Page 10 of Reckoning

“Ah, ah, ah.” He says, moving his hands, grabbing my throat and pressing me back against him. “You want to play games, Horace, then these are the consequences.”

“Daddy?” I whimper. His hand feels so tight I’m afraid he’s going to snap my neck.

“Let her go.” My father snaps.

“We had a deal.” The man replies. “You think you can back out of it now?”

“It’s not me who’s backing out.”

“No?” The man says. “Then give me the jewel and I’ll be on my way.”

“Let my daughter go.”

“Give us what you agreed, Horace.”

My father’s eyes drop to mine, I can see it, for the first time, I don’t see the strong scary man I know him to be, I see sorrow, I see fear. He’s afraid. Does he think this man is going to take me? Does he think this man is going to kill me?

“Daddy,” I plead, and my tears start to roll down my cheeks.

“Oh, sweetheart,” The man holding me coos, “Your daddy’s going to play ball, he’s going to do exactly as expected, aren’t you, Horace?”

My father nods, quickly, like one of those plastic toy dogs.

The man laughs again, before putting me down. He turns me to face him and I’m so petrified now I don’t even struggle. As I stare up into those ice cold blue eyes I think he might actually be a monster.

He strokes my cheek, wiping away the tears. “Be a good girl, Sofia.”

As soon as his grip loosens I fling myself at my dad. He catches me, holding me tightly.

“Be good, Horace.” The man says, striding to the door. “Behave and no one has to get hurt.”

As the door shuts I erupt into tears, sobbing against my father’s chest. “I’m so sorry,” I cry, like this is my fault.

“You should be.” My father says, yanking my head back, forcing me to look at him. “I told you to stay in your room, didn’t I?”

I gulp nodding. He did say that. He always says that.

“I told you bad things happen when you disobey me. But you didn’t listen, you don’t ever listen, Sofia.”

“I just…”

“What?” He snaps, all but dropping me onto the floor at his feet. “You’re a child. Learn to behave.”

I don’t know what I expected, I don’t know why I thought he might be kind.

I stumble to my feet, but he pulls me back. His hand is wrapped around my arm as I struggle.

“Daddy, please,” I gasp. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

He snarls, opening the draw and I know he’s getting the stick before I even lay eyes on it.

“Please,” I scream. Surely that man was punishment enough?

“You need to learn.” He says grabbing me by my hair, forcing me to bend over the desk, only I’m not big enough to fit so he has to haul me up, and hold me down with my legs dangling off the edge.

As the lash comes down I scream more.

“Say you’re sorry.” He orders.