The Assassin and I

Chapter Four

Chapter four

Winter

The sky is a dull grey when I finally make it home and it takes me a few minutes to actually gather the courage to go inside. By now my dad is probably in the middle of another hangover, not to mention he should have noticed I've been gone by now. I open the door slowly before stepping inside and trying to get to the stairs. Bottles clank in the living room as dad stands his voice roaring throughout the house. I wince racing up the stairs and slamming my door pushing my dresser in front of it.

"Open this door!" He yells banging on the door with so much force that the entire wall shook. I wrap my arms around my knees as close to the corner of my bed as possible. God, I can take the out men three times my size in less than a minute but I can't take him. I always took the full force of dads beatings when Autumn was alive; he always cried and if he cried dad always beat him harder.

Dad eventually gives up but by then I was half asleep anyway. With him gone I sigh and let myself slip into nothingness.

...

"Winter we...we could just run away." Autumn says curling further into my chest as dad stomps up the stairs.

"I know buddy. I'm sorry." I say wiping his tears as dad rips open the door and grabs Autumn's arm. My eyes widen as he throws him against the wall and throwing a hard punch into his eye.

"No!" I scream grabbing onto dads arm and using all the force I can to distract him. It will piss him off and he will focus on me leaving Autumn alone.

"You little piece of shit!" He yells grabbing my neck and throwing several punches into my gut making me gasp for air. Next he aimed one for my face, which considering I couldn't turn because he still had a hold of my neck was excruciatingly painful. I take as many deep breaths as I can. No noises, no sign your in pain, it will make him stop sooner.

....

"I'm so sorry Winter! I'm so sorry!" Autumn sobs into my chests once dad is long gone to whatever bar he desired for tonight.

"I'm okay. I promise." I whisper stroking his hair and kissing his forehead.

"Were going to be okay." I say louder though he and I both know we won't be.

...

I slowly open my door praying dad decided to leave I need food considering I haven't ate literally anything in over twenty four hours. I creep down to the kitchen sighing with relief once I get past the living room he must have le-

Shit.

Dad is sitting at the kitchen table with my mother downing what look likes tequila. I could run but it wouldn't do me any good he would just catch me.

"Where were you last night?" He asks standing and limping towards me. "You ran like a coward and hid somewhere didn't you? Did I raise my sons to be cowards?" He shouts the last part making me wince pressing myself against the refrigerator casting a glance to my mom as if that's going to do anything. She has never helped before, if he is distracted with us he wont hit her.

"Answer me!" He shouts and I have to bite my lip not to whimper. God I am so weak.

"No." I say not looking him in the eye. Big mistake. A punch hits me directly on my chin busting my lip.

"Then why the hell do you act like one?" He shouts throwing my against our french doors and busting the glass. I can feel the glass shards stabbing into my cheek and sides but I don't have much time to dwell on it. Within a few seconds he threw a strong kick to my side, then another, and another. More and more until I can barely breathe without my sides screaming in pain. Finally he grumbles and walks off but I don't even try to get up.

"Winter." I hear a soft and delicate voice say. A voice I haven't heard in years.

"Mom?" I whisper in confusion blinking my eyes open.

"Honey get up. You need to leave your eighteen you can leave. Go to the bank and set up a bank account James can help you. Hurry go before he comes back."

I don't think I just do. I get up ignoring the aches and throbbing pains throughout my entire body and run. I go out the back fence and down the neighborhood. I don't know where I got the boost of energy. Adrenaline maybe? Whatever I don't care I just need to get away from that monster. I had always been too afraid that if I left he would just track me down and I didn't know where to go. I do now though, it's insane but he said if I ever needed help....

When I get to his apartment i'm barely even standing and the only words I can bare to get out are:

"Aaron...Help...Please!" Before everything fades to black.