My bare feet sunk into the sand as I ran after Cody, making every step tough, but I had always been one to never let anything slow me down. I caught up to him and barley tagged his shoulder. I immediately turned the other direction, letting him chase me. I laughed and stuck my tongue out teasingly whenever I was far enough away from him so he couldn't tag me. Ahead of me, lay a huge sandcastle we had built minutes, if not moments before, and jumped over it gracefully. Attempting to do the same, Cody took a long stride, and pounced. His foot caught the top of it, where a small flag sat, and he lunged into the ground. I giggled as he sat there, pouting in his failure. I walked toward him to make sure he was okay. He looked at me with sad puppy dog eyes for a few long moments, and I began to worry he was hurt. I held out a hand, and he laughed. He snagged my small hand before I could run, and pulled me to the ground. My body fell hard on his and I blushed like crazy. He smiled at me and I quickly hopped up and ran over to the silver slide.
He stuck his tongue out at me. My posture became the position of a lion, stalking it's prey. My eyes were serious but playful, fixed on his tan face. I had a half smile spreading across my face. I gave myself a little boost and charged after him. His eyes got huge as I pounced at him and tackled him to the ground. I lay beside him cracking up. We laughed and laughed until our stomachs hurt and couldn't any longer. We lay on the sand for a few minuted catching our breath. He pointed at a puffy white cloud that looked a little like a dragon. I nodded and pointed and another one that looked like a dog with long ears. He got up, brushed himself off, and held out a hand. There was a white bracelet made of shells with pink lining on the tips around his wrist.
I remembered his mother telling me she had made it out of shells she found along the shoreline, and given it to him the day he was born. His father hung it above his crib until he was old enough to actually wear it. His mother had always been a creative woman. She had blonde hair and blue eyes just like Cody. She was very curvy and only 5'2. Her lips were soft and pink, her olive skin clear. She had a soft and soothing voice that you couldn't help to smile at when she spoke.
I smiled and he lifted me from the sand. I ran after him and the chase began once again. He laughed and jumped over a blue bucket. I was surprised he hadn't tripped this time. I turned around and went the other direction, and tagged him. He smiled at me and leaned over. I didn't know what was happening until it was over. He had kissed me! On the cheek, I counted it as a kiss from Cody Carter. I giggled, embarrassed, and flattered, and I heard my mom calling my name. We ran over to the blue park bench my mom and Cody's dad sat upon.
“Hi Charlie.” I said cheerily.
He smiled and greeted me. “Hey there, Abby.”
His eyes always crinkled at the corners when he smiled, and his blue eyes twinkled. I liked that. It gave me a sense of affection. I loved Charlie like a father; maybe that was because to me, he was my father. He was the only man in my life other than my biological father, but he was a drunk. Cody's mom used to tell me that my father was missing out and I was a blessing. I never believed it. Of course I always smiled and nodded and pretended to believe it, but that was out of sheer politeness. I didn't believe that I truly had potential to anything. Mama says that because my father called me worthless all the time before he was sent to the slammer.
But I did believe Cody had potential to do anything. He was brave and confident. I had so much faith in him. I mean, it was crazy not to. No one disliked Cody. Who could? He always had a smile glued to his face, even when things were blue, his one dimple poking out. The only time I had ever even seen him cry was when his mother had died two years ago, when he was just six years old, in a horrible car accident.
She was, of course, sober, but the man who killed her was not. He never was. She was heading to my house to pick up Cody from our play date. She turned the corner and my house was in perfect view. Cody and I were standing outside in the driveway drawing clouds and grass and trees with chalk. My father zoomed down the street and slammed into the side of his mom's car. Cody had to watch his own mother die.
I gave Charlie a sweet smile and rocked back on my heels.
“Audrey?” Charlie asked my mother.
She looked up from her diamond ring on her finger. “Hm?”
Charlie frowned, staring at the gleaming ring. I could sense, even from there, that he wished that it was his ring around her finger. I knew that he very much wanted to marry my mother, and I was sure my mother loved Charlie. The only thing in the way you ask? My father. My dirty-rotten, good-for-nothing, father, Mark Bowman who was my mother's husband and to be set free from jail May 23rd. Today's date you ask? May 23rd.
“Okay kids. Let's go eat.” Charlie announced.
“Where are we going?” I asked happily, peeling myself from the dark past of my earlier years.
“Charlie's place. He is making a special dinner at his house.” My mom said with a peculiar smile.
“Special as in . . . Tacos?” I asked hoping for my favorite food.
They laughed as Charlie held my mom's hand.
“How did you know?” He asked with a low chuckle.
I shrugged and giggled, my shoulder colliding with Cody's with each step.
