total silence then with a serious tone I finally got an answer

„Robin isn’t at home, I thought he was with you”

Chapter Text

I froze if he isn't at home, where is he then. I thanked Mrs Arellano and ended the call, Gwen probably noticed that I looked shocked so she immediately asked what was wrong, so I explained the whole situation to her.

„that is weird, but I don't think he would do something to himself, or ran away from home" she says trying to calm me down but it doesn't work

„but even Bruce hasn't showed up at school today, and now Robin isn't at home. This is just so weird." I say and sit on the couch in our living room

„don't worry, Robin can fight, we will be fine" Gwen smiled but I just knew there isn't something right.

Group chat

I love my dog: where is Robin, he is usually the only one who spams here

I like poems: yeah, do you have any information about Bruce?

angry chihuahua: Sadly no, Amy said that he just vanished and haven't even came to school. Which is suspicious too because he is literally top of our school.

I love my dog: Finn? Do you know anything what happened to Robin

Mommy issues    Well, it  is complicated, but his mom told me that he isn't at home

I like poems: what exactly happened between you and him if I can ask?

Mommy issues: I don’t even know how to describe it

I love my dog: has anything personal happened?

Mommy issues: yeah

I love my dog: okay! I will be delivering newspapers

I like poems: don’t you delivery them every day?

I love my dog: yeah but I heard they will be more than usual

I like poems: well then good luck! And be careful

I love my dog: don’t worry, my dog will be with me, :3

I like poems; okay then I need to go,
Bye guys!

I love my dog: bye

Mommy issues: bye!

———————————————————————————

I put my phone on a night table where it usually ends up when I am bored. Even though I had a big exam the following day my head couldn’t think about anything else than Robin. The fact that he maybe got kidnapped was scaring me, but Robin is a good fighter isn’t he? He beaten up probably every kid in our school that ever had a problem with me.

Still he couldn’t just disappear from the world. And if he did it is no one elses but my fault. If I had just reacted differently maybe this would never happen in a first place. But it doesn’t make any sense, first Bruce and then Robin, who is going to be next? If there is really something hunting us I will be missing someday too. But I don’t know when and where. However i still genuinely don’t believe that someone strong as Robin should get kidnapped.

I shouldn’t be thinking that deep about that, maybe they are just preparing something.

As i was laying In bed i could notice my eyelids being kinda tired and it hasn’t taken a long time for me to fall asleep.

The next morning was usual as the others, the only thing that changed is that, there were very loud voices in the kitchen. But then I realised why. I ran to the kitchen as fast as I could just to see, my father beating my sister with a belt. He was obviously drunk.

I couldn’t do anything at that time I was just standing there, frozen to the ground as I was looking how badly is my sister beaten.

„I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT YOUR DREAMS AND YOU TELL IT TO THE POLICE! ARE YOU NORMAL?” Father yelled as he was beating her more and more, somehow she managed to break free from his strong grip and took a random bottle of an alcohol and held it threateningly above the ground.

„if you hit me one more time I am dropping it!” She screamed back, her face is so puffy from the crying.

„if you do it I am going to beat you harder”

„DO YOU UNDERSTAND!” He yelled but for my unlucky sister, thanks for that shock she accidentally dropped the bottle. After my father proceeded what happened he started screaming for a lost of his another expensive alcohol.

He turned back to her, my sister in pure shock and her entire body shaking. He walked up to her slapped her and with another harsh words started beating her up again but harder.

„Stop it!” I yelled at him hopefully to stop him, but nothing helped. I ran to him and pushed him away which made him lose balance.

I instantly knew I am in a big trouble and that I am going to pay for this really badly. But at the same time I couldn’t care less, I grabbed Gwen’s wrist and clumsily tried to grab our school bags and then began to ran out of the door.

Thankfully father was probably still in a big shock and haven’t run after us so we successfully made it to school.

In that much chaos we didn’t even notice two missing posters with really familiar faces on them.

When we arrived at school, there wasn’t a big crowd of people like always. Probably because Robin wasn’t there and that means that no one was starting a fight with my bullies, it also meant that no one will protect me from them like Robin always did,

I spotted Griffin sitting at the stairs holding his head in his hands. Me and Gwen looked at each other and the. walked up to him.

„Griffin? Is everything okay?” I asked and he raises his head. Only now I noticed how bad he actually looked. His hair were messy which was very rare, his eyes were very red and his face too, he looked like he was crying for many hours.

„F-Finn” he mumbles, his voice is so high pinched.

„what happened?” I asked him, unable to tell what is wrong.

„I am glad you are alive” he answers and tried to smile a bit, but it hasn’t worked

I was so confused about this whole situation, Griffin was always so happy and positive I have never seen him having a breakdown.

„I don’t think I understand” I tell him honestly, he then looks at me like if I am kidding or not.

„You haven’t heard the news? Bruce and Robin are missing, and B-Billy is probably too” he started crying immediately after that, I hugged him and he hugged me back.

After some minutes Gwen joined too. We must’ve looked very weird if I think about it, but none of us actually cared about what will others think. The only thing matter that we were together.

Chapter Text

„I am glad you are here, if you weren't I don't know what I would do." Griffin said and started tearing up again.

„I am not going anywhere Griff, whatever is here hunting us I swear i will protect you" I told him trying to calm him down, but it doesn't work. Why am I even surprised, his friend is missing, everyone would be devastated by this. Not to mention Robin and Bruce are missing too.

„I think we should go to our classes now" I say and he nods, I help him to stand up and patted him on the shoulder.

He smiles while turning back and going to his classroom.

As I entered mine, I got many weird looks from my classmates, I looked at the ground and went to my place when me and Robin sit together. Well used to now when he isn't here, there is no one who will interrupt me with stupid passing notes, spanish nicknames and playing with my hair.

My heart hurts while remembering all these memories, If I could just switch places with him, or with everyone. They are all such good people who could do much in their life. But I? I don't even know what I want to do in my future, the only thing I love is space. Why am I acting like they are dead, but if I have to be honest, something deep inside of me is thinking they are, and I know how bad it sounds.

It didn't take a long time for a teacher to arrive, however a principal was with her too. Everyone stand up and greeted both the teacher and the principal and then sat down again.

„I believe we all know why we are here" principal says with a serious tone while looking at me. Everyone is in dead silence and just waiting what will happen next

„many students from this school are now missing, I hope it is just a misunderstanding and everything is alright, but if I am wrong we will need to make measure, which means that you will be only allowed to go home in pairs." A principal ends his monologue and gave us a smile, then he leaves.

„Well you have heard it, I really hope the ones who's friend is missing is doing okay" she made a forced smile, as I sighed. Now I will be only known as the one with missing friends. Great

As I was struggling to find my books I felt some paper. I grabbed it and looked at it. I immediately recognised that it was one of the papers we were writing on with Robin. So I slowly opened it

-paper-

What are the answers to 12,13,16?
-Robin

Robin, I don't give answers
-finney

Finn come on pleaseee, I am your dear friend
-Robin

12- a, 13- b, 16- 20
-finney

Thank you Finn
-Robin

But you should really start studying, you will fail math otherwise!
-finney

Yeah yeah, btw do you want to watch a movie at Friday?
-Robin

I can't I need to look after my father, Gwen always has a sleepover with her friend at Friday
-finney

Come on Finn, that jerk can take care of himself, let's just have fun!"
-Robin

Okay but if I get killed you are getting too!
-finney

Such a novel concept. Similar to Romeo and Juliet :>
-Robin

That wasn't a joke!
-Finney

Yeah yeah I know, so Friday at 5?
-Robin

Sure, but if it is another horror movie I am going to end you!
-Finney

<3
-Robin

———————————————————————————

My eyes started to tear up a little bit, I have never realised how much I care about him. I need to find him, but this is a big town, there is no way for me to find him when even not police doesn't have any clue where he is.

;time skip:

I ran from the classroom as fast as i could, i am not In mood to get beaten up, but If they really want to beat me, they will be waiting somewhere. I picked stuff from my locker and locked it, and began to walk to front door where I noticed two familiar people standing. Gwen and Griffin.

„Hi guys" I welcomed them with a smile and they repay me it.

„I was talking to Griffin if you wouldn't want to stay at his place for some time" Gwen says with a smile

„huh! Why?" I asked her

„because what happened today with father, he is definitely waiting for you and will do something bad. And I don't want you to get hurt again because of me" Gwen says while staring at the ground. I look at Griffin and he smiles

„I have no problem with it Finney! You are my friend" he replies while playing with his blond hair.

I was glad that i don't have to be with father again. After what happened to Gwen i don't know If i can hold back.

„well then we can go to my place, you can borrow some of my clothes for night!” Griffin spoke as he hold my hand and began to walk to the way to his house. I waved back to Gwen however she was too busy talking to her friend that just showed up.

The sky was fully blue without any cloud, which wasn’t that rare when summer was almost here. Our group made many plans for summer like many movie nights, or going to a trip with Bruces family because none of us had any interesting plans other than playing pinball or just laying in bed all summer vacation. It is funny what all we could have…

„Finney?” A sudden voice interrupted me from my daydreaming of better life. It was Griffin of course. I give him confused look as he is looking at me with a worry in his eyes.

„why are you wearing long sleeves when it is that hot outside” Griffin asks as we are walking to his place, this question made me kinda nervous because I have never told anyone other than Robin about my father. Or if I have to be specific about my self harm addiction that got rapidly worse after moms suicide.

„I don’t want to talk about it now” I say and looked down, he nods and haven’t asked to any triggering questions again.

When we finally got to his house, we took of our shoes and put them to the corner of the room, where they always are. Griffins house was small but it was the only cheap house in this street that his mother could afford. It was beautiful here though, everywhere were pictures of Griffin when he was a kid and his mother. His room was small but organised, everything had their place and you wouldn’t find some random piece of clothes or notebooks everywhere. That is the main difference between him and Robin. His walls are light blue and his shelves are full of books and novels, some of them were from Leonard Barrett, author who he was always recommending me. His bed was full of stuffed animals which were from us.
He puts his school bag behind his white desk and walks towards me.

„so what’s happening Finn” he says, sit to his bed and grabs one of his stuffed animals and give it me.

„one time when a psychiatrist went to our class she said that stuffed animals help a lot if you are going through a really hard times” I gave him a smile and looked at the plushie he gave me. It was a small whale that he got from Billy. I breathe in and out while thinking about how I should say all what happened.

„well um I don’t know how to describe all what happened. But it all started after my mother passed away from suicide, it was Monday after school when no one was in the house, I remember I walked to the house with a bright smile that faded as I saw my mother hanging down from the ceiling. I still remember her pale skin and lifeless eyes. After that my father got more into his alcohol addiction and started beating us every day, he would beat us even if we made a minimum noise. He was more aggressive towards me because I look more like my mother and… that he heard one of the mean nicknames my classmates used to call me, like “Finn the #ag” and many more. He eventually got that angry that he forbidden me from hanging out with Robin. He was probably thinking that we were a couple cause how much time we have been spending together. I started feeling very sad and the only way to cope with that was making myself hurt. I thought it would be only for some time but it slowly became an addiction. I just don’t know what to do anymore Griffin. Now when the only person that helped me with it is missing, I don’t have anyone. These bullies were right in one thing though, I am nothing without Robin, he was there to protect me from them, but now I am all alone.” I ended my talk as warm tears were running from my eyes, I felt how Griffin hugged me, tightly. I started crying even more.
After some time he broke our hug and looked very sad.

„Finney, I am very sorry, you didnt deserve anything bad that happened to you. Your father is an asshole and you always have open doors here okay” he says calmly while wiping tears from my face.

„thank you”

„for what Finney?”

„that I could tell you this, It really helped” I told him while still clutching the stuffed animal he gave me.

„no problem Finney, that is what are friends for” he smiles again

„well do you want pizza? I can order one” he asked and I nodded, I need to relax after all what was happening

Chapter Text

Finney pov

I woke up with one of the stuffed animals "staring" into my soul, if I have to be honest I have never yelled that much in my life. Griffin ran into the room with a sugar around his mouth and confused face.

„what happened Finney" he asked as he cleaned himself of the sugar.

„nothing I just got scared because of the stuffed animal" I tell him and he starts laughing.

„hey stop it, it isn't funny!"

„it is, how can that cute dog scare anyone Finn" Griffin continues with laughing

„well I prepared breakfast so be quick!"

I nodded and grabbed bunch of clothes that I have left on the chair yesterday. As I walked to the kitchen I felt a great smell. I cannot remember when was the last time I had pancakes. I sat on the chair and put one pancake on my plate.

„I hope you will like it, I was forced to learn cook when my mom got better job but she needs to leave pretty early"  Griffin told me as I was eating that masterpiece.

„it is so good Griffin" I praise him

„I am glad you like it" he thanked me and put a pancake to his plate too.

When we finished our breakfast I helped with cleaning the plates and cleaning in general.

„have you heard what happened yesterday in Grab n' go?" Griffin suddenly asked leaving me with a confused face.

„no, was that important?"

„slightly, well I have read that Vance beaten another kid and also cut his arm a little. Only because he messed up his score" Griffin told me. I knew Vance had terrible anger issues, and that he was beating at least one person everyday, but cut somebody's arm? That is a bit too much.

