Chapter#8
We didn't talk about the bad thing that happened at dinner the previous day.
Even the next night as Daddy sat at the table with his white dress shirt and black pants.
I still had to go to work with daddy.
"Atticus." Daddy finally said after a few minutes. "If you start to feel..."
Daddy stopped. He pouted his lip as if trying to find the right word.
"Bad?" I said.
He nodded.
"Yes baby, if you start to feel bad you let me know right away."
He put his hand under my chin and pulled my face to his.
"Ok." I nodded, not wanting to say anything else.
"Good girl." He said after taking a sip of coffee.
He then looked at his watch and then the clock hung on the wall above the stove.
The big hand was on the 12 and the little hand was on the 7.
It was 7PM. When the big hand got to the six it would be 7:30. That's when training starts.
"We better go." Daddy said as he stood up.
He gave mommy a kiss on the cheek and then kissed her belly. After that he turned to me.
He smiled and held out his hand.
"Come on Miss Atticus. Off to work we go princess."
I nodded and took his hand.
We walked down the hall and made our way to the gym.
Daddy directed me to the bleachers and told me to sit.
I nodded, and watched as the rest of the guardians came inside. The ones that would be training today.
"Belikov." My daddy's friend Henry held out his hand. He took it gladly and shook it. "Where is your wife? Still sick?"
"Not exactly." Daddy responded with a deep smile.
Henry's eyes squinted and he cocked his head to the side.
"I don't understand."
After a few seconds of staring at each other Henry's eyes lit up.
"Oh, you mean she's?"
Daddy nodded. Keeping the smile on his face.
"Oh, that's wonderful my friend. Congratulations."
Henry slapped his hand on daddy's shoulder.
"Thank you, Henry. Now it's your turn to get hitched and start a family." Daddy said with a wink.
Hitched? I didn't know what it meant. I guess it's something you do when you get old.
"I don't know about that Belikov." He wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and rubbed.
"That requires me to find someone I love, let alone like. You know how it is being a guardian. They come first."
"I know someone you like." I chirped.
This caused both men to look at me.
I gulped hard, but didn't say anything.
"Oh yes is that right Miss Atticus?"
He walked towards me and sank down next to me on the bleachers.
There was still 15 minutes until training started. Most of the other guardians were still talking with each other.
"And who Miss Atticus do you think I like?"
Daddy came over and sat on the other side of me.
I looked around to see if anyone was listening. Happy that no one else was listening I turned back to Henry.
"I know you like Miss Rinaldi." I pointed to my cheeks. "You get pink sometimes when you look at her."
Daddy's face scrunched as if he was ready to laugh, but he held it back with his fist to his mouth.
"Is that so?" Daddy said when he could contain his laugh. "How often does that happen?"
Henry's face got pink again.
I didn't want to embarrass him anymore. So, I just shrugged.
Thankfully, I didn't have to say anything else, because the guardians gathered around, ready to start training.
Daddy put on his serious face and walked up to the front.
Henry stayed sitting next to me on the bleachers.
I liked him a lot. He was nice. Like daddy.
I bet if I asked nicely he would let me have his silver stick.
I nudged him after Daddy had picked someone to fight with.
Henry turned, after daddy pinned his fighter down.
"Yes, Miss Atticus?" He said with a smile. "What can I do for you my dear?"
I looked in his pocket.
He followed my eyes and pulled out his silver stick.
"What? You want to look at it?"
I nodded.
He held it out towards me, but when I went to grab it he pulled away.
"No Miss Atticus, this isn't a toy. It's dangerous. You can look at it, but don't touch it."
I sighed and looked at it again.
I looked at him and wished hard that he would give it to me.
"Please Mr. Henry. May I have it?"
I pouted and held out my hand.
I didn't think he would do it, but I was surprised when he gave it to me without a fight.
I held it in my hand.
It was heavy.
He kept his eyes on me.
They were shiny. For some reason, I felt brave. I felt like I could ask him for just about anything.
"I have to go to the bathroom. Will you walk with me?"
He smiled and stood up.
"Of course."
He ushered me to go first.
Daddy turned towards me.
"Bathroom." I mouthed, barely reaching my voice to a whisper.
He nodded, but as he did, he was distracted by the person he was fighting with.
Daddy landed on his back with a loud crash.
"Dead." The other fighter said as he held his silver stick and pretended to press it onto daddy's chest.
I watched where he put it. It had to be in the heart.
I remembered Miss Rinaldi telling us.
"Very good." Daddy said, as the fighter reached his hand out to help him up.
Daddy took it.
I smiled at my daddy one last time before walking down the hall.
I wished I could say goodbye.
Sharp pains stung in my chest.
I held on with my fist so that I wouldn't cry.
Henry stood outside the door, but opened it for me.
"Thank you." I said, trying to keep a straight smile.
"Do me one last favor Henry."
"Anything." He said with a bow.
"Don't let anyone else come in here, and even if you hear funny noises don't come in."
His eyes were still shiny, so I knew he would listen to me.
"Of course, Miss Atticus. No one will come in."
"Thank you."
I walked inside.
After making sure the other stalls were empty I turned to lock the door just in case.
This was it. I thought as I stood in the doorway and held onto the silver stick.
I took a deep breath and unbuttoned my shirt.
I held on to the silver object in my hand and fiddled with it.
"Atticus, don't do this."
I looked up and walked around trying to find out who was talking to me.
It sounded like daddy, but I knew he wasn't in here.
Henry was still outside, so it couldn't be him either.
I shook my head.
I must be using my imagination.
"Atticus don't." The voice said again when I held up the silver thing.
"Who's there?" I whispered.
"Atticus it's me. It's your friend Ivan."
I looked in each of the stalls.
They were still empty.
"Where are you?" I said.
"Atticus, don't do this. You can't. You are needed here."
"I don't want to hurt them." I cried. "There's no other choice."
"There's always a choice." He said. "There's always another choice little one."
"Please." He continued. "Don't."
I shook my head. The tears falling freely from my eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I have to."
Using all my strength I shoved the pointy stick into my chest.
It hurt. A lot.
It felt hot like fire. Then it got cold and dark.
Then I felt nothing at all.
