Chapter Text
Finney opened his eyes, feeling the blood that sat atop them crack. Every bone in his body ached. He’d been stuck down in this hell for God knows how long. For so long, it was only himself and the occasional rat that shared this hidden out place. Except unlike Finney, the rats that came in always had a way out. And they had friends, something else Finney lacked down here.
How ironic is it that a group of rats has more freedom than Finney?
He bit the inside of his cheek as he pushed himself up against the wall. His left arm had been left for the worst the last time the man visited Finney, seeing as most of the hits he’d received had been blocked by it. He’s just glad it was merely a beating, and not something else. He’s really, really glad.
Finney rested his head against the wall when got himself up, being worn out from the action alone. He glanced towards the metal bars resembling a makeshift window and groaned when he saw the sunlight that poured in. Sunlight pouring in means it’s morning, meaning there's a great chance of the man coming and giving him a visit.
Then, almost as if he’d summoned it, the door to the basement was opened and the man that had taken Finney, better known as the Grabber, walked in. Finney tensed up, praying that he hadn’t done something in the few days he’d been knocked out to piss the man off. But, maybe by the will of God, the man simply ignored him. Rather, he seemed much more fixated on the boy he’d brought in with him.
Wait what?
Finney stayed still as the man placed the boy on the ground. He couldn't see who it was from where he sat, but he had a feeling he might know the boy. He’d had a few friends before getting kidnapped, something that many, including himself, had found shocking. The Grabber turned around and made eye contact with Finney once the boy was on the ground, the smile on his mask taunting him. Finney merely tilted his head.
“I figured you’d gotten lonely, so I grabbed you a friend!” Finney could hear the glee in his voice as he merely nodded in response.
The Grabber eyed Finney down for a while, clearly unimpressed at the lack of a verbal response, before seemingly getting bored and leaving the basement, locking the door on his way out. Finney eyed the door for a few minutes, wanting to be sure that the man wasn’t coming back.
He sighed as his gaze fell to the body in the middle of the room. Now that the creep was out of the way, Finney could get a much better look at the boy. Or as better as you could in a dark ass basement that lacks any light. He seemed a little shorter than Finney, but still looked to be around his age. Go figure, seeing as the creep only likes little boys. Told Finney himself.
Finney slowly stood up and made his way over to the boy. He sat down near him, not wanting to scare him shitless if he woke up. Upon closer inspection, Finney confirmed that he did in fact know the boy. In front of him lay Billy Showalter, the local paperboy.
Finney wouldn’t say that they were friends, but they also weren’t complete strangers. Prior to Finney’s kidnapping, they’d shared chemistry together. They’d sat next to each other and held some conversations from time to time. But as it turns out Billy was a complete genius when it comes to it, seeing that he aced pretty much every test they’d done. Finney wasn’t too far behind him score wise, but he could never grasp the concepts the way Billy had.
Finney looked at him a little longer, before giving the poor boy some peace. He was literally knocked out from drugs, and there Finney was staring into his unconscious soul. He turned around, opting to stare at the floor instead. The minute his eyes left the boy, his brain got to thinking. He decided that Billy must’ve been taken when he was delivering papers, seeing as it was still morning.
It made sense too, both from his and the creeps perspective. Billy would’ve been riding his bike, either alone or with his dog, at like, ass o’clock in the morning. It being early as shit meant that there wouldn't have been many, if any, to see the kidnapping happen. The only evidence left would realistically be the bike, and possibly the dog, if Billy had brought her. The only thing telling the tale being a missing persons poster, exposing every minor detail about Billy and who he was.
Finney would know. The creep had brought his poster down the day it had been printed. It had everything about him on it, from his eye color to his height, to his baseball team to his weight. Everything. All complete with a photo of him, front and center. The photo had been taken a month prior, with him in his baseball uniform. Before he’d been taken, he’d really liked the photo, as had his sister. But now? All it does is taunt him. A silent reminder of the freedom he’ll never experience again.
Finney sighed. He looked back over to Billy, silently praying that he’d wake up sooner rather than later. Finney was really going to go insane if he didn’t.
It would take Billy a bit longer than Finney would’ve liked to wake up. In the time that it had taken, Finney had moved himself back to what he deems ‘his wall’. It’s a lot more comfortable than sitting on the floor with no back support. Plus, it’s a lot darker. Makes it difficult for the creep to see him.
A movement of the room’s center startled Finney momentarily. Billy’s arm twitched, a key sign that he was due to wake up soon. Finney could only hope that he wouldn't jolt awake, but rather wake calmly.
Heaven forbid Finney gets anything the way he wants nowadays.
His eyes shot open, nearly giving Finney a heart attack. He’d pushed himself up into a sitting position in a manner that Finney quickly became envious of. His head shot around the room, trying to grasp where he was. His eyes were darting around the place, until they finally settled on Finney. That’s when everything else stopped. Well, almost everything. His hands had developed a shake to them. Finney can’t blame him though.
The two boys stared each other down for a while, Billy clearly trying to figure out who Finney was. Finney merely tilted his head, for the second time that day.
“Wh-who are you? And where am I?” Billy questioned
Finney had to pause. He could either lie, or not lie. He weighed his options out mentally, ultimately deciding that not lying was probably better. In this case anyway.
“Finney. Finney Blake. And you’re in a basement” He winced at the sound of his own voice, it being hoarse from a lack of use.
Finney watched as Billy’s face went from questioning to confused, to absolute shock.
“Holy shit. You’re alive?!” Finney pursed his lips
“Barely.” Billy frowned at the statement.
“Can I- can I sit with you?” His voice had gone quiet.
“Sure, I guess. I mean, we’re the only one’s here.”
Billy seemed alright with that answer, standing up and making his way over to where Finney was. Silence took over the two of them, neither knowing what to say. It’s like what Finney had said before. They weren’t really friends, but they weren’t really strangers either. They were this weird in between thing. Acquaintances? Maybe.
“You can move closer y’know. I don’t bite.”
Billy chucked at that, before moving close enough that their shoulder touched. Finney could feel Billy’s gaze of him, but he dared not question. He knew for a fact that he looked like utter shit. Suppose that's what being in a basement for months on end does to you.
“You look exhausted dude.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Why don’t you go to sleep? I’ll stay up and make sure nothing happens.”
Finney hummed. Realistically, he knew Billy wouldn't be able to do anything. The Grabber would simply do whatever he was going to do to Finney to him as well. But Finney would humor him for the meanwhile. Call it cruel, but Finney lost the ability to care. Either Billy learns now, or he’ll learn later. Finney would rather it be now.
Finney rested his head on Billy’s shoulder, allowing the exhaustion to completely take over. Billy laid his head on top of Finney’s, providing a mild comfort. He’s almost ashamed at how much getting up, walking to the middle of the room and walking back wears him out. Months ago he was able to run around the track twice without breaking sweat.
The creak of a door is the last thing Finney heard before he drifted off.