Max's POV
What sucked was last night was one of the best sleep I'd had in months, and I slept so I wouldn't feel the pain like I did right now as I woke with the light through the window now missing a curtain. Oh god was I sore. Breathing hurt. There was shifting in the room, but I was too tired to check who it was. What day was it again? Dang there's just no easing the hammer down in my head is there…
"Max?" a small voice called my name, and I recognized it to be Angel's. Was she okay? Lifting my head up just a little, I surveyed the room. It was a mess with furniture knocked over and holes in walls. The door was closed with things piled up in front of it. The lock had been broken. That's how Jeb got in. Jeb. That's what happened.
"Angel, sweetie, are you alright?"
She nodded and turned behind her. "Gazzy, she's awake."
Then Gazzy's innocent face was in my view. They were both kneeling beside me who I realized was laying on the dirty carpet. I could smell the mold. Gazzy and Angel grabbed my arms and helped me sit up. They both looked so scared and scarred. Angel had been crying. Gazzy must've been comforting her because he had on a stern face.
The cracked clock read 9:00 a.m. Today was a Friday. I'm not making it to class. There's no way I'd be able to hide all of this. Holding my head to stop the spinning, I felt my way onto the bed that Gazzy usually slept on and took a seat.
Looking around the room, I tried to remember exactly what happened. Fang had taken me home and I had exploded in his face. I groaned knowing I owed him an apology. The whole in the wall was where Jeb's fist hit when I dodged it. Jeb had broken the lock when he busted through the door. Angel didn't have too many scratches, just a couple of bruises. Gazzy was worse off than her. He must've protected her while I was gone. The knocked over furniture was what Jeb tried to use to hit me with. Perhaps there were times when he succeeded. His belt lay on the floor, he had used it to whip me. Man that was a tough night, but man it felt good to fight back especially for the sake of my little siblings. I shoved Gazzy and Angel into the closet, and I blacked out when Jeb dealt me a blow to the head hence the headache.
The room was so quiet as Gazzy went around cleaning up the room and Angel kneeled down before me looking up at me with big eyes.
Jeb should already be at work, so I knew we were safe and I breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Max, are you okay?" Angel asked in a quiet voice as the tears flowed. I put a hand on her cheek.
"Yeah, just a little sore. I'll be fine. Are you and Gazzy not going to school today?"
She shook her head. "We decided we'd stay home with you."
My heart went soft, and Gazzy looked at me before they both ran into my blood caked arms, Angel sobbing and Gazzy letting tears slip.
"Gazzy, are you alright? Did he hurt you too bad?"
He shook his head. "I'm so proud of you for protecting Angel. She's so lucky to have a brother like you. I'm so glad you guys are okay."
With quick child like motions, he wiped away his tears. "But you're not okay. You're hurt. He hurt you bad this time."
I smiled. "But I'll be okay in a few days, I promise. There's no need to worry about me. We should get this room cleaned up, and ourselves."
I made a move to get up using the bed post, but winced and fell onto my right knee in a gasp. "Max! Don't move yet." Gazzy cried out grabbing my arm.
"Don't hurt yourself more." That was Angel. Then I realized why they were so shocked, so
quiet, so different. They saw Jeb beat me up. I'd moved them into the closet so they'd close their eyes and shield themselves away from this lifestyle, but they'd seen everything.
If these kids weren't here, nothing would've stopped me from murdering Jeb already. If mom wasn't here, nothing would've stopped me from calling the cops and putting this guy behind the bars.
"Seriously, I'm fine." I insisted ruffling Gazzy's hair and pinching Angel's cheek.
"Just stay in bed for today. Please? Angel and I can clean the room and we'll take a shower. Can't you just rest today?" Gazzy suggested in a strong voice. Angel agreed beside him, and as if to prove a point she was already picking up her stuffed animals and setting them up in a pyramid at the corner. I felt like such a useless older sister at the moment, but seeing them like that made me so proud. Gazzy made the bed while I leaned against the wall and with his surprising strength for a 5th grader helped me onto the bed. Angel cleaned up what she could pick up and reach while Gazzy brought back a wet towel and started cleaning the blood off my face and arms and stomach and legs. He did so in such a gentle manner that made me think he'd be a great husband for a lucky girl. While Gazzy and Angel took turns showering, I forced myself a look in the mirror not wanting them to fuss over me. There's no denying it. I looked terrible. My hair was a mess. I tried brushing it down, but I couldn't keep my arms up for long and tearing at it hurt my head. There was a cut on my hairline. My face managed to dodge a lot of the bruising, but I was so pale it surprised me. My stomach was covered in welts and bruises along with my back. Same goes for my arms and legs. My left leg had a particularly big bruise right on my shin, and I couldn't put much weight onto it. A big gash ran from my right shoulder down to my elbow. I remember he had a beer bottle in hand. My ribs were probably bruised, too. I climbed into bed before Gazzy and Angel could come back in.
