Against All Odds

Chapter 32

Eve

Out of the many channels on our TV, none of them interest me.
There's not even a Big Bang Theory programme recorded. Groaning, I fling the remote onto the sofa and turn the TV off, giving up finding anything decent to watch.
This afternoon I am supposed to be hanging with Lucas but he made it bloody clear he wanted me out of his house. It's strange, the whole time I was with him he was so grumpy and then as soon as he opened up a little he freaked out and literally manhandled me out of his house. Charming.

Dragging my feet up the stairs I find my room and start to go through my many albums, deciding which one to put on.
Finally I decide on Arctic Monkeys album Humbug.
My phone buzzes as the first song begins. Music always fits my mood.
AJ texted me.

Michael is dating Amy Pilard. Thought I'd let you know before he tries to shove it in your face xxx

I laugh out loud at that message.
Those two make a good fit, they're both dickheads.
Amy used to be a major nerd but once she hit puberty and gained boobs she literally became a sex addict.

Perfect match! I hope they make each other very happy xxx

I reply, not even caring that my ex boyfriend is dating again. This just proves how right I was to break it off.

Tell me about it, they're both dickheads. Xxx

I smile, shaking my head in amusement while wondering how AJ had read my thought.

Was literally thinking the same thing haha xxx

Our conversation carries on for a little while until Alfie says he's going on a family outing.
I put my phone on my desk and sing along to Cornstone. AJ and I are closer than ever, even after his little blip when he thought he fancied me. We haven't really spoken about his confession much since but he's acting like normal which makes me hope it was indeed just a faze.

This afternoon I now have the house to myself as Lucas doesn't want my company and Max has taken Benji to the cinema.
I'm just chilling on my bed until I hear the familiar shouting from next door.

My eyes widen immediately, guessing it's Lucas and his Dad. This time, however, it sounds serious. Really serious.
After pausing my music I face the window, stopping dead in my tracks when I see Luca's room. Previously the curtains had been drawn, hiding him from view but now the curtains are wide open, it almost seems like they've been ripped off the wall. The window is smashed as well, the edges extremely sharp looking.

Lucas's face is being battered like hell by his fathers fist. Again and again. He's pinning Lucas against the wall and beating every inch of his body. I can see Lucas holding his hands over his face on protection but it's pretty hopeless. When Lucas tries to collapse, unable to hold his beaten body anymore, his dad pins him to the wall and his hand finds Lucas's throat.
My mind processes what's happening within ten seconds. His dad looks vicious. This beating is different.

I can't even process what he's shouting at his son and I don't even care.
"Holy shit." I think out loud, rooted to the spot as I watch the older man punch his son constantly in the face, throttling him so Lucas' face is slowly turning blue.
Without thinking I lean out of my window and shout at the top of my lungs.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" I yell, taking myself and my neighbours by surprise. The man clearly heard me because he falters in his beating. "Get your hands off him!"
I speak up again, just thinking about getting the mans attention off his son who is currently gasping for breath, blood flowing from his nose. The man has his back to the window but as he turns to address me, I'm shocked at the darkness in his eyes. He'd taken his hand away from Lucas' neck and I watch as he collapses onto the floor of his room, breathing in a much needed breath.
"Mind your own business." The man sneers, pulling what's left of the curtains across the shattered window, hiding them from view but not before I get a glimpse of Lucas. He's panting hard, body bruised so badly it makes my heart clench. The curtain hides his poor hunched figure from my view and I feel panic rise in my chest.
I can't just leave him there with his father beating him to pulp! His eyes literally looked ready to murder.
For a second I stare at the curtain blocking the terrible scenes. Then I kick into action. Swiping my phone off my desk I phone 999 for the first time in my life. The conversation isn't long and I'm surprised at how calm I sound. The man on the other end tells me to stay put. He says there's a police car on the way right now.
"He'll need an ambulance." I say breathlessly, running down the stairs and out of my house.
"Don't worry Miss, everything will be fine." The man states firmly and I take a deep, calming breath. "Just please stay in your house. There is no point putting yourself in danger."
"He could be dead, I have to go in." I reply, hanging up before he says anything to change my mind.
Without giving myself time to back out I fling open the door. While shoving my phone in my back pocket I press voice record, hoping to catch Lucas' Dad out. Evidence. This could be used as evidence.
I hear the shouting again and suddenly there's a figure falling down the stairs. His body is broken and defeated. Lucas is barely recognisable.
His body falls down like a rag doll, head hitting the wall hard. He falls to the bottom of the stairs where he comes to rest by my feet.
I choke out a sob at the sight of such a strong boy so broken.
"Lucas?" I whisper, dropping to my knees beside him.
His body is still.
He doesn't move a muscle.
Then I hear a low laugh coming from above me.
"He always was weak." The brute chuckles, slowly following his son down the stairs.
"You bastard! How can you do this to your own son?" I yell, tears in my eyes as I hug Lucas to my chest, never letting him go.
"He's been working with the police, trying to get me sent to prison." The brutes nostrils flare angrily. "That boy never respected my way of making a living."
"So what? You're going to murder your own son?!" I'm not sure what this guy does for a living but I'm pretty sure it's illegal. I also have a feeling that he's used to beating people up...even killing them.
"He was trying to bring me down." The brute shrugs, no remorse in his eyes.
"You are heartless." I spit at him, turning my focus onto Lucas. "Please Luc, hang in there."
My lips kiss his sweating forehead, a tear dripping onto his bloodied cheek.
"I can't let him live, he knows to much." The brute speaks again and I'm shocked when I look up and see a gun pointing towards Lucas.
"No! Think about what you're doing! This is your own flesh and blood." I desperately try and get through to his non existent humanity. "What will his Mum think?! She'll never look at you again! And Lola, you'll loose your whole family..."
"Shut up girl. You know nothing of family." He shouts and I see a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
"I know what it's like to lose family." I persist, hanging onto the hope that somewhere in this mans heart he did care about Lucas. "You feel like your hearts been ripped out of your chest. You'll never see them again, they're just gone. You'll be alone."
"I'm alone anyway." He growls, the gun still pointed at Lucas' head but I can see the killing machine shaking in his hand. I see the conflict on his face. He can't do it. He can't kill his own son.
"Please, drop the gun." I plead with him, standing slowly and holding my hand out. His eyes never leave mine. "He doesn't deserve to die."
Malcolm lowers the hand holding the gun and I feel relief spread through me. I'm about to take it off him when the door flies open.
Both our attention snaps to the front door.
There's a gun shot from beside me.
I hear the scream. The high pitched scream of an innocent little boy.
"NO!" I hear a mans voice and another figure comes through the front door.
I tear my eyes away from the scene in shock and look at the man in front of me.
"I didn't mean to...instant reaction...I'm sorry." His eyes are filled with regret.
The man threw the gun away, dropping to his knees. Lucas is still at my feet, barely alive.
"BENJI!" My brothers strangled voice cries desperately from the doorway.
I can't look at that scene. I just can't.

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Intense! Bit of a cliff hanger...