Resentment

Phase Two

Around 3 A.M., Kam gets a phone call that wakes her up out of her sleep. Her eyes open up slow just as she answers.. "Hello?" She sits up in the bed.

A soft voice shrieks.. "Kamilah, please come get me! Please, I'm at my mom's.. I can't stay here any longer, not while he's here. Pleaaase come pick me up. I'm outside."

Kam jumps up after recognizing the voice on the other side of the phone. "Alright I'm coming right now, just stay where you are." she says in a panic.

The voice trembles, "Okay. Pl..lease, hurry. I can't take.."

The phone loses signal and cuts off.

Kam panics even more, "Hello? .. Hello!? Fuck!" She rushes to get dressed and throws on a pair of running shoes. She picks up the gun on her dresser and counts out the bullets. She slides the safety on and shoves it down in her pant pocket.

Kam snatches her keys and runs out of the front door, jumping into her car. As she pulls off, the speed of the car quickly accelerates.

In a maximum of fifteen minutes, Kam pulls into a yard, barely lit by the flickering street light. Sitting on the end of the curb, is Ashley.

Kam gets out of her car and walks toward her. The dress she has on is badly torn, with dozens of finger marks punctured into the fabric. Her hair was in a messy bun, as if she had just gotten out of bed. But what stood out the most was the way she was sitting.

Her arms were tightly coiled around her legs, as if someone took something from her, something of great value. Her head was tucked down into the folds of her arms.

As Kam gets closer, Ashley lifts her head up and their eyes meet. And in her face, Kam could see nothing but pain, and fear. One after another, her tears chase each other down her flush cheeks. She looked as if she had been crying for hours.

Ashley slowly stands to her feet. Her legs were so weak, they almost came from under her. Kam throws her arms out and wraps them snug around Ashley's waist, pulling her in so close.

Suddenly, Ashley just breaks down.

"I'm here baby, I'm here. You're safe now." Kam says as she hugs her tighter and tighter. "I Love You, I Love You so much. And I'm gonna stop this." She softly rubs on her back.

Ashley's face is pressed up against Kam's stomach and her arms are huddled up close.

After minutes of silence and the most sincere hug, Kam gently pulls away. "C'mon, get in the car." They hold hands and walk to the passenger side. Kam helps Ashley into the car and secures her seatbelt.

"Is he still inside?" Kam asks.

Ashley responds with her soft voice, "Yes, in the back room..Please be careful Kamilah."

"Yeah I will, you just stay here. I'll take care of it. Your mom home too?" Kam takes the gun out of her pocket and Ashley's eyes light up.

"No she's not, Kam please, no. Don't kill him." Ashley pulls Kam closer to her. "Lets just go."

Kam kisses Ashley on the forhead. "No. I can't walk away from this. I won't kill him, but I'll make sure he's never gonna put his hands on you again." Kam closes the car door and walks back toward the house.

The front door is open so she walks in quietly. The door squeaks as it closes and a male voice yells out from the back of the house. "Ah, I hear you come back pretty girl. Bring your ass back here and give daddy a kiss."

Kam walks on her toes around the house. She creeps up behind the chair he's sitting in and wraps her arm around his throat. "I ain't Ashley and you ain't her fucking daddy you bitch ass nigga."