Chapter 4: Arrested

'Mom... Dad...'

Desperately, Barry ran through the desolate street, scanning the surroundings for anyone or anything that could provide help or sanctuary in his tumultuous situation.

"Somebody... anybody, please"

In his distress, Barry cried out for help, but unfortunately, the midnight hour and the quiet neighborhood meant that his pleas fell on deaf ears. The lack of response only deepened the sense of isolation and despair in his desperate situation.

Undeterred by the growing discomfort in his throat, Barry refused to give up. He continued to shout for help, his determination pushing him forward even as his voice became hoarse and his desperation intensified.

As if fortune had finally favored Barry, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. In the distance, a cop car approached, and with desperation in his eyes, Barry waved his hands in the air, desperately hoping the approaching police vehicle would notice him.

"Help!"

The cop car, finally catching sight of Barry, accelerated and came to a stop right beside him. The door swung open, and a dark-skinned officer and his partner emerged, looking ready to assess the situation and offer assistance.

As Barry observed the two officers stepping out of the car, a sense of hope and security washed over him. In a moment of curiosity, he caught a glimpse of the nameplate on the dark-skinned officer.

'Joe west..'

Taking note of the nameplate, Barry shook his head to clear any distracting thoughts and redirected his focus to the two officers, recognizing the importance of the immediate situation and the need for their assistance.

"What's wrong, kid?"

Joe West, the dark-skinned officer, bent down to Barry's eye level, maintaining a serious and professional demeanor. He inquired with genuine concern, ready to address the situation at hand.

"My mom... dad..."

"..."

"They..."

Barry, overwhelmed with emotion, struggled to speak as tears rolled down his cheeks. His anxiety for his parents' well-being weighed heavily on him, making it difficult to articulate his concerns to Officer Joe West.

"Calm down and take a deep breath"

Joe, recognizing Barry's emotional state, offered a comforting gesture by patting his head. In a calm and soothing voice, he reassured the distressed child, allowing Barry to calm down.

Eventually, Barry shared the details of the unsettling events that had unfolded at his house, conveying the urgent need for assistance.

"Don't worry, I'm sure your parents are strong"

"..."

"So be like them and stop crying. You are strong, aren't you?"

"Y-Yes"

Joe smiled reassuringly, taking out his handkerchief to gently wipe away Barry's tears and attend to his distress. 

In a well-coordinated effort, he gestured to his partner, who nodded in understanding. Joe's partner swiftly took out his walkie-talkie, reporting the situation to the station and coordinating with the other officers to address the urgent matter at Barry's house.

"Come on, let's get you to the station. We'll wait for your parents there"

With a supportive gesture, Joe took Barry's hand, guiding him into the cop car. 

Meanwhile, Joe's partner assumed the driver's seat, starting the engine and steering the car towards the police station. The journey began, carrying them to the heart of the investigation and assistance Barry desperately sought.

Upon reaching the police station, Joe guided Barry to a nearby chair, ensuring the young boy had a place to wait. The atmosphere of the station buzzed with activity as officers moved and ran about.

After what felt like an eternity for Barry, his eyes widened with a mix of relief and concern as he finally saw his father arriving at the station.

However, his joy was short-lived as he noticed the handcuffs adorning his father's arms, injecting a new layer of worry into the already tense situation.

The anxiety deepened for Barry as he realized that not only was his father handcuffed, but his mother, Nora, was conspicuously absent. The absence of his mother added another layer of concern and uncertainty, leaving Barry grappling with a whirlwind of emotions at the police station.

"Dad..."

As Henry, escorted inside with handcuffs, heard Barry's familiar voice, his eyes lit up with a mixture of joy and regret. His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but a sense of hesitation took over. Eventually, he closed his mouth and lowered his head in shame, grappling with the complexities of the situation.

This scene of his father's exchange with his internal struggle was not missed and was keenly observed by Barry as the heightened sense of anxiety intensified even more.

"That..."

