As We Lived

The Beginning of A Long Journey (Olivia)

        I had just turned 18 and school was going to start soon.  There was a week left of summer vacation.  I didn't think the black eye and busted lip would clear up in time before school started.  On our first day back they would take our ID pictures and here I am looking battered and bruised.
        I had been reaching for my laptop to search up ways to make myself look less... Purple I guess?  My mother had burst into my room and threw my laptop on the floor.  What was I going to get beat for this time?
        "Olivia,  I am sick of your shit.  You didn't clean the window shades properly, and I'm tired of you being so god damn lazy!" She spent an hour beating me.  She had hit, kicked,  punched, cut and stomped on me in the places where I'd still been bruised. I didn't cry however,  I couldn't.  If I cried it only put her into more of a bitter fit of rage and she would beat me more ruthlessly.
        I stayed in bed for three hours,  listening to music on my phone until I had to come down for dinner. 
I wasn't hungry,  but I went down anyways because I would do whatever I could to protect my sweet little brother Michael.  He was 14 and my parents would beat him as well. Granted, they hadn't done it as vigorously as they had to me,  but he still felt their wrath.  I set the table and told Michael to wash up.  Something about tonight felt different.  As we sat down to eat,  I told Michael that I wouldn't let anything happen to him,  I promised.  Michael had been nervous about something, but I wasn't sure what.
        Halfway through dinner our father shot Michael a look and finally spoke. "Aren't you going to eat boy" he growled.  Michael just shook his head no.  "What's a matter? You haven't eaten all day? Are you worried about your report card" he questioned,  anger rising in his voice.
        Shit, that's what this is about. Michael had been struggling with school. He'd been getting beaten so much,  he was exhausted.  Then when he would sleep,  he had nightmares that made it all worse,  so not only was his body exhausted,  but so was his mind.
"You've got two C's,  three B's and one A.  Michael,  one A,  are you fucking kidding me?" You could see the anger rising in our father. "Answer when spoken to boy!" My father had reached across the table and went to go swing at Michael,  but I'd grabbed his arm.  I held onto him,  digging my nails into his skin.  "Michael go into your room" I demanded. Poor Michael ran into his room, locking it as he entered, and he cried.  My parents sat there, angry as all hell, looking at me.  "I will not let you hurt that boy.  You can do all the shit you want to me, but I refuse to let you hurt that poor child. Fuck you guys,  he's just a kid. His poor grades are the product of your shitty parenting." I knew I needed to hold my tongue but I said what I had to.  My parents sat there for a minute.  I'd been beaten worse than ever that night, but I hadn't cared. 
        I later called Michael's friend Gabe and I asked to talk to his parents.  "Hi Marisa,  it's Michael's mother, Bell,  I'm sorry to bother, I know it's late but I was wondering if he could come stay at your house for a day or so, we have an awful roach infestation and the exterminators are working on the house.  Oh? I'll drop him off in ten, thank you so much!" The only good thing about being me was the fact that I could do a perfect impression of my mother.
        As I walked into michael's room, I packed him a bag. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes.  "Michael, you're going to Gabe's tonight okay?" he nodded in response.  "I'm going to keep you safe,  I promise. They won't notice you're gone and it'll all be fine." I flashed him a smile as I packed his bag.
        "Liv,  what if The Thrasher comes to Gabe's. What do I do" he asked,  fear rising in his voice. "Hey,  Michael,  no sweetie. You'll be okay at his house,  I promise." The Thrasher was a serial killer/mass murderer who had been killing families all around Newport. So far there were at least 9 families found dead. The most recent was around our neighbourhood. The Thrasher only ever leaves on person alive.
        I consoled my brother and we decided it was time to sneak out. Our parents were asleep in bed. Thankfully I knew where the keys to the car were, and I knew how to drive. I took the car and dropped him at Gabe's house.  He gave me a hug and I told him I loved him.  Tonight was the night everything would all change.