Freedom at Last (ON HOLD)

Prologue

I walked carelessly into my house holding the expensive bread that my Dad ordered me to get for our guests. My father was sitting on our couch with his friend that he liked to golf with, Edgar Wilson. They were discussing the tragedy of the oil mill that blew up and killed hundreds last week. Mr. Wilson's kids were sitting on the floor arguing over a toy truck. The boys were named Riley and Gertrude, Riley was 4 while Gertrude was 11. My eldest brother, Alex was sitting on the chair by the window and was texting on his phone.

                As I was entering, my Dad stopped his conversation with Mr. Wilson and looked at me. "What took you so long? Bring that in the kitchen and help your mom and Wendy." He strictly told me. Wendy was Mr. Wilson's wife and she was also my mom's best friend. "Yes Father." I reply bluntly. I walk into the kitchen and I see my mom cutting some carrots and cabbage while Wendy was cutting some strawberries. They were discussing the new fabric that was shipped from India. They stop as I walk in.

"Hi sweetie, how was your trip?" my mom asks me as she cuts the last carrot and hands it into a bowl. Then she moves onto the cabbage.

"Um...it was good. It was on sale today so I bought two if that was okay." I answer happily.

"Great! That will last us a while!" My mom smiles at me and takes the bread out of my hand and places it in the pantry. I look over to Wendy. She has her head down as she was cutting the strawberries.

"It's nice to see you again Wendy. How has your day been?" I ask her cheerily.

"Uh...g-good. How was yours?" She stutters.

"Are you okay? You seem...bothered by something..." I point out. She rises her head and smiles at me.

"Yes darling, I'm fine." She smiles at me but I catch a bruise around her neck. It seemed she was trying to hide it with the torn scarf that she was wearing.

"What happened to your neck?" I ask curiously. She looks down at her neck and pulls the scarf up more and goes back to cutting the strawberries. I sit at the table looking at Wendy.

"Sweetie why don't you get th-" I cut my mom off asking Wendy "did he hit you again?" Wendy looks up and she eyes look sad.

"N-no, he threw a-a book at me." She quietly says. It seemed as though she was ashamed.

"What?! Why? I thought he stopped!" I freak out by slamming my hand on the table. I startle Wendy a little bit.

"Sweetie you shouldn't ask-" I cut my mom off again and continue my anger. "He has no right to hit you or for any women at all!"

"I-it was my fault. I tripped and broke his favorite dishes for tea. They were really expensive" she stutters quietly.

"Really? That is not a reason to throw a book at your significant other!" I angrily say. I push the chair that I was in, out and I stand up. I angrily stomp into the living room and I walk towards my father and Mr. Wilson. I walk up to them in anger. They stop talking as I approached.

My dad states "what are you doing here pest? Go back into the kitchen where you belong." I clench my fists to my side and I yell "SHUT UP!"

Gertude and Riley stop playing and look at us. Mom and Wendy walk into the doorway of the kitchen but stops like their scared. My brother looks up for a moment then back down to his phone. My dad stands up and looks at me, I see that he is irritated. "What did you say to me?" he asks sternly.

"I told you to shut up." I reply, I gulp slowly as my father is about to reply.

"You think that you can talk to me that way pest! I am your master!" He says angrily.

"No, you are nothing to me. Not a master, not a father, not a man. You don't deserve any of those titles! Treating women, your own family as trash is disgracing. Especially when you hit or hurt them!" I yell back at him. Then I point to Mr. Wilson and continue "and you! Hitting your wife is horrible! What in your right mind made you think that was alright? We are all human! There is barely any difference between me and you!" Mr. Wilson stands up and looks at me.

"Jonathan you should shut your pests trap before I do it for ya." He angrily mumbles. My dad walks in between me and Mr. Wilson. He raises his hand and brings it down toward my face. He strikes me on my cheek hard. Everybody gasps in the room besides Mr. Wilson, Alex, and my father. The numb stinging pain tingles on my cheek as I look up at my father again. Tears start to form up in my eyes and they fall slowly.

"Woman, get the whip." I father orders my mother. My mother hesitates and answers "b-but honey-" "Get the god damn whip! Do I need to whip you too? What does it take to get respect in this house!" he shouts angrily. My mom runs through the living room and up the stairs, to father's bedroom where the whip is stored.  He then looks at me again and continues "you are nothing! And you never will always be nothing! We are not the same, man is the ruler of everything. Women were created to serve, to be our accessories! To me, you are nothing more than the gum that got stuck on the bottom of my shoe. Now...after I am done whipping you, I'm starving you for three days. No food, no water. And you'll be locked down in the cellar. Do you understand me?" I start to shake at his deep tone that he has gave me. I look down to the floor and I fear the future whipping. I think of all the times he threatened me.

Pest! You really think you can oppose me?
Ha, I'm stronger than you.
Hurry up slave!
Did you hear me? Then you must be deaf.
You will be staying in that cellar for a long time, do you hear me?!?
No one can save you!
That god you speak of, is not here. He hates you!
If you ever disrespect me, I will whip you so badly that you can't stand.
I'm am your master, not dad. Dads are only in a fairytales.
You are nothing! To me, you are nothing more than the gum that got stuck on the bottom of my shoe.
You are nothing! You are nothing! You are nothing!
And you will always be nothing!!!

I raise my head and I look at my head in anger. I curl my hand in a fist and pull my arm back. With all my strength, I punch my Dad in the nose. He stumbles back and almost falls to the ground. My brother and Mr. Wilson look at me shocked. My dad covers his nose as blood seeps through his fingers.

"Nothing huh? Well this 'Nothing' just punched you. I had enough! I have been nothing but kind and what do I get? Abused, threatened, ordered, I'm done! Hit me, kick me! I will never bow down to you, you vulgar excuse for a human!" I yell.

"You bitch..." my father mutters. Blood drips to the floor and my brother leads the kids into the kitchen with Wendy. Mom runs down the stairs confused with the whip in her hand. And Mr. Wilson, brings his fist into the air and punches me in the cheek. I fall to the ground and yelp in pain. "Wendy, call the rebel control center. Tell them we have another one." Mr. Wilson orders Wendy. My vision is a little blurry and I don't know how long I stayed on the floor, but two guys in white uniforms come rushing the door and they roughly picked me up. My legs drag on the ground as they bring me out of the house. The last thing I remember before blacking out was my mother trying to run to me, but father stopping her and slapping her. Making her fall to the ground. She calls out to me "Isadora!!!"
~
Finally finished the prologue! I hope you enjoy!😊
-Kris