Accepted To Kill

Chapter 7

The frigid night air stings my face and makes it numb as I run. I can't stop running. Though tears begin to fall from the sky on behalf of my mother I can't stop. The rain becomes a steady downpour and soaks me to the skin.

Only the Lord knows where I'm going. My soaked sneakers slow me down a bit and eventually I stop and simply stand there and scream.  No one is around. No soul to judge.

The pavement lit up by the dim street lamp is turning to ice, and my heart is turning to stone.

I long for death, but not as much as I long for something else. Revenge. My father will surely pay.

I can hardly feel my limbs as the temperature drops. I am alone with no where to go. Home is not home. My body shivers continuously as I hug myself.

A light not far off attracts my attention, and being chilled to the bone, I don't care whose company I'd be in. The rain turns to snow and it grows heavy. Funny how the weather reflects what is felt inside sometimes.

I take a few steps towards the light and stop. No. Not there! Never again will I go back to The Hex. My hair is turning white from the snow and my eyelashes that were once wet with tears are now frozen. Never say never.

I march myself over to the building and walk in. "Let them kill me", I think to myself. The many stares I get from those within make my body shake even more. Why are they staring? Then I remember....blood.

I look down at my pants which were soaked with blood, now frozen of course. "My dear mother..." I think to myself closing my eyes to shut out the faces and lock in the tears. An arm wraps around my shoulders and a voice says, "I'd say our newest addition is quite the little man, isn't that right Matty?"

I raise my eyes to the one who is touching me. Melvin. I lower my head, "I'm not whatchu think man, I haven't done nothin."

Melvin laughs in my face. "Bruh, you don't gotta hide nothing with us, we family now you got that?"

Family....the word makes me want to scream. My family is nothing now. My father not even worthy of being called father.

Suddenly I feel my clothes being removed. What is going on! "What are you doing? Please stop!" I shout alarmed. I don't wanna look down at my  exposed body for fear that Ill feel more humiliation. Better to pretend this isn't  happening.

All the guys in the room say nothing as the door is flung open. "Worst timing ever", I think bitterly to myself  as footsteps approached me.

"He's back already?" A deep voice asks behind me. When I try to turn around I am forced to stay put. A warm hand touches my shoulder. "He's freezing. Get him dry clothes before he gets sick. Last thing I want is to take care of a sick baby."

Despite being unable to see the man, I can feel his eyes all over me examining me.

"Tomorrow we will brand him," The deep voice continues, "whether he likes it or not."