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<span>Spoiler: <span class="bbCodeSpoiler-button-title">River</span></span>
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</div></div><br/>When River Hayes was five years old, a nice man in a black shirt with a white collar approached him while he was at the park with his mother, his large hand outstretched and bearing gifts. River was particularly fond of a milk chocolate with hazelnuts, finely chopped, and somehow the man knew this. His mother and father had always told him to never take candy from strangers, but this candy was his favorite. How could the man have known it was his favorite if he wasn't a friend? Only friends knew about favorite things. The man handed him a small piece of the chocolate and watched with sparkling eyes as River shoved it into his mouth and chewed happily. He told River that his name was Father Lamont, and that if he just came out by the cluster of trees with him, that he could have more chocolate, and he might even get to see a tiger. This made little River's heart swell in his tiny chest, for he loved tigers more than anything else in the whole entire world, and seeing one would make him the happiest boy who ever lived. This is what he told Father Lamont, and the man smiled, urging him to take his hand and come along. River had taken a look back at his mother, who was sitting on a bench discussing<i>something</i>with another woman with short yellow hair. He tried to wave at her, but she didn't see him, and Father Lamont had grabbed his wrist and was now tugging him away.<br/><br/>River's mother was replaced by Father Lamont. His father was replaced by Father Lamont. River cried for days, weeks, calling out for his mommy and daddy over and over until Father Lamont snapped and beat him for making too much noise. It was then that the other boy, the boy that Father Lamont had called River's new brother, would come to him and wrap his arms around the bruised and swollen child, and stroke the top of his head until River's eyes were dry and empty. It was in these moments that River learned to love his new brother, to cherish his touch and crave it at every moment, for it was the only time he ever managed to attain peace in the thirteen year long nightmare that followed.<br/><br/>But the worst moment of River's life wasn't his abduction, nor was any of the times Father Lamont beat him for being loud, or disobedient, or uncouth, or any other number of ways River had invited sin into his life. The worst, most heart wrenching experience had been when Father Lamont had tried to send Ezekiel away because he was "too old." River didn't know what that meant, or what had changed. Ezekiel was as he had always been, fair and perfect, and why one day would change that, River couldn't say. He could recall how he had screamed until his throat ached and banged against his locked door to the basement until his fists were raw and bleeding. He kicked and threw himself against the door in a wild, crazed frenzy, desperate to be with his Zeke again, knowing he would rather die than spend one night without the boy by his side. After what seemed like an eternity, Father Lamont had shoved a bloodied and bruised Ezekiel back into the basement, and the exhausted River welcomed him with open arms. He had peppered Ezekiel's damaged skin with passionate kisses, and that night they spoke to one another not with their words, but with their bodies.<br/><br/>Two more years passed before Father Lamont tried sending Ezekiel away again, but this time River was expected to go with him. Father Lamont had dressed them in matching outfits and cutting their hair so that they looked presentable. River's brown locks were left longer on the top, though not as long as Ezekiel's. Father Lamont seemed to have the idea that the shorter hair fit River's square face better and would hear none of it when River said that he wanted to look like Zeke. Father Lamont assured him that the clothes were enough, and threw them out into the world with some cash and the harsh reminder that if either of them ever spoke his name, they would be mercilessly torn apart.<br/><br/>Though Ezekiel was older, River was blessed with slightly more masculine features, though both boys looked young and pretty to the average passerby. When they were together, many deferred to him instead of Ezekiel, and sometimes River replied politely, but his voice was hushed and low, and he preferred it when the strangers went away so that he could hold onto Ezekiel's hand in peace. As a result both boys did their best to avoid everyone they could. And for a while, it worked, until one day the two boys knocked over a magazine stand and an irate man rushed out and grabbed at River's sleeve.<br/><br/>"Go away," River gasped, his eyes immediately beginning to water as the man yelled at him and Ezekiel's fingers were no longer intertwined with his. River did not handle yelling very well, and the raised voice reminded him of dark nights with Father Lamont and belts across his backside. "Go away!" he said again, this time more desperately, attempting to tug his sleeve from the scary man's hold and rush back to his only friend in all the world. But Ezekiel would never leave him alone, never, and River stared as the blonde boy sunk his teeth into the screaming man's arm. River followed obediently when Ezekiel pulled him away, just as he always had, but the two weren't destined to escape this time. When the police pulled up on the two boys, still wandering aimlessly with their hands knotted together, they said nothing. They allowed the cops to shove them in the back of the squad car only because they were allowed to stay together. For now.<br/><br/>In the cold, too brightly lit police station, River was relieved when Ezekiel took the lead and spoke for both of them. The police officers terrified River, and he shook against Ezekiel's arm as the young man responded to the officers' questions. When one of the men suggested separating them, both boys leaped up, and River wrapped his arms around Ezekiel's small waist and clung to him, sobbing.<br/><br/>"My name is River!" he screamed against Ezekiel's shoulder, burying his face against his shirt. "He is Ezekiel! Please don't take him away, please, please, please, please!" Although River was aware of Father Lamont's warnings, the idea of being separated from Ezekiel, even if only for a moment, was too much for the eighteen year old to bear.<br/><br/>"Okay, okay, kid, calm down," Watson said slowly, looking at his colleagues with an<i>I told you so</i>look etched onto his face. "What are your last names?"<br/><br/>"I don't know!" River screamed, overwhelmed by the officer's abrupt questions. "Don't take him away!"<br/><br/>"Look, no one's going to separate you guys, all right? Why don't you two sit back down and wait here, I'll be right back."<br/><br/>Watson stepped back and moved to the officer standing in the doorway, speaking to him in a hushed tone. "I'm telling you, something isn't right with these two. Assuming the kid is telling us the truth, we might have<i>something</i>. River and Ezekiel aren't exactly common names." He sighed and looked back at the two boys over his shoulder. "They're dressed kind of odd, aren't they?"<br/><br/>"Like those religious kids that walk around neighborhoods trying to convert you," the second officer replied, nodding slowly.<br/><br/>"Go tell Ramirez to run their names and information in the system. It's a long shot, but maybe we'll be able to find something on these two."<br/><br/>"You gonna move 'em to a cell?"<br/><br/>"No, I don't think that'd be a good idea. I have a feeling we're going to have two psychotic kids on our hands if we try to do anything with them. They're best off staying here, for now."<br/><br/>"All right. I'll grab you some coffee on the way back."<br/><br/>"Good idea," Watson replied, rubbing at his temples and groaning softly. "This is going to be a long night."