The Red Doves

Chapter III

It was around 15:00 when Alan and Suziky arrived at the apartment. The lights that Suziky opened lately were still open and we could see her mother walking in circle in the living room from the front window. Seeing her like this could actually make people think she was actually worried for her daughter.
Once Alan stopped the car, Suziky opened her door and got out of her seat. Closing back the door, she took a look to Alan who was giving her a smile of encouragement. She smiled back at him and looked at the window where we could see her mother. This one was now looking through it, her eyes on her daughter, faking this smile that Suziky couldn't see anymore. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the door and entered inside.
At the second she put her foot in, her mother was already coming to her, her sweet smile gone. Before she could say a thing, Suziky received a hit on her cheek once again from her mom's hand.

- Where were you again, little shitty whore?! she screamed even louder than this morning. You know I hate when you get out like this!

- Mom, I can explain!

- Shut up! I didn't tell you to speak! You better tell me what you're planning cause I swear that I'll make you understand!

- I just went to see Alan! That's all! shouted Suziky, tears coming down her cheeks.

- Did I give you the right? Did I?! yelled the mother while pushing the young woman to the door.

From the shock of the door, Suziky's breath cut for a moment and she fell on her knees. Looking on the ground to not see the scary look of her mom once again, she was crying quietly. As she was about to answer a quick and silent "no" to her mom, this one walked away, tapping her feet loudly to the floor.
Suziky didn't want to stay another second. She stood on her feet and ran to her room, passing in front of her screaming mother. Pushing her door room, she grabbed her cellphone and put it in her pocket, dropped some clothes in a bag and ran out. At this moment, she bumped into her mother who, with a knife in one hand, grabbed her daughter's hair with the other.
Screaming of pain, Suziky was begging her mother to stop, but in vain. The mom threw her on the wet carpet full of beer and wine and kicked Suziky's back. The victim fell on her stomach, coughing and screaming for help. The mother picked her head and hit it one the floor, making her stop screaming.

- Shut up, stupid brat! she continued, screaming as loud as Suziky's screams, or I'll make it way worst! Your friend waiting outside, you're texting him to leave this parking right now! Understood!?
As an answer, the crying woman nodded her head. The mother hit the head of her daughter one last time to the floor and let her go. Suziky kneeled slowly on the carpet and took her phone out, both of her hands shaking. The tears were falling on the screen but didn't stop her to call Alan.

- Yes? Suziky heard from the other side of the phone.

- A-Alan.., she started with a stutter in her voice, I'll stay here...

- Suzy, are you good? Your voice is weird.

- I'm fine, continued Suziky, trying to keep a normal voice. I'm ok, don't worry...

- No... No, you're not. It's your mom, isn't it?

- See you tomorrow, Alan, finished Suziky before hanging off on a worry Alan.

Suziky put back her cellphone on the pocket of her jeans and closed her eyes to cry. Not even a minute of calm and her mother was already picking her up from the arm. Even with her scream, the mom didn't stop and pushed her daughter back on her knees, facing the couch. She took the hair of her daughter and, with a single move, cut her long hair. The crying girl drove her hand to the rest of her hair which was now stopping to her ears.

- That'll teach you to listen to your mother next time, innocent child, said Suziky's mother as we could hear a loud noise coming from the front door.

Alan, wet from the heavy rain of outside, was running inside and stopped right in front of the scene. His eyes wide open passed from his friend to the mother. This one pointed the knife to the boy, back to her screaming :

- Have you seen what you did, bastard?!

She was now pointing the sharp knife at Suziky who was trying to formulate a sentence, begging help from Alan with her eyes.

- No, it's your fault, old brat! the young man shouted. Suziky is your daughter and you did nothing but making her life a fricking nightmare!

Alan walked to his injured friend, pushing the old lady away from him and Suziky. He took his friend from the floor and picked her up. Not even saying a goodbye or paying attention to Suziky's mom, he walked back to the front door and left the house, leaving the door open behind him.

. . .

Suziky was sitting on a chair in kitchen waiting for Alan to come back. The room was bigger than the room she had in the apartment. The counter was empty, except for the little basket of fruit resting on it. The rectangle table was surrounded by 5 other chairs. The floor was clean and had a greyish color. The furniture was also more present in the house compared to the apartment.
Alan walked back to Suziky's seat with some tissues and ice. She took a look at her own body. Her knees were covered of fresh bruises. Her legs had some too but they were older than the others. Her arms were also covered of some new bruises but they were less present. When she came in the house, she saw from the mirror's reflection her bloody forehead and her red cheek, without forgetting her new hairstyle.

- Stop looking at these, look at me instead, said Alan, walking back in and taking Suziky out of her mind.

- It's easier to say than to do, she told him. But you're right, I shouldn't look back to the past.

- Why didn't you call sooner? he said while cleaning the blood from her open wound. She could have done more.

- I was not able to, sorry. She had me by surprise once again...

- Well, I called the police lately so she should be under controlled by now.

- Yea, probably... Ouch!

- Sorry, said Alan. I pressed to hard on it.

As Alan cured Suziky, the young woman was still in her mind, thinking of how her mother would pay for her crimes.