Fighting Darkness

Chapter Four

    You know how if you fall off you bike all you feel is the pain? You can zone out and watch yourself fall in slow-mo, but you focus on how bad it will hurt.  Looking in Derek's eyes all I feel is pain through out my body. My legs feel numb, like I'm going to collapse.  He moves closer. Bright eyes that burn with a flame that can't be extinguished, body tense, fist clenching and unclenching as he walks towards me.   "Hello sir, are you Paige's boyfriend?" The woman's voice has an echo that rings in the empty park. She has no idea what is going on. No one has any idea what's going on. Why would they?   "Yes, she lives with me so she can go to college." Derek's voice sounds sweet to sweet. His poison is mixing with the sugar he use to have. The cop nods her head. I don't even go to college, lie after lie drips from his mouth to the officer.   "Keep an eye on her." With that the officer get in the car labeled DETROIT POLICE, along with the chubby man with her.   My emerald eyes never meet Derek's. His are glowing with hatred, while mine sink with desperation. Every move he makes my skin crawls. Just him breathing makes me want to hit him repeatedly with a brick. But this was my idea. This was my choice. I knew the consciousness of trying to leave, if I made it out alive, I knew the beating that would come. Legs to weak to handle your own body weight. Feet cut from the vase her broke. Bruised back due to the impact from the wall. The only thing in the years if torture. I never had a conclusion, but God that would be good. Just push Derek over the edge let him hit me and I can slip into a coma, but that might not work. 

  "Hey." Derek's voice is smooth. He brings me into his arms. The red shirt he's wearing smells like dried Vodka, he has stored over the years. Hidden in the "secret" cabinet above the fridge.   "You've been drinking." My palms push on his flat chest, lifting me up in the sloppy embrace he had me in. The thick hand he has is firmly places in my upper arm, tightening with every move I make.   Lips pressed to my ear. "I wouldn't have to drink, but your so damn stupid it's what I have to do." The words he speaks are slurred, tongue running over his bottom lip.   Why did you "love" him?  He never gave you anything? My brain curses me for having this-this monster for ruining my life. But he took me in. I moved away from my parents to be free. I didn't have money, and the money I did have worked for cigarettes. Working in bar gave, roughly, around 200$ a week. He found me. Took me in. Gave me unconditional love. But slowly his love ran out. Burning in the flame of hatred.   To lost in space to notice Nathan was standing by me. Derek's arm rest uncomfortably at his side. His hand is either pinching the small of my back or bruising my upper arm.  "Can I talk to her? Privately?" Surprisingly his tone is strong. When guys see Derek there voice sounds like a mouse. He simply nods, letting me go with the man that saved my life.

                                  **Nathan**

  I walk away with Paige by my side. Standing in the middle of the park, I turn around, startling her, looking into her green orbs.   "You're an idiot." My words are clear, not missing any form a pronunciation. I want her to know how stupid she is. It's so easy to see the look of terror on her face from that man. Paige stands there shuffling her wet clothes.   "What does he do? No, wait. First off what's his name." I'm not angry...or at least I don't think I am.   "His name is Derek." Her voice is small, clean, but uneven. Not sure if she should say his name, for fear that he might come over and do God knows what. "He...umm...he hits me?" It came out more of a question then an answer, but I still know what I wanted to know. The guy name Derek hits a girl like her.   She stand there awkwardly, kicking small rock to the pond behind us. The pond she tried to kill herself in, the pond I saved her from. The pond that could possibly end this girls life.   Derek walks over, unsettling the pebbles that lay across the ground. Each stop sending a new shockwave through Paige's feared body. "Paige we have to go." I meet his eyes. They have no desire to love her. They have no desire to care for her. They are blue eyes full of hatred. "Now." His voice adds. She looks up at him with pain, worry, fear. He grabs her hand, walking to the red car parked up front. Paige turns her head back and looks at me, a small smile kisses her lips. The dimple in her left cheek sticks out.   Derek tugs on her hand, making her look up front. He hold the door open for her, shutting it in a hasty speed, while running to his own side. The engine roars to life echoing in the starry park. Gravels spills out from under the tires. Paige's face looks out the window at me. Sorrow.   I'm saving you. I think to myself.