It was a normal Saturday morning, meaning that I was huddled in my room hugging my younger sister to my chest as my father rampaged around the house. Let's just say that my father favoured us to knock around instead of a punching bag. Our house was run down and creaked constantly as it tried to survive the wind. A gruff muffled scream ran through the house. My sister whimpered grabbing a handful of my leather jacket hiding her face. I ran my hands through her hair trying to calm her down. It was exceptionally hard because I also was shivering. I held tight to my necklace that was in the shape of the Japanese kanji for fire. It felt warm in my hand as I shut my eyes. I bite my lip calming my breathing as I had seen my mother do. This was her necklace; she had given it to me before she had disappeared. The door slammed with a bang that echoed throughout the house.
"Zaria I'm scared." Casey whispered, her dark blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. I kissed her forehead smiling down at her.
"I'm here there's nothing to be scared of. With me around you don't have any problems." I said my voice cracking. I knew I was lying to her but it was also a lie to myself. I wanted to protect us, but what could I do against my father. He was 329lb. and I was most defiantly only like 110lb. I had called the cops once too, but he had gotten out of it and just beat me harder and even beaten Casey. I knew calling anyone was out of the question. What time would that bastard be back? The door slammed open again and all movement between Casey and I ceased. We held our breath as heavy boots marched up the stairs. The door to the room we were hiding in was kicked open and I immediately covered Casey's mouth as she went to scream. Her eyes gazed up to mine and I felt it, between us, pure and unstoppable fear.
"Come out; come out where ever you are!" He slurred together stumbling all the way into the room. There was a kick at the bed before it was uplifted from the ground and thrown to the side. It hit the door we were hiding behind with a snap. The door splintered and the sides bulged. I glanced at Casey worriedly I elbowed her slightly. She turned to me without a sound. I signed to her to run as soon as I open the door. The boots were getting nearer. I held up three fingers, then two, and lastly I held up one finger. The door sprang open and Casey bolted from the closet. Dad reached for her but I jumped at him with a scream. He turned to me to defend himself as Casey made it to the door. She stopped staring at me with watery eyes. I mouthed, "Go" and she still stood there shaking her head no.
"Go! Damnit run away!" I screamed as dad threw me off and into a dresser. My back and head made contact and I felt the pain immediately. Dad was tumbling over to Casey, and I pushed myself up before sliding under his legs and kicking him in the chin. His head snapped back and he stumbled backwards. He wasn't even close to falling. I ran over to Casey pushing her all the way out the door and slammed the door. I felt my father behind me and ducked as he punched the door. I knew that it had to hurt as the door dented and his knuckles were bloody and torn. He growled at me and lunged. I was thrown into the door his body covering mine. I was having trouble breathing and my chest was in great pain. I tilted my head to the side and sunk my teeth into his left arm. He howled out stepping back clutching his arm. His eyes narrowed his smiling becoming maniacal sending shivers down my spine.
"You were always a handful you little bitch." He said slurred chuckling. "But I know how to handle you I always did. Your mother always thought I took things too far. Take your little sister away you did what you were told. I got a hold of one of your mom's old boss. He's taken an interest in Casey." He finished his taunting. I growled at him feeling a strange power coarse through my veins.
"I hope you die." I whispered in a malevolent tone. He turned confused and was unprepared for when I kneed him in the gut and swung my other leg up, using my hands to balance myself, kicking him in the jaw and sending him flying. He landed in a heap by the closet. I breathed out ruggedly and my eyes widened. I didn't even know I could do that! I pulled the door open and ran towards the stairs. Casey stood there hands covering her eyes. "Let's go Casey." I said rushing to leave the house before father got up.
"What?" She questioned dumbly. I sighed and swung her onto my back as I began to run out of the house. My chest was tightening and my asthma was acting up. There was a thundering coming from the house and my dad appeared at the door. I let out a strangled scream and pushed myself to continue even though I felt like I was going to pass out from lack of air. "He's gaining." Casey whispered into my ear. I turned a corner quickly placing Casey on the ground telling her to hide. Dad had caught up with me in the small alley.
"Found you." He cheered. His breath reeked of beer and it could be smelled from where I was standing. I put my fists up and spread my feet apart lowering myself to the ground. Dad charged at me with a crazy call and I waited until he was seconds from me and did a spilt, he missed me by inches. Using my hands I spun kicking his legs out from him. He tumbled to the grounds and as I got up him grabbed my leg pulling me down. He turned our bodies so he was able to choke me. I clawed at his hands my vision blurring. In the corner of my eye, I saw Casey coming closer. He would attack her if I let this continue. Using all my strength, I pulled my leg high enough that I could kick him. He was surprised, released me, air rushed back in. I rolled towards my side and stood up. My dad rolled over before I could kick him. He pushed himself off the ground and stood up. We were facing each other. I lowered myself to the ground and ran towards him cutting to the side as his arm swung out to catch me. I grabbed it, pulled it backwards, and spun around so I was facing his back. He let out a ghastly scream and I felt the bone snap. His arm fell to his side in agony. I ran past him and Casey followed at my heels. Dad was not chasing after us and we settled ourselves in another alley. We decide to sit on some random crates in a back of a restaurant to catch our breath. I took gulps of air greedily trying to calm myself. I had a headache that pounded throughout my body. Casey cuddled close to me and sighed.
"I'm so glad you're safe." She whispered fainting.
"Casey! Casey!" I bellowed falling to the ground holding her in my arms. My vision was blurring and tears were threating to slide down my cheeks.
"Young lady?" Someone questioned from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see a man about thirty. He had black slacks on and a red button down dress shirt. A black apron hung down at his hips. "What are you hiding?" He asked trying to get past me.
