So, here's the next chapter to The Power Within. Sorry it's a little short, but there was some stuff that I need to decide to put in or not and it would have gone into this chapter. But I wanted to update when I said I would so here you go! Enjoy.
I do not own Wizards of Waverly Place or it's characters blah, blah, blah.
I ran into the sub shop almost tripping a customer who was on her way out.
"Sorry!" I apologized, and then continued my stampede to get upstairs. I reached the living area to find dad happily seated in front of the TV. "Where's Alex?" I asked him. I was somewhat relieved that I didn't find her on the floor.
"She went upstairs after I was done with her," he told me. My body grew stiff at that.
"What," I started, my voice very tense, "did you do to her?" He got up with a frown on his face and walked over to me. I backed up a step, not wanting to get too close to him. Not far enough. His hand shot out and slapped me on the face. I felt something dig into my skin and saw on his hand that his ring was bloodied.
"You don't talk to me like that," he warned. "Go ask her yourself, she's up in her room." I gave him a look then ran upstairs to Alex's room. I reached out and opened the door to be greeted by the sound of crying.
"Alex?" I asked. "Are you there?" I opened the door further to see Alex sitting with her back against the wall crying. I quickly ran over to her and put my hand on her shoulder but she flinched away. That's when I noticed her room. Everything was in smithereens, it's like a fine layer of dust had settled, replacing the furniture. I was horrified at what might have happened.
Alex never cried in front of me except for once. The only time she had ever broken down in front of me is after the first time Dad raped her. But she was 14 then, not as strong as she is now three years later.
Alex's POV
I felt a hand on my shoulder and pulled away. I didn't want to be touched right now, not by anyone.
"Alex?" I dimly heard Max say. Unfortunately, instead of his voice comforting me it made me cry even harder. For three years I had managed not to break down in front of him, and now he was seeing one of the worst ones yet. I hated when anyone saw me cry. It made me look weak, and I was not weak, not yet anyway. I knew the day that I would just lose my will to do anything was coming soon, and I dreaded that day. But it wasn't here yet, I told myself.
"Alex," I heard again. This time I looked up into Max's eyes. They were kind and full of concern.
I sniffled then said, "Yeah?" I asked, giving him a tentative smile. He smiled back at me.
"Are you okay?" he asked. Well, I was definitely not okay, but I didn't want to burden him with that knowledge. Though he probably already knew that, asking was just a formality. Max was not as stupid as he let on. In actuality he was incredibly smart, his act was a tactic he had developed long ago to survive in this household. And I must say, it worked well. For the most part he was ignored, except for when he deliberately made them mad to draw their attention away from me.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I assured him starting to get up though I could tell he didn't buy it.
"Here, let me help," he said, reaching for my arm.
"No, I'm fine," I told him. He reluctantly backed off while I slowly stood up. It was only then that I took in the full extent of the damage I had dealt.
"Wow," I said, "I really did it this time." My room was a mess. All of my furniture was gone replaced by an inch of dust.
"You did this?" Max asked incredulously. I shrugged my shoulders and muttered a spell. In a flash my room was just as it was before. As and added bonus my homework sat completed on my desk.
Max looked around the room like he was in the Ritz. "Alex," he asked, "how did you do that?" God, Alex! I thought. Why are you being so careless today?
"Um… I don't know?" I said. He was about to say something more but was interrupted.
"Max!" I heard my dad shout. I looked over to where max was standing, fear flooding his face.
"What did you do?" I whispered to him.
"Told him off…" he whispered guiltily. I let out a sigh then started pushing him towards my wall.
"Alex? What are you doing?" he asked, panicked that I was going to slam him into the wall.
"Saving your ass! Now stop struggling!" And with one final push he went through the wall, just in time too because right at that moment Dad strolled into my room.
"Where's your brother?" he asked me.
"I-I don't know," I stuttered. I shrunk back from him, not wanting him to beat me for not giving him a satisfying answer. He glared at me.
"Where's your brother?" he repeated. He took a step forward to which I responded by taking another step back.
"I told you," I said, getting a little bolder, "I don't know where he is."
It looked like he was going to say more about the matter but instead settled for, "If I find out your lying to me… well, lets just say, I'm having a get together with my buddies tomorrow and you know how much they love you," he said with a sadistic smile. The mental image he gave made me want to puke. I hated those parties and he knew it.
After I closed the door after Dad left I went to go retrieve Max from my "other" rooms. He must be freaking out by now.
So, did you enjoy this kind of pointless chapter? The next one will have much more meaning to it, I promise. Also, the next one is where Justin starts to really turn bad... Dun, dun, dun...
Read and Review please!
