Our Time

Chapter 4: Alyssa Lysan

"The one thing I want for my birthday?" I asked "I want to go to the fair Daddy!" The lights, the music, and of course the food. All of it was something so special. Best of all, it only came once a year. It was a cold, winter day. The snow had made a blanket over the ground. I was seven years old at the time. Seeing the light, shimmer off the snow. It truly was breath taking. It was sometime in the afternoon. School had let out a bit early due to the weather. Of course, I was thrilled, my father and I would spend the evening together. Back then, I didn't know own about my mother. She died during child birth, so I never fully knew who she was. My father worked day and night. He was a mechanic at a local shop. Rarely, would he ever get a night off. Tonight, was one such night. After my father had picked me up, we took the long way home. Taking the side streets, back ways. Just to try and make the night last a little longer. We we reached the pier, it was just as amazing as I thought. The lights, the people, the smells. All were too much to take in at once. Held by each other's hands. We walk up and down. Tasting fried foods, Going on rides, Playing games. It was almost perfect. Almost... that is until when we left. It was nearing ten o'clock when the park officials began to close. Tired and happy, my father picked me up onto his back. That was when I first saw him. A dark figure, lurking behind the tents. Wearing a long, heavy trench coat. Nearly six foot tall. A black hat and scarf covering his face. I didn't think much of it at the time. Until I saw him again. On the way home, my father instead had taken the short cuts. We were back at our apartment complex in no time at all. "Hey." He whispered "Wake up birthday girl. We're almost home." Drowzly, I opened my eyes. He let me down slowly taking my hand once again. The apartment complex was five stories tall, fortunately we were only on the second. We walked the two flights, and suddenly we were in front of our door. 2B, The Golden letters, the red door. I loved every scratch and dent in it. Not because it was the most expensive, but it was ours. As my dad let my hand down, he reached into his pocket and took out his keys. As he put the key in, I turned back towards the stairs. There he was, the man in the shadows come towards the light. "Daddy." I said "Who is that man?" My father looked up, instantly worry came over him. "Alyssa, get behind me." He said "Now!" Confused, I did as he said. "Who are you?" He asked. The man stood as still as stone. His heavy breathing piercing the silence. "Alyssa, get insid-" Before he could finish their was a flash of metal. The man lunged at my father, knife in hand. My father ducked just as the knife came. Throwing his body against the man, pinning him against the door. I shrieked out in fear. My father, pushing against this monster with everything he had. Grunting as he slammed the man repeatedly against the wall. Landing punch after punch to the monsters abdomen. Terrified, I ran down the hallway. Their yells becoming more faded as I continued. As I reached the end of the hall, I hid behind a small plant. Alone, confused, I didn't know if my father was even alive. Until, I heard the footsteps. Steadily growing louder and louder. I covered my mouth to keep my sobs muffled. Until finally, the footsteps stopped. Paralyzed with fear, my muscles denied every command. I waited, and waited, and waited. After what felt like an eternity, I took what every strength I had, and peered around the plant. Silence heavy enough to kill, and the rasps of my breathe. A hand firmly grasped around my wrist. I screamed and kicked. I didn't want this monster to harm me. I wanted my father. "Alyssa!" My father shouted "It's o- it's okay." He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. Shaking, I sobbed my tears soaking into his shirt. Then I felt it. The warmth wasn't just from his hold over me. The sticky, wetness from his arms and hands. I opened my eyes only to see the red, the same red as our door. The rest of that month went by in a blur. My father was arrested, and my grandparents took me in. It's been ten years since that day. Ten, long years.