Daddy's Girl

The Wild Witch of The West.

Author's note; This chapter will be written in the point of view of Mark Matthews, the Father of the main character, Terri Matthews.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Her sweet little voice calls out from her room. I cringe a little, hoping to God that The Wild Witch of the West doesn't hear her.

By that, I mean her Mother. She's an awful woman, though for some reason I still love her.
I suppose it's because of the way she was when she was young- the way she was when I met her and fell so deeply in love with her.
She used to be so beautiful, naturally beautiful. She didn't need a bit of make-up or fancy, expensive clothes and jewellery. She was so much more than perfect the way she was: long, curly, dark brown hair that fell elegantly around her face; beautiful blue eyes, which always took me back to the bright Summer's day on which we met; warm ivory skin, covered in freckles though only the ones across her nose and cheeks were noticeable; her smile. Goddamn, her smile was perfect. And her laugh made all my worries disappear in an insant. I can't forget her voice- or the way she laughed at me, then told me her name. "Katherine Saltwater, but I guess you can call me Kath."
She was so kind, so friendly...
But she's no longer that person. Not anymore. That was lost a long time ago...

Now she's completely different: her hair is bleached a lighter tone of brown; her skin is tanned, well, more orange than anything, really- and her freckles are no longer visible; her smile is awful-not that I ever see it, anyway- she's been injected with so many fillers and she's had so much plastic surgery that if she did try to smile, she would probably crack and shatter into a million tiny pieces.
The only thing that hasn't really changed about her is her eyes... I suppose she can't change them, really. But even so, they no longer take me back to that Summer day- they stare at me; cold, empty, soulless almost. Even when she's angry, which is most of the time...

I walk slowly down the hallway towards my Daughter's bedroom, trying my very best not to make a sound. Even the slightest din could send The Witch into a whirlwind of insanity.
"Daddy!" She calls again, sounding slightly impatient.
"Hold on TerBear..." I whisper as I creep along, cringing harder and harder by the second. Surely she had heard by now.

Why don't I just leave her?- That's probably what you're wondering.
The answer?
I can't.
I can't leave her.
If I did, what would happen to Terri? Where would she go?
She definately wouldn't be with me, no. No matter how much I would try. Her Mother would fight against that, just to make my life Hell, not because she wanted her. She would end up either taken away or left with her. I can't have that.

Suddenly, a door creaks open.
I'm screwed. I think, immediately stopping dead in my tracks. My heart pounds faster than it has for a while and my face looses what little colour it has...
"Daddy...?"
I run up to her and crouch down to even out the huge height difference.
"Thank God it's you." I say, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to block out the thought of what would have happened if it had not been sweet, little Terri.

"Daddy can you-" she starts. I stop her, slowly and gently plancing my finger to her lip.
"Shh... Wait until Mommy can't hear us..." I whisper softly, my voice trembling a little. She nods and smiles at me, places her delicate little finger against her lips. She might be young, but she understands. How could she not, really? Her Mother is a monster. No other way to put it.

God knows what would happen to her if I weren't here- I hate to think about it. I hate to imagine Terri waking up every day, living her life alone with her Mother. I hate to say it, it breaks my heart, but I really don't think she would wake up at some point- not without me to protect her from The Witch. The thought haunts me...

I stand up and take Terri's hand. Slow and quiet as ever, we creep towards her room, close the door behind us.
It's safe now. She can't hear us. I lean against the door and sigh a sigh of relief. I can finally spend time with my Daughter.

No, I'm not scared of my Wife. I'm scared for Terri. Ever since she came along, well. You could say it was both a blessing and a curse.
You see, Terri wasn't planned... But Hell am I glad she came into my life.