Disney Princess What Defines a Family: Chapter 2

By: jungleboy69

Chapter 2: Fearing for Life

"This is the best you can do?!" His mother yelled at Barbary who sat on the couch, looking scared and nervously playing with his fingers. She was pointed to a basket on the table between them with a small handful of oranges inside. "How are we going to sell this?!"

Barbary had spent the entire day doing all the chores his mother had left for him. The hardest part was harvesting. Just like the day before, there were no fruits left and the ones left were either too small, too overripe or too rotten. In the end, all he gathered were the oranges left in the basket.

"I tried, Mommy!" Barbary protested. "But there's not much fruit left!" "With the dry spell and last year's wildfire, it's getting harder to grow more trees!" He added. "Excuses, excuses!" His mother snapped. "All I'm hearing is excuses!" She took a shot of beer and set the mug down.

"It's true, Mommy!" Barbary tried to defend himself. "Please, maybe we can move somewhere else that's more fertile." "Move?!" His mother angrily pointed out. "Move where!? How do we know if there is other land out there!?"

Barbary swallowed hard, trying to calm himself. "M-Mom...I-I know it's not m-much..." He began. "Not much?!" She snarled. "Not much?!" "It's nothing!" She exclaimed, swatting the basket off the table and spilling the fruits on the floor.

Barbary's blood ran cold as his mother advanced towards him, stomping the floor as she did. "5 years..." She spat. "5 years your father and I raised you, homeschooled you, fed you and sheltered you..." "And WHAT did I get; a lazy runt who can't do chores right!" She snapped.

"Do you realize rent day is tomorrow?!" She added. "Do you realize if we can't get enough money from selling fruits, the landlord will kick us out!" "And it will be all your fault!" She yelled, pointing a finger at Barbary.

The latter was close to breaking down. Before he knew it, he blurted out. "We would probably still have money if you hadn't wasted all of it on your stupid alcohol!" He yelled back. Instantly, he grew pale and covered his mouth with his hands.

His mother's face turned red and her expression was contorted in rage. "How...dare...you?!" She snarled before she grabbed Barbary by his shirt collar and pulled him close to her. "I will not tolerate such insolence from you...!"

"M-Mommy, I-I'm s-s-sorry!" Barbary begged. "I d-d-didn't mean t-t-o...!" His mother snarled a bit, but then a smile grew on her face. A dark and...unnerving smile that put Barbary on edge. "M-M-Mommy...?" Barbary begged.

"You know...a lazy boy has no place on this farm..." She spoke in an unsettling tone. "You know, I might be able to some cash if I sell you off..." Barbary's eyes widened in horror. "No...No...Mommy..." He begged.

"Or maybe..." She whispered before she leaned in close and trailed her fingers down his neck. Barbary could smell the alcohol from her. "It's getting hard to put food on the table...and I've often wondered...how good you taste...?"

This scared Barbary even more and he felt his mother lick him on the cheek. "Y-You're not g-g-gonna eat me?!" He whimpered. "Times are hard, runt..." His mother whispered into his ear. "and people will do anything to get something to eat."

*CHOMP!*

Barbary squealed in pain as he felt his mother bite down hard on his neck. "NO! NO!" He screamed in terror. "Mommy, I'm sorry! I'll do whatever you want!" He begged. Soon, the biting stopped and he heard her breathing in her ear.

"You better..." She spoke with malice in her voice. "You better do whatever and whenever I want..." "Y-Yes, ma'am..." Barbary replied. "Good, now get out of my sight..." She released her hold on the three-year-old boy and he raced up the stairs. "And no dinner for you tonight!" She called out.

Barbary didn't stop until he was in his room. He collapsed on his bed and sobbed uncontrollably in his pillow. He couldn't believe it; his own mother not only threatened to sell him off like some cattle to the market but tried to cannibalize him.

He felt some pain on his neck and when he looked in the mirror, he saw a small bruise where his mother had bitten him. Once again, the tears came flooding back. If he couldn't do a good job with the chores or if he messed up, his life was now in danger.

Klaus, who had been hiding in his room, scampered over and nuzzled on his foot. Barbary sniffed and wiped his red puffy eyes as he picked up the white mouse. "Klaus...I can't do it..." He croaked. "I can't stay here in this house anymore..."

Klaus squeaked worriedly. "M-Mom tried to eat me...she even planned to sell me..." He sobbed again. Klaus scurried up his arm and nuzzled him on the cheek. Barbary quietly looked out the window and saw the woods near the farm.

As of right now, he felt trapped in his own home, but deep down, he knew someday, somehow, he will have to leave. After a short while, Barbary made his decision. "Klaus...I've decided I don't want to stay here if Mommy wants to keep on hurting me." He whispered. "We are leaving tonight."

Klaus squeaked softly in encouragement and nuzzled close to him. Barbary smiled a bit and stroked him gently with his finger. He wasn't sure how he was going to escape but he didn't care. All he had to do was prepare and wait for his chance.