„well where is he now?" I asked him

„that is the issue, he was reported missing today in the morning. People are speculating that he escaped prison and probably ran away. Nobody is really believing that he was kidnapped like they are saying about the others" Griffin said while he was cleaning the dishes.

„but it is weird" I mumbled which catches his attention

„what is weird?"

„that the grabber is kidnapping only us, like our group, do you think it can be someone's relative?" I tell him my theory. He thinks for a moment and then looks at me again.

„well, I haven't thought about this, but then who and better question why? I mean don't get me wrong but I don't see anything special about us. Maybe Bruce because he is the only one who is popular, but it still doesn't make any sense. Firstly I thought that we are cursed by something like in these horror movies we watch, but that is only a movie not real life. "  Griffin confessed. I was thinking about what he said, would that be even possible.

„I hope this is just a stupid joke, because I am starting to feel a little scared" Griffin admits and began to put his shoes on. While he was fixing his shoelaces I noticed a big black van parked in front of his house.

„would you mind if I take a bike to school?" Griffin suddenly asked which made stop my thinking about the van, I looked at his face that had a big bright smile as he was pointing on a smaller bike.

„No it is fine Griff" I told him honestly and he just smiled and ran to it.

„see this is my bike lock that my aunt gave me before she died, I really hope I don't forget the combination lock, that would be horrible" Griffin showed me his present which was smaller bike lock, it was basic white one, but you could see he is very attached to it.

„cool" i reply but my eyes haven't looked away from the van. Griffin probably noticed that I wasn't paying that much attention to him.

„Finn, what are you looking at?"

„the black van right there" I point at it and he looks at the same direction.

„well i think that is the one that our neighbour has , my mom once showed me it on her phone, also he waits here cause of his daughter. It takes her so long to get ready"  Griffin explained, for some people it would be enough but I still have a weird vibes from it.

„we should go now Finn, school starts In 30 minutes!” Griffin said and i nodded as we both got to the way of our school.

When we arrived at school the first thing we saw was my sister Gwen dressed in an orange dress with yellow turtleneck, and her hair braided in two braids. She smiled as she walked towards us and waved.

„hi guys!”

„hi Gwen how was the night with your friend” I asked her as she was fixing the small orange bow on her braids.

„it was cool, we were watching movies and just talking, like always.” she smiled as she stood up from the ground where she was standing few minutes ago.

„well we can go now, so you can prepare for that exam Finn” Gwen says suddenly I remembered that I had a big exam today. I could feel my breathing being more and more difficult cause I knew what will happen if I will get a bad mark.

Gwen noticed and tapped on my shoulder, I turned to her view. She had very worried look on her face.

„Finney, are you okay?”

„yeah don’t worry Gwen, I am fine go to your class” I said to her, she gave me sceptic look and walked to the way to her classroom.

I said goodbye to Griffin as I walked in mine. I Sighed and with head down i walked to my seat as i heard the bell rang

„Good morning class i hope you all studied hard for the final exam that is worth 90% of your final grade” teacher spoke with a smile and holding bunch of papers and started giving it to us. As soon as she gave it to me i have read all the questions, sadly for me my head is full of theories what could happen to my friends and I couldn’t force myself to do anything productive.

However I could remember the first few questions cause they were from the presentation she showed us. Well when I answered the questions I knew I took one look on the rest and realised that i am in big trouble.

I anxiously hold my pen that had a small rocket on top of it, it can light up and be used as a lighter.

„I thought some of you all will not show up for the final exam, so i don’t have enough papers, promise me you will not talk and be quiet when I am not here” teacher said as she was walking out of the classroom. I sighed again and pulled my hair. When I heard someone sat down next to me. I looked to that person and realised that it was the girl who was always watching me play baseball.

„if you want answers I don’t know anything” I tell her honestly and she laughed

„Finney, I noticed you being quite anxious. So I wanted to help you” she smiled and started writing answers to my paper.

„but Donna what if she will notice that you moved seats” I asked her with a worry about being caught cheating.

„Finney, she is blind she will not even notice” she answered to my question as I was sitting there in shock. Nobody has never done anything like this to me before.

„um do you want homework answers as a thanks?” I asked her and she laughed again.

„No silly, I don’t want anything from you, well only if we can be friends” she awkwardly smiled and looked away. Really only that? There must be something else that she want but is too embarrassed to tell me.

„in that case yeah sure we can be friends. And call me Finn”

Chapter Text

„great then, are you free today Finn?" She asked as She was playing with her hair. I honestly didn't even know how to respond. But since it is Thursday and i don't have any other important plans or things to do in general.

„Yeah i am" i replied to her and she smiled, then the teacher finally came, breathlessly she handed out the remaining papers and sat on the chair.

„great so meet me at the school park after school"  Donna whispered as she started working on her own exam.

(Lunch break)

„she did what?" Griffin shouted in disbelief as he stood up from the table

„yeah she asked me out" I told him again and put a spoonful of soup in my mouth.

„well that was truly unexpected, I mean the only person that ever asked you out was Robin wasn't he?" Griffin said and bit into a red apple. I stared at him. After while he noticed and gave me confused look.

„wait, how did you know about the thing with Robin?" I asked him, he took another bite and started playing with his blonde curls, which he did every time he was nervous .

„Robin actually told me it last summer, man was truly head over heels for you. I was forced to listen his jealous talks about every girl that even nicely looked at you." Griffin complained about his past situation with Robin

„Jesus if he heard it right now, I would end up like Moose. Beaten up with broken nose" Griffin said with dramatic tone.

„ you don't actually believe that they are dead right?"

„I mean I heard many people saying that they are, but seriously Robin and Vance are one of the most strongest kids out here, they would beat the shit out of you even if you only look at them, there is no way someone would actually kill them. Just the fact that they are missing is really surprising"  Griffin spoke once again.

„well we should really go, it is almost end of the break and I don't want another detention"

„Griffin since when you have ever get detention" I asked him with disbelief that someone like him would be late at school.

„well one time i overslept because I wanted to indulge my beauty sleep after very stressful week. Which was completely useless because I looked worse than ever"

„so yeah even people like me can get detention" Griffin said as he holds my hand and dragged me to a classroom. This time we had it together so I wouldn't had to sit alone.

It was also an English where we were discussing different ways how to write a final essay. Which was very boring well at least for me, Griffin looked like he was really into it.

I spent the whole day thinking about what I learned about Robin. I cannot say that I don’t have feelings for him, if I have to be honest there is no way someone wouldn't fell for him. But on the other hand I cannot say I loved him, maybe it was just admiration. How he was protecting his friends and helping others. He was a nice guy even though many people don't think that.

As soon as the bell rang which was the last lesson for me too. I packed my things and said goodbye to Griffin.

„Goodbye, enjoy your date Romeo" he said playfully which made me blush a little. Thank god he was too busy with packing his stuff.

I walked out of the classroom and saw Donna waiting in front of my locker. She was wearing purple dress with black turtleneck and small bow in her hair. She looked good that is for sure.

„Hi Finn" she greeted me with a bright smile on her face.

„Hi" I greeted her too well slightly shy but still last time I couldn't say it without stuttering.

„well I was thinking where we should go, and do you  know about the park that is right next to school, that one with a big hill. Not many people are there, well usually only me and Gwen, so I think it would be a perfect place. What do you think Finn?"  Donna asked. But I wasn't listening this whole time I was admiring her beautiful features. It probably looked very weird.

„Finney" she asked once again however now she raised her voice a bit.

„yeah that sounds great" I tell her, I don't even know what was She talking about.

She once again gave me smile, grabbed my hand and pulled me down a path i know nothing about.

3rd pov

The way that they were going was more than beautiful, words cannot describe how much pretty was it. Light green grass had flowers of every color on it. Even the sky that was usually darker was now bright blue with none clouds on it. And also there was a very pleasant air.

They both decided to stop after a while to catch a breath.

„wow who would even guess that it would take so long to get here, but you were right the view is really beautiful" Finney said as he was staring in front of him. Donna on the other hand decided to look at Finney. There was always something on him that she loved. The way she could be with him and don't care about how she looked or that she could be her true self with him made her very happy. She felt like she was in love for the first time. She cannot describe what was the thing that made him different from the other boys that were in love with her and would do anything do be at Finneys place. She knew one thing, that Finney is truly special and can make everyone laugh like are his friends saying.

Finney noticed that Donna was staring at him, it made him very flustered and started touching his face to identify what was the reason for her to stare like that. She wasn't the only one who looked at him that way. Robin did that too. Though it was the same stare the feeling he had was different. With Donna he didn't feel anything, he knew he liked her, and how lucky he was now. But there was something on this whole moment that ruined it. Robin wasn't there. Finn finally realised why he haven't felt anything from Donnas actions. The smile, holding hands and the staring, it all meant nothing to him.

Robin was the only one who could make him flustered, the only one. He was the only one who made him feel butterflies in his stomach every time he complimented him, smiled at him or even touched him. He realised all this too late. If he had paid more attention to these small things Robin did, they could maybe be together.

„Finney" his thinking was interrupted by Donnas voice, she looked slightly annoyed that her date wasn't paying attention to her.

„I am sorry Donna I just zoned out for a while" He apologised and Donna patted his head.

„it is okay Finn"

They sat down and enjoyed each others company as they were looking at birds that were flying in front of them.

„Finn, would you want to talk?" She asked as she fixed her hair behind her ear and turned to face him.
Finney nodded and she began.

„well I was thinking what is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to you?" After all the things that Finn was expecting to her to say, this was truly unexpected. He thought she would say that it was nice meeting him but it would not work between them. Finn was also shocked about this type of question because he never thought about it. The thing that made you happy must be something that lasted for a long time not just a good grade on a final exam. Something Finney hasn't experienced for a long time.

„if I have to be honest, probably meeting my friends, and Robin in general, he is really one of my closes friends I am glad I could meet him" Finney says honesty, Donna couldn't noticed how his eyes lighted up while talking about Robin, at that moment she just knew ...

„the best thing that has ever happened to me, was moving to this school, I never had many friends and I still have problems with trusting people but here people are very nice. Mostly Gwen." She told him not dared to look at his face. Finney nodded and began to think about the worst thing that has ever happened to him. He could think about many things, how his father was treading him and his sister and all that bullying. But one experience couldn't compare to all these he just thought about.

„the worst thing that has ever happened to me was when I was 9, me and my mother were very close. Even though she wanted to seem that she was okay, I could see something was wrong, I knew exactly what was happening, what was father doing to her, but I haven't paid attention to it. Maybe if I did these things would never happen. One time after school I saw her hanging up from the ceilings. I still feel extremely bad and guilty about this because I feel like it is my fault. So I think yeah it is one of these things that happened" Donna was in shock, sure she heard all these mean things that were people saying about him, she never knew it was that bad. She noticed that Finney stared tear up so she hugged him and comforted him.

„thank you Donna and I am sorry that I ruined this date, I really a-" he wanted to tell her how sorry he was but her lips stopped him from talking. His cheeks that were pale few minutes ago were now coloured in bright red. He didn't know what to do, he couldn't say he hated it but he want enjoying it either. It wasn't the same as he had with Robin.

Donna quickly pulled away and apologised, Finn told her there was nothing for her to be sorry for and apologised for his own actions.

„my bad experience isn't nothing compared to yours but when I was 8 I was very insecure about how I looked like, and some people noticed and started teasing me about it and making fun of me. It was very bad but I like I said nothing compared to you Finn"

„if I have to be honest I really admire you Finn, you are very strong and I just want to tell you that I really like you, but not like like, I mean... I love you Finn, I have loved you for a long time. And I hope you can return my feelings." Donna confessed her feelings to Finn. Her face was very read now. Then there was it total silence between them and Donna started regretting her actions.

Finneys mind was mess, he didn't know how to react to it. He knew he loved her but not the way she would like, he didn't know how to tell her the truth but didn't want to lie to her either. The only person on his mind was that boy who stole his heart, and he knew it. There was something that he was scared of too. How would people and especially his father react that he liked men. He knew what hatred his father had to these people and couldn't even imagine the punishment he will get for just simply loving a person.

„Donna, I am sorry but I don't feel the same way as you do. I love you but not like you do. I am sorry" Finney awkwardly said and turned his face away from her. Donna was in pure shock, she never was rejected before.

„you like Robin do you?" She asked and Finney gasped,

„wait no no no I don't I really don't like him"

„Finney you don't have to lie to me, I saw the way you looked when you were talking about him. I get it don't worry. I hope he will treat you nicely." She smiled and that was the reaction Finney didn't even hoped for, he thought she would call him a #ag like his bullies did. He was truly stunned to speak.

„thank you Donna I really appreciate it, but can we still be friends?" He asked quite worried that she will leave him. Donna laughed a bit too more than she expected.

„the best” she smiled once again and Finney laughed too. So this was the feeling of being accepted by who you really are. He thought to him self as Donna started to talk about one girl from her class that caught her eyes.

