The Gate

Chapter 3
Uncle Bones

---

Chapter Description: The bathroom tiles were cold against my feet. I was ashamed of what had happened and was worried about what would come next. Alec told me to wait for him and he would return.

---

Uncle Bones.

By: MrChristopher

The bathroom tiles were cold against my feet. I was ashamed of what had happened and was worried about what would come next. Alec told me to wait for him and he would return.

“Luckily I have some testers from the company,” he appeared in the doorway holding a cardboard box. As he set the box down I was nervous about what the “testers” were but my focus was shifting to the cold wet pants I was still wearing.

“Now I know you’re a big boy,” he patronised, “but I can’t have you wetting your pants,”

He opened the box a pulled out a thick diaper. My expression turned from worried to miserable.

“No!” I whined, the embarrassment of having a child’s body had been bad enough. But this, it would break me, humiliate me. “Please don’t make me,” I pleaded.

“It’s going to be okay Liam,” Alec told me.

The worst part of all of this was that he didn’t know who I really was. But if he did, would he still be treating me like this?

“I don’t want to wear them,” my emotions started to bubble up again making my face go red. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I brought my pudgy little fists up to my face to hide the fact I was crying.

“I’ll make you a deal, until you can prove you can keep your pants dry for an entire day and night, you’re going to have to wear diapers.”

“No…” I refused.

Alec sighed and began to open the diaper. As he tried to undue my pants I stepped out of his reach.

“C’mon Liam, be a good boy” he smiled hopefully at me.

He then took off my shirt in one fell swoop, but when he reached to undo my pants again I tried to turn away, but I wasn’t quick enough. He forced me to the ground and I cried out in frustration. I was weaker than him but I wasn’t about to make this easy. He proceeded to peel away my urine soaked pants.

“Please…” I pleaded with him to stop; looking absolutely dejected.

Alec shook his head and started to pull off my underwear. I tried to close my legs but he held them open and gave me a stern look.

“Stop squirming,” he ordered which was followed closely by a sigh of irritation, “Aislinn can you help with this?”

“No!” I blushed furiously not wanting anyone else to see me exposed.

But it was too late, Aislinn emerged from the doorway and happily held my leg open as her father brought out a bottle of cream, powder and baby wipes. Tears of frustration ran down my face as Alec applied the products over the essential areas. His touch was gentle but violating, it felt as if he were tearing away any semblance of manhood I had left. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me, having these things forced upon me. Especially by the one who once said he was in love with me.

“It can’t be that bad Liam,” Aislinn tried to comfort me by making silly faces; “Don’t be such a grumpy puss.”

I noticed how ridiculous I was acting as I tried to hold back a smile. When Aislinn stopped making faces I realised that Alec had already taped the diaper and they had released my legs. Alec pulled me onto my feet but I refused to look at him.

The bulge between my legs felt strangely familiar. It was still awkward for me but this body seemed to know much too well the soft bulk of a diaper. The sweet smell of talc, the cool touch of baby wipes and the tight embrace of the demeaning garment.

Alec brought me to the living room area and I waddled the entire way. He sat me on the couch beside Aislinn as I sulked and feebly tried to hide the diaper with a pillow.

“I don’t want to wear these,” I shot Alec a dirty look.

“Remember, prove you don’t need them and you won’t have to,” Alec replied as he walked towards the stairs.

I sunk down on the couch with my arms crossed, pouting and contemplating escape but, where would I go? That’s when I heard the television flick on; shortly after Aislinn nudged me.

“Look what’s on the television Liam,” she pointed out, “Is that Wonder Boy?"

“I don’t want to watch-,” but something about the show caught my attention “-this…”

I stopped talking all together, drifting off as if I were hypnotized. There was something about that show that left me mesmerised.” Then again every other three year old would be. Yet, something was strange about the show, it brought back memories. His memories. They were vivid but playful and they drew me into another state of mind.

As the show went on I smiled childishly in amusement. I even caught myself boasting and cheering for the little animated characters. Finally the show’s credits ran and I actually felt disappointment until the Narrator said in that nostalgic male tone,

“Tune in tomorrow for another exciting episode of Wonder Boy!”

I was grinning widely and bouncing in excitement at this point but I stopped myself before I squealed. Aislinn laughed softly at my behaviour.

“Stop laughing at me,” I whimpered.

“Oh Liam I’m not laughing at you,” she wrapped her arm around my tiny shoulder, “It just good to see you smile,”

So I hugged her. Well, clung to her. As emotionally exhausted as I was I needed some comfort.

