Dareen

7# Almost A Whisper

Music: Almost A Whisper- Yanni.
Elliot
"Where is the key?" I asked Linda once I stepped into the apartment.
"Calm down first." She stood up hiding the key behind her back.
"Linda, I'm not ready to joke. He needs to learn a lesson." I reached for her hand and snatched the key before marching to the door.
"At least tell me what has happened!" She protested.
"Stay out of it." I repeated pushing the door open. "Wait outside." I ordered her before slamming the door shut.
"Do you think that I'm your dog? You can't lock me here!" Ethan screamed.
"Lower your voice." I glared at him before pushing him back.
"What's wrong with you?!" He yelled. I held him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. His back arched from the pain, but he didn't dare to move.
"I want to beat the shit out of you. I should kill you for what you did." I snapped pulling him to me before slamming him against the wall again.
"Listen to me, please." He whimpered.
"There's nothing for you to explain! You'll go to her and beg her forgiveness even if you'll have to get on your knees. Do you hear me?" I yelled.
"Leave me, and we'll talk." He sighed, and I finally let go of him.
"You have a week to search for any type of work. You can also join the workers in the storage units. I won't pay one more dollar over you, do you understand?" I yelled.
"You want me to drop out?" His eyes widened.
"No, sir. You can work in the evening. I used to do that when I had to pay for your school and my college!"
"I know that I made a mistake, but don't you think that you're overreacting? I mean, I'll tell her that I didn't mean it, and it will be fine."
"You were going to rape her." I reminded.
"I wasn't going to do that! I was just fooling around."
"You're not a child anymore, and there's nothing like I didn't mean it anymore! I warned you before, but you didn't listen and now, you have to pay." I kicked his leg.
"Will you stop?" He yelled holding it.
"Sorry for hurting you!" I yelled pushing him back. "You ripped her dress. Will you just explain to me what were your plans for her?"
"I was drunk."
"Oh really? I'm sorry I didn't know. You were drunk so it's okay to do that. No really, I'm sorry." I mocked.
"I didn't say that, but I wasn't really planning 'something'. You should know me better."
"But I don't know you. You're not my brother." I shook my head.
"Elliot, stop saying that!"
"I won't talk to you or even listen to you till she forgives you. No more staying out late, and no more bars. If I knew that you did anything else wrong, I'll send you back to your father, and just then, you'll know that I once cared, but you never appreciated anything. One more mistake, Ethan." I repeated. "Don't ask me for money again."
"You're kidding, right?!"
"No, Linda will make you a sandwich every morning. Yeah, and forget about your car." I opened the door.
"I am beginning to hate you." He called after me.
"You made her suffer. That's why I'll make you suffer. It's not too much to learn and work at the same time, and it's also not too much to apologise for a mistake. If it will change something, it will make you a man." I said calmly before walking out and slamming the door shut.
"Linda, come." I called her before pushing my room door open.
"Yes?"
"I set rules, and I want you to know them."
"Tell me what happened yesterday." She sighed.
"First, don't you ever give Ethan money. Second, you'll put an eye on him whenever I'm not here. Third, you're not going to clean his room or his bathroom unless he starts working. If he'll just sit like a fool, then he may as well clean his mess. If you broke any of these rules, you'll be the one to pay, Linda. I trust you more than myself, so please don't break my trust."
"Okay, sir." She said through her teeth before turning around.
"Okay, Elliot. I don't want to hear the word 'sir' here." I held her arm stopping her.
"You're not acting right." She sighed before walking out and closing the door.
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"It hurts." Ethan winced.
"I'm about to finish." Linda whispered as she applied lotion to his bruised face. "You must tell me what had happened. Elliot is so mad even with me." She whispered to him making sure that I can't hear them.
"Uh-" He started, but closed his mouth quickly once I stepped in.
"Mark is coming over. We will eat lunch together today."
"I'm going out with my friends." Ethan replied not looking at me.
"All of us will eat together." I repeated sternly making him roll his eyes.
"I'll prepare everything, now." Linda sighed before washing her hands.
"May I help you?" I asked her.
"Uh- as you wish." She shrugged as I washed my hands thoroughly.
"I'm going to my room." Ethan announced leaving the room.
"I'm sorry if I crossed my limits this morning." I sighed once he shut his door.
"You didn't. I think I am the one who crossed the borders, actually." She talked quickly, and I can tell that she was still mad.
"Linda," I groaned pulling her to my arms. "I have no choice but to act like this. I won't do anything to hurt him. That's for his best."
"What did he do?" She sighed looking up at me.
"I don't want to discuss that. He just did something horrible."
"A girl is involved." She concluded.
"Hmm." I nodded letting go of her before openning the fridge.
"Oh God.." She whispered putting her face in her hands.
"Linda, it's under control. Don't worry, he was drunk, and I'll make sure that he never does that again. We will follow a very strict routine, and you need to help me." I whispered, amd she nodded as the bell rang.
"Mark is here." I smiled kissing her forehead. "I'll get the door."
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"You're contradicting, you didn't let him go out, and at the same time you're ignoring him!"
"He can't go out because simply, his friends are 'devils'. At the same time, I know how to punish him. Ignoring him is the best punishment."
"He's not nine anymore, Elliot. You must get over it."
"I can't, Mark."
"You really care about this girl."
"I love her." I whispered... .