Dreamland Dimensions

Chapter Eighteen: Ruthless

The night sky is foggy tonight, I longed to gaze up at the stars again the way I haven't in what now felt like ages. But for some reason tonight the clouds were against me and hid the moonlight. I stared at the clock waiting for 7:45 PM, that was the time Anastasia got off work and usually called. I found myself obediently expecting her 7:45 phone call like a puppy, she loved it though whenever I answered her phone on the first ring and ask what took her so long. She'd laugh in a way she hasn't since we were kids.

We were still kids but childhood was something we were unfamiliar with now. Life had made us forget our age, everyday felt like the last and breathing got harder.

I was no longer a child, neither was Anastasia but whenever I barked like a happy-go-lucky puppy, wagging my tail just for her. Anastasia would laugh with so much innocence and purity, like the little girl she should've been. The call never came, I had dosed off without meaning too and the cool breeze sent a chill throughout my body. I shivered, feeling my teeth chatter as I stirred from my sleep and yawned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Looking at the clock, 8:30 PM and no missed call. I sat up, groggy still as I unlocked my phone and dialed her number. The phone rang, I waited anxiously for Anastasia to pick up but a beeped followed and it went to voicemail. I tried to call again but got the same result, my heart sank into my stomach once I started to think. I stood up grabbing the black hoodie off the foot of my bed as I kneeled down, reaching under the bed and getting a Nike shoebox. I opened the lid, revealing a metallic black 9MM and a box of bullets. Dudley had gave it to me in the box, I said I wouldn't carry it but I started to.

It was hard to say what was on my mind, everything was racing and blurred. I loaded the gun, standing up and tucking it in my waistband of my jeans.

I climbed out my window, not making a sound to alert my mother but it wouldn't matter, she wouldn't have stopped me. The air was freezing, I wrapped my jacket around myself and zipped it up, throwing the hood on my head as I headed down the street. The trailer park where Anastasia lived was 20 minutes from my house, I started to run after vile thought of what could be going on raced through my head. My heart and heavy breathing was all I could hear. The streets were silent, it almost felt like I was running in the dead of night but it was only 9 o'clock. I made it to the trailer park, going by memory the way I had ran many times before. The familiar trailer home was dark and quiet. Unusual because normally cries and screams were audible. It was a damning truth but the truth nonetheless.

I took the gun out of my waistband, clicking the safety off and slowly walked up to the door. My hands were trembling, I felt as if the pounding of my heart could be heard outside and inhaled deeply. The door was unlocked, I threw the door open with no hesitation and waved the gun around the dark livingroom. I could hear whimpers and grunts from down the hall. Standing there, I could see a light from underneath the door as I slowly approached and the cries became clearer. I stared at the gun in my hand, reaching for the doorknob and pushing the door open. Three candles were on the nightstand, dimly illuminating the room and creating shadows. I walked in slowly, seeing the two muscular sweaty men naked and fondling Anastasia. The scene sickened me; Her stepbrother behind her with his hand over her mouth while her Stepfather laid with his head between her visibly bruised and bloody thighs. "Get the fuck off her!". Her Stepfather jumped up, holding his hands up and looked at his son. I glared at the teenage boy, he was older than me but just a few months younger than Anastasia. He was big for his age, built like a football player with a babyface. Anastasia scrambled off the bed, grabbing her clothes from the floor and limped over to me as quick as she could.

She looked a pitiful sight, her beautiful face bruised and flushed. Anastasia's body was covered in scratches, bite marks and bruises.

Tears welled up in my eyes, I draped my arm around her shoulder and glared at the two men again. I wanted to shot them, I planned on killing them right here so they couldn't do it again. But I think she knew it because Anastasia placed her hand over mine as I pointed the gun, "Put it down and let's just go...please". I looked down at her, tears fell from her eyes and mixed with blood on her face. "Pack" I stated, looking into her eyes. Anastasia nodded without questioning me, limping down the hallway and into her room. I turned my attention back to them as I backed out of the room and closed the door, "If it wasn't for her, you'll both be dead". I meant it too, I knew that if the situation had been different and Anastasia didn't stop me. I wasn't sure if it was because they would've deserved it or I just didn't value your lives as human beings.

But I would've killed them with no remorse.