Time skip

Finney and Donna were now walking the way to their houses. There was very uncomfortable silence between them, at this time he realised that he couldn’t stay at Griffins place forever and that eventually one time he should go home. The time was now, Finney was more than scared, he was terrified about this whole situation. He didn’t know what would his father do to him. He knew he did the right thing when he protected his sister, however he also knew that it was bad decision cause of his father.

„well now our “journey” ends, thank you for today, it was really fun meeting you” The black haired girl said and hugged the boy next to her.

„take care Finn, I am glad I had the chance to meet you” Donna smiled as she turned away leaving Finney alone who was still drowning in his thoughts about this day, that he couldn’t even say goodbye to her. He then turned back to go “home”

When he arrived back home, he noticed that no one was at home. It wasn’t that rare considering the fact that it was Thursday, which means that his sister is with her friend and his dad is still at work or drunk or both. He was really exhausted from all that stress and worry he had because of his friends absence. He collapsed into his bed and quickly fell asleep.

The next day his father hasn’t yelled or even talked to him once. It was like he was pretending he didn’t exist. Finney on the other hand couldn’t complain he could be forced to listen to his fathers dumb words or in worse scenario he could get beaten up again. Gwen was acting weird too. Which made him worried even more, because Gwen never acted like this.

„Gwen is everything okay?” Curly haired boy asked his younger sister about her change in behaviour that made him worried. Gwen took one look at him that Finney couldn’t read (what she meant)

„well, I thought you were staying with Griffin”

Now Finney realised what she meant. He completely forgot about Griffin. The boy who “saved” his life. Finney wanted to believe that he was okay and got home safe, however his overthinking got out of control.

„I told him I will go with Donna on some hill. And I didn’t want to bother him after.” He tells her with his head down. Younger girl nodded and realised that “ignoring” her older brother wasn’t a good idea.

They both safely arrived to school and both went to their classes. Finney had his first class with Griffin so he was really shocked, when he didn’t see his typical smiled face that was usually covered with a random book that he was currently reading. His suspicion that something was wrong began to grow more when he didn’t meet him at lunch break. He just knew something was off. When the principal called him, his heart was pounding so fast. He knew he hasn’t done anything bad, but there was still one thought back in his head that tells him all those horrible scenarios what could’ve happened. He knocked on the door and opened as he heard a voice behind it. The first thing he saw were police officers standing there and looking at him. Next was the principal who looked very anxious which was rare.

„so Finney, Griffins mother told us you were his only friend. When have you last seen him?” One of the police men asked Finney about his relationship with Griffin.

„yeah we are friends, last time I have seen him was yesterday after school when he took his bike and went home” the boy tells them honesty but with worry in his voice. Both officers began to write something down on piece of paper.

„What happened to him?” Now was Finney the one who was asking questions, they looked at each others and then back to Finney

„your friend hasn’t arrived home, his bike was found near the street he lived in. He is missing” that was the worst thing they could say. Now Finney was completely alone. He knew that it isn’t possible to kidnap all these kids with out leaving some evidence. He was devastated by these news. He was questioning why the person that was hunting them still haven’t kidnapped him. He had so many questions but no answers.

„well if you don’t know anything else then you can go” Another police officer who was drinking a tea few seconds ago says. Finn nodded and left the room. Warm tears started to fall down from his eyes as he remembers that this couldn’t even happen if he just went with him.

Time skip after a week

The week after was for a young boy the worst. His father still hasn’t talked to him, his bullies got out of control and his friends are missing or probably dead. He is all alone. He doesn’t know what to think about this whole situation. He is more than confused why are these things happening. Now he is walking on the pavement and deeply lost in his thoughts and theories that he completely ignores a man who was holding paper bags in both of his hands when he accidentally tripped and all the groceries fell on the ground. Finney looked at the man who was now struggling to put eggs inside the bags. Young boy decides to help the poor man and stared grabbing another stuff from the ground.

„here” Finn smiled at the man when he handed him bottles of water. The man looks at him for a second and then takes it from him.

„thank you young man” he says as he was fixing his black hat on his head.

„my name is Albert I work as a professional magician” the man introduced himself as he was holding a bottle of jam. Finn found it weird but couldn’t suspect this man, he looked nice.

„you know my shows are really expensive and many people in this town can’t afford it, but you are special, you are a kind soul so. Do you want to see a magic trick?” A magician asked young boy in front of him, he looked a bit hesitant at first but then thought to him self, when will he get this chance ever again.

„yeah sure” he tried to make the best smile he can, his reply made the man happy and motioned for him to follow him. Finney started to having bad vibes from it, he now stands in front of a black van that looks really like the one Bruce mentioned in those messages. The man grabs black balloons showed it to a boy. Finney then remembers that in every crime scene were found balloons but normal balloons but black balloons. Now is Finney more than terrified he wants to turn around and ran away but someone's hands grab him by the neck and then everything goes black.

Finney wakes up in a place that he doesn’t recognise. He is laying on an old gross mattress covered in blood. Not to mention this whole basement smells like blood. He feels sick to his head and leans back against the wall.

„Finn?”

Chapter Text

„Finn?” A quiet voice mumbled but clearly enough for me to hear that it was my name. Firstly I thought it was the grabber but for my surprise I saw someone I wanted to see the most

„R-Robin is that you?” I stuttered and put my hand over my mouth in pure shock. He was standing there right next to me with worried face. His hands were full of blood and not to mention he looked really exhausted.

„Robin what the hell happened to you” I asked him and he looked down for a second and then up again.

„I don’t remember Finney, but it was really bad. I can still feel his hands on my body”

Our conversation was interrupted by really loud sound of opening door. The next thing I saw was a tall man with a weird mask that covered his face, even though he had his mask on he still looked like he was smiling like he was proud about that what he was doing. His eyes were observing me from head to toe.

„look who has finally woken up” he says and started walking towards me, he kneels down and once again started staring at me. Now it was different than it was before, now it looked like he was admiring me.

„where I am, and who are you and what have you done to Robin!” I yelled at him and he puts his finger to my mouth to shut my mouth out.

„Finney you are now in my basement but trust me I will never do something that you don’t like, until I have reason to do it” he spoke with now “kinder” tone in his voice and put his hand on my chin as he pulled me close.

„you, are special Finney more than you think” he once again says with a creepy voice that he probably thought sounded kinder, his hand moved up to my forehead as he pushed my hair away from my forehead. He then stands up and walked out of the basement.

„wait when I get food I am hungry” I ask him thinking naively that he will do it. He turned around to face me and then began to talk.

„I will give you food when i consider it appropriate.”

„then why did you come down here, if you don’t have any food!” I asked him again, he now looked slightly annoyed.

„I just wanted to look at you Finney, you know I have been watching you for a long time and couldn’t wait when will come the time you will be down here too ” the grabber laughed and walked out of the basement as I “curled up into a ball”. I couldn’t believe what was now happening, how could I be so dumb that I fell for that obvious trap.

Robin must’ve notice that my eyes started to tear up and my voice was so high pinched, he walked to me and hugged me. I started to cry on his chest as he played with my hair. However it all felt weird, the touches like they weren’t even real.

After some time my head stopped hurting from the drugs he gave me when he took me. So I started to explore the place where i am. It was a big room that smelled extremely horrible, there was one old mattress and no way out. The only thing that I thought could help us escape was small window that had a bar on it. It was also very high so there is no way I would climb up. But that wasn’t the only thing that was worrying me, the main was Robin, he looked like he has been though hell. His hair were messy and without any color full bandanna like he always wears. I noticed that there must have been something wrong with his legs too cause it looked like he could barely walk. His eyes were dead, empty. He was just sitting there and staring at the ground but it’s not like I can blame him for doing so, what else would you want to do if you don’t want to die of boredom.

As my eyes were scanning the room I noticed black phone on the wall. I walked up to it and tried to type my sisters number.

„don’t try it, it is disconnected we all tried to use it” Robin now says, I looked at the cable that was cut off. All my hopes that I had were gone in seconds when I realised that there is no way we are going to make it.

I sat down on the mattress and hopelessly looked at the emptiness in front of me. I cannot die not now, what will happen to Gwen, and I don’t even want to think how devastated she would be.

My deep thinking is interrupted this time not by grabber however with phone ringing. Me and Robin looked confused the way where the phone was. Is that some trap again? But how. I slowly stood up and walked to that mysterious phone. I grabbed the phone and put it to my ear. Total silence… as I expected.

„Finney” a silent voice said as I was about to put the phone on his place. I shouted as I heard my name and dropped the phone in shock. Robin looked confused again while I tried to catch a breath.

„what happened?” Robin suddenly asked as I was looking at the phone

„you said it didn’t work, someone just said my name” I explained to him as the phone rang once again and I instantly picked it up.

„hello who are you I have been kidnapped can you call my sister?” I shouted million things to the person on the other side but no answer.

„I don’t know who I am.”

„then how do you me?” I asked the person once again and heard quiet sigh

„we were close friends, your arm is mint, you almost had me” i stood there completely shocked. I was clutching the black phone in my hand as I tried to stay calm.

„Bruce, you are Bruce Yamada”

„yeah, you are right I am Bruce”

//flashbacks \\
3rd pov

The boy was about to preform his fastball that basically guaranteed him a win and full scholarship to school in another city, he knew he wouldn’t be able to leave his friends but the need to go away from his strict parents was bigger. When his friends first heard about it, they weren’t happy at all, but they wanted only the best for him and knew this is the only way how to get things better. The only person who was furious was a boy names Vance Hopper. His boyfriend. Bruce knew how bad Vances problem with anger was and that he sometimes couldn’t control it. That night was their first argument ever, Vance said so many harsh words that he wanted to take back but for some reason couldn’t. They haven’t talked to each others for a week, Vance didn’t even bother to go to see his final game. That obviously made Bruce very upset and angry at the same time. His main priority was now win the game but he couldn’t concentrate enough cause of all these issues he had, or maybe because his best friend was now on the opposite team. Him and Finney met shortly after the new school year started, they quickly became friends thanks for having the same passion for baseball. Bruce knew Finney wasn’t exactly mister popular at their school as he was constantly picked on by another students, he knew Finney had very big problems with talking and especially talking to new people . Bruce was exactly the opposite from Finney, he was really popular, was loved by all the teachers and rarely or mostly never got into problems. Although it could be seen as a great example of perfect life, Bruce wasn’t happy at all, he sometimes wished being invisible to people, not to mention his truly strict family that was pressuring him way too much which coast him later develop a slight depression. But even though they were living each others dream life, they still were friends.

Bruce’s attention was now focused on a ball that was in front of him. Only one hit and he can score a home run and he will win. It coasted so much but so little at the same time. When the ball meets with his baseball bat, he hits it and scores a home run and immediately win for his team. instantly he becomes the centre of an attention as lot of people come to congratulated him, his eyes were trying to find one person he cared the most, that was no where to be seen. He then saw Finney who smiled at him, he walked to him and despite the lost Finneys team had he couldn’t just stop thinking about the movement he did with his arm.

„dude, your arm is mint you almost had me” he says jokingly to the boy in front of him who giggles.

Later that day Bruce was celebrating his victory with his family at fancy restaurant. His thoughts were still on that blonde boy who is probably playing pinball now, after celebration he was at home, checking his phone for millionth time to see nothing. He was sad cause how things turned out. He was in big denial for even saying it to Vance. He should know how he will react cause he was the only one who knew him best.

The next day was the same as the other, his sister complaining about some boy she liked, his father calmly reading newspapers and his mother cooking eggs for herself. Vance still hasn’t talked to him, Bruce decided that today was the day he will finally talk with him about everything that happened. God if he only knew… Bruce said goodbye to his family members not knowing it will be the last time he will ever see them. Black haired boy was now riding his bike around the town, while greeting some girls from school along the way. He smiles for himself, he liked when he got this kind of affection. He was enjoying this calm moment until he saw a black van pulls in front of him which made him stop riding and his smile started to fall away from his face. At first he didn’t notice anything bad about this man, and Bruce even lately felt quite embarrassed for suspending the man for just approaching him. The man introduced himself as a local magician and asked for help to find way to another city. Bruce happily explained the man where he should go completely ignoring that the magician took a bottle of something in his hand. He then grabbed Bruce by his neck and drugged him, before Bruce passed out he quickly grabbed rock and hid it into his pocket.

As soon as he wake up he knew he was in big trouble. He never thought about that something like this would happen. He spend the first half day trying to make the phone work by using things he learned in physics class, nothing really helped. Bruce started to feel hopeless from basically trying to survive. The whole day he has been physically and mentally abused which made his hopes for making it out alive lower and lower. He started to cry again now it wasn’t just crying because of a bad grade or some punishment. It was hopelessly crying because he knew he is going to die soon. Out of despair he started to dig a hole on the ground, while thinking about his parents, how he wasn’t able to told them how much he appreciated them, his sister Amy how much he would love to hug her again, Finney and his other friends who were always there for him, but mostly he wanted to apologise to the only person that made him feel alive, loved and all these feelings he never thought he had before. He was so into it he didn’t even notice that someone was behind him with a baseball bat, however when he saw a shadow behind him he quickly turned to face the grabber who was now holding his bat. He dodged the first and second hit as he remembered about the rock he had in his pocket, he quickly grabbed it ready to show the grabber his fastball and successfully hit him in the head. That wasn’t enough for him to survive. This made the grabber even more mad as he reached for the bat he had left beside him and quickly hit Bruce in the head….

