Broken Souls

Jeremy. Logan. Alexander. Benjamin. Four adopted brothers. Bonded by diversity. We are the Hartford Boys.

[hartfordboys]

Hartford Plus One // Family & Madison

[imaginationknowsnolimit-deactiv]

She hopped down the stairs gently, as her dress was moving with each of her movements – since, well it was quite a flowing dress. The moment Katherine spoke to her Madison nodded. ‘’Yeah, it was nice to be alone for a little bit.. I’m just really used to that I guess.’’ She brought out as she looked down for a moment. ‘’I.. They don’t know about my.. Past right?’’ She said as she looked at Katherine, Madison had allowed one of the people who worked there to tell Katherine what had happened to her, at least in big lines, just Katherine, not her husband. ‘’I like.. I don’t really euhm.. I think I’d feel more comfortable if they knew.’’  She brought out, still whispering a little, so the boys didn’t suspect a thing.

When Katherine had convinced her it was alright as long as she felt comfortable with it, she slowly sat down with the guys at the bon fire. She grabbed a blanket which she pulled around her tiny body to keep herself warmer as she then just managed to blurt it out. ‘’I know you guys don’t ask about pasts, but I kind of..  Think it’s better if you know, this way you’ll know why I act the way I act, or why I say the things I say.’’ She brought out as she rubbed her hands together. She took a very deep breath as it was already hard for her, but she forced herself not to break down. ‘’So when I was around six years old some man abducted me from the streets. First it was just.. Rape.’’ She didn’t really tell anyone her story before, yet she felt as if this was a new start, a new life. ‘’When he got bored with me, he sold me to another man, who took it steps further.’’ Her heart was pounding heavily in her chest as she now gently rubbed her hands over her knees, she was nervous as hell and wanted this to be over with as quick as possible. ‘’He euhm.. Asked people online what they wanted to see, and he’d put a camera up so.. They could join the show.’’ She whispered as she could feel tears well up in her eyes. ‘’When I was fifteen I managed to escape from him and his friends.. I kind of got lost on the streets.. With drugs, prostitution, stealing.’’ She whispered as she then leaned back a little bit, straightening her back. ‘’That’s how I ended up in a clinic to be fixed,  and even though they put make up on my face, thought me how to walk and to speak, those videos are still on the internet – and they will always find their way back to me.’’ She brought out as a sigh escaped her lips. ‘’That’s why I needed you guys to know.. there will most likely be men who come up to me asking me if I’m that person, some threaten, some.. Go further.’’ She whispered as she looked away from the fire now, trying to see everyone’s expressions. 

[hartfordboys]

"Oh, sweetie." Katherine cried as she took hold of Madison. The boys were speechless by her past. They weren't sure what to do or say because in truth, it was never brought up. The boys knew their pasts of each other but it was never brought up again. They accepted each other for their flaws so to be bombarded with this information was odd. 

Logan looked down and unclenched his fists, the thought of men doing that to someone as innocent and kind as Madison brought anger to course through his veins. The boys stayed silent and it wasn't until Jeremy piped up his two cents. 

"Live child pornography is actually very common in the underground world. I mean you'd assume that with censorship and government surveillance, that it'd be harder to get away with heinous crimes like this." He began. "But it slips through the cracks. You keep changing the I.P. address, protect your computer with firewalls. I mean it wouldn't seem that people who are into this are smart enough to keep bouncing their wifi pin around but... I guess they're wrong."  Jeremy cleared his throat, "You uh- don't ave to worry about that at all though."

Logan slapped Jeremy upside his head, "Still the smartest idiot I know."

The boys chuckled but turned their attention to Madison. Alex piped up with his words of wisdom, protectiveness, "You truly don't have to worry about them, Madison. We've got you backs, alright?"

[hartfordboys]

Hartford Plus One // Family & Madison

[imaginationknowsnolimit-deactiv]

‘’Oh do I hear someone proposing to me?’’ She said as she giggled a little. Somehow she loved the fact that they didn’t need to act like brother and sister, they acted like people who had just gotten to know each other, without the whole brother bounding thing – because honestly, Madison didn’t think she’d ever feel comfortable around these guys, but then again she’d probably get used to it.

