Stone's Diary: Kairo

Chapter 79.) Bury Your Demons

The room was uncomfortably darker than normal as 15-year-old Lucky slept on the floor of his bedroom as his little sister slept peacefully on the tiny twin bed. The bright moon illuminated the busy city, and a loud thud could be heard faintly in the distance. With the moon casting a shadow over his frame, there was a butcher knife tucked under his pillow. Another thud pulled Lucky from his uncomfortable slumber and his head whipped toward his cracked bedroom door.

Knowing that he closed it before he went to sleep, Lucky resentfully stood. Double checked to make sure his sister was still asleep, he stretched and had half a mind to just sit on the bed until he heard a scream. His tensed muscles cracked with each stride as the noise got louder. The blaring voice of his stepfather's followed by a screech made his eye twitch.

Leaving the room, he made his way down the unlit hall slowly, looking at the mess scattered on the floor. His heart plummeted when his mom was thrown out of her bedroom and against the wall. Halting his movements, Lucky's eyes became slit as his stepfather staggered out. With a half-empty bottle of brown liquor, Lucky's head cocked when he noticed the pistol in his hand.

"Ain't you 'posed to be in bed, lil nigga?"

Lucky just stood there and eyed him as his eyes darkened.

"You hear me talking to you?"

"Mom?" Lucky walked toward his barely conscious mother.

Her left eye was swollen shut, her lips were busted, and her nose was covered in blood. "I... I'm fine, baby."

Lucky's eyes became glossy and his lips balled as he touched her swollen cheek, "You gotta stop letting him do this to you."

"Take your stupid ass to your bedroom, nigga!" his stepfather barked as he yoked Lucky up and flung him across the hall.

His head kissed the wall and dazed him for a moment but not long enough when Lucky's mom began kicking and screaming as she was hauled into the bedroom. Groaning, Lucky pulled himself up and stumbled toward the bedroom as his mother's screams became faint.

Barging into the bedroom, there was his stepfather, standing over his mother's still body. Still beating on her. Lucky's breathing became labored. His hands shook and his brows knitted together. His eyes fell on the pistol and without hesitating, he rushed over and picked it up.

His stepfather glanced at him with his hand wrapped around his mother's neck and a smile on his face, "You ain't got the balls to pull that trigger, nigga."

Lucky's eyes darkened and the moment his stepfather laughed-

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Wh- whoa!" fear was laced heavily in Ava's voice as she jumped out of bed and stared at a semi out of it Lucky.

"Um... Luck?" she whispered when he covered his face.

"My bad," clearing his throat, Lucky slid off the bed.

Ava cautiously sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed the back of her neck as she stared at Lucky. He seemed as if he mentally checked out. "Lucky?"

Closing his eyes, Lucky tilted his head back and flexed his jaw trying to snap out of it. He couldn't feel his heart beating, but the taunting voices were loud and clear. Looking around nervously, Ava stood slowly, walked around the bed, and made her way over. Walking toward him, she placed her hand on his face but quickly regretted that when he choked her.

Confusion came. Then fear. Shortly after, the tears came as she tried to pry his hand from her neck, "Lu- Lucky!"

The emptiness in his eyes faded and the moment he came to, he quickly let go, "Ava!"