“Before we go to Charlie's, I need to check on the puppies, who knows what mischief they've gotten into today.” My mom told us.
I laughed, picturing Raja and Dory in my head. Two brothers, on the search for trouble and adventure. I remember one time we came home from a fancy Chinese restaurant, and the house was a disaster area! It looked like someone had robbed our house! The plants that sat on the windowsill were scattered across the floor, the tall lamp on the corner was tipped over and glass was everywhere! When my mother replaced it, she had to buy a fabric lampshade so that if it tipped, only the light bulb would shatter and not the cover. My mother gasped when she remembered she forget to shut the dog door, when Raja and Dory ran in all muddy, making perfect puppy prints across the carpet.
Cody stayed close to me as we walked the short distance to my home. He always felt the need to protect me, like if he stayed nearby I would never be in danger. I loved that. When I opened the door, I could hear a loud puking noise coming from the downstairs bathroom. I knew one hundred percent who it was, and he had a drink. . .or ten. I felt my mother stopped in her tracks and stopped breathing altogether. She clutched my shoulder and put her mouth close to my ear.
“Abby, listen to me,” She began, “Don't go near the downstairs bathroom. Go straight up the stairs, grab only the necessary things you need, and come straight to the car. I'll stay at the foot of the stairs and make sure you get what you need. We will stay at Charlie's place, okay?” My mother was frightened and wanted everyone to stay safe.
I nodded and tiptoed upstairs. I grabbed a brown leather back pack and threw it on my bed. I packed everything I needed in under five minutes. I felt pretty proud of myself. I had packed a few more outfits then she'd told me because I figured we'd be there for more than one day. I flew down the stairs, surprisingly quiet. I didn't see my mother at the foot of the stairs. I went toward the door, and a hand wrapped around my mouth. I screamed in terror, but the sound was muffled by his hand. I bit down on it and he released his grip, throwing me to the floor.
When I looked up, I couldn't believe my eyes. Above me, was my father. He was reeking of alcohol. I held my breath trying not to smell it. Chunks stuck to his face and straggly beard, making me gag. He stared down at me with wild eyes. The eyes my mother fell in love with, only bloodshot and weary. The eyes that made my mother catch her breath quite frequently. Even though his eyes were crazed at the time, I will never forget the fear that lingered in them. I will always remember the pain and misery. I didn't know what those feelings were caused by, but I knew they were there. Despite these feelings, his eyes were still the eyes of a monster. My mother was in the corner with rope around her wrists.
“Abby. Go to the car. Now!” She yelled to me.
I stared at her for a moment, then said, “I'm not leaving you.”
She looked at me, unable to believe I told her no. Her face was angry at first, but softened into love, for this may be the last time we were together. She looked at my father, and glared at him. I could see the bottomless pit of hatred toward my dad. He used to love us, all of us, even Cody and Charlie was his best friend, but he found a new family named drugs and alcohol. My mother stood to her feet, which were not tied, and ran to me. I put my hand in hers, even though it was difficult to do. We backed away from him slowly. My father was becoming impatient with us. He stepped forward and backhanded my mother and she fell to the floor, ripping our hands apart. My heart skipped a few beats. I backed away, hesitantly. I wanted to help her, but the fear overwhelmed me completely. I tried to step toward her, but it seemed like my feet were glued to the wooden floor. My chest pumped massively through my chest. I swallowed and stared at my dad in dismay.
I took a deep breath and ran to the bathroom forcing my feet from the ground. I didn't know why I ran, or what I was planning on doing to keep my mother alive, and my baby sisters for that matter, but I would figure something out. I had to. I sat in between the toilet and bathtub, scared to death. I turned my head, and saw chunks of throw up covered across the toilet seat. I tightened my lips and scooted away from it, against the wall. The tears poured down my face like burning waterfalls. They fell one after another, creating a small puddle of salty tears on the floor and little dark drops all over my shirt. The bathtub would be a better place to hide, it would feel. . .safer.
As I hesitantly opened the curtain, I heard whimpering. I carefully pushed the curtain aside, and gasped in horror. I fell to my knees and pressed my back to the cold, cold wall, my hand muffling my sobs. I screamed Raja's name over and over, with tears streaming violently down my pale cheeks. I sat on my knees and gently tugged at the knife, trying to pull it out. He whimpered and looked at me, his eyes big, brown, and innocent. I let out a soft sob, and sat back down. I couldn't pull it out. I couldn't put him in any more pain. Suddenly, his stomach slowed, and soon . . . it was still.
