Hey, I'm Max Ride. I'm sixteen and living in hell. No, not the real kind; the kind that you just wish would go away because you're always afraid for your life. That hell, you probably don't know me yet do you? Well lets start with introductions. I'm about five feet eight inches tall I have light brown hair with blonde sun streaks. And now for the fun part telling you why my life is hell. It's simple really: my father abuses me. I can take it. Believe me I can. But it's Angel and Gazzy I'm worried about.
A beautiful little girl at the innocent age of six, with blonde ringlets of hair down her back; with the most adorable blue eyes you could imagine. But I hate what she sees me go through, it kills me inside. And next is Gazzy a silly little eight-year-old who has the hugest heart you could imagine. Looking like his little sister with blonde hair that is spiked at the tips with temporary blue tips.
And before you ask, no; I am never this mushy gushy with anyone else. You see they're all I've got. I don't trust anyone or love anyone as much as I do them. And with them there is no better family. But then Jeb walks into the picture. He's evil manipulative, and the best liar you will ever meet. And that "man" will never ever touch Angel and Gazzy if he wants to survive my wrath.
You're probably wondering why i don't use my wrath on Jeb all the time. Well I did once. I was so, so, so stupid to think that he would let that slide meaning: coming out without bruises. Yea I was wrong. Big time, but he didn't touch Angel or Gazzy again. So that's my life so far. But let's skip to the present shall we?
"Get up you filthy little girl." Jeb spits at me. I get up not looking him in the eyes. he grabs my chin and yanks it so I look at him. "Look me in the eye," he says his voice laced with venom. I make the mistake of hesitating for a fraction of a second which he notices. He punches me in the gut and I fall over wheezing, he kicks me again for "good measure." He looks at me disgusted and I want so badly to tell him he's the one who did this so i press my lips into a line. "Clean yourself up." I nod my head slowly and he steps over my body.
I slowly get up and head for the bathroom. I look in the mirror and wince at the state I'm in. This is one of is worse beatings. I slowly pull my shirt off being careful of the new and old bruises. Leaving me in a white cotton bra. And before you think something inappropriate let me tell you two things: This bra is in no way sexy and next he kicked and punched me in the gut so i have to see how bad they are. I spot two new bruises on my abdomen that are going to be blue by the end of the hour.
My torso is so many colors I look worse than a freaking rainbow. I sigh and slip my shirt back on. I turn the faucet on and wet a white rag then bring up to my nose where it turns pink. I open the cabinet and grab a tube of concealer and wipe it across my cheek where a bright purple bruise lays. And if you must know why I'm putting on make-up I'll tell you. I don't need Angel and Gazzy to see me like this and Jeb has poker nearly every night at our house so I need to look acceptable for his "company."
I look around for blush and see that we don't have any. I'll just have to skip over that part of me playing hooker dress up- I mean looking "acceptable." I grab my ruby red lipstick -more hooker dress up for me! Thanks Jeb!- and add dark purple eye shadow.
I slowly walk down the hallway and go in the kitchen where I make them sandwiches. If you're wondering why I'm not cooking real food is because I can't cook to save my life. I walk into the living room where Jeb is playing poker with five other men. Go freaking figure. "Max!" Everyone calls out except Jeb. He is giving me a dirty look that i can only decipher as "You'll be nice unless you want a belt tomorrow." I barely nod my head. I look at everyone and plaster the biggest smile my face can hold.
"Hey guys! I brought sandwiches." I say my voice sounding decent enough. I put the sandwiches on the coffee table and they all take two. "Would anyone like a beer?" I ask even though I already know the answer. They all say "yea" or "sure" and I hurry back out with two six packs of beers. "Okay there you guys go, if you need anything just holler." I say. Then walk up the stair case doing a combination of wincing and flinching each step.
I get up to Angel and Gazzy's room and do a secret knock that she insists I do every single time. But I guess it protects her from Jeb and keeps her happy so I'm not complaining. She unlocks her door slowly peering at me from the slit the door made before it rams into the wall. "Max!" She exclaims. I drop down to my knees and hug her tightly while her small arms surround my neck.
"Hey baby girl," I say smiling. I don't know if I told you this but I've been raising Angel ever since she was born and Gazzy was two. That's when my mom died and Jeb started to hurt me. But let's get back on topic. I release her and grab her hand I look through the door,"Gaz me and Angel are going to cook dinner you wanna come?" I say looking at him play with his army figurines.
He jumps off the floor and squeezes my waist tightly then looks up at me. "Yep!" he replies extra happy for some reason.
I raise an eyebrow at him, "Why are you so happy?" I ask. Then add teasingly "Did you get a girlfriend?" I say. He blushes and looks down. HE DID NOT. "You did?" he nods mutely against my stomach embarrassed I laugh at his shyness. I smile down at him and grab his hand. "Come on I'll interrogate you in the kitchen," I say pulling the two of them along.
Angel stops and looks at me with wide eyes, "What's interrogate mean Max?"
"We're going to ask a bunch of questions." I say. She still looks at me wide eyed. "Well we have to make sure she's pretty right?" She grins and nods her head so fast I think she'll get whip lash.
0.o.O.o.0
I smile down at Angel for dinner we had grilled cheese (that may or may not have been burned) and made sure Gazzy's girlfriend was perfect. "Hey Max?" Angel whispers.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Will you sing us a lullaby?" she asks.
I smile "Sure thing honey." I say, then start on a lullaby my mother used to sing.
Here's a lullaby,
For anyone that wants to fly,
From their people drown and where the town eats down.
This library has 30 books and 1 dictionary,
But that's okay no one reads anyway,
We all watch TV.
So here's your lullaby,
No boy don't cry,
Just rest your head,
And go to bed,
Your time will come to fly
Away,
Whenever the day,
Just dream your life away,
Sleep. La, la, la, la.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
All the dogs will die,
They just can't seem to stay alive,
Cause in this town our cop shots them down and we just let him go inside.
Please, God, please.
What happened to our dreams?
We're losing hope,
So we invest in dope,
To feel our vacant feelings.
So here's your lullaby,
No girl don't cry,
Just rest your head,
And go to bed,
Your time will come to fly,
Away,
Whenever the day,
Just dream your life away,
Sleep. La, la, la, la.
La, la, la, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh.
La, la, la, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh.
La, la, la, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh. La, la, la, ohh.
"Goodnight Angel." I whispered kissing her forehead one last time before going to my room and falling asleep.
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride or Lullaby by Priscilla Ahn