She Rises

Chapter 8

Jace P.O.V

"Oh look. The hero is back. Just in time to see your mom suffer some more." With that, he starts yelling at my mom.

"Natalie, I told you to stop protecting him! You bitch!" My anger rises as my dad says that.

"Dad, what is it this time!?" I yell at him. "Your brother is doing his stupid crying again, and your mom is blaming it on that depression shit that the doctor says he has. I just think he's being a pussy and can't handle what's going on." He yells at me.

"And your mom over here, well we all know that she just has to protect his poor ass. He is weak, just like she is. Why do you think I have these fucking affairs? I'll tell you why. Because I can't stand your mom. Like I said, she is weak and doesn't give me what I need. All she cares about is you kids. Doesn't care about me or anything. Now, come here Brandon." He says, as he pulls my brother by the arm.

Brandon is my 14-year-old brother with depression.

"I said come here Brandon! Don't make me come get you!" With that, he rips Brandon out of my mom's arms. "Let's go take a walk and talk, shall we." My dad drags my brother out of the living room and upstairs.

I hear the door slam, then I hear a small cry. From the corner of my eye I see Lily, my 5-year-old sister crying her eyes out. While my mom is sobbing, I hear a cry of pain come from upstairs and some more yelling. I go over to my sister, and bring her close to me and my mother.

"Jace, I want you to promise me something." My mom looks at me sadly.

"Anything, mom." I look at her with a serious face.

"Never, and I mean never, let anything happen to Lily. I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her." With the most serious face I've ever seen on her.

"Lily, can you go to your room? I need to talk to Jace alone please." "Lily, I'll walk you up there." I grab her hand and get her ready for bed.

"Lily, I will never let anything happen to you. You are my world." I look at her with a smile.

"I love you Jace." She gives me a big hug and I hug her back, tightly.

"I love you too, baby girl. I love you too."

With that, I walk back downstairs to hear that my mom has stopped crying, and it's gone quiet upstairs.

"I think your dad went to bed. Now I need to have a serious conversation with you, Jace. I had you promise to not let anything to happen to Lily for a reason." She grabs my hand.

"What do you need mom?" I ask her.

"I hate to do this, but I have to." She looks down in shame.

"Mom, what are you going to do?" I question her.

"Tonight, I am packing up me and your brother's bags, and I'm leaving. I would take Lily, but with your brother's depression, I can't care for both. That's why I asked that of you for Lily. I have had this idea for a while, so I've been saving. There's an account set up to get you through for a good while. You don't have to worry about finances anytime soon. Your dad knows nothing about that account. I will try and keep in contact as much as I can. I need you to be strong about this. I know you may think I'm being selfish. I'm not trying to. I just can't stay and watch your brother get abused by your father anymore. Also, the affairs are just too much for me. I need you to understand. I love you and Lily with all my heart. Please remember that. I love you." I look at her and see the sadness of what she must do in her eyes.

"Okay mom, I will do my best. I can't promise how well I will do, but I promise Lily will be taken care of. I'll give her the best of everything. I will protect her with my life. She is my world. I'll miss you and Brandon. I understand you must do this. I love you too, mom." With that we hugged, and I went off to bed.

I don't cry easily. That night though, I did cry. I cried my eyes out because I was losing my mom and my brother. I had to stay here with Lily and my jackass of a sperm donor. That's all he is after the way he has treated my mom and Brandon. He's no father. A father would never do that to his children.

As I lay there awake, I think about Haseya. Wishing I could talk to her about this stuff. Alas, it's too early for anything like that right now. I feel all I would get is pity, and I don't need that. I sigh, close my eyes, and drift into a dreamless sleep.

Natalie P.O.V

I hate that I must do this to my Jace and Lily. My children are my world. I just can't take care of my 14-year-old son with depression and a 4-year-old girl by myself. It's too stressful. I do trust in Jace to take care of Lily for me. He loves that little girl with all his heart. He would never let anything happen to her. I do know that for sure. As I have my bags packed, I sneak out of the room. Giving it one more glance, knowing I'm going to miss it. I head into the hallway to Brandon's room. I already packed his bags. He doesn't know what's going on and I will explain that to him on the way. I walk into the dark room and go up to his bed.

"Brandon, I need you to wake up and come with me." I grab his bags while he wakes up.

"Mom? Where are, we going?" He asks me, sleepily.

"I can't tell you right now. Just know we are going somewhere safe. It's just you and me. I will explain everything to you on the way. Just know I'm doing this because I love you. Now, I need you to go downstairs and be quiet. Go outside and wait by the car. I'll be down in just a couple of minutes." I watch him go downstairs as I go into Lily's room.

I see her sleeping peacefully. Not a care in the world. I go up and give her a kiss on the cheek. Careful not to wake her up.

"I love you so much Lily. Jace will take care of you." I walk out and into Jace's room.

He is sleeping peacefully also. I got up to him, kissed him on the forehead and whisper to him. "Jace, I love you and I trust you will take care of Lily. I'll keep in touch. I promise." With that I walk downstairs and outside.

I meet Brandon at the car and we get in. As I start up the car I look at my house. Knowing I'm leaving is breaking my heart. I must do this to keep my kids safe. It may sound selfish but it's true. With one last look, I drive away into the night.

Peaches! Lovely to see you all tonight, or today, wherever it is you're reading from. I hope you like this chapter. I needed to give you guys and gals some insight into Jace's world, and that I did.

Please, don't be a silent reader!

Love you all!

gO7