“Hey Dad!” this time a male’s voice called out. I heard the front door of the apartment slam shut, “Dave’s coming over later, just thought you should know,”

I continued to cling to Aislinn but soon the boy made his way over to the couch. He was the spitting image of Alec but was dressed in Gothic clothing. Unlike other Goths he didn’t look half dead. He wore a black band t-shirt and baggy cargo pants to match. He had on thick eyeliner with a spiked collar hanging from his neck. There were chains on his wrists, belt as well as his pants. His left ear was pierced five times and his left eyebrow was pierced twice.

Alec came down the stairs shortly after and gave Ashe a disapproving look as he walked towards him.

“You know that we just brought Liam here,” he reminded him, “he’s had a pretty rough day already without you bringing over your entourage.”

“Oh come on Dad,” Ashe scoffed, “it’s only Dave and it’s not like we’re going to hurt him.”

Alec looked like he was about to lecture the boy but his beeper went off. It was work calling him in.

“Fine,” he agreed, “but would you stick to your room?”

“Alright,” he stood up and made his way towards his room, “We can do that.”

I focused on Alec as he left the apartment. He put on that coat. The coat he was wearing the night I died. The same coat I gave him for his birthday. It’s funny how some people just don’t let go of some things.

“Liam, Liiaaammmm…LIAM!”

“What?” I startled and turned to look at Aislinn.

“You were staring pretty intensely at Dad,” she informed me, “also I think we should get you dressed for bed it’s getting late.”

I looked towards the clock hanging on the wall and sighed.

“It’s only seven thirty.” I whined.

“Right, that’s almost bedtime for you mister,” she retorted.

I sighed again as she grabbed my hand and took me into her room sitting me on the bed. She left the room and returned with a duffle bag.

We don’t have your room set up yet so you’ll be staying with me until the movers bring over your things,”

“Oh, okay,” I replied

“Let’s see,” she started to rummage through the bag, “Do you want your feeties.” She pulled a pale yellow pair of footy pyjamas out of the bag. They were adorned with little stars and planets.

“No,” I said quickly, I don’t think I could take anymore childish clothing.

“You’re right; it’s much too warm,”

She finally pulled out a t-shirt and walked over to me. “Arms up,” she ordered with a smile. I complied this time but only because I was tired of being clad in only a diaper. As she pulled the t-shirt over my head I realised it had the cartoon character, “Wonder Boy,” printed on the front.

“I think this will do just fine,” she said as if she were talking to herself, “What do you think?”

“I guess so,”

“Alright then, you are officially ready for bed,” she pulled back the covers, laid me down and tucked me in.

“B-but, it’s too early,” I informed her, “What if I can’t get to sleep?”

“It’s almost eight o’clock young man, but if you think you won’t be able to sleep, I can fix that.”

She went back into the duffle bag and pulled out a stuffed bear. As she tucked it in beside me she took the chance and pushed something into my mouth. Once I realised what it was, I spit it out.

“I’m not a baby,” I said angrily staring at the pacifier beside me.

“I can’t believe it, you, little Liam does not want his dubby?” she looked genuinely surprised.

“No I don’t want it,” I told her, so she set it down on the night table beside the bed.

“Alright,” she said knowingly. Aislinn then picked up a small gold trimmed box off her nightstand. She started to wind it up at the back and soft comforting music started to play.

“You try to sleep,” she said taking off my glasses as she turned away and walked towards the door. She turned out the light but before she left she looked back at me, smiled and wished me a goodnight.

For the first few minutes I tried to sleep but something in my head wasn’t letting me. For some reason something was missing, something wasn’t right. That’s when I saw the pacifier. For some reason the more I looked the so called “dubby,” the more I yearned for it. So finally my resolve broke and I put the bulbous object in my mouth. I started to suck on it undecidedly, it felt strange but comforting, I didn’t know if I liked it or not

Then almost instantly a flood of euphoria came over me, the music and the pacifier acting as the catalyst, making me very tired. I didn’t take long for sleep to find me.

* * *

It was cold. Again, the shadow figures surrounded me. I felt naked, as if I were exposed to everyone yet no one. The same maddening silence pierced my ears.

“Am I dead again?” I questioned. My words broke through the darkness and the shadow figures curled into fetal positions on the ground. As my surroundings came into focus I realised they were children. They were all around me, lying as still as they could; only fear could be seen on their faces. In front of me was a large arch way, a gate. It was like a monolith devoted to a god, filled with an eerie light, with many emblem carved into its stonework. When I tried to move my body felt as if it were made of led.

