Raising Remi

5. bad dreams

TW: abuse

The girl stirred in her sleep as the scene in her dream replayed in her mind.

"W-when I was um, giving Remi a-uh b-bath...I saw um. S-she had b-bruises-s on her bo-ody"

"Remi had bruises on her body when I was giving her a bath..."

They knew.

The secret she'd been told to keep for so long was revealed and he was coming. He would find her. She knew what the consequences were, he imprinted them in her mind.

"I'll kill your mother then you"

He'd whispered. When she asked her mom about what kill means she told her not to worry about it, so she asked aaron, he was cruel with his words.

"Making your mommy disappear forever and she never comes back"

Forever? She had thought, forever was a long time, and she didn't even like when her mom went to the store without her. So the thought of her mom being gone forever terrified her

If Aaron killed her mom she would never be able to see her again.

She had had to see her. Remi had to save her mother from Aaron.

She fought to open her eyes but they wouldn't budge. They seemed like they were glued shut.

She kept fighting to open them.

Now she was fully awake but still couldn't up her eyes. Her little fingers touched her eyes lids and pulled them up. Her eyelids were heavy, despite how tired she was she needed to save her mom.

Her mom had saved her countless times she owed it to her.

"You stupid child how many times do I have to discipline you until you learn" Aaron sneered as he looked down at the small girl, curled in a ball at his feet.

"I-im s-sorr-ry" she cried.

"You will be" he brought his foot up and-
"STOP!!"

Clare stoop in the doorway with a bag of beers.

"Dont hurt her...please"

"Who do you think you are telling me what to do?!" He sneered.

"I'm sorry...but please dont hurt her" she blinked hard to keep her tears in.
She never liked to cry in front of her daughter. She had to be strong for her.

"...Beg"

"Excuse me," clare said taken back. Aaron shoved Remi onto her back and pressed his foot on her stomach.

"GET ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES AND BEG"

Clare dropped the bag and walked over to him getting on her knees she plead him not to hurt Remi.

He put pressure on his foot making Remi cough.

"P-please stop. Dont hurt her, hurt me"

"Or I could beat both of you"

"SHE DIDNT DO ANYTHING WRONG. SHE'S-"

he punched her.

"What did I tell you about yelling"

"No to," Clare said with her head down.

Aaron smiled, "today's your lucky day kid" he took his foot of Remi's stomach. She scooted away but he kicked her side causing her to let a cry out.

"Watch!!" he barked at her.

Remi cried as she watched her mother get beat. The cries her mom let out only caused Remi to cry more.

That should've been me. She thought.

She shivered at the memory of the weekly occurrence.

Sadly Remi wasn't very lucky when her mom couldn't save her.

She jumped off the bed with her bear under her armpit and tiptoed to the door. She slowly turned the door handle and opened to the door trying to be as quiet as possible. She stood by the door in the hallway, she looked back and forth to make sure no one was coming.

All the lights under the doors were off so everyone was asleep.

After quietly closing the door Remi crept down the long hallway before she came to the stairs case.

She held on to the railing as tight as she could and took one step at a time.

When she came to the last step she jumped off. "I did it," she said to herself. She giggled about being too loud.

She glanced around to make sure no one could see her then she ran to the front door and opened it, or tried to.

"What are you doing?" A voice said behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see a tall dark shadow.

Her eyes widen and she tried to open the locked door. A hand pressed hold onto her small one, "stop" Xander said.

"I-im sor-ry" she occupied and looked down. Aaron always liked when her head was down.

"Why are you trying to leave" he turned her body around to face him.

"I wanted t-to see m-my m-mom-my"

"Why?"

"S-she needs me" She slowly looked up at him avoiding his dangerous eyes.

"If she needs you she'll come get you, so for now you're stuck here" he let out a sigh. "Sadly," he said under his breath.

"B-but what if she gets h-hurt" Remi whined.

Xander furrowed his brows in confusion before starting his face and responding, "I'm sure your mom can take care of herself"

"She needs me" Remi protested. "I need her too" she whispered.

Xander let out a frustrated sigh and crouched down to her level. "You're safe here, your mom is safe wherever she is that's what matters"

"But-"

"Let me show you something" he led out his hand for her to take.

Hesitantly she put her small hand in his, the one that wasn't holding her bear. He squeezed her hand and stood up. He led her out of the foyer and into the living room to the sliding glass door.

"You see the moon," he asked looking down at her.

She looked into the sky but all she could see were trees due to her height, she stood on her tiptoes but it didn't help. "No" she frowned.

Recluntetley he wrapped his big hands around her waist and lifted her to his height. Her back was to his chest and his arm around her stomach. "Can you see it now"

Smiling on the inside, Remi nodded her head.

"Always remember that you and your mom can see the moon and the moon will keep you both safe. No one can overpower the moon"

"Okay," she sighed in relief. Her mom was safe. "You're warm" she whispered and turned in his arms, she snuggled into him letting his warmth spread to her.

"Thank you kiddo" he chuckled darkly.

They stood there for a little while enjoying each other. Xander felt this sense to protector her. He was her older brother but this feeling felt different like she had something dark apart of her and he needed to keep her safe from it.

Remi was slowly getting tired again and beginning to close her eyes, but she didn't want to go to sleep yet.

"You hungry?"
-

If you didn't understand the beginning of the chapter, basically the end of chapter four was Remi's dream so the boys don't know.