ALEC'S POV
She was crying right next to me, clutching me to dear life and rocking me back and forth, in a vain way to calm me, and herself, possibly.
I just cannot take the tears, not my sister, she doesn't deserve the old guy's punishment.
Punishment.
Suddenly I could feel every bones in my body ache, the skin on my back burns like it was on fire, and my joins feels like they've been replaced with sands that even moving them, I wince.
She seems to take notice and ignore our father trying to break the door from outside. Hah, like that would work. Night like this happens at least 3 times a week, whether it's their fault or not. That door has been clinging for its dear life, and theirs. Who knows what'll happen if they can't escape? Probably lying in some murky sewer by now.
"Sssh sssh, it's alright it's alright" Her voice breaks over her cry and she sleeps next to him, hugging him tight like she would never let go "I love you I love you I love you, I'm sorry" she repeats the words like a mantra, whispering them to me that I'm sure would be etched forever in my memory. She's always been the strong one.
"She's worth the pain" somehow I voiced that thought out loud. My voice sounds croaky. I managed to hold the tears but I couldn't exactly stop my screams. "What?" Jane doesn't catch that. I just turned around and give her a kiss on her forehead, urging her to rest. She moves a little to give slight more space for me. I smile noting the small affection she's giving me.
3RD PERSON POV
Alec squirmed in his place all night, not bothering to even try to close his eyes for a second. The pain was almost unbearable, but years of experience taught him that all will be better by the morning. The only thing that's wrong is how slow the ticking clock was.
Jane trying to control her breathing, she noticed the movement her brother made, and she knows he can't sleep. There's nothing more in the world she wants to do but hug and soothe him now, hoping that it would take away the pain. But she doesn't want him to worry, so she just closed her eyes. He's too in pain to notice the gleaming streaks of tear occasionally running down her cheek when he grunted in pain.
Without both knowing, both fell asleep out of exhaustion, physically and mentally, they were tired beyond what children their age should ever felt.
JANE'S POV
The smell of morning and tea hits my nose and I opened my eyelids slowly, feeling like it's weighed a ton, each. Alec was sitting on the chair sipping on them and staring at me. He smiled.
He has the most gorgeous smile in the world. And most of them was for her. I can do nothing but to return the smile, do i?
ALEC'S POV
She has the most beautiful smile in the world.
How he love it when she smiles at him, it gives him something worth staying than running out of the house, seeking safety someplace else. But the war has torn the country. Nowhere is any safer than where they are now, and he couldn't risk her safety.
I relaxed, watching her slowly getting up and going toward the pile of clothes, I seem to forgot and lean back, he winced mentally at the pain that's suddenly reappearing from giving his back pressure. He now regret not changing his clothes when she was still sleeping. She'd see the bruises and scars now. He doesn't wanna worry her.
Jane seems to notice her brother's change of expression, quickly stand by his side and caress his face. "I'm sorry brother, where does it hurt?"
Where does it hurt? He ask himself. Well his back still feels like it's full of mini arsonists trying to burn the skin off him, and truth be told, he can't move as much, cause it hurts. And his heart leaps for this little girl, alike of him and sounding very worried.
"I'm okay, no worries" he flash her a smile, hoping it seems sincere.
The pain was eating him alive, slowly, painfully.
"Go change and we'll have breakfast" I then say after she doesn't move for seconds. It seemed to snap her out of her trance, and she dress in a flurry.
Not wanting to be seen, he tries to do the same. Back against the wall he grab a shirt, a little dirtied but better looking than the rest on his pile. Not caring to change his pants. Well, it's his only pants.
They go down the stairs, trying to not remember last night's incident, screaming in his head. She turn left toward the kitchen, and he follows. No sight of Jared anywhere. Good, he's asleep.
He scrounge through the cabinet, looking for something to eat and found some bread, took a smell on it and decided it isn't stale. Giving Jane a piece and one for himself they seated themselves on the kitchen's island. Not bothering the seat for they're worn out and unstable.
Jared walks in the room.
Jane quivered a little, 2 years in this house has damaged her so much that she's scared at everything about it. It's not a home.
He seems to ignore the presence of his children, morning sickness have swept over his head, it's better if they stay away before anger settles in again. So he grab her wrist and tug them, signaling they should escape.
Escape. Oh the irony. Whoever escape from their own home?
In a swift movement they didn't know he has, or even capable of under hangover. He closed the door shut before any of them could reach to it.
Trouble.
He smile a coy smile, like he succeeded on fooling two little kids, now looking more scared than ever.
The pain on his back ache again, like a subtle reminder of what would happen. He never really beat them again in the morning, he usually still asleep or ignoring them. I don't know what would happen if the unhealed bruises got beat up again. He wince at the thought.
"Now, boy, I'm sure last night didn't go well as finished, did it?" he play with a wooden rolling pin on his right hand, twirling it like a baton. Meaning to scare the hell out of his children. They've cost him his fortune, his wife, and his unborn child. They're omens for misfortunes. He raised his hand.
Jane shrieked, afraid.
It all happens so fast. The pain only last a few seconds then I must've blacked out. The last view I saw was Jane on the corner, in balls, crying her heart out. I must've looked pretty bad then. I smiled at her for a moment then everything went black.
JANE'S POV
He smiled. Why the hell would her brother smile at times like this? Father doesn't seem to notice he slowly slipping away from consciousness, keep on beating him.
"STOP IT! CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S UNCONSCIOUS?" she managed to scream in between her sob. The view was wrecking her as much as it's wrecking him. Mentally she feels for him, she wanna reach out and protect him like he would if it's her in his position. Instead she just balled up against the corner, scared of what might happen next.
Thankfully father realized how Alec has gone unmoving, not making anymore sounds in pain. This seems to worry him a bit. "Oy you, get him up, don't you have school to go?" he addressed for particularly no one. He was looking out the window, trying to see if any neighbors have stole a glance inside the house.
She fumbled with trying to stand, trying to lift up alec's limp body off the floor, and drag him outside. A few meters from their house she placed him on the sidewalk, back against their neighbors' wooden fence, she sobbed for him, she sobbed for their lives. She sobbed for the pain they endure. She sobbed for their loss.
"wake up, wake up alec" she slowly rocks his body back and forward. His breathing is shallow, and the sight of him brings pity to anyone who took a glance. She cleans his face out of dirt and sweat covering it, then she just placed him on her lap sometimes making wishes that he'd get up soon.
ALEC'S POV
"How long?"
Finally concluded that he still can speak afterall, he asked his sister. He could tell by the moisture he feels that she has been crying. Again.
"A few minutes" she said, running her hand through his hair.
He tries to get up and slump against the fence again, it's all too much. Last night's pain is nothing compared to what he feels now.
He continue trying to control his shallowed breathing, obviously still in shock of what happened. And an idea comes to mind…
