Running Low

Scars

Raven Aliya Chang was out playing with her sister, Hayley Via Chang, and her best friend, Garry Tyker at the park. "What should be play next?" Raven asked. Her ten-year-old brain got bored quite quickly.

Four-year-old Hayley just giggled, as if Raven had just told her a joke. "Tag!" She tapped her older sister and toddled away slowly, arms stretching forward as if it would speed her up. She kept giggling and glancing backwards to see if Raven and Garry were following her.

Of course, Raven was, arms out-stretched as she jogged after her sister, a laughing grin on her face full of joy. "I'm going to catch you!"

Hayley let out a shriek and grinned as she waddled faster.

Running past Raven, Garry smiled, "Come on Hay, this way!" He held his hand out for the younger girl.

Hayley giggled and took it, running with Garry who winced as Hayley squeezed his cut hand. His dad had cut him just that morning, payment for 'being so stupid as to fall down the stairs.' There was no hope for sympathy at his house.

Raven ran after them and swooped Hayley up, cradling her in her arms, spinning her in circles. "I caught you!"

Hayley giggled and wrapped her arms around Raven. "Again! Again!" And she tried to wriggle free.

Putting Hayley on the ground, Raven ran towards the swings, apparently forgetting that she'd wanted to be chased. Raven smiled softly at her sister and sat on the swing beside her.

Sitting on the swing beside her, Garry leaned towards Raven, "I don't want to go home. I'm scared."

"You could stay at mine? I know, I know. You're parents will never allow it," Raven said sadly, almost crying. "I'm not even sure mine would. We only have two bedrooms, one for them and one for me and HayHay. There's not even room for a blow up bed."

"You have a couch," Garry said without thinking.

"Then you can stay with me," Raven nodded, slightly hopeful, though she didn't believe it.

"Though my parents will search for me. And they'll go to you first." Garry shook his head, "I can't let them get to you. I can't let them hurt you."

But Raven would do anything for Garry. He wouldn't understand, she knew that. No one else she knew her age felt like she did, she'd asked everyone at school. Every time she looked at Garry, she felt her heartbeat pick up, she felt her hands get slightly stickier, her head swarmed with the randomness of thoughts and yet was still focused on him. And it was only him. "I'll survive."

"Like I do?" Garry asked. "I don't want that. I don't want you to suffer like this."

Garry's legs were scarred and his left had a large burn running up the back. His arms were cut and torn, his back was scratched and branded. He was covered in bruises and he often had a black eye.

He made sure to wear trousers and a long sleeve t-shirt all the time, whatever the weather. He grew his hair out longer at the front to cover his purpling eye.

"What time is it?" Garry asked suddenly, aware of the setting sun.

"Eight," Raven said. "You have to go, don't you?" Garry nodded. Raven leaned over and hugged him tight, "I hope tonight is better."

"I promise you, it will be. My parents won't harm me tonight," Garry promised, trying his best to keep his tears to himself. If he cried, he'd get beaten.

Raven finally broke away, her heart pounding, her head swimming. She cried silently and turned away as Garry walked up the park's main path towards his house.

That night, Raven sat at the top of the stairs as her parents listened to the radio while they talked about their day.

      The monotonous voice on the radio echoed through her whole body.

      '-reported missing half an hour ago. His parents, Mr and Mrs Tyker, are distraught. In an interview, they called Garry 'their only joy in the world. If anyone knows anything about this, please call...'

      Raven tuned out the rest of it. She wouldn't let herself believe it.

      A week later, the radio told the developed story.

      'Garry Tyker, aged ten, who was reported missing last week, is now being presumed dead. If anyone has any further information...'

      It was his parents. It had to be. Raven had seen the scratches, the cuts and bruises, the scars on top of scars. Her heart, shattered and hurting her every movement, was growing cold.

      Every night, she'd hug Hayley, sit with her on her bed and read a story with her. Though she knew she was being selfish, spending the nights with her sister, keeping her up because she herself couldn't sleep, and because she spent all day alone, ignoring her.

      It was getting too much.

      Her heart had put itself together with the help of Hayley, but it was covered in scars, marking the places Garry still owned, however far underground he was.