Smoke and Roses (Dark Louis)

Chapter 4

~ 10 YEARS EARLIER ~

"LOUIS WILLIAM TOMLINSON!" 

A little boy, only 8 years old, was hiding in his closet. He pressed himself against the back wall, terrified, with a teddy in his arms. The teddy was missing an eye and it had stuffing showing, but the boy loved him with all his heart. It was the only friend he had, the only one he could trust with his secrets. The only one he could talk to, that he knew would never hurt him in any way.

"You little son of a bitch, where are you?!"

The boy's father made his way through the small flat, searching. He was angry, you could see it in his face and hear it in his voice. And that man wasn't to play with. He was dangerous, Louis knew what he was able to do. He knew his father wouldn't hesitate hurting him badly, as he had hurt Louis' mother.

"GET OVER HERE STRAIGHT AWAY!!"

It was surprising that the neighbours never did something, since the voice of Louis' father echoed through the whole building.

Louis hugged his teddy bear tighter and closed his eyes, wishing it to be over quick and maybe not as painful as usual. He had no idea what he had possibly done to get his father to be mad at him, but usually it was no need to do something bad. It was enough only existing. Especially when the father had been drinking.

"Come here, Louis. I won't hurt you, I promise. You're my little baby boy. Daddy just wants to talk to you."

His father's voice changed its tone and now he sounded inviting, soft. But Louis didn't buy it, not anymore. He wasn't his fathers baby boy, he was just a punchung bag when the father felt like it.

"Help me, Teddy." Louis sniffed. He pressed his face against the old teddy, tears streaming down his face.

But the teddy couldn't help, not this time either.

"Hello there, baby boy. Why don't you come outside so we can talk?"

Louis slowly tilted his head up and his eyes met his fathers. They had the same color, the same shape. He blinked away the last tears and stood up on shaky legs. His father grabbed his arm and dragged him out.

"Please, Teddy." Louis whispered desperately, just half a second before his fathers' fist crashed into the small boys' side.