Chapter Text
It was late at night - it usually was when a long shift ended at the plant. The music blared loudly inside Wayne Munson’s car driving down the road. The tall trees made everything beyond the lit road look shrouded in a void of darkness, but for a local familiar of the sharp turns he easily weaved through the road toward Forest Hill Trailer Park.
Tired eyes struggle to stay open even after turning the volume to full blast. Music always was a nice way to numb his aches and worn out muscles until he could crack a cold one at home. Most likely Eddie would be fast asleep in his room by the time Wayne would actually make it home. Wayne would probably make himself a tv dinner or warm up any leftovers available in the fridge.
This routine wasn’t new to either of them after nearly eleven years living together in the trailer. Wayne and Eddie rarely were able to share a meal together unless he had a day off. Now that he really thought about it Wayne couldn’t remember the last time they had actually sat down together to eat.
Home. He was heading home. He was driving in his car to go back home. Wayne shook his head when he felt his eyes beginning to slip. He repeated the mantra under his breath to avoid crashing his car on the side of the road because he fell asleep in the wheel again.
Dear God… He was getting old as shit.
Wayne lifted his fingers to wipe away his baggy eyes. For a moment his vision became unfocused as calloused digits wiped his heavy eyes methodically. By the time his vision cleared Wayne saw a figure standing in the middle of the road getting closer by the second.
His heart seized up in shock and horror that he was seconds away from colliding into a human being.
“SHIT!”
Immediately Wayne slammed his foot on the breaks. The car screeched loudly against the road and came to an abrupt halt several inches away from hitting into the tiny figure. Looking up the headlights flashed brightly on a tiny child with buzzed cut hair, skinny and wearing an oversized yellow shirt.
A little boy, Wayne thinks while trying to calm his racing heartbeat.
The child squinted their eyes against the blinding light. They stood still in place, whether that was because they were frozen in shock like a newborn fawn or this was some fucked up prank some kids were trying to pull. It wasn’t unheard of for children to tease and test their luck running across the road - Wayne did something similar with his brother as children.
Al was always the one to be pushing him into it. Both him and Al would play random games on the roadside to pass the time.
They’d each take turns crossing the road whenever a car came around the corner and see if they could run across fast enough to avoid getting hit. By the time they crossed and leapt into the grass on the other side the rushing sound of vehicles, loud beeping, and people screaming at them drove past them. Wayne and Al would simply lay back while laughing hysterically with grass strains on their clothes.
Whatever the reason was for this particular child for crossing the road didn't matter, Wayne was deeply concerned and pissed off.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing out here?!” Wayne stepped outside, his back protested as he pulled himself up and out of the car to approach the figure. “Do you know how dangerous it is to be playing on the road this late?”
Wayne could feel any anger dissipate when he truly saw the child up close. They were small like he’d expected, but the way their limbs poked out showed signs of malnutrition. It was familiar in a way that made Wayne’s stomach twist uncomfortably at the signs of abuse and neglect. Or, perhaps, this was a camping trip gone wrong, or they were just a lost child away from home. Malnutrition doesn't necessarily mean that they were abused, but his experience made it hard for Wayne not to instinctively assume child neglect.
The tiny child stood still in place while staring at him intently with those brown eyes. Wariness and caution that shouldn’t be seen in a child so young. Wayne decided to take a softer approach, crouching down to be at eye level with them and speak more softly.
“What’s your name? Are your parents around here somewhere?” Wayne asked, but didn’t get a response. “What about your house - is it nearby?”
Nothing. The child stared back at him without a word. He wasn’t sure if they were mute, deaf, or was just that scared of him. Wayne had to remind himself that he was dealing with an unknown child. At the end of the day they didn’t know him, and he didn’t know them.
“Listen, kiddo, I’m very sorry for scaring you like that. I must look very scary to you, don’t I?” Wayne didn’t get a reply, but the tiny child seemed to be a little less tense when looking at him. “It’s okay to be scared. I would be too if I was in your position, but I promise I only want to help you.”
Wayne waited for any sort of reply, but the child stood unresponsive. He could see their eyes shifting from the ground to the trees leading back into the woods and then back at him. It was clear to see they were trying to decide whether to stay or run off.
“It’s cold outside, and it's going to rain soon. I’m sure your parents are worried sick about you.” Wayne said, eyeing the dark strom clouds. “How about you come home with me at my trailer? I got some food, clothes, and someplace warm for you to rest your head.”
He hoped that the promise was enough to convince them to stay. Wayne couldn’t leave a child out here with a clear conscious, not when he knows he can do something.
“T-Trailer?” The tiny child finally spoke, soft and quiet as a mouse.
Wayne’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the realization that this was a little girl. Her voice sounded shaky, uneven with fear and desperation.
“Yeah. My trailer.” Wayne nodded, holding his hand out for her to take.
There was a long pause from the little girl staring at his hand. She seemed to be torn with herself while staring at his offered hand. He half expected to bolt and disappear back into the pitch black woods of the forest.
A breath of relief escaped Wayne when he felt her hand accept the gesture.
He helped her into the backseat of his car and securely buckled. Wayne occasionally peaked in the rear view mirror to observe the small child wandering her eyes over the car. Her fingers rubbing against the cushion beneath her and pressing her hands into it and awed at how the indent she made pushed back up into place.
It broke his heart a little to think about what she must be going through alone in the woods before finding her. At least he’d been able to convince her to come just as it started to rain. She could have been wandering outside in the rain if he hadn't found her when he did. Wayne was able to make it to the trailer park just as the downpour had grown heavy. After turning off the car, Wayne stepped out to open the door for the little girl, and help her out.
Her wide eyes observering everything while stepping inside and welcomed inside the trailer.