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The Queen of Hearts

Chapter five

Madison was sick for almost four days afterwards, confined to his bed with a flu that often had him waking up in a cold sweat. Jamie stuck by him the whole time, only leaving his side to go to work. He barely slept, barely ate, just worried so intensely about his friend that he forgot to do so.

On the morning of the fourth day, Madison awoke to find Jamie curled up on the bed next to him, fast asleep. The boy looked paler than usual, his hair a wild array, his clothes rumpled as if he’d been wearing them for a while.

Madison reached out to stroke his hair softly.

“Stupid boy,” he whispered, meaning it as affection more than anything else. But he knew he would have been the same if Jamie had grown ill.

The boy lay for a few moments, revelling in how much better he felt. The headache he’d had for four days had died down, his temperature had dropped and he generally felt a lot more healthy. The thing that struck him was how hungry he felt and he was about to slide out of bed in search for food when Jamie awoke.

“Maddy, you’re awake.” He yawned sleepily, moving into a sitting position before rubbing his eyes with his fists. “How do you feel?”

“I feel a lot better. I was about to go get some food.”

Jamie jumped off the bed, moving round to Madison’s side and shoving him back onto the mattress.

“Stay in bed,” he demanded, “I’ll get you something, what do you want?”

The dark haired boy looked up at his friend, at the genuine concern on his face as well as the haggard tiredness. He looked as if he were about to grow ill himself.

“Jamie,” Madison began, sliding his legs off of the bed once more, “I want you to go into the bathroom, and have a shower, because frankly, you stink. Then I want you to climb into bed and sleep. You’re off work tonight and you look like you’re about to pass out, so go!”

The brunette shook his head, pushing Madison back once more.

“I’m going to work, you’re not. I already called Maddox and told him.”

There was just no arguing with Jamie when he was in such a mood, as he wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was times like that when Madison was truly thankful to have a friend like him, one that would be there for him no matter what.

“I’m going to get you something to eat, then I’m going to take a shower…and then have a quick nap before work.”

Jamie pulled the covers up around Madison, practically forcing him to lie back against the pillows.

“You are going to lie here, eat what I bring you and then get some more rest. And for reference, I’m not the only one that stinks around here.”

He stuck his tongue out at the other boy before he left the room, heading downstairs to find Alysia in the kitchen, washing up. The blond watched him dubiously as he rifled through the cupboards, pulling out a few pans and some tins.

“What are you doing, hun?” He asked finally as Jamie searched for the can opener.

“I’m going to make Madison some soup.”

Kitchens and Jamie were one thing that didn’t go together. The last time the boy had tried to make soup, it had boiled over and gone all over the floor.

“Let me do that for you. Can you continue washing up? Don’t break anything.”

There wasn’t much left- a few glasses and a plate or two, but Alysia knew that the boy would still probably end up breaking them. Still, it was better than having their kitchen ruined by rogue soup.

By the time it was done, Jamie had succeeded in breaking a glass and he took the tray with the soup and a few slices of bread upstairs, leaving Alysia to clean up the mess.

Madison was sitting up in bed reading a magazine when he entered the room.

“Here you go.”

He laid the tray across the boy’s lap, noting the dubious look the other gave him.

“You made it?” Madison asked, sniffing at the bowl. “Is it poisoned?”

“Hey!”

Jamie frowned, sticking his tongue out at the other boy.

“No I didn’t make it. But even if I had, it would have been fine.”

It was good to see the boy eat something for a change, even if it was only a little soup. He often worried about Madison’s weight, knowing he was far too slender, but he always refused to do anything about it.

“I’m going to go have a shower, enjoy your soup.”

“Thanks Jamie.”

Madison caught his friend’s arm before he left, looking up into his face.

“Thanks for always being there for me when I need you.”

“Don’t sweat it,” the boy told him, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead. “I know you’d do the same for me.”

Madison managed the whole bowl in the end and he set it aside so he could read the newspaper Jamie had brought up earlier.