Raja lay silently and breathlessly in the once white now still-wet red bloodstained bathtub. I shook my head in denial, this cannot be happening, I told myself, it isn't real. He's alive, he isn't dead. But it was real. I knew it no matter how much I tried to pretend it wasn't. I tried not to look at Raja's body, shredded across the tub, but my eyes stayed focused on him. Thank God my tears blurred mt vision. I wished I was blind. I stared at the knife in my dog's brown body and sobbed.
Three sounds took over my mind. One, was my heart bursting through my ears like sticks pounding drums. Two, was my empty stomach growling loudly like a wild lion, the sound I cared about the least. The third is the one I hated. It was the one I couldn't stand. This sound sent chills through my body so sharp it made fishing knives feel like a simple touch of an feather. The sound clawed at my heart like the nails of a tiger, or the bite of a snake. The sharpest thing you could think of, was caused by this sound. The sound made me cringe. It was like a nightmare in which you could not escape, like when you're running and running and suddenly you re falling and falling. It was the horrendous, unsightly, nasty sound of an atrocious man hurting the person I loved dearest. My mother, who was just one room over, being beaten by the man I called Daddy.
I cringed at the sound of his vicious laughter. What kind of monster would actually enjoy pain from another human being? It was sick. It made my stomach twist inside me, just like the smell of my murdered baby boy lying in the bathtub I once bathed in carelessly. The very place I had given both him and Dory baths in. Where was Dory anyway?
I had never been a daddy's girl, although it still hurt to know my own father was hurting my hero. The man who created me. The man who should have, but did not raise me. That was when I knew that I could no longer allow this. I had to do something, anything. Even if it meant risking my life to protect hers.
I searched my bathroom still on my knees for a weapon, or a sharp object. I stopped for a moment and stared at Raja and shuddered. “I'm sorry Raja,” I squeaked out. I knew it wouldn't hurt him, since he was already gone, but it still pained me. The blade stuck out of his body, and I ripped it out quickly, like peeling off a band-aid on a child. I scrambled to my feet. My knees hit each other over and over again. I took a deep breath.
My hand had just barley touched the cold doorknob when I heard the front door open, and two men yelling. I shot back like it had struck me with a bolt of lightening. I swallowed as a tear slid down my cheek. Please God, not Cody.
“What kind of impaired, barbarian, would enjoy this?” Charlie yelled.
I let out a little sigh of relief but then stuttered a gasp of the fear that lingered.
“Does it matter what kind Chuck?” He laughed a little with his stupid remark.
“It's Charlie,” he growled, “and you'd better step away from the lady before I rip your arms from their very sockets, and tear you to shreds!” There was a pause and more footsteps. Then Charlie yelled “Cody stay in the car!” He screamed.
“But dad, Abby is in there!” He shouted back. His voice was high-pitched and frightened.
“Come on Charlie, let the kid stays for the. . .entertainment.” My dad said with a low evil chuckle. Entertainment?
“Go, Cody.” Charlie said calmly.
“Dad, please!” He begged. “I can't leave Abby in there!”
“She will be fine, Cody! Just go!” Charlie demanded.
“I don't have time for this, Chuck!” My father yelled.
“Let go of her, Mark.” Charlie ordered.
My father cussed loudly at Charlie.
A loud bang blasted through my ears, followed by a howling scream of pain from a man and terror from a woman. It sounded like a gun. I heard my mother let out a scream of sorrow and it faded to a long sob, and she whispered “Why?” over and over.
I started shaking nervously. I heard my father laugh,. That's when I knew he was the one who shot the gun, not Charlie. I muffled a scream with my palm, and breathed heavily. My father told my mother he would be back for her in a minute, and to hold still. When the door slammed I ran out holding the knife, but soon dropped it without a care. I saw Charlie on his back, gasping for life. Cody sat next to him, crying. My strong, best friend, crying. He held his father's hand and sobbed. I sat next to him and cried.
“Daddy?” Cody squeaked.
“Stay strong.” Charlie coughed a little.
Cody nodded, unable to speak.
“Abby.” He whispered.
I bit my lip. “Yeah?”
“Just . . .” cough cough, “Take care of . . . Cody.”
Charlie made a sound and coughed up some blood.
“I love-” Charlie tried to tell his only child that he loved him, but the blood poured out of his mouth as he coughed, and he couldn't bare to say a last word.
I kissed his forehead and he looked at Cody.
“I love you.” Cody sobbed, waiting for an answer.
Charlie smiled at his son. His eyes slid closed. His head fell to the side, and he froze. The blood poured from his stomach until it was too late. I hated to know the truth, that he had bled to death. Why couldn't he have died with no pain, peacefully? I hated to know he was really dead. And to think, all Charlie ever wanted to do was love us, and most of all, protect us. My eyes flickered to my mothers afraid face.
“Mom!” I screamed.