"Angel, honey, can you get me my phone?"
She obeyed happily, and I called Nudge. She should be at lunch.
"Max, why aren't you at school? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, Nudge, I'll be fine. Rough night."
"Are you sure? You don't sound so good."
I cleared my throat and swallowed. "I just wanted to call and tell you not to freak out. That I'm alive."
"That doesn't make me feel much better. People who get stabbed are still alive. People who get shot are still alive…"
"Nudge I didn't get shot, just a little beat up."
"Want me to come over?"
"No! Nudge whatever you do, don't come over. He's home early tonight."
"But…"
"Seriously, Nudge. Promise me."
"Fine I do, but what do you want me to tell people who are wondering where you are?"
"What? Who's wondering?"
"That kid you smacked."
"I don't know. Tell him what you want. Anyways, I'm going to go now. Hopefully I'll feel better when I wake up."
I heard Nudge sigh. "Be careful, Max."
"Don't worry. I will."
Gazzy cleaned the gash with alcohol and I grasped the bed sheets to keep from making a sound. Then he wrapped it in gauze as best he could. Angel even put a wet cloth on my forehead. I love these guys so much.
"Hey remember. There's a clock right there. At 3 you guys know the drill. No going outside."
"We promise we'll be good. You can sleep." Gazzy promised holding Angel's hand.
Fang's POV
Max didn't come to school the next day, and for some odd reason it worried me, but only because of what happened the last minute I saw her. I didn't see her at lunch, and this time I purposely looked for her. I only found the dark girl she's friends with.
"Fang." I introduced myself simply as I sat across from her where Max usually sits.
She smiled happily at me. "Hi Fang, I'm Nudge, Max's best friend even though I'm 13 and the youngest freshmen here. I skipped a grade because I'm smart. So you need something?"
"Just wondering where Max is."
"Max?" her face fell. "Uh… Max… right… where is Max… well you see…" her cell started vibrating and she jumped up. "Got to answer this phone call! Be right back. She paced the floor by the wall and then came back all smiley again. "So Max… geez I can't lie to you, but you can't tell her you found out from me. Promise?" she held out her pinkie. I played her game and pinkie swore. "Fang, Max got hurt last night."
"What? How bad? Is she in the hospital?"
"She probably should be in one, but no. She's at home."
"How'd she get hurt?"
"I really shouldn't tell."
"Nudge, I was with her last night. I took her home from work, and at the door she freaked out. Someone was crying and screaming inside her house, sounded like a tantrum. She left me hanging telling me to just go away and leave her alone. Nudge, you have to tell me."
"Oh my god it must've been worse than I thought. Her dad's abusive, Fang. Straight out abusive. Her little siblings, Angel and Gazzy, have to stay home alone while she's at work, but Jeb gets home before she does. He was probably hurting them, so Max probably jumped in to the rescue of course, but she can't really fight back or else he hurts Gaz and Angel. God I wonder if they're hurt too. I want to go check on her, but she won't let me. She never lets me set foot in her house. I'm not supposed to tell you, but I had to. I can't let Jeb keep hurting her. Can you check on her tonight? Jeb comes home at 5:30, but school's out at 3. You can make some time right?" Nudge was close to tears. Her eyes were wet, and it surprised me how much she cared about Max. I didn't realize I had my hands clenched in fists and my jaws were tight.
"Don't worry. I'll go by her house, maybe sneak into the window. I think I know which room it happened in. I'll find my way in."
"I hope you don't get killed… by Max. Anyways, nice meeting you."
I smirked. "Yeah me neither. You too, Nudge." Why, Max? Why didn't you let me inside? Why couldn't I help you? Why didn't you let me?