The Girl Who Watched It Burn

Secrets & Lies

The Beginning of an End

I put my diary away and got up to get ready for work but as usual he would have to hurt me before I do.

"You're up. I thought I'd have to wake you up myself we wouldn't want that now would we?" He was drunk, of course. The hair on the back of my neck stood up just hearing his voice. How I hated him.

"No, we wouldn't." I tried to get past him but I didn't even manage to take a step before he stopped me.

"Are we forgetting something here, Chloe?" Please not today. I sighed and looked down I can't stand to look at him.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Being smart to me won't get you far." And before I can comprehend what was happening I was slammed into the ground with full force; I didn't bother screaming. Why would I? It never got me anywhere before.

"Get up you ungrateful bitch. You live under my roof, eat my food, and yet you have the audacity to give me such attitude. You're exactly like your whore of a mother. No, I take that back, you're worse; at least she paid me in some way for the things I done for her- unlike you..." And another kick to my ribs. I could have sworn I heard one crack or it must have been my head hitting the floor I'm not sure. He pulled me up by my hair and threw me on the bed.

"Now, are you going to be a good girl and obey or do you want to play the hard way?" I looked up at him- confused.

"Just let me go, Mike. I've got work." I tried to reason with him. I got up and just as I did I felt myself being shoved to the bed again.

"I believe I said behave, Chloe unless you want to play the hard way" Sick bastard!

"I'd rather play this the hard way and die before I let you do any more damage to me!" I tried to get up again but he was much stronger than me after all he is two times my size.

He held my wrists with just one hand and undid the buttons on my top with the other, tears were falling down my eyes uncontrollably as I struggled against his grip. I did the one thing a girl could do in this situation and kicked him hard in-between the legs. The second he fell to the ground, screaming in agony I made a run for it. 

It was a little after nine and I had no idea whatsoever where I was going. I've been walking for hours now and my mind won't stop racing. The sick bastard kills my mother and gets away with it and somehow he still got custody over me. How can they do that knowing what kind of a man he truly is. I just turned 17 and yet I've never been to school. I mean how can I go to school when I was raised by such a man. He has been abusing me since I can remember. My mother passed away when I was 10, he killed her and lied to the police; made it look like suicide. I don't know who my biological father is but I've seen pictures of him, the only way I've seen pictures of him was because of Mike, my step-dad. The only reason I never ran away before - well actually I have ran away before but always went back to Mike - was because he threatened to kill my biological father and his family. Even though I never knew my father or his family, something told me to protect him. I never hated him, my mother told me a lot about him and how their divorce wasn't anyone's fault, they simply fell out of love and it was a mutual decision. My father found a beautiful wife and they had adopted a daughter who is just a year younger than I am. I don't know how my mother fell for a man like Mike but she did. I didn't think Mike was her type ever, she was much too smart for him - but I guess loneliness does that to you- makes you stupid at times. I had to go home I don't want anything happening to my father or his family because of me. 

By the time I got home, Mike was passed out sleeping on the couch. I tip-toed to my room and shut the door I got out of my clothes and went to have a relaxing shower the bruise from the kick was there now. My vision got blurred as I kept starring into the mirror, that bruise is just another addition to the collection I've got bruises, cuts, and scars on every part of my body. This time I was lucky to have only gotten what I did, other times he would burn me with cigarettes or cut me with any type of sharp tool he can get his hands on. I wiped my tears away and had a quick as possible shower. I changed and jumped in bed as soon as I was done. I didn't want to sleep, but my eyes started closing on their own.

I awoke the next morning to the sound of people yelling. It was Mike and I couldn't make out the other man's voice. I got changed quickly hoping I could escape to go work before he saw me. I ran downstairs as quietly as I could and just when I thought I was lucky, I guess I got my hopes up too soon. Mike was charging towards me angrily and looking scarier than ever. I gulped and tried to look less scared as I could.

"Where do you think you're going? You don't think I forgot about last night did you?"

"Listen, Mike about that I'm so-..." I was cut of by his fist hitting my gut. I was out of air, he hit me so hard I couldn't breathe. I fell to the floor gasping for air I looked around hoping maybe that man might be here still no luck there. I guess luck doesn't seem to find me attractive. I blinked and tried to get up but I only met the floor again when he kicked me right in the same spot as yesterday only this time my head hit the corner of the table and my vision blurred I thought I was about to pass out from the lack of air I had.

"What was that? You're sorry? Yeah, I'm sure you are. You're as ungrateful as your mother was. Useless, pathetic, weak, a slut!"

If only I had a gun right now. I've had enough! Enough of this life. If I had a gun, I wouldn't shoot him, no, I'd shoot myself! I felt his hand in my hair and he started dragging my by my hair to the kitchen. Oh, no... this has happened before and it's happening again. I closed my eyes and hoped he'd finish me off this time. He let go of my hair and threw me on to the floor once more I winced when my side collided with the floor yep broken ribs for sure. I heard the draw open and couldn't help but look to see which tool he'll use now, he had a knife this time, I smiled secretly wishing he'd accidentally go too far and kill me. 

"Now, I don't want to hear a sound come out of your mouth, you hear me? The more you scream the more I'll make this painful for you." I just closed my eyes and braced myself.

He grabbed me by my hair and sat me on one of the dining table chairs. He put the knife to my left wrist and dragged it along the skin, over the same scars he had caused me, it was painful but not the most painful thing I have ever experienced from him. He repeated it over and over again, but on both my hands I'm pretty sure I have cuts covering my arms from my elbows down to my fingers. I kept my mouth shut as he moved to my stomach. Cut after cut.

I can't take this any more! I feel like I'm about to pass out I'm losing too much blood. Why God? I only asked that he finishes me off quickly. What have I done to deserve such a life?! No matter how cruel someone is, no-one deserves this.

"Be quiet cupcake, we don't want the neighbors to hear." Even though my eyes are closed I can sense him smiling. He's enjoying this, I opened my eyes and I was right.

"What do you say we try something new?" He raised his eyebrows waiting for me to reply. I didn't even blink. 

"Let's play a game. You wait here while I go get my gun. Be a good girl, Chloe. Make daddy proud." I knew when he said daddy he was referring to my biological father.

The minute he was out of sight, I grabbed the knife and hid behind kitchen door. This is it. It was now or never. I had to do this. I have to get this over and done with, I have to live a free life, I deserve to for crying out loud! I heard him coming down the stairs and my heart beat faster with each step he took.

He pushed the door open and I went for it. I got out from behind the door and this surprised him, knowing him he probably thought I ran off again. I grabbed the knife as tight as I could and stabbed him, I let go of the knife and saw that the knife was put right into his heart. I smiled - but the smile only lasted a second before I saw him lift the gun up and shoot. The sound was loud it was almost deafening. I looked down and saw that I was bleeding even more than I already was. He shot me... The bastard still got me even while he was dying. He got me. The last thing I saw was Mike's body hit the floor before I followed too, with a smile on my lips and the last thought on my mind- it's over- it's finally over. And everything went black.