Helios Beginnings (The Helios Chronicles #0.5) by Tawa M. Witko Page A
Authors: Tawa M. Witko
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another while Andrew watched, envious of their interaction. He turned back to his sketchpad and started drawing. It wasn’t long before the lights were turned off indicating it was time to sleep. Andrew lay awake for some time, listening to the rain fall outside, until it’s gentle cadence finally lulled him to sleep.
“It’s okay, little man. Hang in there, help’s on the way.”
Andrew woke up abruptly. His hand flew to his chest where he felt the bump on his skin and underneath that, the rapid beat of heart. His shirt was soaked in sweat, which indicated he had been having a nightmare. He reached for his bag under his pillow and pulled out a dry shirt. He listened closely to see if it was still raining outside; he didn’t hear anything. That was good because he needed to get out of there. He took his wet shirt off, not wanting to go outside in the cold with it on. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Miquel’s mother watching him.
“Be safe,” was all she said before she laid her hand over her son and went back to sleep.
He nodded slightly and shoved his wet shirt in the front pocket and then pulled his sketchpad out. He opened it and tore off a sheet of paper. He placed the drawing he had worked on all night underneath Miquel’s hand before he threw his backpack on. He quietly strode through the sleeping area until he got to the door.
“Once you leave you can’t come back inside,” the night personnel informed.
“I know. I’m not coming back,” Andrew replied, his hand wrapped tightly around his arm.
Many hours later, Miquel stirred in his sleep and felt something unusual under his hand. He opened his eyes and found that there was a piece of paper there. He smiled widely when he saw what appeared to be a drawn comic book strip that filled the page. It told the story of a mother and boy who were rescued by the famous web-slinger and then showed them eating dinner in a big house with the word ‘Home’ scrawled above the outside door. At the bottom corner of the page it had the initials AH.
“Mama, look,” he said nudging her awake.
Helios, Age 22
Andrew had given up on finding work or a permanent place to stay. He would often crash at a few places here and there, and had utilized the shelter on various occasions. Unfortunately though, the last time he had gone to the shelter, one of its staff members had offered him ‘help’, which he promptly rejected. As a result, he hadn’t been back since. His last ‘encounter’ a few months ago had produced a lot of cash for him as the woman had just been to the bank and had some nice jewelry that he was able to pawn. It had proven to be an effective haul for him and as such, he didn’t have to worry too much because that particular score had set him up for a while. In fact, he still had some cash left but not a lot so he knew he would need to get his act in gear.
The sleazy motel that Andrew was currently in was not the least bit sanitary. Andrew walked inside the room, glancing at the crumpled, worn out comforter on the bed. He started to set his bag on the floor until he spotted the rat droppings near the crack running along the front wall. He closed his eyes tightly, fighting the urge to turn around and leave. Instead he shut the door and flipped the latch to lock it. He’d used this motel once before and under normal circumstances would not be here again, however, he was in desperate need of a shower and shave, and this was the cheapest place around. After all, he would not be able to coax sex out of someone with money looking the way he did at the moment. His whole body cringed at the thought of what he would need to do. He despised himself every time he pulled one of the scams, every time he used sex to get money. But there wasn’t any legitimate work out there for someone like Andrew, so he did what he had to do to survive.
With a heavy sigh, he placed his backpack on the table and dug out some semi clean clothes to change in to. He
“It’s okay, little man. Hang in there, help’s on the way.”
Andrew woke up abruptly. His hand flew to his chest where he felt the bump on his skin and underneath that, the rapid beat of heart. His shirt was soaked in sweat, which indicated he had been having a nightmare. He reached for his bag under his pillow and pulled out a dry shirt. He listened closely to see if it was still raining outside; he didn’t hear anything. That was good because he needed to get out of there. He took his wet shirt off, not wanting to go outside in the cold with it on. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Miquel’s mother watching him.
“Be safe,” was all she said before she laid her hand over her son and went back to sleep.
He nodded slightly and shoved his wet shirt in the front pocket and then pulled his sketchpad out. He opened it and tore off a sheet of paper. He placed the drawing he had worked on all night underneath Miquel’s hand before he threw his backpack on. He quietly strode through the sleeping area until he got to the door.
“Once you leave you can’t come back inside,” the night personnel informed.
“I know. I’m not coming back,” Andrew replied, his hand wrapped tightly around his arm.
Many hours later, Miquel stirred in his sleep and felt something unusual under his hand. He opened his eyes and found that there was a piece of paper there. He smiled widely when he saw what appeared to be a drawn comic book strip that filled the page. It told the story of a mother and boy who were rescued by the famous web-slinger and then showed them eating dinner in a big house with the word ‘Home’ scrawled above the outside door. At the bottom corner of the page it had the initials AH.
“Mama, look,” he said nudging her awake.
Helios, Age 22
Andrew had given up on finding work or a permanent place to stay. He would often crash at a few places here and there, and had utilized the shelter on various occasions. Unfortunately though, the last time he had gone to the shelter, one of its staff members had offered him ‘help’, which he promptly rejected. As a result, he hadn’t been back since. His last ‘encounter’ a few months ago had produced a lot of cash for him as the woman had just been to the bank and had some nice jewelry that he was able to pawn. It had proven to be an effective haul for him and as such, he didn’t have to worry too much because that particular score had set him up for a while. In fact, he still had some cash left but not a lot so he knew he would need to get his act in gear.
The sleazy motel that Andrew was currently in was not the least bit sanitary. Andrew walked inside the room, glancing at the crumpled, worn out comforter on the bed. He started to set his bag on the floor until he spotted the rat droppings near the crack running along the front wall. He closed his eyes tightly, fighting the urge to turn around and leave. Instead he shut the door and flipped the latch to lock it. He’d used this motel once before and under normal circumstances would not be here again, however, he was in desperate need of a shower and shave, and this was the cheapest place around. After all, he would not be able to coax sex out of someone with money looking the way he did at the moment. His whole body cringed at the thought of what he would need to do. He despised himself every time he pulled one of the scams, every time he used sex to get money. But there wasn’t any legitimate work out there for someone like Andrew, so he did what he had to do to survive.
With a heavy sigh, he placed his backpack on the table and dug out some semi clean clothes to change in to. He