‘’About the past.. I think you’re wrong.’’ She muttered as she looked at his eyes, a small smile was on her face – he was right, her mind was a total disaster yet she loved to pretend that she knew what she was talking about. ‘’You can let the memories eat you away, kill you even – or, you can try to change your pain into your strength.. Into power.’’ She brought out as she twirled her hair around her index finger, kind of seductive biting her lower lip as she continued her story. ‘’I mean you can either pity yourself, or want to prove them wrong, show them that they no longer have the power over you that they used to have.. Show the past to go fuck himself because you can handle yourself without it.’’ She brought out as she slowly slid her hand down to her sides, flattening the dress on her waist a little. ‘’But I guess not all people are capable of that, I know after all, I still lose my sanity sometimes.’’ She muttered as she let herself slid down onto the two-person bad that they had somehow gotten in this loft.

‘’I’m sorry for indirectly breaking your first house rule.’’ She brought out as she laid on her side which made a cleavage appear, yet she tried to hide it behind her arms a little. ‘’I’m not too good at keeping rules, as you can see, yet I do try my best.’’ She brought out as her eyes still watched his, she felt as if she somewhere did have a connection, yet she realized that she wasn’t going to get anything from you besides some cheesy jokes, maybe small touches – but in her eyes, every other girl would be a better fit for you. 

[hartfordboys]

Logan coughed out a breath as he diverted his eyes away from her breasts. His whole family would annex him if he ever felt for his sister as more than a sister. She was suffocating. Intoxicating. He cleared his throat and looked back at her, "You didn't break it per say... You asked a question about which do I prefer. You never asked about my past specifically." The blonde shrugged as he got up from his seat and back to the door. He needed air and the tightening in his pants didn't help.  

"I think with powers come responsibility. As quoted by my favorite super hero." He teased. "I also believe that it works both ways. But if you let your past define you, you won't have room for the future." Logan wanted to continue talking but he knew his family would wonder what he was doing for so long. The blonde rubbed the back of his neck, "I... We'll see you down stairs for the bon fire? Right? Uhm- Yes. Yes we will." He quickly shut the door after himself, needing to finish what his lower half wanted.

When the whole family gathered for the bon fire, it was pleasant. Jeremy hushed his voice as he complained about a sister sibling. But Logan shut him up by slapping his head. They all saw her come down and waved her forward, "Hey, you..." Katherine said with a smile. "Did you have a good rest?"

[hartfordboys]

Hartford Plus One // Family & Madison

[imaginationknowsnolimit-deactiv]

She felt Logan pulling her along inside, he had definitely something pushy about himself that she had yet not been able to figure out – maybe, she just had the feeling he somewhere claimed her from the other guys, perhaps that just had to do with her past. She decided to let that thought go the moment he finally let go of her hand – not that she minded, but she just wasn’t really comfortable of being held, by anyone.

As they got to the loft she looked around. A huge smile appeared on her face as she saw the welcome flowers standing on her nightstand. ‘’Future?’’ She asked stunned as she turned around towards him again. A small frown appeared on her forehead because, they weren’t allowed to ask about the past but, they were allowed to ask about the future. ‘’Let me ask you something first, what do you think is worse? Not knowing what is coming in the future, or not getting the memories from your past out of your head?’’ She brought out as she then looked away. ‘’No – Sorry.’’ She brought out, for a moment forgetting the rule about not even mentioning the past.

‘’My future is as empty as my life before I walked in here.’’ She brought out as she opened the cabinet, slowly looking inside, touching the wood. ‘’You know, Logan I try to live in the moment, but I suck at it – to be honest with you.’’ She muttered as she then turned her head a little to look at him. ‘’You can come in by the way.’’ She said because he was still standing in the doorway.

A deep breath escaped her lips as she now turned her body totally towards Logan. ‘’What about your future? Marrying me?’’ She giggled a little, knowing that he would probably play along on her cheesy jokes – that he had started at the pool. Which was the main reason she even mentioned it. ‘’Whoops, just forgot that I became your sister and that you can’t hook up with family.’’ She said as she wiggled her eyebrows at him. 