Her nose was pouring blood. Her arms were tied behind her back in scraggly rope, cutting her wrists. There was gray duct tape covering her mouth. I quickly began to undo the rope. It was too tight. It wouldn't budge. My mom yelled something but I couldn't make out the words. I whispered, “I'm sorry for what I am about to do.” I ripped the tape from her mouth, pulling skin from her bottom lip. She screamed loudly. It was bleeding, so I gave her an apologetic look, knowing she was in pain. But not only for herself, for me, Charlie, and Cody.
I looked at the knife just three feet away from me. I heard the door creak open. We stared wide eyed at the man standing at the door. I gulped and immediately stood up in protection over my mom. I narrowed my eyes, clearly frightened to death, but I stayed strong. His expression went from confused, to mad, to happy with a hint of wicked. It was strange.
“You let her see you.” He said slowly taking a step on every word. I still stood in defense over her. He took a few more steps toward us and I tensed up. He chuckled a little at my posture. I glared furiously, seeing my reflection in his wild eyes. My angry expression frightened me a little. I stepped toward him a little, but still I wasn't at all off guard.
“You monster! How could you do this? She is your wife, and she is pregnant!”
He didn't answer.
“Charlie is dead.” I said coldly, as if he didn't already know.
I heard a sob come from Cody at the sound of my words.
“I'm sorry.” I whispered to him.
I reached for the phone, but he gripped my wrist and threw me to the floor.
“Mark. I need the phone.” I growled.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Mark? You're no longer calling me daddy?” I glanced at my mom, her face twisting with fear.
“The name Daddy is meant for daddies who love their children,” I concluded and backed up, ripping my arm from him.
He glared down at me and I knew he was going to hit me.
I clenched my jaw, thinking over my options as quickly as I could. I thought of a plan that sounded . . . fun, and definitely more painful than anything else I came up with in my head. Plus it would leave a scar. It would forever remind him of the monster he is and the hate I feel for him, and the hate Cody and my mother felt for him. He was a vulgar, evil, uncaring, wild animal, that man, and one thing for sure, I will never think of him as a father, nothing more or less than a murderer.
I lunged forward and bit his arm. He howled in pain, but I kept biting. He dropped the phone on the floor, but I didn't release him. Now this is something he did deserve. I kicked the phone to Cody, still holding onto his arm. I felt blood run down my chin, drizzle onto my white shirt. I could taste the red blood on my tongue. I cringed a little, but held on. He put his hand on my head, pushing on it trying to pry me off. I didn't budge. Finally he gripped my shoulders, pulling me off and throwing me to the ground. I hit my head on the hard wall. I gripped it, feeling the knots in my hair. It was tangled in with the sticky, gushing blood. I lay on the ground, feeling dizzy, seeing shapes and colors. The room spun around me, my head throbbing in pain. It went numb. I waited until I could feel my head again, and able to see straight. He gasped, probably thinking I was dead. I waited patiently for him to leave. I knew he would eventually. He would have to until he came up with a plan to get out of this mess. When I heard the door close, I lifted myself from the ground and crawled over to my mother. I looked at my mom and tried to smile. She smiled back, staring at the knife on the floor. I picked it up and started to saw to rope with it.
“Did you call the cops?” I asked Cody worriedly.
He nodded.
My mom sniffled.
I was quiet for a while.
“I'm sorry, mom.” I told her.
“Why?” She asked. “It's not your fault.”
“I know,” I said, “But I'm still sorry.”
A tear fell down her cheek.
“I loved Charlie.” She told me.
I swallowed hard as Cody cried silently. “We all did.”
She grinned softly, and before I could ask what she was thinking, I heard screaming sirens. I told my mom to stay where she was, and ran out the door. I told two men to go get my mom and that it was too late for Charlie. They asked me if I was all right and I told them I was fine, and to hurry up. They set her carefully onto a gurney. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped a little. I sighed in relief when I saw who it was.
“Hey Cody.” I said with a smile.
He nodded, with no response. His green eyes sparkled filled with tears. Blood filled his cheeks making his face bright pink, and his eyebrows creased, showing more pain. He swallowed down his sorrow.
“He's. . .dead.” He stated uncomfortably. His voice cracked slightly at the last word.
I sighed, tears filling my eyes as well. The tears he was trying so hard to hold back poured down his face. He pressed himself against me, sobbing. I let tears fall from my eyes too, my arms around him.
“I'm here for you.” I whispered.
He pulled back to see my face and half-smiled. “Yeah?”
I smiled.
“Always.”

easier to read if you put in quotation box

What?

= easier to read on a forums (IMO)

doesnt make as big a difference here as on IPB, but it shortens up the overly-long sentences a bit

This post was edited by Ice98 on Mar 16 2010 11:42am