A Son's Loyalty

"Mamma," Malik stated that weekend, "We need to talk. It's important. I saw Francis hitting you on Monday afternoon before dinner. His yelling was easy to hear upstairs, so I followed the sound and hid on the stairs while he did that. This is not good for you. Something is wrong and I want to help." It was around noon on Saturday, and Francis was out unloading another ship. So Malik finally had the time to talk to her.

"You saw that? I was hoping not to get you involved in the problem. It's dangerous for you. If I even mention it to another person, he threatened to hurt you too. I won't let anyone touch my son. I don't care if he kills me five times over, he's never going to lay a finger on you," Maria responded, a large fire in her eyes.

Malik reminded her, "But he's hurting you. I don't like seeing Mamma sad or in pain. How about we run away from here? We can go stay with Jess and Elliot for a time; I think Jess scares Francis and he would think twice before taking her on to get to you. It wouldn't be worth the pain he felt to get there, and that would give us time to plan an escape to Claiborne in order to go to Aunt Jenine's house. We'll get as far away from him as possible. Then we can become the family we once were. You won't hurt anymore."

Maria took her son into her arms; smiling as she thought of his words. "If only it were that simple. But how would we be able to simply get out of here one day without him noticing? He works on the docks carrying cargo. We'd have to walk by there in order to get to Elliot and Jess's place. It would seem a little too suspicious if he found us suddenly carrying bags of clothes over there. And what if they aren't home?"

"We'll make a plan with them," Malik resolved, "I can go over there and talk to Jess; she's sure to help us out. Then we can bring over supplies a little at a time in secret, and finally take the last of it as we go out to the house. It can be after your work and my classes one day. In fact, I'm going to go right now. He didn't say anything about anyone else mentioning his actions; and I found out all on my own. If worse comes to worse and I get caught…I can always say that it was totally my idea after I saw what he did."

Before she could tell him to get back, it wasn't safe, Malik was already out the door. He didn't care what happened as long as he could help his mother. She was his only life; his most important friend in the world. Now, all that he had to do was to make the plan and he could free her from the chains around her.

. . .

So that was how Jess, a woman with long and stunning red hair and bright blue eyes, came to answer the door to find a panting Malik Bendict waiting. Elliot was in his study as usual; looking over research notes for the callback he had in the interview for the Council of Seven. She let the boy to the table where she offered him an apple. Truth be told, Jess was just happy to know that he was ok. After Maria began acting oddly, the woman knew Francis had to be the cause. It had chilled her to the bone to think of what it actually was, and she feared for the lives of both mother and son.

"Thank the Guardians that you're safe. I was worried when your mother stopped coming over for tea and coffee after work or inviting me over to her place. Is it something to do with Francis perhaps? Because if my hunch is correct and that maggot has hurt my friend in any way…he's not going to like what I do if and when I catch him in the act. It would make what he did to her seem almost pleasant," she vowed in anger.

Malik nodded and told her everything he saw. Then, he added, "And if she tells anyone, he's gonna hurt me as well. But he didn't say that I couldn't tell anyone, cuz I'm not supposed to know. It was pure luck that I happened to find out myself; I heard him screaming and got curious. So I was wondering if you could possibly help us to make a plan of escape. You know, to get Mamma and me out of that house and into a safer place? I was thinking we could bring our stuff to you little by little, and then come home from her job and my school to this place instead one day. I trust you'd protect us, you won't let him hurt her."

Jess nodded. "It's a fabulous plan. Just don't let him find out. Take only a few clothing articles to my house on days when he's either sleeping in the afternoon because a ship came in that morning, or busy in some other way. But don't take too much that it would seem suspicious. You may have to leave some things behind at first; we can get them back once you're safely in my care and I can strong arm that jerk into letting me pick them up. Take care not to mention this to anybody else…not even your friends. If the word gets out about either the abuse or the plan, then you're sunk. If we act discretely, then we can get you two out of there safely. Worst comes to worst, I'll go in there and show him the muzzle of my fist."

That made Malik giggle. Jess never lifted an ARM in her life; even his mother used to carry a small pistol for defense before Francis confiscated it with the excuse that nobody would mess with her since she was married. But to liken her hand to one would be typical. She'd been known as a punk in school, always in a fight with somebody about something. Once somebody had mentioned that Maria was a whore since she had a child. Knowing the full story from her future father-in-law, she showed them what was up with it.

Malik thanked her and went home. By this time, Francis had returned so he gave his mother a wink to let her know the plan was accepted. Luckily, nothing was suspected of his behavior; he always winked at his mother and the man had assumed the boy was simply "running ragged" with the three friends he packed with all the time. That was the one clear he had to tell him it was ok. They could begin bringing supplies to the Enduro house the next day when Francis was out at the saloon for his usual Sunday afternoon drink.

By bedtime that night, the boy was already anxious to get to work. However, he had to wait until his stepfather left the next day. It would all be worth it in the end if he only had patience and used his own discretion. Soon, both he and his mother would be free. He wouldn't rest until she was happy once again.

The boy fell asleep with relative ease. Unlike the rest of the week, his dreams weren't filled with the pain of his mother. Instead, he saw her with a smile on her face, and a gleam in her eyes. They were in a field of flowers frolicking like a pair of school children; well Malik was one anyway. Francis was nowhere to be seen and he could feel the old Mamma had returned. This dream made him sure that success was near.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…



Heh, I wanted to make a chapter that showed how determined Malik was to protect his mother as a child. It makes his actions as an adult a little more believable. This shows how much he cares, and fills in some of the gaps in the relationship between mother and son. Francis better be careful not to anger Jess. I told you all she was like our favorite Treasure Hunter. If only personalities were inherited…but we all know it was because of how he lived after Yggdrasil. I was going for irony in this, I like irony. Ok, even if the plan does not seem that realistic, it's hard to know how abusers will react. If she can lull him into believing she's under his thumb even moreso than usual, then it may give them more of a time to get away. That's the mentality in this one. So sue me, I've never witnessed such a thing first or secondhand.