//end of flashbacks \\

(Finney pov)

„Finney I tried I really did” a voice said from the phone sounding more upset by every word he said.

„it is okay Bruce, you did your best” Finney assures his now dead best friend as he started to memories all these great things they have and could experience if they only had more time.

„I think you saw the one place in the room where you can move the tile. I tried to dig a hole in it but I got caught, I think you should try to do it too.” Bruce recommended and Finney looks across the room to find the place Bruce was talking about.

„thank you Bruce”

„please tell my parents and Amy I loved them.” Bruce says after a long pause and then hangs up the phone. Leaving Finney by himself. He quickly ran to that place and moved the tilp and truly there was a lot dirt in it. Finney spends rest of the day digging through the dirt and flushing it into a toilet that was near him.

Chapter Text

„Finney come on, it is useless" Robin says annoyed as was an another boy still working on digging the hole.

„it isn't Robin, why would he say that then" Finney asked his friend as he was finally finished with the work.

„yesterday it took you whole day and you finished it today. I don't suspect Bruce from lying but if the grabber sees it he will probably use this hole as your grave" Robin tells his friend honestly while Finney was trying to clean himself from the dirt he had on his hands.

„this is exhausting, and he still hasn't gotten me any food" Finney complained and sank to the floor next to his friend. At the moment the door has finally opened and he saw the grabber walking out of the door with plate in his hands that he put down in front of him. Finney stared at the eggs that were looking very weirdly he also noticed open sprite.

„what did to put in it?" He asked as he was hesitating about eating the food he gave him. He was hungry but something in him screamed that it wasn't a good idea. Grabber took one look at him and started to laugh again.

„just salt and pepper"

„you are already here why would I need to drug you again?" He asks as he was creepily staring at the boy in front of him. Finney felt truly uncomfortable as the grabber walked to him.

„if you touch me I will scratch your face" he threatens to his kidnapper as he pulled away from him which made the grabber visibly angry

„we will see who will be the one with scratched face In the end"  The grabber whispers and pat the boy's shoulder.

„eat it don't eat it, you will be starving" he says as he was leaving the basement. Finney looked at the food once again with pure disgust. He didn't believe anything the grabber just said he knew there was something off about the food or he just simply couldn't cook. However just then he realised one thing, the grabber always locked the door when he left, however now he didn't. It was unlocked, Finney was a bit sceptical about it, on the other side this is probably the only chance he has for escaping. He decided for trying to go up and hopefully escape from the grabber. Suddenly when he was about to open the door he heard the  ringing phone again. His hands moved from the form the door holder as he slowly walked to the phone.

„don’t go upstairs” said the voice a bit louder

„why?”

„it is a trap, he is waiting for you with that stupid belt and if he sees you, he will beat you really hard. It really hurts. You will beg him to stop, like we all did but he will do it even harder until you pass out”

„Bruce is that you again?"  Finney says to the phone hoping he will hear his best friends voice once again, but no. Total silence like the other call.

„Who is Bruce" After a long pause the voice in the phone asks

„um Bruce Yamada the popular baseball player at our school" Finney couldn't believe the person on the other side have never heard about Bruce before. Suddenly he hears a loud sigh.

„yeah, I remember now, we used to be friends. At least I think we were"

„who are you?" Finney once again asks the same question as he did for the other boy before him. No answer whatsoever.

„I don't remember my name, people say it is the first thing you lose when you die, however I remember that I used to be a local paper boy who was delivering newspapers around the town with my dog named Harley or I think I did that" Finney gasped again, he instantly knew who was talking to him. His other friend.  The pain knowing he is gone made him feel empty cause he truly hoped they will all make it.

„you are Billy. Billy Showalter" Finney reminds his friend as he hears silence on the other side.

„maybe"

„No, you are, I know it, who would it be then, I don't know any other paper boy in the town who delivers newspapers with his dog"

//flashbacks\\

„Momm daddd look guess happened" a young boy yelled with pure happiness and excitement to his now confused parents that were enjoying their lunch.

„what? Have you finally gotten an A on your math exam?" His mother asks him jokingly as her eyes haven't looked from the stove once.

„well, that would be good too, but no. I got the job as a local paper boy, could you believe it!?"

„since you were the only one who came to that interview I guess it is very surprising" his father joked about his son’s happy mood as he received weird look from him.

„well I hope it is okay if I will bring Harley” he asks his parent for permission to take his golden retriever with him. His parents were thinking for a moment, sure having a dog with him would be more safer and their dog was known for his very overprotective and loyal personality, they haven’t seen any problem with it actually they wanted to offer it to him at first place. Boy’s parents nodded as the boy happily yelled which made their dog come to him. As soon as the golden retriever saw the boy he jumped on him and started licking his face.

„ahh Harley stop” Billy had now problem with talking caused by his dog.

/slight time skip\

„see I knew you will get that job” Griffin smiled at his friend who was now talking all about his new job. Griffin was happy for his friend.

Griffin and him were friends since Griffin moved in Denver. Griffin was a shy kid who hasn’t spoke to anyone besides his mother, it made him very surprised that someone like Billy would even want to spend his free time with someone like him, what made him even more surprised was the fact Billy was the only one who stood up for him every chance he got. It basically meant that Billy became now the new target for bullying cause of defending the “weird kid” though he didn’t mind he was more than happy to know that his friend was safe. He knew about Griffin’s past and situation at home, nobody knew him better than him. It made him more than surprised when he intruded him to their new friend named Finney Blake. Finney was basically mix of them. Loner who was bullied. Perfect trio people would say. Billy was a sensitive kid, the type of sensitivity that when you even slightly yell or look at him bad way, he will start to cry. His nickname was a crybaby for a reason. There was a background for that type of behaviour too, he used to get yelled at so much when he was a child. Billy never got the opportunity to cope with it, though he tried to look like the happiest person alive. Only Griffin saw those moments when he couldn’t take the bullying anymore.

„Griffin it is not fair i really tried this time and still failed and not to mention that the whole class was watching how the teacher was basically humiliating me in front of them” the young boy complained as he cried into the other ones chest. Griffin knew it was all his fault, and was feeling guilty about it all.

„Billy it is okay, they are just bunch of idiotic people who don’t have anything better to do in their lives” Griffin tried to comfort his best friend however nothing could help him, he felt more humiliated than ever again. They have spend the rest of the day together in Griffins room doing everything to make Billy forget about it all. Reading poems from his favourite authors continuing to trying to write their own ones which wasn’t exactly the best idea they could have come with, drawing or arguing about what musical is the best and what is the worst, while eating potato chips and endlessly laughing about jokes on their teachers.

Billy had one secret he has never told anyone. He used to visit this kind man named Albert to see and talk about his dog. The thing that Billy loved dogs was very noticeable. When he saw that black dog on the street he couldn’t believe his own eyes, he has never seen this breed before, of course he heard about it in his books but it is different when you see something in real life. Him and Albert got along really well, they both spent their time talking about dogs and other things similar to them. He never thought about this as a bad thing but he knew if his parents found out he has been talking to man that is twice his age, they would be furious.

Him and Finney never were close, sure he liked him but there was never time for them to get closer not to mention that Finney was always somewhere with Robin. There was one moment they actually talked a lot, it was around 5 am and Billy was delivering newspapers like he did everyday, when he spotted a familiar person standing across the street. Finney waved at him and he waved back, however couldn’t just realised why he was awake that early. Finney answered his question that he just needed some fresh air. They both talked all these 2 hours about things they have never talked before together. Billy enjoyed his friend’s company until they arrived at school and their ways were divided.

He never read the newspapers he was delivering however this time when he saw two familiar faces on them. Bruce and Robins. His friends he knew nothing about but cared deeply. As he was delivering the last one he noticed Albert standing in front of his own house waving at him. Billy smiled as he stopped his bike and began to walk towards him and greeted him like he used to do all the time. Albert offered him to go see his new dog he just bought from his friend that lived in Europe. Billy was more than excited about the new dog so he went without hesitating. The things that happened next are blurry for him. The thing he knows for sure is that he woke up in place he didn’t recognise and with a severe head ache. He tried to stay calm, he really wanted to be calm in these situations, he had so many questions what happened to him and mostly what happened to his dog.

When he first met the grabber in that basement he felt betrayed, he trusted that man with his life and it turned out that it was him who caused these kidnappings and devastated families. The day he cried he knew he will not make it, he was too scared and weak to even fight his bullies, no way he will fight a whole grown man. He saw a chance of escaping when the grabber forgot to lock the door. His big problem was that he never analysed things, not even at school, so he hasn’t seen anything suspicious about it. He ran away from that basement only to see the grabber. Shirtless sitting on the chair with a belt in his hand. Grabber smiled at him and quickly walked up to him. Billy was frozen in place he couldn’t move a single muscle in his body, he was standing there as the grabber was coming closer and closer until they were right next to each others.

„you are such a naughty boy Billy “ he didn’t even have chance to react as he was hardly pulled down on the ground, while the grabber was beating him nonstop. Billy cried and begged him to stop, however grabber had no mercy and beat him even harder whenever Billy complained. He felt a fresh blood coming from his head down to his forehead,his whole body felt like it was on fire. By every other hit Billy slowly started to lose consciousness as he stopped feeling anything and closed his eyes forever. After the grabber was done he took one thing from Billy as a reward, his necklace with paw that Griffin bought him for his birthday.

//end of flashback\\

„do anything you want but just don’t go upstairs Finney. I also hit a cable behind the wall, you can use it to climb up to that small window” Billy recommended as his voice was getting more weaker every time he spoke.

„I don’t have much time, just please tell me, is Harley okay?” The boy asked his friend about his dog that he hasn’t seen in weeks. Finney swallowed as he replied to that boy.

„yeah she is, she came home after she couldn’t find you.”

”thank you, goodbye”

„bye Billy”

„don’t call me that, call me paper boy” paper boy told his friend and then hangs up the phone.

Finney looked behind the wall that Billy mentioned and he really saw a pretty long cable, but he needed to know something else.

Many people would be actually scared to even open the door after they’d heard it. But that wasn’t Finneys case. He completely ignored Robins words how he is such an idiot for going up there. One wrong step and the grabber would notice him and will have the same fate as his friend. He was skilled in walking fast and quietly at the same time cause of his father. When he saw the grabber sitting on the chair, shirtless and with a belt, he quickly went back down. Robin was looking at him angrily as he knew if he made even a small noise they both will be dead in seconds.

Finney went back for the cable and grabs roller up mat and tried to slide the cable up to the window bars, at first he really succeeded and after some time could even climb up, but eventually his weight coasted the bar broke and fell down with him. Finney Blake lost another chance of escaping.

Chapter Text

The hunger Finney was experiencing was unimaginable, he was in that basement for 3 days now, with already 2 failed escape plans. Finney didnt have any other choice than to eat those weird looking eggs and sprite. It wasn't that bad as he expected you really shouldn't judge a book by his cover.

Robin looked worse and worse everyday, no matter how much he was trying to make him explain what happened he never did, he was silent all the time and hopelessly looked at the ground like he did most of the time.

Whenever the grabber visited Finney he looked visibly angry, however not the type of anger that he had on his face most of his time, it seemed like there wasn't something going as he planned. Finney was now truly bored three days without any human contact other than the grabber and Robin, started to make a big impact on his mental health. Finney looked visibly depressed after realising his friends are gone forever, he couldn't save them, he failed as a friend. Robin tried to comfort him however nothing could bring happiness to that boy.

„here you have food"  grabber says as he walks towards a boy that is hopelessly laying on the old mattress, grabber notices boy's sad face and strokes his hair.

„i was thinking about letting you go" Grabber told a younger boy as he watched his eyes light up in hope.

„please I will do anything, you can drug me like you did before and leave me alone on the street, I will walk home and not tell anyone, just please let me go" Finney pleaded his kidnapper

„then tell me your full name"  grabber asked young boy still holding the plate with food

„my name is Finney... Finney Thames"  Finney lied which made the grabber even more angry than before, he dropped the tray of food on the floor and angrily threw the newspaper in front of the horrified boy.

„and i was slowly starting to like you Finney Blake."
After Finney opened the newspaper he saw his photo and his full name on the first page.

„I almost let you go" Grabber told his victim as he started walking upstairs. Finney knew it was a trap there was no way he will let him go, however this was the only food he gets and now he has nothing of course. Finney looks at Robin who was peacefully sleeping on the mattress next to him, he looked truly calm when he was sleeping...

After an hour Finney gave up and tried to eat the food from the ground, it was that disgusting as he thought it would be but he had no other choice. He tried to make the food clean to force Robin to eat it, nothing worked. Finney was truly worried about his friend that was getting weaker every moment.

It was a night, or at least it looked like it was, the basement was darker and the only light source was the small window. The boy was now questioning what made him so special and worth to be still alive.
When he heard a loud ringing sound, and reluctantly he got up and walked to the corner where the phone was. As he answered the phone he didn't hear anything for a while.

