Fighting Darkness

Chapter Two

*****Paige*****
I didn't know where I wanted to go, but all I know is that I wanted to leave. The boy I once knew has turned into a monster.

"Paige! I'm so sorry!" Derek's blue eyes shined down at me as I hit the floor. Two years ago was the first time his hands came to contact with my skin. I fell against the hallway wall, cradling my cheek in my hands. Derek helped me up and gave me a hug. "I'm sorry I just- my dad he died a while back and I guess my anger. I'm so sorry!"

Sorry only goes so far. The first three times he apologized I was okay with it but once it became an everyday thing, I didn't take sorry anymore.

Derek's dad died while crossing the street; a drunk driver hit him. He was killed on impact, the young 17 year old man was charged with manslaughter and was sent for six years in prison.

The cars clock moves slowly ahead, reaching 11 o'clock Passing another McDonald's, I find myself not knowing where to go. The only person I have is Sapphire, but she gives no pity to anyone. My parents are in the army, well one is now. My dad's mom won't let me see my mother because during the Afghanistan tour he was shot and killed. Grandma B blames it on my mom out of grieve; refused to let me see my mother when she came home. Twelve years with out her, and I still want to hear her gentle voice sing lullabies, cook cupcakes then throw them away because she said they weren't good. I looked up two her. But a six year olds mind only goes so far into memories.

My brain reminds me of the time when she walked out that door, first starting the army. "Goodbye Paige. Six months will go by fast."

Her lips met my forehead before my dad picked me up in his arms. He wouldn't talk to me. Telling me it kills him to watch me cry while he leaves.

That was the last time I saw my dad, and the last good memory of my mom.

I head a few more blocks south, turning into the rundown parks parking lot. Turning the car off, I step out onto the gravel lot and head up to the park's gate. It falls open easily leaving a nail on a chalk board sound; Chills are sent down my spine. If Derek knew I was here. Oh man if Derek knew. My arms would be purple, legs mangled up but my face perfectly fine. "I don't hurt your face because I need something pretty to look at."

That's the only nice thing he's said to me. Of course when he's sober he can be a total sweetheart but get him drunk or piss him off you'll be pushed down the stairs thrown into every wall and punches thrown left and right. But right now. Right now just to be away and free, it's beautiful.

The summer air brushes my legs, making them chill with every move. Dew from yesterday is still here undisturbed. No kid had played in this park since Timothy was here.

The little boy with bleach blonde hair and biggest brown eyes you ever seen was walking around, somehow he got away from his mother; his older sister Lila walked behind him, slashing him into pieces. The four year olds body was found hidden under the broken tire swing. But of course that was 1989. The paper wouldn't let the story go for ten years reminding everyone that horror can't be hidden. No morsel has been here ever since. But being alone in a supposedly haunted park, is kind of nice.

My attention adverts from the tire swing to the slide. My stomach clenches while I walk up to the twisty purple tube.

I sit on the end of it letting the jagged edge poke my thighs skin.

Derek asked me one time why I'm still alive. That was the umpteenth time he came home drunk. For days I wondered why I was alive. I worked at a five star restaurant cleaning tables and getting paid thirty dollars a week. I don't know where my parents are my grandmas back in Maine, while I'm in Detroit. I don't know how to escape Derek even if I tried I would end up back sitting on the sofa looking at the door dreading when he was going to come back.

I'm not a kid anymore. I'm 18. Freshly out of school. College is to expensive for me to afford right now. So I don't have anything to live for.

The pond isn't to far away. I thought to myself. Just a quick "swim" and I'll be fine. My body reacts before my brain registers I'm moving. At a dead speed walk I come up to the pond. The ice water seeps into the inside of my TOMS. My brown hair flies behind me, leaving the sent of Vanilla to hang in the air. The bridge. I thought. The cement bridge that let's you go onto the other side of the park. The side of nothing. No play ground. No pain. No anything. And that's where I'm going. Steadily I let my pale legs carry me to that bridge ready to determinate the obstacles of living and crossing over to feel nothing.

The squishing sound my shoes make as I stand on the flat railing. I look down seeing a carved heart with initials on it. Probably a couple who thought they were going to last forever.

It's a good ten feet up, but the pond is fifteen feet deep. If I just let myself go. I can do it.

My left foot hangs off ready to meet its doom first. Letting my green eyes close, I make the sign of the cross, mutter a few words and let my self fall.