Architect of paradise (PART I: Out of the Ruins)

40. Relive the hell

     It got late. It is already eight o'clock. The sky is almost dark. The meeting with the entrepreneur took some time and then the meeting with the scientist was not a good one. He brought some bad news and I don't know how to announce to the locals. I need Mr. Jackson's advice for that. I can't do anything right now. I will just go to Maggie's home and I will think about it later.

I feel the cool wind and some rain drops. I look up in the sky. The clouds are grey. It is going to rain. I must hurry to Maggie's house, if I don't want to get wet. Her house is at the east side of Green Hill. It is a little isolated from the town. It is near the crops fields and a small forest. I need ten minutes by foot.

     I call Daniel to inform him that I will be a little late but he doesn't answer. He must have return from Harrisonburg. Well, I'll see him in a while. I only hope that Mr. Belt is a reasonable and understanding person otherwise it is going to be a long evening.

While I am walking, I see a lightning to rip the darkness of the sky. It is not only going to rain but it is going to be a little spring storm. I call Alice to inform her that I will be late so she won't worry. Then, I can see Maggie's house in background.

Some meters away from the front door I can hear glasses shattering. I furrow my eyebrows and I approach. Then I freeze in my place when I hear Maggie's cries and the yelling of her father.

-"You think you can go away from me like your mother?" He shouts and the next moment a belt is beating Maggie's body. She cries and begs for mercy. She lies on the floor while her hands try to protect her head.

-"You unfaithful little bitch! You want to get away!!!"

-"Please dad! I am sorry. I am sorry. I won't go. I won't go. Please don't beat me!" Maggie begs and I feel my heart to be squeezing.

My whole body is trembling because these yelling and cries and begging are part of my own past. A fear that I buried in my deepest part of my soul, comes out again. I grab my arms in fear as I listen to the begging cries of Maggie. One by one my past memories come to mind and I want to vomit. My eyes are red and wet from the tears.

-"You little shit! You ungrateful bitch! You want to leave me. You want to free yourself! If I kill you, you won't leave."

He shouts and the next moment I hear a glass shattering and then the heartbreaking shout of Maggie. She is in a lot of pain. I can tell. I was in the same pain for a long time. My hands are trying to cover my ears. I can't stand it. I can't relive this hell again.

-"Please dad, forgive me. I won't go." Maggie begs. However, instead of mercy, his beating is more intense.

-"These hands are the cause of this situation. If I break them, you won't go anywhere!" He shouts and he grabs a broken chair leg to hit and break her hands, the source of her talent.

I tighten my fists. I tighten my resolve and with a trembling heart and body, I rush in the house. I push him away from her at the last moment, before he breaks her hands.

-"This is child abuse. I will report you and you will be in jail. You will never see your daughter again!" I shout with a trembling voice.

-"You!!! You are the devil which put those ideas in her mind, aren't you? You want to take away my family." He shouts angrily.

-"Mr. Belt!!!" I try to wake him but I can smell the alcohol on him. He is drank.

-"Maggie, can you stand up?" I ask the girl. She tries to stand on her feet. She grabs my coat to help her.

-"We are going to get out of here." I say.

-"You won't go anywhere!" The man shouts and rushes at me with the chair leg.