[hartfordboys]

Logan shook his head at her question, "No, no. I'll answer you. I think... Both are pretty bad. But you can't change the past so why let those monsters haunt you?" He crossed his arms over his chest, clearly Madison had a lot going on in that head of hers. Then again his parents wouldn't adopt just anyone. "But I think what's worse is not getting the memories out of your mind. If you let it, it'll eat away at your very conscious. It will gnaw at your being and try to define you. You'll question your sanity, your living, who you are, who you've become. And I think that's what's so great about the future. It's not your past."

He took a couple steps into her bedroom, taking a seat on the chair by her desk. "You don't live in the moment? Trust me. Just hang around me for a bit and I'll get you to live in the moment." He rubbed the back of his neck, "Uh- I mean that in a very PG way."

Logan smirked, "Hey. We're only related by paper. Nothing to do with blood." He pondered for a moment, at his question. "I think my future is mapped out. Along with Alex's and Jeremy's. Whatever I end up doing, it'll be with my brothers. It has to be." He shrugged, "But don't feel left out okay? Of course, you'll be my wife through all of this." He grinned.

[hartfordboys]

Hartford Plus One // Family & Madison

[imaginationknowsnolimit-deactiv]

The first thing Madison noticed was the fact how well they were played in on each other – commenting on each other’s behavior, knowing each other so well that she doubted if she was ever going to get this close to any of them. This thought somewhere surprised her because, why would she even want to get close to strangers? She wasn’t really the family bounding kind of person anyways – since she never had one.

‘’The Hartford brothers? Didn’t buy their newest CD yet, but I’m pretty much fangirling over the last one. ‘’ She brought out as she for a moment got stunned by the dashing smile that Logan had allowed her to witness.

A chuckle escaped from her lips the moment Logan mentioned the night light Alex was sleeping with, and when he added her to the topic she couldn’t do anything but gaze at his eyes for a moment. ‘’Don’t you worry about me, night lights aren’t really my thing – and neither are big ego’s.’’ She brought out as she gently let herself sit down in a chair. The boys were already really busy and noisy and she wasn’t used to this at all. She was used to a lot of silence, at least for the last couple of years.

‘’I think this house is like.. the biggest house I’ve ever stayed in.’’ – Past Madison, keep in mind they don’t want to know about your past. ‘’It’s really beautiful.’’ She added to keep the attention of her past thoughts as she took a small bite from her food. Yet, she felt awkward immediately eating in front of all of these guys, who weren’t even bothered with eating themselves at all. ‘’I really love the pool, I think I haven’t – ‘’ She brought out as she realized, she would once again mention her past if she kept going on. She awkwardly looked down at her plate as she then looked up at Alex. ‘’I haven’t swum in a really long time.’’ She said as she glanced at the pool, slightly smiling. She couldn’t remember the last time she had swum, she knows she can swim, but how she learned is quite a mystery to her.

‘’So..  I kinda had a thought.’’ She brought out as she looked at Jeremy, Logan, and Alexander. A smile appeared on her face as she continued talking. ‘’So this whole family thing with people I don’t really know.. Is kind of hard for me to adjust to – especially all these people that came her to meet me and I’m.. Not even related. Perhaps someone could just show me my room and euhm..’’ She thought they would never like the idea she had come up with, yet she really just thought they should bound – or she should bound with them as siblings. ‘’Perhaps we could like have a bound fire thing tonight, get to know each other a little, when like.. most people left.’’ She brought out gazing at the people for a moment. Madison just felt really uncomfortable, and even though Alex didn’t know her that well, he knew her good enough to see that she was even more uncomfortable here, then she had been with him in the car.

[hartfordboys]

"We understand, Madison. This whole thing can get some getting used to. But you'll fit in no time. You've got all of us. I pro-"

"I'll show you to your room!" Logan blurted out. "Before you get tired of hearing Alex's story about family and togetherness and unity, let me help give you a head start in running." He brought his hand out to pull Madison up from her seat, "C'mon. I'll show you your room before Jeremy turns you into a science experiment and Alex bores you to tears."

Jeremy flicked a bread roll at his brother and Alex merely rolled his eyes. It was then that Benji came back out too. He smacked the oldest brother's head, "That's for revealing the peanut butter thing, Dick. Oh... Hi, Madison. Look. I don't really like peanut butter all that much but..."