„you don't have much time, the grabber hasn’t been sleeping. He thinks this be it. That he is going to figure out “the voice from the phone says in creepy tone.

„who is gonna figure out?”

„the grabbers brother upstairs ha ha ha ha”

„who are you, are you Billy or Bruce?" Finney asked the boy as began to laugh even more

„neither of them, I have spend so many years invisible but when you get kidnapped and brutally murdered, now everyone knows your name, now everyone says they knew you even though they never did. Now everyone knows who you were, what you have done, what you have became. And I will tell you honestly nobody knew me." Finney immediately realised who was now talking to him, the way he spoke was really similar to the way Griffin spoke well at least when he was alive.

„You are Griffin aren't you?" Finney asks a boy with shaking voice.

„who?”

„Griffin Stagg”

„probably, but that doesn't change the fact that you don't have much time!"

//flashbacks\\

Griffin was never a happy child but he tried to seem like one, though the pain that you could see in his eyes wasn't that well known. He was a sensitive kid like his other friend Billy, although he was one he would never cry or even say anything if someone would yell at him, he cried enough when he was young, so he made a promise to himself that he will never cry again. He never had anyone to talk to, or friends in general. He was always picked on and bullied no matter what he did. It was always the same thing. Even if the bullying got out of control which was most of the time he would never cry or show any kind of defence. Griffin was an interesting kid, his love for poetry and books in general was very strong. He enjoyed reading and writing and dreamed about publishing his own one. Well it's not like he wasn't about finish one. He used writing as some kind of therapy he could never get. Before moving to Denver which was basically a spontaneous decision made by his mother to ran away from his abusive father. Even after all his father did to him he just simply couldn't say he ever had any hatred towards him. Sure he was really and I mean really abusive to him, but he didn't mind, if he didn't hurt his mother it was okay to him. It was still his father, his only and first male figure in life, since his only sibling was a girl, that was constantly busy with school. He didn't have basically anyone to look up for when he was a kid, and not to mention he spend most of his time alone in his dark empty room. It isn't like he wouldn't like to communicate with other kids at school, people just didn't like him in general. He asked himself so many times what was he doing wrong that so many people developed such a hatred towards him. Hate is a strong word you can dislike people for stupid reasons but   hate is so much more than disliking someone. It is deeper, that person must have hurt you so much or do something horrible that stuck with you. That made Griffin question more and more cause he was for hundred precent sure  that he has never done anything bad to others he was doing completely opposite thing. He has always tried to help others with their issues. But that wasn't enough for them. He assumed that it was because he was truly a gifted child. Well at least that was what were other teachers saying, however he never could say he was one. Sure he had straight A's his whole life, but that could have anyone if they at least tried to put some effort in it. Griffin just felt like he didn't belong anywhere. That were his feelings until he met his friends. Billy Showatler, Bruce Yamada, Robin Arellano, Finney Blake and Vance Hopper. Griffin couldn't be more grateful that he met them, even though they all were all different there was something that they all had in common. The something was a care for each other, Griffin deeply cared for everyone in his friend group, mostly for Vance cause he was the only one who actually under him. They had the same issues with their father, the only difference was that Griffin's father wasn't around and Vance was still dealing with him at home.

Vance was like his brother, and he treated him like one, he never actually cared what  was everyone saying about him. Vance could seem as an aggressive machine that only cares and wants to play his pinball game in local arcade. If only people knew him like griffin and his other friends did, they would be shocked how different he actually is with the people he really cares about. His mental health got worse when his friends started to disappear. His only hope for a better future, they had so many plans together but it was all taken from them. Griffin’s health got even worse when Billy and Vance were believed to be missing or dead. He just simply couldn’t believe that someone could be that horrible to hurt a little kid and took his life.

Griffin was happy for his friend Finney to finally socialise with a girl he probably liked, well he was maybe a little worry because it was his sister, however he couldn’t help but feel bad for Robin after all he was the one who liked him for so long. He was always there and now he is probably dead. Griffin decided to ride bike back home, it was very rare cause he really enjoyed walking, he found it calming when he could listen how water flowed from the river, which was illuminated by the sun's rays. Today was a beautiful day as he could admit, it was rare to see a sun in these places in America. A dirty blonde boy was now happily riding his bike to his home greeting everyone on the way as he didn't notice a deep hole and fell off his bike. Fortunately, he was fine except that his knee was bleeding profusely. He stood up when a man approached him with bandages with his hands. Griffin could sworn that even though he knew almost everyone in the neighbourhood he has never met this man. He didn’t look suspicious either.

„hey I noticed you had really bad injury on your knee, you could probably get a bad infection because of it, I can bandage it for you” a man said as he walked close to a young boy and stared to look at his knee more. Griffin was happy that he met someone that caring.

„yeah that would be great” he replied to him as he sit down on the sidewalk. The man stated to bandage his knee as he was talking about his job and how he is friend with Billy. This made him think for a moment cause for this time he didn’t find anything suspicious about this man, when he suddenly mentioned his friend something in him screamed to ran away from there.

„thank you sir, but I really need to g-“ griffin couldn’t finish his sentence as the man put a cloth with a sedative over his mouth. For Griffin everything went black at that moment.

He woke up in a really dirty place cause of person that was speaking or mumbling about sometimes that made them mad. Griffin didn’t have to think for a long time to realise he was the next victim of a man called “the grabber” he was looking to every corner in the room when he spotted a familiar person with long well now slightly shorter blonde hair he used to look up for. It was none that the “famous” Vance Hopper, the toughest boy in town and police officer’s worst nightmare cause he was almost always in trouble. Griffin noticed how bad Vance looked, he looked truly awful. His eyes that used to have the prettiest shades of blue Griffin ever saw were now empty and he also had a huge dark eye bags under them. His hair very messy and shorter his body was filled with bruises and had a big fingerprint on his left arm.

„no no I told him not to take you, fuck” Vance complained as he hit the wall next to him. Griffin was In pure shock. He knew Vance was a figher how could he possibly get kidnapped and got to that state where he isn’t able to fight or do anything else.
Griffin noticed a big black phone that was disconnected as the wires were broken. Griffin sat down next to Vance as he was watching the door slowly open showing the grabber with a plate in his hands. He put the food on the ground and walked away leaving the door unlocked. Griffin crawled to that plate that only had a small portion of eggs and soda with a lid. He picked the lid and carved into the wall his bike lock thinking about how worried he was about forgeting it, as Vance watched him confused about the thing his friend was doing.

„we need to get out of here Vance, the door is unlocked see” Griffin said as I he pointed at the door, Vance shook his head and leaned back against the wall.

„I tried it before, he is waiting for you with a belt, it is useless if you don’t die from the beating you will die form starvation.” Vance confirmed Griffin’s worst thoughts. Griffin hasn’t given up yet though, he knew there was some chance of making it out alive, together.

„we need to try it Vance!” Griffin suggested it and Vance started to look visibly mad.

„are you stupid? Didn’t you listen what I just said? He is going to kill you if you walk upstairs Grififn! And if someone has a sacrifice then it will be me, I have been though it before and I will not let you get though all these things I was.” Vance said to Griffin that was now busy with slowly opening the door telling his friend to be quiet. Vance stood up and walked with Griffin out of that basement they noticed the grabber sleeping on his chair still holding a belt in his hands. Griffin immediately noticed the bike lock. That was so easy for him, it was his and he knew it by heart. He started type numbers 23317 as the lock finally unlocked. They did it. They both ran as fast as they could however the dog started barking which made the grabber woke up and starting to ran after them. They were running however Vance suddenly stopped, Griffin looked at him with worried and confused face as he realised that the grabber was catching up to them.

„Griffin please say to my mother that I love her” he suddenly said as he turned back

„wait what? Go with me” griffin started to tear up seeing his best friend basically being a sacrifice for him. Vance smiled at him and replied.

„I told you I will be the sacrifice Griff, don’t worry I can take a punch, go”

„Go!” Vance yelled at him as the grabber hit him to the head, now griffin was crying his eyes out, he turned around and started running away and hopelessly screaming for help. His vision was blurry due the tears, he accidentally tripped and when he tried to stand up he was grabbed by him. The grabber put a knife to his throat when he realised that someone in the house in front of them turned the light on.

„say something and you are dead!” Griffin truly wanted to stay quiet and he wish he would however he started to scream even more which made the grabber panic and cut his throat, he must have broke his back too, but griffin doesn’t remember it that clearly. The grabber won again…

//end of flashbacks\\
Finney pov

„you don’t have much time”

„you said that” I say annoyed to Griffin as he began to laugh

„he’s not been sleeping”

„you said that too”

„well he is now, in his chair, he passed out waiting for you to play” Griffin said to me as he started to laugh even more.

„what game? And why he hasn’t killed me yet?” I asked him when i look at Robin once again, he is sleeping. Again.

„naughty boy, you haven’t played naughty boy. If you don’t play it the grabber cannot beat you and he if he cannot beat he cannot get to another part, and the next part of naughty boy… it was his favourite part”

„what is the next part?”

“Ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA YOU DONT HAVE MUCH TIME FINNEY BLAKE”

„why are you repeating yourself griffin?”

„because it looks like you don’t get it. That he is sleeping now” Griffin said again as I thought what he could meant by it. Wait I looked at the door that were unlocked.

„the door is still unlocked”

„yeah the door is still unlocked” he repeated

„do I just go?”

„no not that quickly Finn, there is a combination lock, it can be in the storm door”

„your bike lock?!” I screamed a little bit louder which made Robin wake up.

„yeah, my aunt gave me it. He took it when he took me.”

„what is the combination then?”

„I don’t remember”

„GRIFFIN!?”

„I DON’T REMEMBER, I remember I was too afraid that I will forget it that is why I wrote it down. I carved it with a bottle cap in the wall”

„wait which wall. WHICH WALL?”

„ the one on the right side, somewhere in middle when you sit down” Griffin said as I put the phone on the ground and ran to that wall he mentioned and truly there were carved numbers. 23317

„23317?” I asked him

„if you say so”

„well then is it 23 31 7, 233 17 or 2 33 17?”

„ I cannot remember”

„GRIFFIN”

„I CANNOT REMEMBER, you would have to try them all, and you need to be very quiet and quickly. Good luck Finney”

„yeah thanks” i hanged up the phone and stared at the door in front of me.

„where are you going?” Robin asked as he tried to stood up but failed.

„you are staying there!” I instructed him

„but what if he catches you what now Finn, I cannot lose you”

„I will be fine” I smile at him and began to open the door and slowly walking upstairs. And really the grabber was asleep. I quickly walked to the front door and tied to type all the combinations I could think of, when none of them worked I stared to panic however all of sudden the last one was correct and it was unlocked. I quickly ran out from the house noticing that the grabber’s dog started to bark extremely loud which probably woken up the grabber. I couldn’t care less I cannot let Robin die. All my hopes faded when I heard a van riding behind me I started to ran faster and faster until I tripped and fell to the ground, the grabber got out from the Van and started chasing me, he pulled my shirt which made me lose balance and I fell back on the ground, he put a knife to my throat and watched how the person in the next house turned off the light that was on a minute ago.

„nighty night naughty boy” he says before he punched me in a face and my vision went black

Chapter Text

„Finney, come on" a dark haired boy was trying to wake his friend up, nothing just worked. Robin was starting to panic, he knew he should never let Finney go only by himself, even when he was hurt he could at least be a sacrifice. Now his friend was hopelessly laying on the mattress without any sign of life. Robin was about to burst into tears the guilt and a small fear that Finney will not survive was just too overwhelming for him. After few minutes Finney has finally opened his eyes and looked confused at Robin. His face looked horrible truly, his pale skin had so many bruises, he was skinner that he already was, but what should he expect he hasn't eaten for days of course he will seem skinnier.

„what happen-" Finney couldn't even finish his question when he felt being hold in tight hug that his friend gave him. Robin was always the best in comforting others though it could not seem like it when he was mostly known as a fighter at school. Just like Vance.

„Finney your face" Robin said in worry when he finally realised that Finney has a big injury on his face. Finney started to touch all over his face to feel the damage the grabber must've left on his face. Robin sighed as he put his hand on the other boy's chin to have a better look where the injury was. Which made Finney quite flustered.

„it isn't that horrible as i thought it would be Finn, it should be gone in few days" Robin told his friend who was now looking at him and deeply admiring his features. Robin was truly beautiful guy even when his face is literally full of blood.

„Finney do i have something on my face?" Robin asked teasingly his friend as he watch his face go more and more red.

„No I just I don't know, I wasn't looking at you, I was looking at he wall behind you, yeah" Finney made a stupid excuse as Robin burst out laughing. Finney started laughing too after few minutes.

„do you think he is going to kill us soon?" Finney suddenly asked leaving the boy next to him in deep thoughts.

„well, from what I have heard the grabber is total maniac and kidnaps kids almost everyday, so that means he needed to kill then the same day he took them. I think he just wants you to live a little longer Finn" Robin replied to his friend his honest opinion on the situation where they are now. It all made sense because there is no way he would kill more than one kid at the same time, right? Though the fact that he is here with Robin doesn't make any sense, the grabber never mentioned Robin or even looked at him. Maybe Robin did something truly wrong that he somehow deserved to be treated this way. He cared about Robin so much and he couldn't stand him being treated like a trash. Robin deserved better than this.

