The End of Days (2nd book to Red Moon)

Chapter 24: All My Fault...

Phoenix's POV on the matter is going to come into play.

Phoenix's POV

Why did I say those things to Alina? I never meant a single word, but I couldn't help it.

All I can think about is those bruises, those marks...

"Dammit!" I yelled punching the brick wall of a nearby alleyway. A few people looked over, but none of them said anything.

Alina suffered for an entire year before she finally said anything, but I should have seen the signs. She would come home and curl up in bed with a stuffed bear and cry. When it rained she would go walk around town moping and not wanting to be around anyone.

How could I not have noticed she was in so much pain? That the smile she planted on her face was to hide a broken and scared girl?

"I'm tired of not being able to protect anyone..." I said leaning into my arm that was against the wall. I looked at the ground as rain started to fall.

Alina... I still remembered the first day I saw the bruises...

*flashback*

She walked into the guild with our dad smiling like always, but something seemed off about it.

"Mom!" She giggled and started to run to our mom. I noticed a limp to her step and then I saw the large bruise on her ankle.

They were already healing, but I could tell there was more bruises on her arms, legs and I could see a fading purple bruise around her throat.

"Sweetie did you fall or something?" Our mother asked.

"Yeah I tripped and fell when Uncle Rogue took me to the park."

*flashback over*

I had shrugged it off as if it were nothing, but she was begging from the very beginning for someone to help her.

Why didn't I see it sooner?!

It's all my fault that she got hurt, all my fault that it went on for a year, all my fault that I didn't protect her...

I could hardly look at her when this time of year came, because I remembered the pain and suffering she endured. I remembered that I did nothing as she came back week after week with bruises everywhere.

When she explained that he didn't just physically assault her I wanted to murder our uncle.

I had made a promise to myself that I would never let another boy hurt her or touch her, but I couldn't keep Silver away from her. I knew Silver was a good person so that's probably one of the only reasons that I was letting it slide that he hit her.

"I promise you I will protect you..." I said before pushing off the wall and walking down the now empty street, the rain pouring down all around me.