House Of The Witches

Chapter 14: Back Story

Darryl had been a victim of his father's occasional punches for four whole years. His mother died in the hospital, after fighting cancer for five years. Darryl and his dad became inseparable after her death. They did everything together, they shared everything and they spent a lot of time with each other.

But, as all things must, they began to change as Darryl got older. He became more interested in spending time with his friends and being a rebel than spending time with his old man.

Darryl was thirteen the first time his father ever hit him. He had come home late that night after going over to a friend's place to smoke weed. After he came home, his father was very upset that he was so late and became even more furious when he smelled the marijuana on his breath.

His father scolded him heavily and Darryl was so high that he said some distasteful things which prompted his father to angrily strike him and beat him up.

The next day, the neighbours noticed Darryl's injuries sustained from his father's beating on him and they reported it to child services.

The child services people came over that day and Darryl was at home because he was too hurt to go to school. They told his father that they received a complaint about him for domestic violence and child abuse.

"Who the hell told you that? I would never hurt my son. He's all I got." Darryl's father had told them.

"We will be the judge of that! Can you call your son down Mr Brian?" One of the women had asked.

Darryl's father called him down and the child services people were appalled by the state he was in.

"Darryl, that's your name, right?" The woman asked him.

He nodded affirmatively.

"My name's Miss Naomi and these are my colleagues. Tell me Darryl, who beat you up and hurt you like this?" Miss Naomi asked with a kind and concerned voice.

Darryl stared at his father and then at the ground.

"It's okay Darryl. You can tell me. I'm here to help you." She said nicely.

Darryl was a very smart boy. He knew what happened to foster kids and how they were moved from home to home. He didn't want that for himself so he lied about how he got his injuries.

"It was some bullies from school. They jumped me and beat me up." 

The woman wasn't convinced and she probed him for the truth but he didn't change his answer.

"I think you ought to leave now Miss Naomi. Whoever reported must have misread the situation. Please leave." Darryl's father said to them.

They had no proof and so, they had to leave. Darryl's father was so happy that his son didn't snitch on him and he promised him that he would never hit him again.

"I promise you, Son. I won't ever do it again. Just don't run around with those kids anymore, okay? Come here." His father said and gave him a hug.

"I won't ever hurt you again and I won't ever let anyone hurt you. My son, my only boy" 

.

.

.

If only he could keep his promise now when his son was about to be in so much pain and hurt.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

Darryl screamed aloud as the burning wood sizzled on his shoulder. He tried his hardest to stay still, along with Samson's help. Jennifer held him tight, giving him strength with her presence and Peace watched in horror as the boy she 'loved' screamed in complete agony.