„Finn can I tell you something?" Robin asked Finney to break the silence between them, Finney's attention is now focused on Robin and Robin only.
Robin moves a little closer to his friend. He looks visibly flustered and has a little blush on his face.

„Sure what it is?" Finney replied while watching his friend fighting the urge to tell him the 3 words he always wanted to.

„Finney I lo-" His confession was interrupted by a familiar sound of ringing phone. Finney immediately ran to that phone leaving Robin alone again.

„what? What are you going to say this time. You are going to recommend me another useless way to escape or to get almost killed by the grabber?" Finney said very annoyed expecting another way to escaping that wouldn't make any sense.

„why are you so quiet, do you even know who you are?"

„WHAT A SHIT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?, DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE?" The person behind the phone asked Finney a question with a very aggressive tone. Finney swallowed and replied

„I am Finney, Finney Blake"

„WELL NICE TO FUCKING MEET YOU FINNEY BLAKE, RIGHT HERE THIS IS IT!"

„This is what?"

„A  HORRIFYING NIGHTMARE AND END OF YOUR PATHETIC LITTLE LIFE" Finney realised who he is talking to, the aggressive tone to everyone didn't have no one else than.

„you are Vance, Vance Hopper. I remember you, we have met when you dared Robin to fight you." Finney told him,  His voice trembled at the mention of the name of the local punk.

„trust me Finney Blake, If you knew what you had comming you would be fucking terrified"

„TODAY IS THE DAY MOTHERFUCKER"

//flashbacks\\

Vance Hopper. The name was well known by everyone in this town. However not the way people would like to know him. He was mostly known for his fights, crimes and else. He was the nightmare of the town and people hated him. They truly did but no one dared to fight or confront him. People were speculating that he might've been a sociopath cause if you even dared to look at him weirdly he will at least stab you with a knife. He was very feared by many people and people were that scared to even say  his name out loud. What made people more confused was the fact that the most popular baseball player started to hang out with him. Bruce Yamada was the only one who saw something else in Vance. Something that very well hidden behind the fake high self-esteem and annoyed face. Vance wasn't a bad person, if people just wouldn't judge him when they clearly didn't know him personally. Bruce and Griffin were the only people who saw his real side. The caring boy who would do anything for his friends. Sounds unbelievable. Bruce's reputation was highly damaged when people realised they weren't only friends, but also partners. People not only at school but in the entire neighbourhood were disgusted by this news. They couldn't believe that someone that successful like Bruce would even talk to someone like Vance. After all Bruce was top at everything, top student at their school, top of their class, top baseball player in their team. Top was the only word he was described as. However Vance? Vance was failing all of his classes and on detention or suspended all the time. Bruce on the other hand loved helping Vance as much as he could. They enjoyed these little study dates in library with many books next to them while Bruce was explaining math to him. Vance wasn't close with the others. Well definitely not that close like he was with these two. However he could see something bad was happening to Finney, he was anxious all the time when they talked and sometimes even flinched when he made a fast move close to his face. If we talk about Billy, he knew he was close friend with Griffin and was very helpful with science and literature stuff at school. However Robin? Robin was weird to him, he was only one who confronted him about the pinball machine which is the main thing that made him angry. He was also the first person who could beat him up and win that fight. Though all of this happened he couldn't say they were enemies they became a friends after few weeks (griffin forced them)

(Staurday 13th April)

„I am just saying facts Finn, Texas chainsaw massacre is the best movie you can ever watch"

„bullshit, why do we have to always watch horror movies, cannot we watch i don't know miraculous ladybug?" Finney complained as he pointed to a random DVD he saw.

„Finney you are my best amigo, but I will never watch it with you"

„Robin come onnn" Finn was basically pleasing his friend to not pick a horror movie for their movie night. Robin on the other hand didn't want to watch some cartoons. Robin suddenly looked to his right side and saw a guy playing pinball, he looked very angry.

„Robin don't even dare, he will beat you up if you try to play that game"

„nah I will win Finn" before Finney could stop his friend from committing the biggest mistake in his life, Robin was ahead and approached the guy, while Finney slapped his forehead

„Hey man I was wondering if I could tr-"

„don't even try it dipshit, this is my machine" the guy said as he looked at Robin angrily

„really, I don't see your name anywhere" Robin complained and pointed at that machine which made the guy even more angry.

„Robin just let it be we can find another one"

„No Finney, this is completely nonsense how can he own this machine that is literally for everyone!" Robin said and walked closer to that blonde boy.

„if you want to play it, you will need to fight me" long haired boy angrily shouted as he started to stretch.

„and trust me kid I won all my fights, and someone like you cannot do anything to me. You will end up like the others who tried" the boy yelled at Robin, he just sighed and rolled his eyes.

„then do it puta, or are you scared?" Robin jokingly asked and Vance was about to hit him, however Robin is a skilled fighter so he blocked his hit and punched him in the face. Vance hold his head as he was trying to figure out how he will fight that kid. A small crowd of people started to make and all wanted to see Vance's loss. Vance started to seem a little worried about even starting this fight when Robin punched him in the face again and pulled him on the ground, Robin kneeled down and started to punch him again and again. The crowd stared to cheer Robin up as his hands were full of blood. Finney quickly paid for that DVD and pulled Robin away from Vance.

„Robin chill out."

„see Finn I won again" Robin giggled as he hold the boy's hand (that was helping him stand up) he looked at Vance that was now laying on the ground and then they both quickly ran away.

„but I bought the miraculous something DVD so that is your punishment Rob"

„What??? Nooo Finn why"

(Finney and Vance eventually met a week later when Vance was trying to find his chocker that his mother got him. With Finney's help they found it quickly. They became friends after that. Vance was glad he didn’t lose the bracelets that he always wore on his wrist, it would be hard to explain why he has so many scars on his wrists…)

——————————————————————————

Vance's behaviour has a background too. His home life was very difficult cause of his abusive father and lack of mother's attention as a child. All these small things were formulating a huge anger inside of him and jealousy too. He got jealous every time he saw someone with parents that actually care about them. I don't mean that they buy them expensive clothes, telephones and other stuff like that, but more like a care. The care he never got from anyone. He started to be more aggressive cause of these stuff and he needed to take out his anger on other people. The weird attachment he had for that machine was also the only thing that brought him some sort of joy and happiness, and he hated when the only thing that made him happy made another people happy too. ..

21st May Grab n' go

The blonde haired guy was now trying to break his own score and make another one on his pinball machine. His attention was now completely focused on that small ball in it. After Bruce became missing his anger rapidly stood up. Vance was now angry at everything that happened. He was that focused on that stupid game that he didn't even notice two buy playfully fighting right next to him, well until one of them accidentally came across the machine which made him lose the game. That made him so mad that he completely ignored every tiny voice in his head telling him that this is a big mistake.

„the fuck were you doing asshole you made me lose my game" Vance yelled as he pulled the boy by his shirt and threw him across the store. The other boy pulled out a knife but that didn't stop him, he walked up to him, took his knife and stab him. When he was done he quickly cleaned his hands from the blood he had on them when he suddenly heard a bunch of police officers coming to him and  arresting him. The police officers drove him to the police station where they were asking him questions about this fight. Vance was silent. His head was full of what would his mother say about it. They decided they don't have the effort and time to drive him back home so they basically left him there alone. He sat on the sidewalk and pointlessly looked in front of him. Until a man stopped right next to him. Vance didn't have the nerves to say something to him.

„hey kid, I have noticed that you are kinda sad would you like to see a magic trick?" The man kindly asked as he tried to get the boy's attention. But Vance didn't even bother to look at him, the man sighed and began to talk again.

„look if you want I can take you home, plus your mother wouldn't be that happy if she heard that you got arrested again. Oh it is not like anyone would care, you are a disappointment for them already. Am I right?" With that Vance looked shockingly at the man who was smiling .

„how do you know about that" Vance asked him in disbelief.

„just guessing, are you going or not?"  Vance looked down and then walked to that man without noticing he had a injection of sedatives in his hand...

Vance wakes up in the same place as the other boys before him, he scans the room with his eyes but is unable to move a single muscle. When the door opened he saw no one other than the famous grabber. He walked up to Vance as he closed the door behind him.

„shh don't be afraid, there is nothing that will hurt you, Vance" he says as he showed a belt that looked insanely familiar. Vance was now shaking in fear cause this was his only weakness, and the grabber knew.  Vance was brutally beaten and tortured by the grabber 3 times in day. He was starved and most of the time he spend laying on the ground crying and apologising to his mother about everything he had done. He was angry, mostly at himself. He needed something to took of his anger. So he stared to punch the wall, he didn't care how much it hurt him he knew the end is coming soon. He broke when he saw Griffin's sleeping body on that stupid mattress. He knew the grabber was trying to broke him mentally and was very good at it. Though Griffin's company made the atmosphere a little different than it was before he still couldn't stop thinking about all these things that were coming for them. Vance was always the sacrifice, he couldn't let him even broke Griffin's hair. He was too sweet for this world. Griffin suddenly made a plan that would guarantee them both an escape if it succeeds. Vance knew the risks and was ready to take them all, just for Griff.
When he however saw that grabber was truly really fast at running, and Griffin was particularly fast too, he knew this was the end. The end of his pathetic life. He didn't cry when the grabber pulled his hair and beat his head against the wall. How could he. This life was a nightmare he wasn't even sad about dying, at least he could meet Bruce again and apologise for everything. Well he would be happy if it ended up like this.

He later woke up with an extreme headache and blood around his face. What shocked him the most that he saw Griffin's body. Griffin'a dead body. He was probably stabbed in his throat and had broken back. Vance was scared and furious at the same time. The only thing in his mind was to kill that bastard.
He walked up to Griffin's body and broke down in front of him. This should have been him, not Griffin. The guilt was eating him alive as he heard the sound of opening doors and steps coming to him. He looks up only to see that man who ruined their lives. The grabber was furious.

„are you fucking kidding me? Do you even know how much money it would take to fix that hole?!" The grabber screamed at him while pointing on the hole in the wall. Vance didn't say anything again, which made him even more mad.

„you know no wonder nobody likes you, you are total peace of shit Vance. And your mother she was cheering up when she saw the missing posters with your face on them" Vance has heard it all, he let it soak in slowly, as his mind passed the words he felt the anger returning again and again, the hatred that sickening bland syrup of sulphurous native emotion. Vance wanted to scream tell him to shut the fuck up, that he was the one who lost everything here. That he's the one who's seeing his best friend dead now, and it's only because of him. A monster. But he didn't say anything, he was completely silent, not that he could even.

„you know, I thought about killing you without any pain. But after what you have done, you don't deserve this. I am going to take my time Vance" the grabber said as he slowly moved to him with a big axe in his one hand. Vance didn't fight back, he let the grabber beat him up and then kill him with that axe. He knew he didn't deserve to stay alive.

Little did Vance know that grabber was right about it, his missing poster was covered with Griffin's... nobody really cared...

//end of flashbacks\\

„I am giving up I have tried everything to escape" Finney said to him as he waits for an answer that came almost immediately.

„have you tried stacking the carpet to reach the window?"

„ I have tried everything"

„NO, not everything. When the grabber saw what I have done that was it, and he took his time with me too"

„what did you do?"

„oh, that fucker had to spend a lot of money to repair the damages"

„what did you do?" Finney asks again holding the phone a little tighter than before.

„ I am getting to that! Or do you have some other important shit you have to do right now?"

„no no no I am listening sorry Vance.."

„there's an outlet"

„yeah I have seen it"

„ on the other side of that wall, there a storage room, you can't get into that room because there is a big upright freezer in the way. Break the wall about two feet above the outlet, till you get to a panel, then get the panel off. There will be a freezer"

„thank you" Finney thanked him however the only thing he gets as a response is a silence.

„for what?"

„for helping me" Finney says honestly as he hears a loud laugh.

„helping you? Have you realised that this isn't about you? FUCK HIM!!!" Vance yelled to that phone and then hangs up. Finney shallows and then ran to that place Vance was talking about, completely ignoring Robin's questions behind him. He successfully breaks the wall and began to push through the door as hard as he can, but to no avail... he feels a warm tears coming from his eyes as he sat down on the ground and started to cry... This is the end.

Chapter Text

Finney sank to the floor, tears were running from his eyes. The tears he couldn't hold back. This was it. The end. He knew, he doesn't stand a chance against the grabber. If not even Vance or Robin could kill him. How could he. Finney started to hysterically cry. There was no one to comfort him, no one to protect him. He was all alone In the dark basememt.

„Finney" a muffed voice whispered behind him... Finney turned to see Robin, however he looked different, like he wasn't even there, like he was already gone. But then he realised there is still a small chance of hope.

„Robin, you are a good fighter aren't you? You can help me fight the grabber right?" Finney asked his friend in a hope he will say yes. However the only thing he got as a return was a simple confused look on his friend's face. His eyes were, well he hadn't recognised them. They looked weird more like dead.

