Hunting the Lore

Chapter Three

The youngest of the kids were down for naptime, while the eldest were enjoying their quiet time.

While everybody was preoccupied, Sky and I worked on washing some of the bottles and sippy cups.

"Elma?" Skylar asked while drying a bottle.

"Hm."
"I know this isn't the time to bring it up...but why haven't you left Donovan?"
I knew why she was asking, but the words came out before I could even think: "Because I love him and he loves me. End of story."
"But--"
"It's none of your business. End of story."

"Elma, please--"

A knock at the door stopped Skylar from starting an argument. I sighed and put down the plate I was cleaning, going over to the door to see who had saved me. There he was...Donovan himself. And it looked like he was holding something behind his back.

"Who is it?" Sky called from the sink.

"Donny." I ducked out the door before Sky could talk me out of seeing him.

"Hey babe," he said in a dour tone.

"What's wrong? You know Skylar doesn't like you showing up around here."
"I wanted to apologize."

He presented a small bouquet of wildflowers.

"Donny, you know I love you," I took the flowers from him, "but Sky's really upset."
"Why?"
Don didn't know, or at least didn't accept, that Sky knew about him...hitting me. So I just shook my head and told him not to worry about it. He just shrugged his shoulders, said he had to get going and left.

///

Wally and I were chilling, Donovan at work still. Skylar wanted to hangout, but I told a little lie and said I wasn't feeling good. She probably didn't believe me, but I just didn't want to be asked a billion questions about Don.

"Hey kiddo, you get all your homework done?"

"Yeah. Why?"
"Wanna play one of your video games? Maybe go for a walk?"
"Can we watch a movie?"
I nodded, which made Wally smile this huge goofy grin. I had a feeling I knew what we were going to watch...and when my little brother came back, my suspicions were confirmed: Raiders of the Lost Ark. The kid loved Indiana Jones more than anything and probably still wanted to grow up like him. Not that he'd admit it...

"I'll make some popcorn, you start up the movie," I told him as I got up from the couch.

///

We were about an hour into the movie when I heard the front door unlock. I got out of my seat to greet Donny, Wally staying behind.

"Hey babe," I said chipperly, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Mh." He looked past me into the dining room, "Where dinner?"
"Oh, I thought we could go out or order--"
Donovan sneered at me, making my heart sink. I should've know better.

"Elma I've told you how many times? All I ask from you is a tidy house and dinner on the table! Can't you do anything?"
"Donny, babe, I'm sorry..."
He grunted and pushed past me.

"Hon, I can make something really quick. I can--"
"God, do you ever shut up?" he screamed, whirling around so he could look me dead in the eyes. I could feel the tears coming. If there was anything Donny hated more than not getting what he wanted, it was seeing somebody getting upset when he raised his voice.

"Dammit Elma-Mae, you always do this to me!" He stomped over to where I was. "Suck. It. Up."

"I-I...I'm sorry..." I did the best I could to keep the tears in, but it was useless.

"Stop acting like I'm some monster!" he bellowed. His hand went in the air, ready to strike.

That's when shit really hit the fan.

"Leave her alone!" Wally shouted.

"Wally baby, go watch your movie," I said in a cracking voice.

It was too late.

Donovan took his in mid-air hand and swiveled, landing a blow right on my baby brother's cheek.

"Donovan, no!" I cried. Tears and everything.

He wouldn't stop hitting Wally.

I grabbed the nearest thing I could, a vase with flowers in it, and bashed it against Donovan. He stopped, but only for a moment. A moment he used to turn back to me. The burning rage in his eyes...

In a panic, I grabbed one of the shards of glass (from the vase), and prepared myself.

"Don't make me do this Donovan..."

"If you do...I swear to god I will kill you."