I Will - Remastered Version

Prologue

School was never my favourite place to be.

I remember as clear as water what those days felt like, almost as if I would relive those days every time I go to sleep. That sensation of the quiet streets on the walk to the Elementary, with nothing but the sound of my footsteps, sometimes the wind would howl, making my short fur and the leaves of the trees around dance, or maybe the rigid sound of the tyres of the few cars that would pass by.

And School was always the same old, at least as far as I can recall. Few classes, per usual, and few preparations for the following level of Education. And then the walk back.

I do remember enjoying that calm sound on the way back, which in my little head was way better than the quietness of the way to that town's school. I think it was maybe because the way back was even quieter, with just the sound of the books in my backpack bouncing up and down as I tried not to step on the lines of the pavement. That whilst constantly checking which front yard had the best and most perfectly cut grass, almost as if I were the Judge of some sort of contest, or any other silly game that would spontaneously come to mind

Unfortunately, I also remember that feeling

The sensation of the sun slowly hiding behind some clouds, the soothing silence slowly transitioning into a menacing silence as the wind stops blowing

The weather-beaten windowless porch exhibited a particular creepiness that would simply make me freeze to contemplate it. The single dead-looking tree in the middle of the brown-grey-ish frontward extended some of its roots all the way to what once was a perfectly clean driveway. Now it was covered with bits of weed and shadowed by the skeleton of an old car rusting away.

The dark golden key in my paw suddenly felt heavier, and my legs seemed to not want to take a step closer to the dark fir front door. But I knew I couldn't stay outside forever

I stood frozen one more time right in front of the rustic-looking door, key inches away from its respective hole. I was so overwhelmed by that uncomfortable cold sensation that my paws and legs began trembling, even making me feel lightheaded

Taking long heavy breaths, I introduced the key in the heavy lock, hearing the pins go up, and finished by twisting it to one side

Letting a very weak creek, the door gently swung open revealing the darkness within the house

I immediately made my way inside, quickly closing the door right behind me with the intention of not interrupting that peaceful, yet menacing, midnight-like quietness.

Maybe he is not home yet, I thought to myself. That thought sounded so reassuring that it even made me feel slightly relieved on the inside.

The absence of windows added to the feeling of suffocation that hung in the air, if there only were some windows you could perhaps see motes of dust hovering from one of the few rooms to the others. The stairs to the second story loomed right across the long hallway that connected the kitchen on the left to the living room on the right.

And, as soon as I took one step forward, the wood beneath my foot creaked loudly, followed by that croaky voice that up to this day hunts me

"You are late"

My heart raced as a chill swept through me, sending once again shivers down my spine and to my paws and legs

I should've been quieter . . .

"Come here" His firm voice commanded from the only dimly lit room

I didn't debate my next move. The silhouette of a Dog loomed ominously over me as I slowly poked my head into the room. The flickering TV cast a menacing glow which illuminated his figure in contrasts of light and shadow, as well as a faint string of smoke that gently spirals its way to the ceiling. His features were something that my mind had completely erased, and probably for the best; however, everything else remains deep inside my head.

The game/comedy show playing in the background being barely audible over the crackling static, the cluster of glass bottles around the TV table and all over the dark-blue carpeted floor, that acrid smell of the room, a smell that today I associate with the "Smell Of Home".

He leaned against the wall, supporting himself with one paw while the other firmly held the slim neck of an elegant-looking, white-glassed, bottle. The dark label and orange-looking figure imprinted in the bottle glinted in the dim light, a contrast to the eerie darkness surrounding him.

"S-Sorry dad . . . t-today Mr Damian forgot our tes-"

"You don't learn, don't you?"

"B-but- It wasn't r-rea-"

"I don't care!" He yelled in frustration as he threw the bottle to the floor, his anger making his body lose balance.

As the bottle erupted into thousands of glass shards that dangerously scattered all over the room, he stumbled to his knee while I stood frozen in place.

It didn't take him long to recover back up, but he stayed staring at his paw. The weak light of the TV wasn't enough for me to fully understand what was happening, but as soon as I heard a calm dripping sound coming from somewhere near him, I took a step back

"Look what you've done. . ." he growled through clenched teeth, his petrifying eyes darted to me as he quietly removed the glass shard from his bleeding palm

My breath quickened, and I felt like my heart was on the verge of bursting out of my chest. The intensity of his gaze sends shivers down my spine every time I remember it

"You come back here, boy" He finished with a stern tone, hurriedly lifting his tight dress shirt and removing his leather belt from his dusty formal pants

Without a second thought, I dropped my school bag and sprinted down the hallway. Panic flooded my veins as I heard the thundering sound of his footsteps getting closer and closer, reverberating off the walls and echoing in my ears, causing my legs to begin turning into jelly while tears began blurring my vision

I raced up the stairs and, upon reaching the safety of my room, I flung the door closed and fumbled with the lock in the darkness. His heavy panting getting closer sent even more shivers down my spine, making my paws shake even more, but trying to steady myself as much as I could I focused on locking the door

Then everything suddenly stopped. The whole commotion had suddenly vanished, making the silence in my room so thick it felt almost suffocating. The only sound I could hear was the continuing thicking of the clock by my bed, the pounding of my heart that surprisingly was still inside my chest, and the shaky rhythm of my breaths.

It was as if the world had gone still.

Then the doorknob started rattling and shaking, first to the sides then back and forth. The sound of his angry voice, mumbling and cursing, grew louder and louder on the other side of the door. Suddenly, the sound of one violent kick against the door made me flinch.

The door trembled in its frame when he kicked it again, this time making the wood groan loudly. I quickly huddled in the darkness of my small closet, flinching when I heard a third kick that made the floor of my room tremble.

And after a fourth kick, the wood around the doorknob splintered loudly. The door swung open, slamming against a nearby piece of furniture. My body tensed when I heard his footsteps slowly lapping around the tiny room

"Come out, come out, wherever you are­­~" His voice echoed around the room, followed by the sound of his belt striking against the wooden floor

"Beep" I could hear his footsteps wandering closer and closer to my hidden location

I quickly covered my mouth, feeling my head starting to spin as tears gently rolled down my cheeks.

The sound of his repeated "Beep Beep" was as confusing as it was terrifying

The sound of his belt striking the floor again, this time right next to the closet door, made me flinch one more time. But there was nothing I could do. I just pressed my eyes shut, letting a couple more tears quickly roll down my cheeks

"Beep Beep Beep"

And the closet door opened