Our Flame

xi

NADIA

I whimper when my body hits the ground, tears form in my eyes as I hear the lock click. Ignoring the pain, I limp over to the door.

"Let me out." I bang on it as hard as I can.

It's no use, the door is steel and it can only be unlocked from the outside. Usually I wouldn't mind, this is the chance to be alone but it's dark and I know I'm bleeding.

Twelve year old me crawls to the window where there's a small light shining through, the moon.

Mama loved the moon.

"At least turn the lights on." I yell again but once again it's no use.

I don't know what I did this time to upset my father but I'm afraid I'll find out soon.

"Hello" I whisper as I hear footsteps coming towards me. "Get up." The lights turn on and I see my father holding a gun. I obey, mostly because he scares me.

"Please." I don't know what I'm pleading for because this won't end the way I want it to, it never does.

"Stand there." He points to a dot on the floor. The pain in my leg is overwhelming. "Now." He yells. I limp over to the dot.

"Dodge the bullets."

"What?" I question knowing I heard him right but, who shoots at their own daughter.

My thoughts are cut off when a bullet pierces the floor next to me.

Knowing I can't get out of this, I obey.

Pushing through the pain I turn, moving different ways to avoid the bullets. I let out a sigh of relief as I move right before one hits my head.

I dodge the bullets until I can't. "Stop this." I pant out, never stopping my movements. But this time the next bullet hits me.

I look down at my bleeding stomach and gasp, "You shot me."

"Let this be a lesson." He chuckles before I pass out.

I look at the scar in the mirror, that was the day I knew he was crazy. I also knew that I had officially stopped being his daughter.

He was drunk when he shot me and he was probably off his medications as well but, still shooting your own blood. It'll never make sense to me.

Nothing he has done will ever make sense to me.

I don't think it was the bullet that hurt but more so the way he looked at me when he did it, it was almost like he wanted me to die.

Even though he swore that it wasn't the case.

To him it was a training exercise but to me it was traumatic and sickening. There were other ways to train.

I pull my shirt down as I hear a knock at my door, it's been a week since Niko and I told our brothers that our mother's death wasn't actually a suicide.

They seem to be taking it pretty well or as well as you can.

"Hey." I open the door to reveal Niko. "We're all going down to the gym, want to come?" I nod my head then look at the tattoo on his chest.

"The moon?" I question. Niko shrugs. "Mama loved it." I smile at his short explanation.

"Why'd you stop walking?" I ask as he stops in front of me. "You look sad." He states. I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off.