„Finney, you still haven't realised?" Robin replied to him as he walked up closer

„what do you mean by that Robin?"

„Finn I cannot help you fight the grabber, I am still there." Robin says as he pointed at the wall i front of them.

„what are you saying Robin?" Finn was truly confused

„Finn, I am not here with you, I am dead. I am just in your head because you didn't want to be here alone. Alone like you always were..." Finn's heart dropped after hearing these words. His heart was completely broken. Robin was dead... he wasn't with him it was all in his head. He thought that he was going crazy when he heard the ringing phone again. He suspiciously stood up and walked up to it.

„Vance? Griffin? Bruce? Billy?" He asked to that phone and hears a quiet laugh.

„neither Finn, I am glad that I can your voice again. It's been a long time..." Finn's breath caught, he couldn't believe who he was talking to.

„no no no Robin, why you..." Finney feels the tears again as he started to cry more just thinking what could've happened to his friend.

„No don't cry Finn it is going to be okay mi amor,"

„yeah it will, we will meet aga-"

„NO, you are not going like I did, you are going to make it trust me Finn" Robin tried to reassure his friend that is now tightly holding the phone.

„Robin... how did he kill you?" Finn suddenly asked while anxiously waiting for the answer.

„did he use gun or any other weapon like that? I am sorry I just don't understand how he was able to kill you."

„No, he didn't Finn. The only thing he used were his hands and a knife… it took him a long time though” Robin laughed tried to make Finney calmer however nothing helped...

„I am sorry Rob, I truly am. It is all my fault if I have just stopped you, you wouldn't be here. I am so sorry Robin." Finney apologies and wiped the tears streaming down his face.

„Mi amor, please don't cry and no it isn't your fault I was just panicking that was all Amor."

„i am not crying Rob" Finney lied as he was still wiping his tears.

„don't lie amor, I can see you"

„wait you can?"

„yes I have always been with you, I have been with you this whole time Finney. Thought it was sometimes weird like when you were talking to yourself or drinking the toilet water" Robin we tried to ease the situation they were in but it was useless.

//flashback\\

Robin was truly a unique kid, though he couldn't do a simple math problems he was insanely talented in writing and in literature in general. Robin never had any friends, cause people were  mostly afraid of him thanks all of these fake rumours about him being a total jerk. He was a figher of course he was, but would never hurt an innocent person. That is why these rumours made him that mad, they made him look like he was the absolutely horrible person alive. Even though he was saying to everyone that he didn't mind not having any friends it was actually eating him alive. He wanted to feel loved, he wanted to feel like people care about him, like he belong somewhere. He was really lonely back these days. It may sound unbelievable but at his other school he was the one in victim role. He was the main target of other bullies at that school. Robin was tired of being bullied and always picked on so he just snapped one day and beaten them up. He finally stood up from himself, though it wasn't a good decision, he was expelled from that school thanks for the fact that the one of the boy's parent who bullied him was a principal. When he changed schools people were just mean and mostly haven't talked to him, he was alone again, at least he wasn't bullied like he was before... that all changed in one particular day.

„just admit it that you are a #ag." One of the voice yelled at someone. This caught Robins attention and started to follow the voices.

„see just look at him, he looks like a girl and even has a weird name, who would name their child like that?" One of them laughed.

„maybe his mom, well at least when she was alive" the third and last one told the others a joke he probably thought was very funny.

„hey! That wasn't funny at all let him be" Robin interrupted their conversation all eyes are now on him.

„or what, you are going to scream at us" the boy said and made the other ones laugh even more. Before Finney could realise his bullies were now laying on the ground, blood all over their faces and Robin’s hands too. Robin turned to see the curly haired boy sitting in the corner in shock. Robin walks way with a smile on his face. He didn’t know what was the feeling but he just saw his old self in him. Later that day after he was sent to the principal office (again) he was about to open his locker when his attention caught a small paper, that was laying on his notebooks. He grabbed it and read it.

“Hey thank you for saving me, I would love to get you know more <3”
-Finney Blake from math class.

Robin smiled at that note as he founded in a random book, he turned around and saw the boy that he saved and. He had a smile on his face as he waved back at Robin.

„hey um would you like to be friends?” Finney asks the boy in front of him as he was anxiously holding his books.

„yeah sure Finney, I would love to” Robin replies and sees how the boy’s eyes light up from excitement.

„I am glad to hear that Robin, let me introduce you to someone” Finney smiles as he hold the other boy’s hand basically dragging him into the school’s canteen.

„um Finney who is this?” A short haired boy asked his friend while pointing at the unknown boy.

„um Griffin this is Robin, Robin this is Griffin my friend” Finney introduced them as they were looking at each other weirdly.

After that day Robin wasn’t bothered about not having friends. Their friend group started to grow bigger when Billy a paper boy and Griffins closest friend started to hangout with them, then Bruce a popular baseball player who stole every girl’s heart and the last person was Vance a local punk who spent more time in police station than his home. Robin was very happy to have friends for the first time. He truly felt loved after his fathers death. Though his life at home wasn’t that difficult like the others were he sometimes caught himself thinking about how it would be if he was dead. He didn’t paid much attention to these thoughts though, his main problem was that he “slowly” started to think about his friend in different way. At first he thought it was normal to daydream about him and their life together, but after he realised it wasn’t he started to slowly hate himself for these things. He knew people like him didn’t have any place in society these days and was basically ashamed of himself. He didn’t see the problem that people with the same gender were in love, however the thoughts what would people say made him hate it more and more. And Finney’s affection wasn’t any help for his unsolved dilemma. There was something else that made him sad or upset than these things. He was seriously failing math, he knew it was completely useless subject but couldn’t just understand why he wasn’t able to understand and solve these stupid math problems. He eventually started to feel more and more stupid than before.

„Robin? Oh god what happened?” A brown haired boy asked his friend who’s face is red cause of crying

„nothing don’t worry” Robin trues to seem calm and happy like always but Finney can see behind that all.

„come on, I can see you clearly aren’t okay. You can tell me everything Robin, we are friends, aren’t we?” Finney tells his friend with a bright smile.

„I just I don’t feel enough. Because of that shitty math.” Robin confessed as he looked away from Finney’s eyes, that were looking at him this whole time.

„Robin, it is just a mark that doesn’t say what your intelligence is, and you are enough. I can see you trying more and more every day and if that teacher doesn’t see it then she is probably blind. Because you truly are enough Robin…” these words, that was all Robin needed to hear. he looks down for a moment and then looks up again just to see the boy staring at him.

„thank you Finney I needed that” Robin tells him as he feels to be hold in a tight hug.

„it is okay Robin I am just saying the truth” Robin smiles. This was the time, he was 100% sure that he was in love with his best friend Finney Blake…

27th June

Tears stream down his cheeks as he turns quickly, ignoring his friend's futile cries. He runs through the rainy streets unable to discern his vision, which is now blurred. He just kissed his best friend , that was the worst part, the fact he didn't need to wait for a response because he knew it himself, he knew Finney probably hated him and wanted nothing more to do with him. His heart was broken in a million pieces however he didn't stop running, he didn't care where he ran, as long as he was gone before he could learn the horrible truth for himself. Actually he was ignoring everything that was going on around him, the strange looks from people, the fact that he had no idea where he was, but mostly ignoring the black van going dangerously fast towards him as it subsequently charged him, even though he tried to fight back he couldn't be strong enough. He wasn't strong enough... Finney wasn’t right, Robin was never enough for him it for everyone…

Robin looks around the room, which looks unhealthily dirty. He runs to the phone that's attached to the wall and starts dialing Finney's number when he's interrupted by a loud clatter. Grabber is standing there with a knife in his hand, the missing piece of his mask on his face and a menacing smile. Robin swallows nervously as he watches the grabber fiddle with the knife.

„glad anyone even noticed the phone, you are the first one to even try if. Impressive. Sadly it is disconnected so it will not work.” Grabber says in a creepy voice pointu the knife to Robin.

„If you want to kill me then do it puta.”

„that wouldn’t be fun, I want to hear your screams and pleading for staying alive.” Grabber laugh hysterically as Robin holds the phone in his hand.

„I don’t fight with losers like you” Robin replied to him, now the grabber stopped laughing and looked dead serious in his face.

„well, than I will make you, I think you wouldn’t like that if your brown haired crush was here too right? Oh Robin you are such a pathetic #ag like him. You woudl be a great match for each others. A pathetic loser with dead mom and another pathetic loser with dead father. What a great combo” Robin felt a new emotion coming out, it was anger. The anger he was trying to cover however when the grabber started talk shot about Finney he couldn’t hold back.

„shut up” Robin threatened which made the grabber laugh again.

„please Robin, you are acting like if you ever had chance with him, he probably hates you now and no wonder, you know nobody really liked you Robin. And nobody will even cry a single tear about your absence because you are so boring” Robin had enough he was drowning in that feeling of anger when he noticed the grabber quickly walking towards him with a knife. Robin moved to the right side of the room and then he punched the grabber to his head. The grabbing groans in pain as Robin started to punch him again and again. He couldn’t care less if he killed that asshole, he took Finney’s name to his mouth and talked bad about him, he will pay for it. Robin’s hands were full of blood as he punched him one last and time and then shockingly looked at him. The grabber was t moving. He puts his and to his mouth as he slowly walks away from the body and begins to ran away from the basement. He spotted the front door that were locked, and he didn’t have the keys. He was about to walk in that basement to get then, but his way was blocked by a big black dog. Robin's eyes widened as he looked at the dog. He looked scary and dangerous. The dog growled at him, however, and after a moment, started barking. Robin quickly ran into the kitchen as soon as he hears footsteps leading that cellar trying in vain to find something sharp to defend himself with, but he found nothing. He watches in simple fear as the grabber slowly approaches him until only inches separate them. The grabber quickly stabs Robin in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. Robin tries his best to defend himself, but he is not strong enough to fight off such a blow. Grabber stabs him further and further into his body. Robin takes offense in sheer pain and sorrow at the same time. The memories of all he has been through, all he could have been through and all he will lose, flash before his eyes. Before his eyes close forever, he speaks his last words.

„please, don’t take Finn…”

Grabber smiles, happy and proud of himself for what he's done. He takes the boy's belt, which he uses to beat up another kid, especially Finney. He takes the boy's dead body in his arms and takes him unnoticed to the other house, which is right across the street. He buries the boy's body next to another one.

„happy birthday Robin” the grabber says as he walked away from the house and was about to clean the mess he made.

//end of flashbacks\\

„you know my father didn’t leave his friend behind when he went to nav, that is why he didn’t come home. And I am not coming home either Finn”

„i have tried everything nothing worked”

„yet”

„Robin!”

„you remember what I told you?”

„that I need to see Texas chainsaw massacre?” Finney asked as he heard a sigh from the other side.

„before that”

„that some day I have to stand up for myself”

„yes, someday is today Finn. Today is the day you will fight back!”

„I am not a fighter like you Robi , even you couldn’t take it. How can I then?”

„Finn, you have always been one, maybe not in the same way as I was, but you always knew how to take one. That is why we are friends”

„I am not strong enough Robin”

„you have to be, if you can’t do it for you. Then do it for me, do it for us.”

„and why does that matter Robin?”

„because I don’t want to die for nothing Finn, I died the most embarrassing dead I could think about, I just want to die at least for a friend. Please, you have so many good things coming for you if you just don’t give up. And because I couldn’t kill that hijo de puta you have to do it for me!”

„how?”

„you are going to use the weapon that is in your hand, fill the receiver with dirt, pack it in tight, give it some heft”

„then what?”

„then you practice Finn, you raise the phone take a back step back, step forward, step back and swing, and again!” Finney tried to imitate the movements as best he could, when it was finally done he heard Robin's voice slowly fade.

„you have got it, now fill the phone with dirt like I told you before…”

„will I ever be able to talk to you Robin?”

„… this is the last call Finney, I am sorry that it had to end like this” Finney feels tears again, these stupid tears but can’t stop them.

„Robin wait!” Finney yelled and wiped his own tears from his face.

„what?”

„I love you Robin” Finney finally took these words out from his chest. As he hears silence again.

„I love you too, I always did and always will, remember that Finn” Robin told after some time.

„this world was never meant for us Finn, I will be waiting for you when your time comes, I promise mi amor, just please try to live happy life lie you did before. Can you promise me that?” Robin’s voice is getting more and more weaker which made Finn more emotional than ever.

„I promise Robin.”

„I need to go now, kill that asshole”

„I will…”

„bye Finn”

„bye Robin. I will miss you forever”

„get out for me please…” these were the last words he heard from him, he again sank to the floor, holding the phone and crying his eyes out. He stood up after a while and started to prepare a trap for the grabber, when was everything ready he sit down on the floor and just waited until he wil come down. He hears the door open after few minutes, he immediately stood up and tightly holded the phone in his hand. However It wasn’t grabber behind the door, it was a man who he has never seen before.

„holy shit, no way, I knew he was hiding something from me but I wasn’t expecting he would actually do this” the man said as he started to panic.

