Ascend

Chapter 2

I was currently running laps around the football field during gym class, everyone else was lagging behind me and breathing heavily. It seemed like the only ones who could keep up besides me were Tyler and most of the guy athletes. I had become used to the fast beat of my heart and the burning in my legs, the pain overtaking any other thoughts that might run through my mind. It chases away the nightmares, the thought of having to go home in a few hours and having to face anything else my father has done in the time I've been gone. The thought of feeling anything else but the turmoil going on in my head becomes more appealing by the second, I push myself to go faster, to feel that intense burn that I welcome with open arms. Everything else becomes hazy and all I can hear is my heavy breathing and loud heart.

The life I have been living has been crumbling right in front of my eyes but I can't seem to put it back together. All my efforts go to waste while I desperately try to keep myself together piece by piece. But those pieces burst into flames at the slightest touch. My world has gone up in flames.

    It isn't till a loud whistle pierces the air that I stop dead in my tracks and twist my head around to look at the coach who stands with his hands at his hips then motioning for me to meet him in the gym. My legs feel uneven as I maneuver my way towards the building, push open the door and step into air conditioned gym. Everyone is already seated on the matts in a semi-circle around the coach.

"Today we're going to try something new, you've all heard of the recent increase of crime going on in the city recently and I thought this might benefit you just in case. So today I'm going to teach you self-defense and if you're interested a little bit of kick boxing too. Kick boxing to the left and the rest to the right." It's unbelievable how adults just now start to realize how dangerous the streets are, especially for teenagers. Criminals have started to recruit teens, seems like we are all just eager to get sucked into that life.

    Kick boxing?This piqued my curiosity, another thing I can put all my focus into and get lost in the pain. Hey, you never know, I might even get good at it. Following the guys to the left side of the gym I notice that again I'm the only girl even bothering to try kick boxing. Tyler comes to stand by me with his arms behind his back and legs in a prepared stance, if I hadn't known who he was I would have mistaken him for a solider. Tyler ended up having to teach me because he was the best fighter in class, he stood in front of me looking me up and down as if as assessing what I would be capable of.

"First of all you can't stand like that you need to keep your feet apart and knees bent, if you don't you will easily be knocked over. You need to keep the fight on two feet because as soon as you're on that floor you might as well be dead. Make sure you have your arms up protecting your head. Got it?" He sure seemed to know what he was taking about. I wonder where Tyler learned how to fight.

I never got the chance to ask. After our session we both parted our separate ways, promising to see each other later. My mind was running wild with all the movements and fighting techniques that Tyler crammed in my head and my fists wouldn't unclench themselves leaving moon marks on the palms of my hands. Sparring gives me such an adrenaline rush and everything else on my mind just seems to fade away into the corners of my mind. Seems like I've got myself a new hobby.

I took my time getting home, I even stopped by this cute little restaurant that basically made any recipe you could think of. A sort of home cooked meal, it felt amazing being able to sit in the booth in the back with emitted a warm glow and the a perfect view outside, hidden from the rest of the world. Just the way I like it. Marsha, the 40 year old waitress that works there full time knows about my situation with my dad and she makes sure that I get full meal every time i come by. She has turned into a mother figure for me and does not waste any time asking me how my day is going or if I need anything. She has even gone as far as trying to buy my groceries and cooking me dinner at home because I quote, "How could I not? You've become like my child and I refuse my children to come home to an empty fridge!" Even though she has no kids whatsoever but really I do appreciate everything she does for me. Every single damn time she sets that steaming plate of food in front of me I'm reminded of how she's the only one who cares and has taken it upon herself; to think she is responsible for when the only one who should carry that responsibility, is my father.

My tires screech into the driveway and just by looking at our house I can tell that something has happened. I throw the door open to find all the lights on and all of our furniture thrown around in a rage, I continue to my room with my heart thumping in my ears. My clothes are strewn around the whole room and my mattress is flipped over as well as a whole in my wall. Whoever was in here was clearly looking for something. As soon as the thought popped into my head I ran to my hiding spot where I put all the money I make, The electrical box inside my closet. The metal box has been torn open and there is no sign of all the money i have stored in there. Every single penny is gone.

"What has he done...", I just slid down the wall and put my head in between my legs, trying to even my breathing. I-I c-c-couldn't even think right.

"Dad! Dad!" I got up quickly and stumbled into the hallway heading towards my dads room. Kicking open his door I let out a loud grunt, hoping it would scare him to death.

"What did you do! " I pushed him, attempting to roll him off the bed and bring him to consciousness.  He simply reached for the bottle of whisky next to his bed and looked at me with his blood shot eyes.

"I had to. I'm sorry," his words came out slurred. "but it's not enough. It wasn't enough. They want more". The pathetic man just cried, like HE was the victim. "They know about you Nadia. They know how smart you are and how you're really good with numbers. They know you're great with computers. And now. Now. Now they want you.." He grabbed hold of my arm while i attempted to pull it away. " I was not enough. I'm so sorry Nadia. I'm so sorry."

"I hate you! Why can't you just be my dad for ONCE in your life! You won't even fight for me, how- how could you do this to me?" I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "I'm supposed to be your little girl. You don't gamble your daughter's life away! You don't do that to someone you love. I never want to see you again. Don't try to talk to me and definitely don't look for me. I don't need you."

I looked him in the eyes for the last time and stared at the man who was supposed to protect me. Instead he drank and gambled his life away. He gambled me away. And I certainly was not going to stay and see what would happen next. I turned around and headed for the door but his urgent voice stopped me.

"Nadia! wait! They are going to come looking for you. You need to stay so I can protect you!"

"Like I said, I certainly don't need you. You've caused enough damage."

"But who is going to protect you!" he yelled desperately.

Turning my head to look back at him I say, "I can do it myself, I've done it my whole life. I hope you rot in hell." I slammed the door shut behind me. I gathered all my things and threw them in the back of the truck then sped out the driveway as fast as I could.

Not daring to glance back at the mess he had created.

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I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE BUT HEY I'M TRYING HERE. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.