There had been another mysterious murder, this one in the town itself. A boy had been found in the same way that the others had, in a back alley with a playing card clutched in his dead hand, this time the Jack of Spades.

It was eerie. The killer seemed to be getting closer and closer and before long, one of them might end up the same way. It could be any of them- one of the boys that stood with them on the corner, or even himself, Rob or Jamie. At least Alysia would be safe- he got picked up to go to work at the club and was walked home every night by one of the bouncers.

The thought of Jamie being the next victim chilled him to the core. The boy meant everything to him, more than his own life…he didn’t know what he would do without him.

He was deep in thought when Jamie returned, fresh and damp from the shower.

“What’s wrong?” the brunette asked, perching on the bed next to Madison.

“There’s been another murder.”

The dark haired boy lay the paper down and sighed softly.

“I was just thinking about what would happen if one of us was the next victim. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, Jamie…”

“Don’t be silly,” the boy replied, ruffling Madison’s dark hair. “I’m not going anywhere. I need to be right here to take care of you.”

The two spent most of the day lying in bed together, reminiscing about good times they’d had, chatting and laughing as if they didn’t have a care. Madison felt a lot better than he had, just enjoying the warmth of Jamie’s friendship, the feeling that there would always be someone in the world that cared so deeply about him.

He fell asleep some time into the afternoon and woke to find a gentle hand nudging him.

“Maddy, I gotta go to work.”

He had been curled up along Jamie’s side, his arms embracing the other boy tightly, making it very difficult for him to get away. Madison released his hold with some reluctance, immediately hating the loss of Jamie’s body heat as he moved away.

“It’s time for me to head to work now. You lie here and get some rest, okay?”

Before he left, Jamie crossed to Madison’s side of the bed and bent down to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. He smiled as arms slipped around him and the other boy rested his head on his stomach.

“I love you Jamie,” Madison whispered, “You’re the best friend I could ever ask for. I don’t deserve you.”

The other boy simply grinned.

“Maddy, I’m only doing for you what you would do for me. I care about you a hell of a lot, more than anyone, you know?”

Madison released him with a frown, moving to lie back against the pillows and pulling the duvet up around him.

“Feel better, okay?”

He nodded, knowing that he already felt almost fully recovered. By the morning, he would be as good as new, ready to go back to work and earn his keep.

Jamie blew him a kiss before he left the room and Madison simply sighed and turned on his side, drifting back into sleep

The next morning, Madison was awoken by loud knocking on the front door.

He felt a lot better, fully rested and completely free of his flu, thanks to all Jamie’s hard work.

He practically fell out of bed, pausing to slip a night gown on over his pyjamas before he left the room, but by the time he reached the top of the stairs, Alysia was already at the door.

“Is this the residence of Jamie Fields?” he heard a voice ask and Alysia nodded. He recognised the voice, but he couldn’t quite place it. “May we come in?”

Madison walked down the stairs slowly as Alysia moved back to allow the men inside. They were both policemen and Madison froze, suddenly realising why he’d recognised the voice. Standing in the hallway was Detective Zach Todd, the man who had looked after him at the police station.

“Hello again, Mr Fisher,” he said, his face looking extremely serious. Madison was suddenly struck with fear, wondering why the police were there, and specifically, why they had mentioned Jamie.

“Where’s Jamie?” he asked, but Detective Todd just motioned for him to go through to the front room.

“I have some bad news,” the detective started as Madison and Alysia sat side by side on the couch, holding hands loosely. Madison felt a stab of pain in his chest, knowing that he was about to be told something that he didn’t want to hear. He always feared the worst, that was why Jamie would always be there to be his optimistic side, but the boy was gone.

“Last night your friend was found in an alleyway behind Jonson’s gas station. We’re still investigating, but it seems he was severely sexually assaulted and tortured in a number of ways before he was eventually drowned. We’re currently searching for any leads, but we believe he was killed sometime in the early hours of the morning. I‘m sorry.”

For the longest time, nothing could be heard except silence.

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