The Fire Burns Bright

For Better or for Worse

Kate's P.O.V.

My lungs are screaming for air and my heart is hammering in my chest as I run as fast as I can, pulling Emma and Micheal along by their hands. I don't know how many times we've done this but it feels all too familiar.  The only difference now is that our parents came back into our lives and are running with us. I glance in their direction.

My mom clutches her First Aid Kit to her chest while she runs. She has dirty-blond hair like mine, pulled back in a messy bun. Several strands of her hair have fallen out of her bun and they float fly around in the wind. My father is carrying Annie. He makes sure to run fast but also makes sure Annie's chest doesn't press or bump his chest, carefully protecting her broken ribs. Annie is so small, curled up in his arms and I can see her trembling. Her head leans against my dad's shoulder. Tears stream from her sky blue eyes and I want desperately to stop running and comfort this small, six-year-old girl. 

But even if we could stop, what would I tell her? Her older brother, the only family she has left, has run off to fight their evil father.  Annie is horrified that she might lose her brother and it doesn't help the poor girl that she has an injury that hurts and is scaring her as well. I can't really say, "It's okay. Jacob will come back."  because I don't know it myself. Sure, he's strong but I don't know what his dad is like and, by the way Emma talked about his dad, she's really scared of Marcus. You know Emma. She always says she wants to fight someone to hide the fact that she's scared of them.  

I just hope Jacob survives and that for better or for worse he defeats Marcus. 

Jacob's P.O.V.

As I charge toward the hallway where my father stands waiting, I question the outcome of this fight, "What if I kill him? If I kill him will it be good? Or will the guilt consume me like the guilt of hurting Emma already does? No. He made me do that. But, if I kill him will I turn into a monster too? What if... Stop." I tell myself. "If I don't kill him he'll never stop hunting us. He might hurt my little sister again and I can't allow that to happen."

"Jacob," Marcus growls.  "Come out, come out, wherever you are."

I know I have to go now. The battle must begin for better or for worse. I make the final length of the kitchen and swing myself into the hall. As soon as I get into the hall, I roundhouse kick him in the stomach. It startles him but doesn't have much effect on him. He's like a beast. He is a beast. I'm about to punch him with the knife when I hear a loud POP sound. My ears ring so loud, I almost don't feel the pain in my arm. Adrenaline rushes through my blood as I realize that my father has a gun. My father has a gun and one of its bullets is embedded in my left arm. The fact doesn't surprise me but sure as hell, it scares me. I don't look at my arm. Tears sting my eyes but I blink hard to make them stop. I have to fight. 

    When Marcus brings his knife toward my chest with a horrifying look of hunger in his eyes, I bring both my knives down on his shoulders. My father howls in pain but, instead of shrinking to the ground, he slams the gun barrel into my forehead. I scream as black spots dance in my vision.

"Silly boy, I will always be stronger than you!" Marcus spits. Blood pours down his shoulders but he doesn't seem to care.  

I stumble but I force myself to remain standing. I can't let him win. I think of all the times he beat me down. All the times he made me think I was smaller than him. But as I slam my fist against his jaw memories tug at my mind. I remember when he taught me how to play basketball. My father wasn't always evil. When he took up the habit of drinking he changed. He turned dark. My mother tried to stop him. She was a strong woman but she wasn't strong enough. He beat me harshly and when I tried to protect Annie, my little sunshine, my baby sister from his bad influence he beat me even harder. He didn't understand that she was already terrified of him. Then when Dire Magus started talking to him he completely lost it. That's when he became what he is now; a monster. He doesn't care about anything or anyone in the world anymore.

Marcus slams the gun barrel into my forehead again and I know I can't stand much longer. I can hardly see through all the black spots. I'm falling. I'm falling but I lean forward, reach out the knife and it plunges into my fathers' chest. He crumples to the ground and I know he's dead. I stare at the blood on my hands through the thickening mob of black dots swarming my eyes. His blood. What have I done? I've killed him. Then, I lose consciousness.