„please I, can you call my father?” Finney asks him while walking to him. Until he saw a shadow behind the man…

„I will don’t worry, my brother is at work so it will be eas-“ the man’s words were interrupted by the grabber who kills him by axe. Finney is terrified as he sees the grabber’s face full of blood.

„you made me do it. You made me kill my brother!” Grabber yelled at him still looking sad about what he just did.

„No I haven’t” Finney denied the grabbers words

„you know I would normally use a knife, but you Finney, you are special. I will take my time, I want this to REALLY hurt” the grabber laugh as he ran to Finney, Finney ran the other way and grabbed the cable and straightened it out. The grabber was more focused about the thoughts how he will end that boy’s life that he haven’t even noticed the cable and tripped he fell into a hole and broke his ankles. He screams in pain as finney started to beat him with a phone, again and again. When the grabber was full of blood Finney uses the phone wire and wraps it around his next and starts to strangling him. The phone rang again, but now there was no one to pick it up. It looks like the grabber can hear it too cause he was constantly looking around. The phone rang, rang and rang as Finney picked up the phone and put it to grabber’s ear, forcing him to listen.

„this is for you”

„welcome to the end of your pathetic little life”

„hahaha you don’t have much time”

„today is the day motherfucker”

„I cannot kill you hijo de puta, so Finn is going to do it for me!”

„Finn’s arm is mint!” After these words Finney broke the grabber’s neck and took a deep breath before standing up, still holding now bloody phone in his hand and confidently walking upstairs, he uses the right combination lock and successfully opened the door, for his surprise he sees a lot of police officers in the other house. He looks around happily when his eyes met with Gwen’s who was basically running to him and hugging him. Finney now realised one more thing… he is the only survivor, the others are dead… he is standing alone…

Chapter Text

„Finney oh my god I was so worried” she says as she hugged me even tightly. I put my hands over her shoulders and hugged her back. I could feel tears of joy running from my eyes. I did it. I avenged the deaths of my friends. A small smile appeared on my face, which quickly disappeared as I saw the police pulling all the bodies out of the house in front of us. It was chaotic, lights were flashing everywhere and there was so much noise in general. I sat with Gwen on the sidewalk a soft yet thin blanket was draped over us as we watched the scene unfold in front of us. The families of all the dead children soon showed up, Bruce's parents were the first to arrive and they broke down as soon as they saw his body wrapped in a black cloth. Amy began to cry uncontrollably as she sank to the ground.

„Why him, why him" she wailed as warm tears rolled from her eyes. Her mother stroked her brown curls as she sank to the ground and hugged her. Meanwhile, Mr. Yamada shouted at the police how incompetent they were in their search while other family members were organizing themselves with the grief of losing their son.

„Bruce didn't deserve to die like this, my boy had his whole life ahead of him, he wanted to be a professional baseball player and represent this country one day. He wanted that dream to come true," the mother lamented as she continued to cry. Then Griffin's mother came in, looking devastated as she looked at her son's body.

„He was the only one I had, the only one I had left, and he took him away from me," she lamented as she held the hand of her now dead son. Then Billy's parents arrived, they were horrified, they knew that if they hadn't allowed their son to become a paper boy he might have lived.

„I'm so sorry dear, we shouldn't have given the approval , we should have faced the consequences" says the man trying to comfort his crying wife. Billy's dog just sat sadly in front of him. Vance's mom appeared before the last one, she was the only one who showed willingness about finding her son, she knew what Vance was going through but she never thought it would come to this.

„No, my boy no, that's not true. Vance sweetheart, please wake up." Mrs. Hopper cried as she stroked her son's blond hair.She wailed and cursed everyone around her for how incompetent they were in finding her son and how they couldn't have prevented it. The last people to show up were Robin's mother and his uncle. Both of them were red eyed from crying, as soon as she saw her son's body she couldn't contain her emotions and burst into tears. The uncle wasn't much better, he was now sitting on the edge of the pavement holding his head in his hands.

„why would anyone do this to my son why him" she cried as the gunman tried to calm her down. Finney's dad showed up too, which surprised him what surprised him more was that he hugged him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done that.

„Finney oh my god,I'm so glad, I swear I'm done with alcohol and I'm going to be a better father, for you and for Gwen." His father swore while holding his hand tightly. Gwen leans over and hugs him. But Finney is not happy... he didn’t feel anger like he did before. The only thing he feels is grief and guilt. It should be him not them…

Finney was allowed to return to school after a week of intensive therapy. He wasn't too thrilled to see their faces. Now everyone thought he was a killer. And he knew it, he didn’t deserve to be here. He slowly got out of bed putting on his typical t-shirt and pants. The clothes he had when he was in that basement, threw away, he couldn't look at them. He couldn't accept the guilt of it all. Sighing, he looked in the mirror as he startled over his reflection. He had dark circles under his eyes, he shouldn't have been so surprised when he hadn't slept for almost three days straight. Disgusted with himself he quickly lowered his head, grabbed his bag and walked downstairs to the kitchen where he was greeted by the smell of pancakes, it immediately gave him flashbacks to his evenings with Griffin. He sighed as he wiped the tears from his eyes and dropped the apple that was on the table.

„Why aren't you eating Finn?" Gwen asked questioningly as she put whipped cream on the pancakes.

„I'm not hungry" he replies as he takes a bite of the apple and slowly walks out of the house.

As he might have expected all the attention was on him, all eyes were on him as he walked through the busy corridors of the school, out of the corner of his eye he noticed his bullies standing in the corner with shocked expressions on their faces. Finn smiled madly and walked into his classroom. His eyes tried in vain to find Donna, however couldn’t until he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey Finn."

"Oh hi Donna" Finney greeted his friend as they sat down together in the desk.

"Finney just, I'm sorry. It must be hard to go through this. I just want you to know that my door is always open." Donna tells his friend, he only smiled at her and nodded. Finn basically slept the whole day, he was too tired to do anything. His grades started to be worse and worse however he couldn’t care less about it. He wouldn’t care if he even failed this year, he was too tired to do anything. The main thing that was always in his mind was a basic question. Why him, he is nothing compared to his friends all of them could do something all of them had dreams and passion for something they enjoyed. Bruce could go to that school he always wanted to and play baseball in more professional team. Griffin could become a writer like he always dreamed of. The world needed to see his stories. Billy wanted to take care of street dogs, he could help so many animals… Vance just wanted to break his high score on the pinball machine, however no one can now, the machine is now unable to play at, because it is some sort of memorial for him. Even though the owner hated Vance he couldn’t just let another person beat his high score. And Robin, was just Robin he could do so many things in life. But these opportunities were taken from them all, now they were dead. Finney still keeps the phone if Robin called again. He knew how naive he was. He knew he will never hear his voice again.

Finney was now laying on his bed, hopelessly staring at the white wall in front of him. The blood from his wrist was still flowing and dripping on the ground, making a quiet sound. Finney didn't know how much time had passed since he'd gotten out of bed. He felt like he was pinned there. He slowly sank into a depression knowing he couldn't live this lifestyle for long, but again he didn't know what to do next. The therapies didn't help, his father gave him false hopes again and nothing had changed, in fact he could tell it was worse than the last time. Tears so damn much he hated it, he knew he had no right to cry. He was the only survivor of a serial killer. He should be beside himself with happiness. But in his mind, Finney wished he could trade places with at least one of the boys on the other side. This life was a nightmare, without his friends he was ruined, without purpose, without hope for better days. Never had they come giving so much hope for a better ending. It never came. There was only pain and muffled sobs and pleas for death. All he wanted was to meet them again. Being with them made him feel happy, made him feel alive. But now he was just a walking wreck. Nothing else. The pain was real. He hated who he was. Hated every bit of himself. He hated his naivety, the fact that he stayed alive, and other things. Every day was exactly the same, the only thing that changed was his desire to continue living. Every day it got smaller and smaller. Donna tried to make him laugh as hard as she could but nothing was helping, he was broken and devastated nothing could fix the emptiness in his heart. He lost everything in that basement, but most of all he lost himself. Every day he cried into his pillow and moaned how he wished he could die. The bullying at school started again a few weeks later. Which didn't help his already terrible mental health. He never visited the funeral or grave of any of his friends. He just couldn't watch it. He was ruined good and more every day. Gwen trying desperately to help him it wasn't helping. The boy was slowly losing hope for better times. The guilt that was consuming him every day. Every night he would lie awake, hugging his pillow and sobbing uncontrollably. He hated how weak he was, he promised Robin that we will enjoy his life but how could he when his lover was dead.

Finney will never forget the devastated looks from all those parents who lost their children. How they couldn't stop sobbing over the loss. Finney never dared to talk to either parent. He felt responsible for their sons being dead. However, one day he decided to visit Robin's mother in an attempt to find comfort. Standing at the door of that house he hesitated to even knock and bother them. He took a deep breath as he knocked loudly on the orange door in front of him. After a moment Mrs. Arellano showed, her expression was blank as were her eyes.

„just want to say shut up I'm sorry for all of this, understand if you are unable to forgive me for this" Finney starts which gently confuses the woman in front of him.

Finney, sweetheart, what are you talking about? This wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault. That man is responsible for all of this. You were just a kid don't blame yourself" these words bring out strong feelings in Finn. He couldn't understand how someone could be so kind and forgive him when if he had just not reacted so badly Robin wouldn't have run away and been kidnapped. Of course it was his fault.

"Come here" Mrs. Arellano says after a moment of silence and pulls the boy into her arms. Finney begins to sob softly as she strokes his hair.

"Otherwise, when I was cleaning Robin's room I found a box meant for you. I think he would be happy for you to see it Finn, you can go on in and I'll make you some tea" Finney wonders, what did Robin have for him? With these unanswered questions he runs into the house and quickly to Robin's room. His room is tidy now, to be honest I've never seen it this tidy, there were always bits of his clothes or random magazines lying around. His walls were white and orange overall Robin's room looked very good. A rather large box with a name tag on it caught his attention.

"For Finn < 3"

His hands shake gently while he unwraps the perfectly tied ribbon, the box contains 4 items that are wrapped with wrapping paper and one letter to go with it.

Finney opens the letter first and starts reading.

"Dear Finn, happy birthday, words can't describe how much I care about you, you are the best thing that could have happened to me and I'm so glad that fate brought us together. I know it sounds like a terrible cliché but you are an angel really no better you are the sun and I am the moon and we complement each other. You're awfully nice to other people it's almost weird that you're talking to me. Well to the point I want to tell you that I really like you. No I don't even know how to write it, the feeling I get when you're around me, the way my heart beats is indescribable. You amo Finn and I always will even if you don't return my feelings. I love you. -Robin < 3"

Finn feels his eyes watering but ignores it and gradually decides to unwrap the presents. The first was a bandana, not just any bandana, the one Robin always wore, it was his bandana. The one he couldn't let go of. It came with a small piece of paper "hope you like it, I bought the same one so we can have the same ;)" next was a DVD of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre "remember when we couldn't agree on a movie and you made me watch the magic ladybug, there I am returning the favor and on your birthday we will watch this ;3" the third was a smaller brown teddy bear stuffed animal "I couldn't leave it in the shop, it reminds me of you hopefully it doesn't sound too cheesy" the last was a mixtape "I made us this so we don't have to heap about what songs we're going to listen to when you come back :3"

Finney then started crying after everything he read, still clutching Robin's bandana in his hand. He kept asking himself why him. He regretted all his decisions, he wanted to be with him again. He said goodbye to Mrs. Arellano and went home. No one was home today. An uncomfortable silence planned through the house as the boy took off his shoes planning something tragic. He tied a bandana on his wrist as he sat down at his desk and began to write goodbye letters to his sister. He felt like he was doing a very selfish thing, but he couldn't go on. His heart was racing as he pulled out a rope which he then tied to the ceiling, he began to tie a noose on it, how pleased he was he took a smaller chair and then stood up, his hands were shaking as he tried to put the rope around his neck, he looked sadly around the room at the photo of Gwen he was going to miss. He thought to himself as he jumped off the chair and began to choke. Before his vision went completely black he noticed a shadow in front of him. IIt was Robin looking at him with a sad expression. "I sm Sorry" Finney breathed his last breath as he ran out of oxygen and hung motionless from the ceiling.

Finney opens his eyes, now he feels dizzy feeling a pain around his neck.

„Finn!” Robin yelled behind him as he ran up to him.

„R-Robin?” Finney asks unable to speak cause the pain.

„why Finney, I thought you wanted to live?”

„it isn’t the same without you Robin, I tried I really did” Finney says sadly as he looked away from the boy.

„well we should get going others are waiting” Robin whispers as he shakes his hand which Finney accepts

„Finney no no no, please wake up, don’t do this to me i cannot lost you too” Gwen was crying her eyes out when she saw her brother’s dead body… Finney looked back and then guilty turned his head back to Robin.

„In another life?”

„In another life Finn…”

 If he thinks about it now, the grabber won, he managed to kill 6 kids as he wanted to

The end

//i am still In shock how much attention this story got, i am so grateful for every comment or kudos, it means a lot really. This is an official end of this story thought I feel sad that it ends : ( I am preparing an apology aka mini side story so stay tuned! \\
-Emma < 3