Race to the Finish

Race to the Finish chp.17

His eyes were so cold and sinister.

I've seen those eyes before. I just don't remember where. They sent an uneasy shiver down my back and caused my stomach to churn.

"Alex! Alex!" Titi called my name frantically.

I finally turned my gaze away from those soul-less eyes. I turned to look at Titi who was looking at me with concern shinning in his eyes.

"Are you alright? You kind of froze, paled, and wouldn't speak." He said looking me over. "Is it because of the hits on your face? Are you getting a concussion? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Titi kept on rambling, but my mind was still trying to remember where I had seen those eyes before.

I finally shook my head and snapped out of it for now.

"What time is it?" I asked Titi ignoring all his previous questions. My voice seemed distant.

"It's past midnight. Why?" He asked, now looking at me weirdly.

My eyes widened. I have to get home now! "I have to go home." I said quickly.

"Alex wait!" Titi said grabbing my upper arm to stop me leaving, " Are you ok? Do you need a ride home?"

"No!" I said too quickly. "I'm fine honestly. I'm just tired from today's events. I'll see you later." I gave him a hug to show that I was fine and walked away to my motorcycle.

I hopped on my motorcycle and turned it on. The engine soothed my nerves a bit, but I still couldn't get those cold eyes that burned through my soul. His eyes were so evil, it felt as if the devil himself was looking at me. He has eyes that tell he has seen horrible things and maybe he wants revenge.

What would that have to do with me though?

I shook my head.

I'm just thinking too much of this. Whatever the hell he's been through it has nothing to do with me.

At the moment that thought ran through my head a chill went through me.

It must have just been the wind that is fighting against the speed of my motorcycle.

I got home and hid my motorcycle in the shed. I took the money out of my pocket and took a small amount and put in the metal box. I stuffed the rest of the money in my pocket. I closed my eyes and looked up.

There are people out there who probably have a life way worse than mine. I can live through this. It's just my sister can't! She's nine! I can protect her that's my priority, to keep my sister safe. That's why I have to give this money to that bastard.

I opened my eyes, lower my head to look straight, and take a deep breath. I nod and walk out of the shed. I go Jaiden's bedroom window. Hopefully she woke up, read my note, and unlocked the window.

The leaves were slightly crunching under every step I took as I headed to Jaiden's window. Once I got to her window, I placed my palms on the cool glass of the window and slid it up.

Yes! She unlocked it!

I jumped over it and into her room. I turned to look at her. She was soundly asleep in her bed. I turned back around to slide the window back down. I walked over to her to inspect her; to make sure she wasn't hurt or beaten while I was out.

She was clutching the note I wrote for her close to her chest. She was curled up in a fetal position, but she seemed unharmed.

I smiled at her sleeping figure and lightly kissed her forehead.

"This is for you." I whispered against her forehead. My breathe blew away a few strands of her hair that were on her forehead.

I stood up straight and stuffed my hand in my pocket. I gripped the money firmly in my hand. I blew out a breathe and was about to walk out, but stopped myself.

Instead of going to my room as I planned, I curled up in Jaiden's bed and wrapped an arm over her. I buried my face in her hair.

"I love you so much. I will always protect you I promise." I whispered to her.

Sleep started to tug at me when I heard the front door open and close. My body froze. I should get up to give him the money now before he comes to hurt Jaiden.

I unwrapped my arm from around her and stood up. She stirred a bit, but didn't wake up. I put my hands in my pockets, then walked to her door and opened it. I walked out to the living room, but I didn't see him there.

"Mom!" I whispered yelled.

Mom looked up at me. Tears shinning in her eyes. A small smile appeared on her face. She opened her arms for me.

I dropped my hands from my pockets and ran into her arms.

"Baby girl, I've missed you so much." My mom whimpered softly in my ear. My face buried in her neck as she soothed my hair.

Last time my mom had lovingly soothed my hair was when I was five. It was after my father grabbed a knife cut my wrists and tied me to a chair to watch as he beat my mom.

 I had to sit there and watch as he gave punch after punch to my mom's delicate face. I knew my father used to beat my mom before, but I never had to sit there and watch.

It was a horrible image that was imprinted in my head since I was five.

I will never be able to forget that day because I still have the white scars on my wrists from when he cut them.

Most people who see my wrists assume I was self-harming. Which I don't do. My father harms me more than enough for me to adding more pain by harming myself.

The way he grabbed my wrist against my pleading and crying to slide the knife onto my wrist slowly and deeply, is something I will never forget.

~~~~~~~~~~ 13 years ago ~~~~~~~~~

 My eyes were wide with fear. Tears spilling uncontrollably from my eyes, landing on the spilling blood from my wrists as he smiled proudly and drunkenly at the sight in front of him. A five year old crying in pain from being cut from her father wasn't enough for him. No, he wanted then to make her sit and watch him beat her mom. He pushed me down on a chair and tied my cut wrists together with a rope, then proceeded to tie my feet together, and lastly tape my mouth shut to prevent my yells from interrupting him. After he was done he swayed over to my mom, whispered something inaudible into her ear and beat her without regret.

At that moment my wrists didn't hurt as much. I didn't care about the pain or the blood. I didn't cry for it either. I cried with my mom as that bastard beat her brutally. When he finally passed out my mom came over to my chair, untied me, and pulled me close.

As she soothed my hair lovingly, she whispered in my ear, "Mommy loves you baby girl. Don't cry, don't cry."

~~~~~~~~~~ Present ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before I knew it, I was crying on my mom's shoulder. She hugged me tightly and shushed me in a soothing way. "Don't cry baby girl, mommy loves you so much."

"Mom?" I asked her, sniffling as I pulled away from our hug.

"Yes, baby girl?" My mom asked me as she used her thumb to wipe away my tears.

"Why are you still with him? I need to know..." I looked directly into her eyes.

Her arms fell limp at her sides. Her face seemed to pale sightly and her eyes became big with fear.

She opened her mouth to answer the question I've been dying to know...

--------------Author's Note------------

Sorry I took so long to update I've been so busy and exhausted I feel like I'm going insane. You guys prob don't care so Im not goin 2 bore you with d details. Anywho comment don't whatever just hope you liked this chp. :)