Young & Stupid

Prologue

"We are all young and stupid. We will make mistakes. That's the only thing that makes us human,"

They were both young and stupid.

He was a bad boy. Countless times, he had wound up in jail. His past was unforgettable. He couldn't forgive himself so he built walls around himself. Around his heart. Those walls had been there for years and no one had managed to break them down.

Except for her.

She wasn't weak, to say the least.

-

"We all have insecurities and there's nothing we can do about it. That's just the way the world goes."

Extended Prologue

Her bottom lip quivers.

Her pale skin peaks through a canvas of purple and black.

Abuse.

I choke out tears. She didn't deserve this. She was innocent.

The middle aged man's palm connected with her cheek, shoving her backwards. A hand print, as bright as Rudolph the red nosed reindeer's nose engraved into her skin.

He sneers and watches the small girl fall to the ground. Her dirty blonde hair is messy, caked with mud.

Who knows what she's been through these past few days. Or months. Or even worse, years.

She must be around 11.

The man grins, thriving from the crumpled look on the girls face.

He strikes again. She yelps as his foot collides with her ribs. Her clothes are torn, old and practically rag like.

How could anyone do this?

I can't watch anymore. I look away in disgust as he continues beating the hell out of her.

They told me to save her.

There's just one thing, I can't.

I'm glued to the cold concrete floor of the old abandoned warehouse, stuck in my uncomfortable crouching position.

The girls screams echo through the empty building. They are endless, her shrill shrieks piercing the air.

Inhaling deeply, I stand up.

The man falters as he sees me.

"I bet you weren't expecting another girl to join the party." I let out a humourless laugh.

My fists clench and swing, landing a great punch to his jaw. There's a deafening crack and I bring my arm back one more time, knocking him out, cold.

The girl's eyes slam shut and she rocks back and forth, whispering over and over again.

"It's okay. Everything's okay."

I grimace, taking in her limp form. She opens them again, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"You're safe now," I say softly. She widens her eyes as she notices my presence. I bend down and open my arms wide.

She shies away, cowering into the concrete. 

"I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." I whisper, pulling my arms back and hugging myself.

Her eyes are as wide as saucers as she watches my every movement.

"You..." Her voice cracks and she pushes herself across the ground, burying her head in my shoulder.

"It's okay," I scoop her up, carrying her away from the warehouse.

Away from the place of her nightmares.

-

Love <3