Behind The Glasses

Chapter 6

   I didn’t wake. Waking up is something you do from a dream, calmly opening your eyes, blinded by the sunlight; then screwing them tight shut again. Wishing you could go back to sleep, then jumping out of bed realising you’ve already overslept and are now running late. No; I didn’t wake up. I regained consciousness.

   My head is sore, throbbing like a hangover; I can feel the skin red raw around my neck; from the struggle. My lunges ache; they feel like they’re bulging with every breath I take; like they’re going to explode. Slowly feeling comes back to my chest, then my calves, then lower legs, then arms; it comes back with pins and needles. After the prickling and tingling fades I find I can just about lift my limbs; but I can’t move.

   I can’t move. Am I paralysed? What is wrong with me? I screamed. I didn’t know what else to do. My brother rounded the corner in a couple of seconds; looking furious. “SHUT UP!” he bellowed, looking at my crumpled figure on the floor. He gave me a kick just for good measure! “You got everything you deserved for lying to me” Hunter whispered, leaving me crumpled on the floor. God I needed help!

   The amount of times I drifted in and out of consciousness was countless. The phone rang, I tried to move to get it; but found I could not. I hoped and prayed Hunter would come to his senses. That he would help me. Of course this never happened. This was the moment I regretted telling my friends my home address. I swear after this…

   “HARPER?” a group of uneasy voices called, well three I instantly recognised; my three best friends – Amya, Ryker and Xander. I wondered if Brooklynn was with Xander, I listened; evidently not; thank god! “In here on the floor” I called, “Door’s open”. I hoped Hunter hadn’t heard them – he would get mad; well madder, is that is even possible?! I heard the door creak open, then gasps; I closed my  eyes, fighting back the tears; this was beyond embarrassing. This was disgraceful.

   “Harper” Amya called, I managed to flit my eyes open; her shocked, worried, tear rimmed eyes locking my gaze. “Who did this to you? What happened?” I opened my mouth to try and reply, but my throat was cracked and dry. My voice croaky, I tried so hard to form the words on my lips; but found I couldn’t. “What monster did this?” Ryker demanded, Ryker who was bent down beside me now, I could see feel his gaze locked on my throat, presumably there were marks left where Hunter had refused to let go. I could feel fear rising within me; I needed help.

   “I can’t move. But you have to get out, before he finds you” I whispered, my friends looked at me like I just told them I had ten toes! Xander was still on his feet, angry; “If he comes back here, he’ll have to deal with me!” – bold words. Tears escaped my eyes, dripping off my chin, my friends wouldn’t understand. This wasn’t some bandit, or some drunken idiot, or some angry guy; this was my brother. Amya was still holding my gaze, ‘go’ I mouthed at her, begging with my eyes.

   “Who will I have to deal with?” Hunter asked, walking calmly into the room, it was like the calm before the storm. I was terrified; my friends faces washed with relief, “I’m glad someone’s here” Xander chirped, “You must be Harper’s brother right?” Hunter glared at me, a look that said: I’ll get you later. At the moment he was wearing dark, ripped jeans and a tight t-shirt so you could tell he worked out. Amya was oogling, he smirked at me; I wished she wouldn’t – he might seem like a ladies man but he would hurt her.

    “Yes I’m Hunter; does Harper talk about me a lot then?” Hunter asked, faking innocence in his voice. Oh jesus, they were buying it too; I wanted them all to just leave. Xander shuffled from foot to foot, “Actually no; Harper didn’t even mention she had siblings” he said, dropping me right in it. Hunter glared at me, “Lying again are we Harper? So you’re not as sweet and innocent as your friends think you are!” Amya and Xander exchanged confused glances, then looked at me. Ryker was oddly silent.

   “I would have thought you had learnt not to lie; or have you not learned your lesson yet?” Hunter smiled; I could see the menace behind his eyes. Honestly, if I was on a heart monitor right now I would’ve broken the machine. “Yeah, um, anyway; do you know who did this?” Xander continued, looking right at my brother; Xander had always seen older ‘bad boys’ as role models. I hoped he didn’t hero worship Hunter. Hunter let out a hollow laugh, “Of course I know who did it! Now run along now, I’ve got it all sorted with the police”. Amya and Xander bought it, they turned on their heels and practically ran for the door.

   Hunter waited until the door was closed, until the footsteps had died away before he dropped his façade. In two steps he had crossed the floor to where I lay. “Are you ashamed of me Harper? Did you lie to your friends? I would have thought doing this would’ve taught you not to lie!” Hunter grinned evilly, his deep voice louder than ever with thanks to my throbbing head. “Get up Harper you pathetic creature” he spat. I tried to move, but found I could not. “Hunter I can’t move” I cried, pain shooting through my limbs.

   An expression passed over Hunters face momentarily, was it perhaps regret? I doubted it. Either way it passed as quickly as it had come, instead the evil smirk reappeared on Hunter’s face. He turned on his heel, I heard him banging about in the adjoining bathroom; he was running a bath; he waited for a few moments; all the time I was holding my breath; eyes closed. Wishing myself away; away from here; away from him. When he returned he tugged off my jumper roughly, tossing it aside; in one swift motion he picked me up, a couple of steps and we were in our ugly, bleak bathroom; “Can’t move eh? I know something that’ll get you moving nicely” he smirked. I fell. He dropped me straight into the bath, fully clothed; I screamed.

   How long I spent soaking in the bath I didn’t know. After the initial shock I managed to keep myself upright. It worked too; the hot water completely relaxed my muscles. By the time I got out of the bath I found I could move again. I ran to my room. Breathing hard I dry myself; Hunter had flipped out a lot at me, but never like that! I think it was time to call the doctors again, get him checked over. He and Chase were so unpredictable, never said when they were coming or going; I just had to trust that one of them would be here.

   Fully re-dressed I padded down quietly into the kitchen. It was seven o’clock on a Thursday night – thankfully Hunter would be out with his friends. He would be out drinking, which meant I would sparred his wrath for a couple more hours tomorrow morning as well. That means I had been like that for .. two days! No wonder people were getting suspicious. I made myself a cup of tea to calm my shaking hands.. there was noise coming from the lounge; here I found Hunter; crying himself to sleep in one of the arm chairs.

   I look at him, his crumpled form; he looks so vulnerable! Oh jesus why do I pity him? Why do I still love him? If he wasn’t my brother I would want him dead by now. For a moment I just stare at him, unable to do anything; Hunter looks up, I freeze to the spot, my hand is trembling so much tea is pouring down my legs; it burns but I can hardly feel it. I feel nothing; just the gaze that Hunter holds over me. He gets to his feet; I immediately back away thinking he is going to hit me.

   “Harper, I’m not going to hurt you” he whispered in a low voice, taking small steps towards me; I freeze, I can go nowhere. If I step forwards I won’t be able to swing out of the way if he throws a punch, if I step back or run it will only make him angrier – then I will definitely get a beating. I don’t know what to do; I freeze. Cold arms are around me, squeezing me tightly, “Harper, I’m so sorry. I promise I won’t hurt you again. Do you forgive me?” I close my eyes, my arms wrapped tightly around my brother’s waist. How can I stay mad at him like this? Feeling his warm arms around me I whisper “I forgive you”.