Healing (Zalex)

Chapter 7

"Martin Zachary!" His father yelled as he stormed into the bedroom his son was in. "What do you call this?" he yelled as he held up his report card, his words slurred together.

"My report card?" Martin responded reluctantly. "I'm top of my class" he said proudly

"You are nothing but a failure! You have one job, and that's staying in the shadows pretend you don't exist" His father spat, words still slurred as he approached the junior. Before Zack could process what was said, he felt a throbbing pain across his cheek "How dare you go out in public you are an absolute disgrace to this family" his father spat as he landed another slap across the youngers face.

Martin sniffed as his father left his bedroom, slamming the door and bolting it shut.

His heart was pounding in his chest as he listened to the sound of his father's footsteps outside his room, his breathing was shaky and he was struggling to keep his mind. His body was still stinging from the slaps.

He could hear muffled shouting down the corridor and his father's anger and frustration was palpable.

He tried to think about how he was going to get through the night, but his thoughts were scattered and he couldn't focus.

After a couple of hours, He heard a weak knock on the door, and the bolt shifting. "Hey" Nicole whispered as she stepped in, a tray of food in her hands. "I got you food" she whispered as she placed it down by junior.

He nodded weakly "thanks" he muttered. "You know he doesn't mean it right?" Nicole asked. "Right junior?"

"He's alcoholic abusive father who regrets me" Junior states "mum is no better" he added. "But I'll be out soon"..

His plan was to leave on Saturday, while his father was at the local bar, as usual. It was fool proof.

***

Thursday evening, after junior finished school and walked towards his house. He felt a sense of dread.

Junior walked into the house, the faint smell of dried blood in the air. Blood painted the walls and ceilings. As he walked through the house, the smell got stronger and stronger. He gagged as he approached the kitchen, gasping for air as he choked, throwing up into the sink.

"Mr Marshall," someone said behind him. "you are under arrest for the murder of Mrs Carla Marshall and Ms Nicole Marshall" The officer started to read out his rights. 

"What?!" He exclaimed as handcuffs were placed on his wrists and escorted out of the house. "Why would I kill my mother and twin?" He questioned. "what evidence do you have?"

As he was put in the back of an undercover police car and started to drive away. 

***

Tears streamed down Zack's face as he was violently shoved into the interrogation room and forced to sit down. His foot tapped against the floor uncontrollably as he stared at the table.

"Why'd you do it?" The officer questioned. "You wanted revenge on these people?"

Zack didn't respond, tears fell freely like a waterfall at the revelation his mum and twin were dead, gone, forever. The last thing he said to his mum was 'I wish you put me up for adoption'

The police sighed as he let Zack cry.
Zack was in shock and overwhelmed with emotions as he was interrogated by the police. He couldn't process the news that his mother and twin were dead, and the fact that he was the prime suspect was unimaginable. He felt like the floor had been pulled out from under him and he was drowning in his own grief. The police were trying to find out why he had killed his mum and twin, but he couldn't even begin to explain himself. He just wanted to cry and be allowed to grieve in peace.

After a few minutes Zack's lawyer had been granted entrance, as she sat besides Zack. "My client has been at school all day" she stated. Her jet black hair going down to her shoulders, green eyes sparkling.

"I still need to ask these questions" the officer protested.

"Can you confirm your name?"

"Martin Zachary Marshall junior"

"Junior?" The police repeated. "Sorry, junior?"

"Yeah I'm named after my father" Zack muttered.

"When were you born?" The officer asked

"21st April"

"Year?" The officer pushed.

Zack sighed "my birth certificate is in my bag" he mumbled.

***

After an hour the officer took the handcuffs of Zack "we're sorry for your loss" he stated flatly. "We will be putting you in witness protection until your father has been arrested. You'll be living alone.." the officer trailed off.

"I'm living along? Under witness protection? How does that work? Isn't there supposed to be a-" Zack started ranting.

"We will have a social worker checking up on you, who will know about the case, and can help protect you" the officer starts. "She is located in Baltimore, Maryland so you'll be moving there" the officer stated

Zack slumped back in his seat. "seriously." He asked. The officer nodded. "seriously. You'll have your name changed and you'll start fresh"