The Beast's Roast

1

Carlos Ramirez was 14 when his mother passed away, leaving him and his younger sister Maya under their father's care. Maya did not remember their mother's passing, she was only four when it happened, but Carlos did. He remembered the moment they diagnosed her, the hope when the treatments started working but most of all he remembered holding her hand while she faded away. How she had a strong grip that got weaker by the second and how her brown eyes lost their life as time went by. He remembers his father smiling, hiding his pain behind a smile, making sure his children felt safe.

Their father tried his best to take care of them on his own, giving them everything they needed, trying to make their small house in the suburbs still feel like a home despite their mother not being there anymore. But one can only try so hard before everything falls apart.

Carlos remembers it very well, things started to turn worse one afternoon. 3 years after their mother's passing. Carlos and Maya got back from school. Their father would normally pick them up, but on that day he didn't. Carlos had to pick Maya up from school and walk back home with her. He suspected something was wrong the moment his father didn't show up, and confirmed it as soon as he walked into their home.

The house was a mess, dirty dishes on the kitchen's sink, dirty clothes spread across the living room's floor and their father's body laying down right next to them. Carlos hurried to get to him, afraid he had gotten himself hurt while doing chores, but that wasn't it, as he got close to his father, a pungent smell hit his nose, he wasn't sure what the smell was, not until he got close enough to see a bunch of beer cans on the floor next to his father's feet. He grabbed his shoulder and shook him gently.

Dad? - he asked before shaking him again- Dad, are you okay?

After realizing there was no response he turned to his younger sister. He saw the fear in her eyes, took a deep breath, put on a brave face and walked towards her.

Is daddy okay Carlos? - Maya's brown eyes were glassy, she was clearly holding back tears. Carlos smiled kindly and put his hands on her shoulders.

He's just asleep frijolito, why don't you go clean yourself while I make some food?

As Maya walked away, Carlos started to clean up the mess in the living room. He heard his father grumble as he leaned down to pick a shirt up.

Dad? Are you okay? - he turned to face his father, who grumbled again,  - I can't understand you. Could you speak louder?

You think I'm an awful father, don't you? - he said, slurring every word. Stumbling as he tried to get up, Carlos stared at him, he felt uneasy, he had never seen his father act that way, he backed up as his father started to tower over him - You think i'm not as good as your mother? Well, guess what? I am doing the best I can damn it! - he yelled as he threw a can of beer into the ground.

Carlos stared into his father's eyes, all he saw was anger. His legs started to shake as he tried to walk away. All he could think about was his sister and how he didn't want her to see their father like this, he tried to run away but his fathers hand grabbed his arm, he tried to break loose but he was too weak.

You think I wanted her to die? I loved her! - His father's grasp was strong and firm, Carlos's arm started to feel numb, he was desperate to find a way to get away, but most of all he was begging that Maya didn't walk in on this horrible scene, he winced as his father squeezed his arm, with every word he could smell his alcohol filled breath.- And now i have to go on, seeing your stupid faces every fucking day!, you two are living reminders that the love of my life is gone and i am still here! - He yelled in Carlos's face, breathing heavily while staring angrily into his eyes.

Daddy..? - a soft voice said from behind Carlos, his eyes widened as he turned his head slowly, there stood Maya, her eyes even glossier than before, she was holding a golden cross necklace that dangled from her neck, fiddling with it nervously.

and you..- Carlos's father's grip loosened as he stumbled towards Maya - you remind me of her the most...- Carlos gasped and ran towards Maya. stepping in front of her, acting as a wall between her and their drunken father.

Don't...don't you dare lay a finger..on her...- Carlos said, his voice shaking as he stared into his father's eyes. his father got closer to his face and growled softly.

You know what you are? - he said as he lifted Carlos up by the collar of his shirt- you are an ungrateful piece of shit..

Then everything went black. The next thing Carlos remembers is waking up in his room. his left eye swelled up and dried blood on his nose, Maya laying down next to him, asleep. hugging a teddy bear their mother had given her.

He laid in his bed, staring at the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling. That day he promised himself that he wouldn't let his father hurt his sister ever again.

                                                                         ・・・

Hello! First of all i want to thank you for reading this chapter of "The Beast's Roast" this has been a project of mine for a while. This story is based on a group of original characters i created for my art account on instagram. At first i wanted this to be a comic, but school didn't give me enough time to work on it and there's also the fact that my art skills aren't there yet. As an alternative i decided to write the story and post it here and in doing that i found that this is a better medium for what i want this story to be.

If you are interested in seeing where this story goes please save this, like it or comment (i honestly don't know how this site works) and feel free to check my instagram too if you'd like to see art of the characters in this story! you can find me @just_me_mojito.

Thank you again for reading and i hope to see you here next time.