Escape

Chapter 24

"No, p-please Uncle Gabe--" I whimpered as he continued hitting me. My meek voice getting lost in the series of grunts and slurred tones of insults directed at me.

"Did I ask you to speak?!" He shouted before pulling me up, my hair in his tight grip. My arms were so tired of protecting myself that they fell limply at my sides, swinging freely as he continued shaking me. My eyes fluttering close, trying to stay awake but the exhaustion hitting me.

"Tell me bitch, why did you survive? WHY?" He asked and hit me right across my face. My already swollen face started stinging, cutting through the numbness.

I heard the clinking of metal, mustering enough strength to open my eyes. My muscles are crying, and my eyelids are screaming at me to close them. But the moment I realised what was happening next, a quiet whimper left my swollen lips.

The leather of the belt met my burning body making an angry whipping sound rip throughout the empty house.

A scream tore through me as he continued whipping me. I lost count of how many, his belt buckle hitting my bleeding body. My body started numbing the pain, I slowly lost the feeling of the cold floor my body lay, broken. The same floor I used to laugh and play on. The same floor I learned walking on, where dad and mom used to tickle me till I couldn't speak. The same floor of the house, where laughter used to echo. Not the scream and cries.

"Wake up! Blair!"

I sat up startled. My breath coming out heavy, I lifted my hand to see them fine, I hugged my body and looked around, confused. I was in my room. It was dark outside. Everything was okay. My uncle was not here. He won't find me again.

I looked at a very startled and confused Brian sitting at the edge of my bed. Both hands on my shoulder and a sense of relief washed over me. I inched closer to him before he embraced me in a hug. His one hand in my hair drawing soft circles on the nape of my neck.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He whispered, his warm breath tickling my ear.

I moved a little and he shifted back. His hands holding my arm. I looked at him, his eyebrows were furrowed together, and his lips formed a small frown.

I shook my head and looked down. His hands squeezed my arms, before inching closer and kissing softly on my forehead that was covered in sweat. He pushed my locks of hair behind my back. His hands then move to caress my cheek. I looked up with my teary eyes.

"You can talk to me, precious," He spoke. My heart fluttered at his little nickname for me. A little genuine smile crept on my face.

"It was just a nightmare," I said. My voice is a little hoarse. He remained quiet waiting for me to continue.

"After my parents died, my uncle was my legal guardian. He was never pleasant even when mom and dad were alive, I- we, we all used to avoid him. He also rarely came to visit." I said and cleared my throat.

"When he was assigned to me, he shifted back into our home, his old apartment did not have enough space," I said. "At first it was going on fine, he never showed a parental figure to me, but it was not that bad. I learned that I was never going to get a hug or a pat of appreciation after my parents died." I felt Brian's hand rub my arm, comforting me.

"B- but it got worse," I whispered as my eyes glossed over again. "His business drooped, he began drinking. Returning home late and sleeping the day off. Then he started drowning in debt and held me liable for being the liability at him. A burden. One day, he returned home and came to my room," I wanted to continue but a sob broke out. Brian pulled me to his chest. His hands rubbing my back. I took a deep breath and gathered enough courage to speak. "He- He beat me. Beat me so much that I couldn't open my eyes for a week and couldn't leave the house for a month," I spoke. My voice came out heavy from the crying and emotions lodged in my throat.