I tried to push myself off the ground but I couldn’t. As I looked around my eyes met with a familiar face. It was the boy from my dream. He had the same thin blonde, shoulder length hair and piercing blue eyes.

“Where are we?” I asked, my voice was the only sound in the unending quiet.

The children began to whisper about dire consequences. “You should not talk here,” the blonde boy warned.

“Why?” I spoke once more.

“Shhhh,” he shushed me, “Don’t talk, you must never talk…he will hear you,”

“Who will hear me?” I asked.

The child swallowed hard, “Uncle Bones.”

The whispers ceased and the ground began to quiver. From within the gate’s light, darkness began to form.

“You do not belong,” the darkness said in a booming ominous voice.

The sheer power of its words startled my body into motion. I could move now but the darkness was slithering towards me.

“You must come with me”

“No!” I yelled. I got up to run but realised there was no escape. The darkness reached out and grabbed me by the arm; I fought as it started to drag me towards the gate.

“Let go of me!” I cried out.

The closer we got to the Gate the more the darkness began to take shape. Its low bellowing voice turned into a high pitched cackle. Pulling away from him I fell back onto my butt.

“STOP!” I screamed and the light disappeared from the gate.

The demon turned to face me. It was his smile, his gut wrenching smile. That was what I noticed first. It was gnarled, sinister, and he showed too much teeth. They protruded like a horse’s would but at the same time they were crooked and sharp. His smile grew and grew slowly creeping up his face. His eyes were as black as coals. A portal into his warped psyche; they were hungry, and filled with a maddening lust.

“Oh, so you want to stay here…” he let out another disturbing cackle, “… and play with uncle bones do you?”

While slowly inching away from him I broke from his gaze. I realized how tall he was. Not just for my size. He was really tall, at least seven feet high. He was hunched over; his lanky figure was draped in a dark brown fur coat which was too small for him. It looked to be stained in what I was hoping wasn‘t blood. His scarred hands and long crooked fingers snaked from out the sleeves of his coat. His fingertips were blackened in great contrast from his pale white skin.

I tried to speak but I couldn’t manage to say anything, all I could do was shake my head no.

He grinned malevolently as his hand crooked into a grotesque claw. He reached out taking hold of my wrist; his harsh grip was almost too much to bear. He stared me in the eyes as he began to push his claws into my lower abdomen. I screamed, but nothing came out. I was choking on my own pain.

“I’m going to have fun playing with you.” He said lifting me from the ground, “I’ll be seeing you around, Liam,”

A laboured squeal escaped my lips.

“Now I want you to promise to come back to see me,” he said dragging his elongated tongue across my cheek. He grinned as he pulled the claw from my stomach and dragged it across my chest forming an X, “Cross your heart...and hope to die.”

* * *

I remember screaming, the demon’s disgusting cackle still echoing in my head. Then I realised someone was holding me down so I started flail wildly. I came too, right after I kicked them; hard.

“Damn it,” I heard Ashe’s voice.

I opened my tear filled eyes and saw Ashe who was now rubbing his jaw and giving me a dirty look.

I started to cry loudly, mostly because of the dream but partially because of the embarrassment of having lashed out. Ashe was startled by my sudden emotional outburst and stepped back towards the door. Alec then rushed in, closely followed by Aislinn. It wasn’t long before I was in Alec’s arms.

“Liam it’s okay,” he told me as he rubbed my back, “I’m here now,”

* * *

It took Alec a while to get me to calm down enough so I could talk. I told him through my muffled sobs about the bad man who tried to hurt me. He gave me a worried look and I could tell he thought I was losing it.

“Liam, it is getting late,” Alec told me, although I know he was just trying to end this disturbing conversation, “you still need your sleep.”

“Alec...” I looked at him hopefully, “Can…someone sleep…with me tonight?”

“I’m sure we can arrange that,” Alec replied.

“I’ll do it,” Aislinn was standing at the door to her bedroom already in her pyjamas.

“Okay Aislinn,” he agreed.

Alec lifted me off his lap and patted my butt before I walked over to Aislinn.

“Goodnight Dad,” Aislinn said.

“Goodnight”

“Goodnight both of you.” Alec replied

Aislinn took me by the hand and led me back to her room.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Aislinn asked me as I crawled onto her bed.

I just nodded.

After getting under the covers Aislinn tucked me into her bed and gave me the pacifier. I took it with a little less reluctance this time. The she wound up the music box and let it play as she got into the bed with me.

“…Aislinn?”

“Yes Liam?”

“Thank you,”

“Anytime,”

 

---