Hiraeth // n.h (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 8

*Stella's P.O.V*

"It's probably nothing," dad assures mum, pulling her closer to his side. "Let's just keep on walking, yeah?"

I nod and began to slowly follow them, still keeping my eyes focused on the tree. 

Snap

Crack

I shake my head furiously, "No, there is definitely someone or something over there," I lower my voice.

"Dad?" Jewels nervously ushers towards him, "I'm scared."

He looks at her and nods, kissing her forehead for comfort, "I know, but everything will be all right."

We then hear snickering and footsteps, coming in the same direction. I gulp, the hairs in the back of my neck standing.

"All right," dad yells out to whoever was there, "enough with the games, come on out."

We wait for them to give themselves up, but they never do. 

"I said get your punk arses out here, now," dad repeats bitterly, becoming annoyed and upset.

Jewels and I glance at each other, fear I'm sure evident in my eyes.  I was curious to know who it was, while at the same time I felt as if I would piss my pants if I knew.  Then, slowly, two men step out from behind the tree... 

Guns held tightly in their hands.

Dad instantly tenses as he pulls mom and Jewels behind him, "Look, we don't want any trouble."

"I think its a little too late for that," one of them hiss, raising the gun at dad.

I tightened my grip around Kalie's waist, afraid to let go of her thinking that if I do, there's no telling if I'll ever get her back.  A small whimper escapes her lips, as she nuzzles her head into the crook of my neck.

"Please," dad begs, "I have my wife and girls with me."

"Please," Jewels whimpers, trying to get through to them with sympathy. 

He looks at each and every one of us for a few seconds before saying, "Sorry."

Bam

Everything happened so fast.  Blood, screaming, fear, hate.  It still doesn't feel real.

Mum screams, covering her mouth with her trembling hands.  She stares at dad in shock as his body collapses on to the floor.

"Timothy," mum cries in agony, collapsing on top of dad's body.  "No!"

"Shut her up," one orders the other.

"Come on Stella." Jewels sounded out of breath, pulling on my arm. I don't know why, but I stayed frozen. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. And trust me, I did. "Stella, please we have to go." She begged, trying her hardest to pull me with her.

"W-what about mum?" I ask, locking eyes with her.

She didn't look like herself, Jewels. Her hair was a mess, unlike it's usual neat style.  The color was no longer there but fading by the sweat that damped her hair. Her blue eyes were gray and pale making her look dead. It scared and pained me to see her this way.

"She's coming," she anxiously said, "now come on, let's go."

I nod, finally able to move as we run across the parking lot to safety.

As told, one of came and grabbed mum by the waist, roughly throwing her off of him. Mum yells in pain as her head accidentally came in contact with the curb.  She groans, rolling to her side and attempts to get up again.  That was until he kicks her back down.  He then straddles her, grabbing her hands and pinning them down.

"Get off of me you bastard," she screams, thrashing back and forth.

"Shut the f*ck up," He orders, slapping her across the face, taking her by surprise.  Mum gasps and stares at him before spitting in his face.  He angrily growls, wiping her spit from his face before knocking her over the head with his gun. 

"F*cking b*itch," he yells, hitting her over and over again, "you worthless piece of sh*t, who do you think you are?"

"Jewels, please, we have to help her," I say, tears streaming down my face.  Just as I was about to run to mum's rescue, Jewels pulls me back in place.  I look back at her,  "Jewels, let me go."

"No," she protests, trying to pull me away from this mess, "you're not going to risk your life."

I look at her like she's gone mad, " What the f*ck Jewels? That's mum out there and she needs our f*cling help."

"I want to help her as much as you do, believe me.  But I know for sure that she wouldn't want you risking your life for her."

"I don't care, I have to at least try," I yank my arm out of her grasp. I was about to run to mum's rescue, until...

Bam

I freeze in place, gasping as they shot mum in the chest.  Mum's face goes blank as her struggle slowly faltered.

Tears well up in my eyes, "Mum," I whisper, falling to my knees.  I sit there and sob, until anger found its way into my heart.  I wipe my tears with the back of hand before slowly getting up from the floor.  I stare at them in pure hatred, "You f*cling bastards!"

Just when I was about to charge at them, Jewels screams and grabs my arm, pulling me back, "No, please Stella," she begs, her eyes moist and red as her voice cracks, "I don't want anything to happen to you too. Please let this go."

"How can I f*cking let this go!? Huh?"

She flinches, "Just please, don't fight with me on this.  For once can you please just listen to me? For once?"

I stop struggling and stare at her.  Jewels really didn't want me to go.  I can see it in her eyes.  She didn't want me to risk myself and that's something I never thought I would hear her say. I always thought she hated me.  I thought about it for a second, before sighing, and nodding. She smiled, sighing in relief, "Thank you."

I grab Pation's hand while Jewels and Kalie grab Lily. We quickly ran behind the tree, making sure not to be seen. I slide down the trees cold, hard form, sitting down on the pile of leaves that sat at the bottom.  I swallow the lump in my throat, grabbing Pation by the waist and setting her down on my lap.  She stopped crying thankfully, but sadly was trembling like crazy.

Carefully, I look around the tree to see the two men kick mum and dad's lifeless bodies.  When they decided they were finished, they turned in our direction.  My eyes widen and I quickly hide back behind the tree. 

"Shit," I breath, tightly closing my eyes to prevent more tears from spilling.

"What's happening?" Jewels whispers looking panicked.

" They're f*cking coming this way."

She gasps, "To finish us off?"

"I don't f*cking know, maybe." She whimpers, sliding further into the trees pulling her knees to her chest. 

"Come out, come out wherever you are," one of them whistle.  I warn the others to not make a move or sound and thankfully they listened.

"Robert, maybe they left." the other said to Robert.

He sighs, "No Joey, I could've sworn I saw them run in this direction." Their footsteps begin to come closer.

My heart was beating a mile a minute and I felt like I was going to pass out.  I take in as many short breaths as possible, praying they don't heart it, " Oh, please, God no."