Page 18 of Claiming What's Mine

So, I did the only thing I could, I dropped to the ground and curled into a ball to protect myself from the bear. Except, I couldn't take my eyes off my little sister. I wanted her to see I was alright, that I would be fine, that no amount of pain would destroy her big brother.

Bethany would jolt with every hit, her gasps light as her eyes grew wider. She had seen my father hit me before, but this wasn't a normal beating.

This was the alcohol, this was his rage, this was his jealousy and ego that was fueling his fists. This was a culmination of me slowly becoming a man, someone who might challenge him, someone who could try and knock him off his rock.

He hated me, he hated the farm, he hated his life, and there was nothing I could do to help make it better except be his punching bag.

With my eyes on my sister, I felt my father's knuckles as they connected with the side of my head, forcing it deep into the floor. And then there was nothing.

I saw an empty black hole. I heard crying. I smelled hate.

And as I sat stagnant in this weird dimension of awareness and dreaming, I knew I wasn't going to stay, not forever. He could only have me for so long, long enough for me to make sure my sister was alright.

Then I'd be gone.

Chapter Four

Jayden

––––––––

Knock Knock Knock

The door at the back of the house shook as someone hit it loudly. Lifting my head off the couch, it felt like a train had run over my skull. My brain felt like it was literally pulsing beneath the bone, and my eyes were swollen so badly I couldn't open them all the way without a struggle.

Have you ever had pink eye? Pink eye that was so bad when you opened your eyes there was a crusty film you had chip away at to even crack the lids a hair?

That was my eyes, and all I wanted to do was keep them shut because it took less effort than holding them open.

Knock Knock Knock

Listening for movement, I expected to hear my father's heavy work boots as he came pissed off down the stairs to answer the door.

Nothing.

Silence, pure silence.