Southern steel- Mack

1. Eden

Trigger warning for child abuse

If I just lay here really quiet he won't know I'm here. I crawl under my bed hoping my daddy doesn't come looking for me. Titan isn't home yet, and I don't know what else to do. Titan made some new friends since he started middle school and turned 13 and has started being home less and less. My stomach starts growling. I start to think about food and picture in my head I'm eating a big slice of pizza. Sometimes if I pretend in my head I'm eating it helps. Sometimes it just makes it worse.

I hear footsteps coming towards my room then my door slams open. I close my eyes and try to be still. "Get your Goddamn ass out here, NOW!" Dad roars.

I can feel myself start to tremble. I crawl out knowing it'll be worse if I don't listen. When Titan my brother is here he usually protects me. He tells me, "Dad just wants someone to take that anger out on, and I can take it Edie. Never get in the way or try to stop it. I'm bigger than you, and it's my job to look out for you."

Once I am standing in front of dad I smell the bad smell of his beer. His eyes look red and mean. "Where is that useless brother of yours?"

"I don't know daddy."

"Which one of you ate the last of the food in the kitchen?" He slurs. The last of the food was some stale crackers and jelly that had mold on it.

"There wasn't any food daddy." SLAP! I feel the heat of his palm across my cheek. I try to tell myself not to cry and make him more angry, but I feel the tears starting to form in my eyes.

"Don't lie to me. You're just like your bitch of a mother!" He grabs my arm and is yanking so hard it feels like he might rip it right off me.

I brace myself as I see him raise his other fist raise, when I hear the front door open. Dad must hear it too because he lets go and starts out of the room towards the hallway.

I quickly hide in the closet and cover my ears when I hear Titan and dad yelling at each other. After a little while my brother comes in my room and finds me in the closet. When I see him I dive into his arms. I wince when my cheek hits his chest. It's really sore now.

Titan pulls away and looks at me. "Jesus Christ!" He mutters. "Eden from now on you can't be here alone. I'll start walking you from school, and you can come hang out with me at the clubhouse." I'm not sure what the clubhouse is, but it sounds fun. It has to be better than being here.

"Dad left for the bar. Let's get you a bath and ready for bed. I brought you a sandwich and chips from the clubhouse."

"Thank you brother."

"I should've been here sooner today Eden. I'm so sorry sissy. It'll get better I promise!"

"It's not your fault. I love you Titan."

"Love you too sissy."

"Tyson tucks me in and then makes himself a spot to sleep on the floor next to my bed after he locks the bedroom door.

The next day after school he is waiting for me when I get done. He is with an older man who is dressed kind of scary and has lots of tattoos and a big beard. Then the man smiles great big at me, and he doesn't look so scary.

"Eden this is Pops. Pops is what they call the enforcer of the club. He protects everyone. His wife Cora said you could come hang out with her at the clubhouse." Titan tells me.

"Okay." I say quietly.

We hop in the truck and take off. When we pull up to a gate I see another man open it, and we drive through. He's wearing clothes just like Pops. We park in front of a big building. There are lots of bikes and a few cars and trucks parked outside. I look around and notice some smaller houses and buildings around the big building.