*There may be some triggering content in this chapter that deals with abuse at home. It doesn’t go into a lot of detail but be careful as you read.*

It was freezing cold. Rory couldn't feel his body anymore it was so numb with cold. He tried banging on the front door again to no avail. His parents had kicked him out after another drunken fight. Both blaming the other for having an extra mouth to feed. 

Snow was just starting to fall from the sky as the harsh winter wind picked up, causing painful shivers to spasm throughout Rory's tiny body. 

He was only six.

The sitter left three hours ago and that's when his parents came home drunk and in a mood. At first, they would just smack or punch Rory in his shoulders or stomach. He could handle that. But then the abuse moved higher. Both his parents decided it'd be a great time to use his face as a punching bag. 

It wouldn't be the first time. 

After a thorough beating, his mother tossed him out the front door and told him not to come back. Ever. 

With tears frozen against his cheeks, Rory forced his tiny body to crawl across his yard and into the neighbor's next door. She was a nice lady. 

She didn't hit. 

"Where the FUCK do you think you're goin', boy?" A harsh voice rang out through the bitter chill of winter. 

Rory cowered into the ground as his father crossed the yard and started kicking any exposed part of his body. 

More tears fell from the boy's eyes as he tried to crawl away to no avail. 

He was so cold...so numb...

                                                                     ***

Rory's eyes sprang open as he tried to clear the fog in his head. He could hear faint beeping from his right and his eyes squinted into harsh white light. 

"Am I dead?" he muttered before moving his body and feeling a dull ache within his limbs. "Nope. Definitely not dead." 

A quiet chuckle caused Rory's body to jump to a sitting position as he took in the figure of Jude Bex, calmly sitting in one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs. A smirk consumed his features. "About time you woke up." 

Rory raised his eyebrows as he glanced at the door. "What happened?" 

"You fainted," Jude stated as if he was talking about the weather. 

"Probably because of your irritating ass." Rory spat as he pressed the button for the nurse to come in.  

Moments later, a nurse walked in with a frown which Rory soon realized was directed at himself. 

"Young man," the nurse began, voice stern and radiating annoyance. "Do you realize that you've been malnourished for the past five months?" 

"Sorry?" Rory looked at the nurse like she was crazy. He wasn't malnourished. Was he? 

Her eyes narrowed in a motherly fashion. "Your body has been dehydrated for a very long time. You've managed fine until now but your body's internal structure was starting to break down in order to conserve energy. Not to mention how unhealthy your body is. You don't have enough nutrition to last another week. You're lucky your friend was able to bring you here when he did." 

"What do you mean?" Rory asked with a sheepish look in his eye. 

"You've been passed out for three days, Mr. Thompson." The nurse stated. "I'll be sending you home with a nutritional guide to follow. I'm expecting a follow-up in three months to make sure your body is healthy and staying healthy." 

"Right..." Rory sighed as he looked at the IV in his arm. He didn't believe this nurse one bit. He ate three meals a day, including his fruits and vegetables. He drank at least six cups of water a day, give or take a cup depending on his mood. And he exercised regularly. 

There's no way he could be malnourished. 

Deciding to let it go, Rory snatched the nutritional guide from the nurse and glanced over it, irritation flashing in his eyes. 

Just because he worked all the time didn't mean he neglected his body. Perhaps her instruments were broken. 

"Mr. Bex will be taking you home. I've asked that he make sure you're following your nutritional guide since you're such great friends." 

Rory forced his mouth to stay closed as he raised his eyebrows in disbelief. 

"Now, I just need to take out this IV and you'll be good to go." the nurse finished in a no-nonsense voice. 

Making a face, Rory looked away when she pulled out his IV and placed a bandage over it before giving a final warning and goodbye. 

He met Jude's eyes. 

"Come along, human." 

"What the fuck did you just say?"