Our Flame

lv

NADIA

It's been two days, since my father water boarded me. Compared to what I've seen him do, he went easy on me. But that doesn't change the fact that he still did it.

Oscar comes to see me often, more than he's supposed to. He figured out what the drug was, Midazolam- what doctors use to put patients to sleep. Still, I don't know how that'll affect my previous addiction.

"Glad to see you're awake." My father enters the room, pulling up a chair. I roll my eyes, not bothering to give him a reaction.

Two days, yet it feels like weeks. "You said your husband has nothing to do with this, but he has everything to do with this." He speaks.

"I'll give you a little story time." He sits in front of me, "Ezra's mother, it all started with her. She is a malicious women, I used to admire that about her. Until, she stole something from me- in return, she lost her daughter. Fair trade, right?"

I shake my head, "She was just a kid, she was innocent." My father stands up at my words. "When will you learn? Nobody in this world is innocent, we've all sinned. Open your eyes, Nadia- this is the world we live in." He frustrates.

"Ezra's mother left me alone after that, and that's how it works. Kill or be stomped upon by your enemies."

"What did she take?" I question, "Not what, who." He corrects. My eyebrows furrow, "Your husband's mother is a drunk, always has been. She took away a friend of mine." He admits.

And this- this is the most my father has told me about a friend, so I listen. In hopes of being able to appeal to his better nature. If there is a better side to him.

"I was young, but she killed him- ran him over." He finishes. "And that's why you're like this?" I scoff. "You're miserable and you make everyone around you miserable too. You don't get to be this way just because you lost a friend, you killed my girlfriend, right in front of me. You don't get to kill a child just so you can grieve with the loss of your friend."

I continue, while he gets angrier. "You've been through some shit? So have I. You lost someone? So have I. But you don't see me treating people like this. The world is not a game for you to play with, you don't get to decide who lives and dies. I can't even feel sorry for you, look at what you've become."

I huff finishing my rant, there isn't a better side to him. Confusion washes over me as he takes the cuffs from my bruised wrists. "Stand up." He orders.

"You think you know everything, you think you've been shown everything." He chuckles, "Hit me, show me what you know. Show me what you've become."

My fist wastes no time in colliding into his jaw. I duck when he attempts to punch me in the face. I knee him in the stomach, yet it didn't seem to affect him.

He grips my leg, pushing me onto the ground. Every part of my body feeling the impact. "This world has always been a game, learn to play it." He spits.

I stand to my feet, pushing him forward. "And what about the people? Are they just pawns?" I push him again. "They're all the same, meaningless."

Before I can process his words he sends a punch to my face, "I taught you better than this." He throws me to the cold ground, again. My leg reaches out successfully causing him to hit the ground.

I climb on top of him, hitting him over and over. Once for my mother, another time for Vera, another for everything he put me through. Again and again for my brothers. Twice for Ezra's family. Another for Issac.

"Fight back." I hit him again. He pulls me off of him as if I weigh nothing. "You're just like me, Nadia. You'll see it soon enough." He spits the blood from his mouth.

"I'll never be like you." I shout before he closes the door.

**

Hours later my back leans against the wall, the door opening causes me to sit up straighter. "Your father is pissed, right now." Oscar enters the room.

I look at up him, "Bruises all over his face." Oscar tells me. I scoff, "Do you think they bruised his ego?" He shakes his head.

"I fought with him." My eyes look up at the celling. "He's so cruel, I thought I could get through to him. But he tried to give me some pathetic sob story."

"Did you sob?" Oscar wonders, I chuckle. "No, then he wanted to fight so that's what happened." I shrug. "You did that? Remind me to never get on your bad side." He backs away.

I shake my head, "Do you have siblings?" I wonder, thinking about my own family. "One little sister."

I look at him, "Her names Olivia and I'm doing this for her." Oscar speaks then sighs, "I'm just trying to be a good brother, you know?"

"I bet you are." I honestly tell him. Oscar shakes his head, "I haven't been there for her like I should've been." He admits.

"You have time, Oscar. Right your wrongs." I speak, "I'm going to be an uncle." He breathes out. "That's why I'm here. I have to help her or at least, I have to try to help her kid."

My heart tugs, Oscar doing one of the most dangerous things in the world just to help his sister and her baby. The lengths we go to help family.

"Babies are expensive." I remind, he chuckles. "What about your family?" He wonders. I sigh, trying to find my words. "They're great." I simply say.

"But?" Oscar urges me to on, "But we have our moments." I whisper the last part. "All families do."

The door opening ruins our conversation, "Boss is out, how about we rough her up?" A man enters. Oscar steps in front of me, "Already did." He points to my cheek, I assume there's a bruise there.

"Ah, that's nothing." His heavy accent flowing through his words. The man steps closer kicking at my legs, Oscar pushes the man away from me.

"You protecting her? She must be good, one taste man. That's all I want." The man stares at me. Once again, Oscar pushes him. A beeping sound stops their quarrel.

"What is that?" My voice comes out shaky. "Boss is back, baby." I cringe as the man speaks, that nickname name only sounds good out of Ezra's mouth.

"Another time." He winks at me before leaving the cell. "Thanks." I whisper to Oscar. "It's the least I could do." He speaks before exiting the cell.

Tears fall from my eyes as the door slams, once again locking me in the dark cell. I'm not sad, I'm angry. Angry that I was ever in this position.

Angry that I didn't kill my father when I had the chance.

++
word count- 1192