Sensing Barry's anxiety and the desire to seek answers, Joe West took the initiative and addressed the officers first, inquiring about the details of the situation. 

And Barry, torn between nervousness and curiosity, waited anxiously for the information that would shed light on the unfolding events involving his parents.

"Fred, what's going on here?"

"Joe... This man was arrested for the crime of killing his wife"

"Are you sure?"

Joe's face crunched in concern as he discreetly observed Barry's expression. Maintaining a serious demeanor, he turned to Fred and inquired with a tone that conveyed the gravity of the situation, seeking clarity on the events that led to Henry's arrival at the police station in handcuffs.

"Yes, he was seen holding the knife that killed Nora Parker"

"Are you sure that he really killed her?"

"...:

"What if he was just holding the knife"

Unfazed by Joe's questioning, Fred, accustomed to his demeanor, glanced briefly at Barry before turning to face Joe with a serious expression. His readiness to address the inquiry suggested that he was prepared to provide information about the circumstances leading to Henry's current predicament.

"He was caught on camera, Joe"

"..."

"A hidden camera in their living room caught him... stabbing his wife"

In the face of the evidence and Fred's response, Joe found himself with nothing to say, silently accepting the situation. However, the weight of acceptance didn't sit well with a certain kid—Barry—who struggled to come to terms with the unfolding reality. 

'Hidden camera... living room...??'

Barry, grappling with confusion, felt a sense of disarray as he tried to reconcile the information provided. He distinctly recalled that there were no cameras inside their house, and the incident also didn't transpire in the living room. 

The disparity between his recollection and the presented evidence added another layer of perplexity to an already complex situation.

"...???"

As Barry processed the conflicting information, a surge of anger welled up within him. The apparent discrepancy led him to believe that the man before him might be lying, attempting to frame his father for a crime he didn't commit.

"YOU'RE LYING!"

Barry, struggling with disbelief and anger, refused to accept Officer Fred's words.

He couldn't fathom the idea that his father, the man he regarded as the best dad, could be accused of murdering his mother. The conflicting emotions of rage, confusion, and an unwillingness to accept the grim reality swirled within Barry's mind, creating a turbulent internal storm.

And in a fit of anger, Barry impulsively tackled Officer Fred, catching him off guard. In a further act of defiance, Barry proceeded to deliver a headbutt to Fred's crotch, channeling his frustration and rage into a physical outburst.

"...oof"

The forceful headbutt from Barry left Officer Fred writhing in pain on the ground, clutching his injured area.

Meanwhile, Joe and the other male officers winced in sympathetic discomfort, feeling an uncomfortable chill run down their own lower bodies in response to the unexpected and forceful action.

Joe, quick to gauge the situation, observed Barry preparing for another potential headbutt, the boy's actions unconsciously prompting a defensive stance from those around him, who instinctively protected their own precious jewels.

"That's enough"

Reacting swiftly, Joe reached out and firmly grabbed the back of Barry's shirt, preventing him from launching another impulsive attack and sparing anyone else from potential injury.

"Let go of me!"

Despite Barry's tantrum, Joe maintained a focused demeanor, gesturing towards the other officers to proceed with escorting Henry to jail. The officers nodded in response, acknowledging Joe's signal as they took charge of the situation and began the process of securing Henry. 

"NO!

Barry could only watch in anguish as his father's back slowly distanced itself, growing farther and farther away with each step.

He yelled and called out his father's name, the desperate cries echoing through the police station, but the inevitable separation persisted, leaving Barry grappling with a sense of helplessness and sorrow.

"DAD, SAY SOMETHING!"

"..."

"DAD!!"

Despite Barry's desperate shouts, Henry, being escorted away, remained in stoic silence. He kept his head low, concealing his expression, afraid that Barry might catch a glimpse of the turmoil within him.

As Henry finally disappeared from view, Barry ceased shouting, left in a state of disbelief and shock, grappling with the sudden and stark reality that unfolded before him.

"Dad... no..."