"Moms art fridge?" Jeremy said, not looking up from his robot.

Benji groaned, "Every. Single. Fucking. Time." He said before, turning back into the house to find a new hiding spot.

The prodigy smirked at Logan, "Pay up." 

Logan quickly coughed up fifteen bucks before lightly taking Madison's hand and bringing her back to their home. 

The couple made their way into the house, Alex let go of Madison's hand not even realizing that he was clutching onto her so tightly. He pushed open a room and allowed her to walk in first. The blonde stayed by the door, leaning against its frame. He watched the girl in a trance. She was innocently sweet. There was a sense of light in her. So pure that he wanted to hide away from this pitch black world.

"So... Have you thought about you future?" He asked tentatively. Rule number one, never speak about your past. "You know... What do you want to do in the future? Who do you want to become?"

[theflowerofithilienarchived-dea]

"Please don’t yell at me, Benji! You’re being cryptic, well more than usual. I think I can decide for myself who I want to befriend and I chose you. What are you hiding from me that’s so terrible? If it makes it easier, I can tell you a dark secret, we’ll be even stevens."

[hartfordboys]

"Your secrets won't kill, Serena. Mine can."

[decadantlove]

"Well you know how it is with people like me, more money then sense."

[hartfordboys]

"And when the money runs out?"

[lipxlockerxrp-blog]

"Do not walk away from me when I’m trying to talk to you." Olivia snapped as she followed them. She was not about to let up on this.

[hartfordboys]

"What? What is it?!" He snapped, looking back. "Could you be any louder, O?"

[docfeelxgood]

"Ah one of those, well I feel then it’s my job to tell you that order only exists because of chaos without one there cannot be the other." She replied taking a sip of her tea. "Though I should probably get into the habit of keeping lists myself."

[hartfordboys]

"Peace and chaos cannot co-exist. One happens and then the other. But never the same time." He looked up at her, "Why's that?"

[decadantlove]

"Yes but I like you much better than I like him."

[hartfordboys]

"That's the oddest thing to say to someone you're paying to do your homework."

[theflowerofithilienarchived-dea]

"…What? Are you being metaphorical or are you really leaving? Because that’s not fair. You’re my best friend and we’re supposed to stick together!"

[hartfordboys]

"Life is fair because it is unfair to everyone, Serena! I can't be your best friend. Fuck. I can't even be your friend! There will come a time where you see me for who I really am and I won't allow that."

[docfeelxgood]

"Nothing if that’s your sort of thing, but I’m not much a list person myself." She replied with a playful smile. "I’ll be back." She gets up and moves into the kitchen, only to return with two steaming cups of tea.

[hartfordboys]

He thanked her and drank the tea, "Lists keep order. And I for one like order. What kind of world would we live in if it was mere chaos?"

[theflowerofithilienarchived-dea]

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about. We have a perfectly good friendship and you’re going to throw it away? How do you know it won’t last? I’m not going halfway across the country or anything. Why are you trying to make me leave?"

[hartfordboys]

"I'm not making you leave. I'm leaving."

[docfeelxgood]

"Well I would like to have a conversation that doesn’t take place in a bullet pointed list, but I will settle for helping you relax." Penelope replied as her eyes met with his. "How about some tea?"

[hartfordboys]

"What's wrong with lists?" He asked, leaning forward. The man nodded, "Sure. Whatever you got."

[hartfordboys]

"No, I don't want to talk about work." He stated sitting down. "Yes, I had a bad day. Yes, Alex is still breathing down my neck. And no, I don't care how the weather is like in Canada. Can you please tell me what you want?"

[hartfordboys]

"Pretty sure my brother could do your homework in his sleep. And he has a monkey degree in business. Don't! Tell him I said that..."

[hartfordboys]

"You're right. I'm done. I can't keep doing this." He stated as he stopped walking with the other. "I'm not going to continue this friendship, relationship, whatever the fuck we have. You know why? Because it won't last."

[hartfordboys]

"So. Is it my turn to say I told you so?" He questioned the other, leaning against the table. "Because... I told you so."