Sad, scared, and abused.

Chapter 4

Alice ran out of her house and reached the end of the block. She bent over, gasping for breath with the image of her fathers lifeless body in her mind. It wasn't registering in her brain as something that had actually happened, just a nightmare.
Flashes of guilt spread throughout her body, and it was like she had forgotten all of the times he had hurt her, and killed her mother.
Alice started running again, trying got get as far away as she could from here. She didn't know where she was running to, she just thought if she could run fast enough and far enough she could get away from the fact that she had killed him.

There was a bump in the sidewalk coming up and Alice couldn't see it through her tears. The laces to her black converse weren't tied that well, and Alice's foot banged up against the bump and she tumbled onto the ground, catching herself on her wobbly knees and shaking hands.
She tucked her head into her knees and tried to hold in the ugly sobs that she was afraid would escape her trembling lips. Alice let out a sigh of exasperation as she heard someone talking to her, and felt there presence lingering around her curled up body.
"Are you okay?" A calming deep voice said, and Alice looked up out of her cave she had curled herself into. A tall mysterious looking boy stood towering over her. He held out his hand, and Alice took it hesitantly, pulling herself up with his help.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She focused on strengthening her voice, so it didn't tremble. She watched him as his deep brown eyes looked her over and as his eyebrows furrowed into a look of actual concern.
"You don't look fine." He retorted, shaking his head.
Alice looked down at herself, noticing that her arms were exposed and her jeans were torn from the fall. A sudden thought of self consciousness flooded through her mind. But she dismissed it, as it would be stupid to care how attractive she looked right now after everything that just happened.
"Hey." The boy touched her shoulder, and this jerked her back into reality.
"What?" She asked, quietly. She was doing her best to hide her arms behind her back, even though she knew it was too late. She had never been in a situation before where she had to be ashamed of her scars because no one had ever been this close and personal to her.
"Whats happened to you?" The boys voice was softer now, as if he almost cared.
"Its a long story." Alice said, realizing afterwards how cliche that must have sounded.
The boy sighed, and looked around at their surroundings. There was no one around, the houses seemed almost empty and the streets were quiet except for the occasional chirping of a bird.
"I've got time." He finally responded, as if he had been contemplating whether he actually had time or not.
"Walk with me." He almost commanded.
They began to walk together, away from Alice's house in the opposite direction of the liquor store. Alice made sure of that.
"Why are you such a mess?" The boy finally asked, and hesitated for a second after saying that.
"I mean you're beautiful, but you seem so on edge." He corrected himself, as if trying not to come off as rude.
Alice glanced at him, her heart fluttering slightly. Today was just a huge mess of emotions, and she wasn't sure if she could keep up.
"It's just been a long day. Actually, a long life if I'm being completely honest about it.." Alice stared off into the distance.
"Are you cool with that?" He asked.
"Being exhausted all the time?" Alice sighed, and her voice began to break, "I'm not."
Alice glanced down at Kid as he began to roll up his sleeves.
"See these?" he asked, and Alice jumped back a little, startled. He was very straight forward and not at all private. He turned his arm over, revealing bruises scattered across his pale arm and traces of thin white scars.
"It's been a long life for me too." He began saying, "My father is the reason these bruises are here and.."
"Stop." Alice cut him off and stopped walking. She just stared at him for a second and then it was almost as if she had no control to her mouth, words just started flowing out.
"Look, I'm sorry and all, but just because we might have bruises from the same thing doesn't mean we're not alone. I am alone. I've been alone my entire fucking life. So don't try to compare your demons to mine." She snapped.
"You wanna know what just happened?" Alice continued, furious. "I killed my dad. How about that?! I killed him with my own bare hands, and I'm freaking out about it!"
Alice was screaming by now, not even caring that they were right in the middle of town.
"You killed your dad?" A voice came from behind them, and they turned around startled.
Alice found herself face to face with one of the boys who had bullied her at school before.
"No, stop. I didn't mean that." Alice's voice trembled, she thought she was screwed now.
"I mean I always knew you were a freak, but this just tops everything I've heard about you." The boy looked scared as he spoke these words, but he still knew that he had total control over Alice.
Alice looked at kid, but he didn't say a word.
"I didn't," she said quietly, "Can you please leave me alone?"
"Yeah, leave her alone." Kid chimed in now, stepping in front of Alice. He was quite a bit taller than the kid, but that didn't seem to bother him either.
"What are you gonna do about it? Touch me and I'll tell on your precious little friend here." He nodded at Alice, his long blonde hair falling over his eyes.
"You aren't going to do shit." Kid said, confidently.
The boy clenched his fists at his side, and approached Kid.
"Are you so sure about that?" he snarled.
"Yeah." Kid said, and punched him in the face knocking him to the ground in one hit.
"Come on, Alice." He grabbed Alice's shaking arm, and escorted her away from the boy.