Potions and Coffee | 𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻 & 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓮

Chapter 13 - Smile

WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF DEATH IN THIS CHAPTER

It had been 9 years since his mother was killed. 

Alastor was now 17 years old and he was so close to freedom he could taste it. He had planned to move out and disappear as soon as he turned 18. He had learned his lesson before when he tried to run away at age 13. Missing persons report for him and when the police found him, he considered telling them about the body his father made him help bury in the woods. He remembered the warning he was given though: 

"If I find out you said a peep about this, I'll string you up from the trees and let the birds feast on you." 

He rolled his eyes at the thought of his 'father'. Since his mother wasn't here anymore, Alastor was subject to all of the beatings now. If he changed the volume on the radio he'd be smacked. If he was 5 minutes behind on cooking dinner he would get a classic ciggarette burn. He was practically numb to it. The pain was boring now but more so it was just annoying.

Him and his father did a good job at hiding the body though because Cecile Hartfelt had been a missing person sine that morning many years ago. He had to give it to the man, he was a very believable actor. He played the role of the distraught husband so well that Alastor nearly believed him and he was the one that had to clean the blood off the kitchen floor. He had so many people approach him and tell him how wonderful his mother was and that they were sure she would come back any day now. It made it all the more challenging for Alastor to move on.

He made his way down to the kitchen to make him some toast. He was in the habit of not stepping in a certain spot of the floor. At first he did it out of respect but now it was second nature. He popped the bread in the toaster then leaned over and switched the radio on. He turned the dial until he heard some bluesy jazz pour from the speaker. It was the only time he ever smiled throughout the entire day. Well, one of two times at least.

"What did I say about blasting that damn music? Turn it off."

Well it was certainly nice for the moment.

His father stomped through the kitchen as he made his way to the fridge. He pulled out what he was sure would be his 8th beer easily. 'Best beer in all of New Orleans' his father would claim. Not even 10 in the morning, Alastor mentally noted. This meant he was going to be extra long after school. He turned the music off as the toast popped up. He grabbed it and put it on a plate, spreading a thin layer of butter on it.

"What? Nothing to say to your old man?" His speech was slightly slurred which made Alastor's assumption of it being his 8th beer more concrete. Alastor was for sure going to be staying away today.

"Apologies. Goodmorning." Alastor said in-between chews of his breakfast. His father mumbled a 'whatever' and made his way back to the livingroom, side hitting the wall as he did so. 

Alastor wiped away the crumbs off his mouth and went out the backdoor before his father had time to come back.

Alastor was looking forward to going back to his spot in the woods. It was one of the only times he felt peace in his life. He needed to save up some money and buy him a portable radio to take with him but he wasn't allowed to have a job according to dear old August. 

He noticed the tree that bent at an awkward angle and knew he was here. He had made this hike plenty of times he could practically do it blindfolded. He walked up to the grassless dirt that had a mossy stone at the foot of it. He sat in front of it, crossing his legs and getting comfortable.

"Hello mama. Sorry I'm late today, but study hall stayed later than usual." Alastor tried to keep up with his studies. If for any reason it was so he wouldn't end up like his father who had a 7th grade education, at best. His mother was always so proud of him when he would bring home good grades so it certainly helped make him more determined to finish his education.