"Leave." I growled out.
"I won't hurt you." He said reaching out. I glared and picked up Casey and began to run away. A larger man in the same outfit caught me. I struggled holding Casey closer to me. I bared my teeth at the large man who just chuckled.
"Let me go." I demanded. The man shook his head and the other one came closer. He glanced down at Casey then towards me. Casey was limp in my arms her head rolling to the side. Casey's abnormal light blue hair was pulled into pigtails with yellow ribbon. I had done it to keep it from getting tangled. She was dressed in a white sleeved dress that went down to her knee. Her black shoes were covered in mud and other things that were on the street. He glanced at me and my glare intensified. I had low riding black skinny jeans that were ripped at the knees. My black studded belt hung to the side. Black boots up to my mid shin had silver metal on the shin part and the tip. I had a grey short sleeve shirt that was small showing a little of my stomach saying "The Ramones" in white block lettering. My leather jacket, which was at the same height that my shirt and held two pocketknives. My hair was down covering my pierced ears. My black kanji necklace, which should have been hanging down low unknown to me, was gone.
"What happened?" The man questioned. I had blood in my hair and above my eyebrow. My fingers were cut at the knuckles and blood was on my shin. Casey had a busted lip and that was about it.
"None of your god damn business." I announced and the two men stared.
"We're taking you to the hospital." The man holding me announced and I screamed trying to get out of his arms. "What's wrong with you?" The shorter man screamed. I was too busy trying to escape to answer, but I was running low on strength and sleep. In an exhausted attempt to bite the large man, I fell unconscious.
I awoke in a soft bed and curled up tighter into the cushioniness, but sat upright when I remembered the current events. I was struggling to get out of the sheets and the stupid IV drip was driving me crazy as I tried to pull it out. My heart monitor was beeping increasingly louder and violent. Someone came in and told me to lie down but I continued my struggle. The woman I noticed was a nurse and she was sighing. She muttered something along the lines about this happening once already. I suddenly stopped my fidgeting when I realized I really was in the hospital. The nurse looked momentarily surprised at my cooperation.
"Is this really a hospital?" I questioned in a broken voice. The nurse knelt down next to me on the floor that I suddenly found myself sitting. She nodded and I wiped my eyes angrily fisting my hands in the papery gown. "Is my sister here?" I asked. The nurse nodded and helped me up from the ground and into a wheelchair. Embarrassingly enough she had to help me dress because my balance was way of kilter. She grabbed the IV drip and wheeled it and me out the door. We went past three doors and I found myself seeing Casey smiling at the small man. He was reading a book to her as she sat in his lap.
"Z!" She shouted and jumped from the man and tried to jump onto me but was held back by the nurse. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was so scared when I was told I wasn't allowed to see you." She whispered tears falling from her face. I patted my thighs, she sat down, and I hugged her close.
"Don't worry Casey I'm here. Remember that okay?" I asked as she nodded into my Ramones shirt. The nurse and man sat back watching the scene unfold wondering what had happen to this two kids. "So what are you reading?" I asked her. The man held up the book and I grimaced. The Book of Fairy Tales was what the titled read in sparkly white and pink swirly letters.
"Do you like fairy tales Zaria?" The little man questioned generally interested. I shook my head and said that fairy tales are overrated. I don't appreciate books that taunt me. That caused the nurse and man to give each other nervous glances. He coughed and the nurse trying to act casual and picked up our folders.
"Casey is fine. It seems she had a small case of sleep exhaustion. She's fine now." The nurse told us, but mainly looked at me. "You, Zaria, suffered from a concussion, a rather large abrasion above the left eyebrow, and sleep exhaustion." The nurse told me.
"Can Casey and I have some privacy for a moment?" I asked the two adults who looked at each other, shrugged and left the room. I got into the bed that must have been Casey's and she snuggled close. I sang softly to her as she yawned and her eyes fluttered shut. So my moment of privacy was just holding my sister in my arms where I knew she was safe, was that so bad? The humming of the monitors and the swoosh of doors around us was my lullaby and I soon fell back asleep. My dream wasn't pleasant as I tumbled through the ground that had sudden opened, eating me. (All mentions of hell are based on Dante's Inferno. One of my favourite books.) I past screaming people dressed in rags, I past pots of people being burned alive. Trees that ran like people as they were chased by what looked like Harpies tearing limps off, as they seemed to grow back painfully. I landed on ice and in front of me were two monsters. I screamed running away only to be captured in a clawed hand. It was of the blue and gold Chinese dragon that had frightened me. He pulled me closer towards him and…..
I woke with a start my chest heaving. I let my hand fall from my chest and it fall onto the bed sheets. I turned my head so fast I got dizzy and let a silent scream. Casey was gone and one of her ribbons lay on the pillow. Someone had taken my Casey! I got up, wobbled on my feet for a few minutes, and ran out the door. I spotted familiar abnormal blue hair and chased after it yelling all the way. People were chasing after me, but I dodged them using my IV as a weapon. I sprinted after the man or was it a woman? They had long pin straight black hair about to their lower back. Their clothing was strange and unnatural, were they part of a cult? A blue circle spun getting larger and larger as they approached it and they jumped into it disappearing. It was now getting smaller and smaller and I jumped into just in time. I was spiraling down into nothingness. I was weightless but felt like a million pounds. My IV spiraled down with me hitting me in the head. I pulled the needle out and a few drops of blood sprinkled farther down into the vast nothingness. The IV floated away from me and suddenly vanished. (Meanwhile in another dimension an IV drip came out of nowhere and fell on top of the bad guy knocking him out.) My eyes couldn't stay opened no matter how hard I tried. I felt like I was getting sick and suddenly I was knocked out. My day just keeps getting better and better!