Fighting Evil

FE: 0. Prologue

§ V A L E N T N A §

There are some memories that can never be forgotten. They stick to you forever, and even when you're one hundred two and you have Alzheimer's, they're the crystal clear memories you still have. You can never erase them from yourself because they define who you are.

Just a bit before I had turned fourteen I went through quite a big experience. It shook me so hard that I could still feel it in my bones at night, when everything else was quiet.

Every detail of that night was clear and I could remember it like yesterday.

It was well past midnight but I was still on my phone watching a show. Everyone must have been asleep, the house was silent.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed throughout the house. I turned off my phone and shoved it into one of my pockets.

Next thing I knew I had jumped out of bed and had a broom in my hand. I began hearing more noise and I realized it was from my parent's bedroom. My fingers quickly grasped onto the doorknob and opened the door to the hallway.

The lights in the hallway were on, they were on a low setting, but they were on. Groans, shouts and crashes came from the end of the hall. I glanced to my right and saw a figure close to me carrying a baseball bat.

Just as I was about to swing at him, I realized it was Ethan. He wore the same concerned look that I had.

Together, we both ventured closer to the door of my parents room.

Since I was smaller, Ethan let me open the door and peek inside. He opened the door just a bit and allowed me to look through.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the light and the scene that lay out in front of me shocked me, even though I should already have accepted it.

An insane fight was going on between my parents and two people dressed in black. They had gotten in through the window and glass shards were scattered all over the floor. My mom lay unmoving on the floor with blood pouring from her forehead and lip. My dad was fighting against two men, and he looked like he was doing well.

I knew he could win against the men in black, so now I was a bit more worried about my mom.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked in a hushed whisper behind me. I was too stunned to answer.

That was why I was even more shocked when my mom suddenly rolled over to the door. She was faking dead! She had tricked me!

I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. She opened the door from where she was lying down and suddenly saw Ethan and I.

"Get out, grab your necessities and leave through the window and hide in the bushes, I'll join you, just get out," she whispered in a rushed tone.

I heard Ethan's footsteps become fainter behind me as he went to do as my mom told us. But I was in shock, I couldn't move.

"Valentina! ¿¡Qué coño estás haciendo?!" my mom whisper-yelled. I looked past her, to the vulgar scene behind her.

The men had my dad cornered by the bed. No, this couldn't be happening. My heart beat faster and I crossed my fingers hoping for the best.

One of the guys pulled out a knife and jabbed it twice at my dad's chest. He let out a yell and gripped his chest in agony.

And then I felt part of me break away. My mouth went dry and my entire body went numb.

"Valentina, go now," my mother whispered one last time, but it sounded blurry to me. A force pushed me back, and my face was no longer at the door. The door shut in my face.

I was so angry, upset, broken and enraged to the point where I didn't pound on the door. Instead, I ran to my room, grabbed the first bag I found, and stuffed it to the brim with what I needed. It felt like a huge mistake, and regret, I wish I reacted or did something, but I couldn't, it was too late.

Everything felt like a dream, nothing felt real.

But I knew it was real because I had no more father.

A part of me was lost in that house on that night.

Yet with my loss came extremely high walls that put any tower in Dubai to shame.