heatwave | Charles Leclerc | re-writing

Chapter 24

Milan, December 2022 - Victoria Marino

I get out of my bedroom, leaving Jeremy there. I walk downstairs and I grab a cup from the cabinet above my head and filling it with water. I down the glass and I put it inside the sink, going to the sofa and turning on the tv. I go through the tv channels, trying to find something interesting to watch. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets pops up and I can not deny that I love this movie.

I was thirty minutes into the movie and I hear a loud noise outside of my house. I jump from the sofa and I run to the window that allowed me to see to the front garden. It's dark outside. I can't see anything, so I just ignore it. I sit again on the sofa and instantly the front door gets shut open. I get up from the sofa and I head to the hall to see who it was. This is the only thing I regret in my life.

My brother's figure comes in vision and I run to the kitchen, trying to avoid him.

- Hi sister. How nice to see you again! - He says, coming slowly in my direction.

- Don't pretend you're kind with me, what do you want?

- I want to get things even between us.

- What do you mean? - I ask from behind the little island we have in the room.

- You fucked up my life, so I'm gonna fuck up yours. I don't want to scare you. I just want you to know that I know the time you get out of the house, the time you comeback, the people you hang out with, your biggest fears and your lowest points.

- I didn't do anything to you. You were the one who ran away from us. You are the one who smokes weed all day and at night time consumes some cocaine. You destroyed your own life.

He walks closer to me and I take three steps back, hitting the fridge. He points his finger at my face and opens his mouth. He closes it again just to, once again, open it.

- You don't deserve nothing. NOTHING. YOU LITTLE BITCH. YOU KNOW OUR PARENTS NEVER LIKED ME BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS TRIED TO GASLIGHT ME.

- Can you stop yelling at me? - A single tear runs down my cheek.

- NO. WHAT? ARE YOU REALLY EXPECTING THAT I AM LETTING YOU KEEP DOING SHIT WITHOUT PENALTIES?

- Calm down, please. - Another tear drops.

He gets even closer, inches apart from my face.

- And now you're dating this guy... - he continues with a lower voice - don't you think you're a little too selfish?

I stay still, the fear making me shiver. I'm afraid of my own brother.

- TALK TO ME, BITCH. - My full body shakes - I get away from home and now you're pretending you have a happy life with cool friends, good job and a hot boyfriend. And what about me? I'm trying my best to survive. AND YOU KEEP PRETENDING YOU'RE THIS KIND OF INNOCENT LITTLE PRETTY GIRL. YOU'RE SIMPLY A HOE.

- Stop. - I ask him.

- WHY DO I HAVE TO STOP? DID YOU STOP ANNOYING ME ALL MY LIFE?

- You're scaring me. - My shaky voice can be heard and the left corner of his mouth lifts up, showing me how much fun he was having.

- You know what? I miss when you were with Liam. You weren't a bitch, because he beated the shit out of you everyday and you were so afraid that you wouldn't do anything at all to don't annoy anyone. I miss those times, really. Because now I'll have to do it myself.

He grabs my shoulders and pushes me against the fridge. All the memories from every single time that Liam spanked me come back, making me remember that I don't want to feel that away no more. The fear turns into rage and I see red.