Sketch

Chapter 9

"Just drive Devon!" I snapped.

"I at least deserve to know what's going on, don't I!? Why is your dad in a psychiatric prison? What did he do?" He questioned angrily.

"That's for me to know and you to drive me to fix," I growled.

"No," He said and pulled the car over on the side of the road and parked it. "Tell me now or you walk."

"Fine," I sneered and swung open the door and jumped out, slamming it behind me.

"Hey!" Devon shouted as I made my way down the street on foot. "Don't walk away from me!"

"And why shouldn't I, huh?" I yelled, whirling around to face him. "Why should I tell you about my dad?"

"Because," He huffed, "You carry all the weight! You don't let anyone help you, let alone get close enough to you so they can! Why is that?"

"Another mystery," I snarled.

"It doesn't have to be! If you'd just let me help you-" He pleaded but I cut him off.

"Help me?" I laughed. "I don't need your help."

"Really? So why'd you call me when you got injured?" He pointed.

"Who else was I supposed to call Devon?" I growled. "My mom?"

"That proves that you need me more than you think," He sighed.

"Well, news flash. I've taken care of myself for years. Why would I all of the sudden need someone else?" I countered.

"Someone else?" He asked.

"What?" I gasped.

"You said 'need someone else'," He said, knitting his eyebrows together. I spun away from him and continued down the street, picking up my pace.

"Natalia!" Devon shouted and darted towards me. He reached out to grab me but I whirled around and caught his hand before he touched me. I twisted it to the side and he winced.

"Leave me alone Devon," I growled, throwing his hand down. He rubbed his wrist, a shocked expression on his face.

"Who were you talking about?" He asked, ignoring my warning.

"No one," I snapped.

"Please Natalia! Don't shut me out again!" He pleaded. I would have turned around and kept walking if it weren't for the look on his face. He looked as if I had just slapped him. His dark blue eyes were laced with concern and sadness. I just couldn't leave him like this.

"My brother," I whispered.

"You have a brother?" Devon tilted his head.

"Not anymore," I shuddered.

"What do you mean?" He asked lightly.

"He's dead," I said, staring at the ground.

"He's... What happened?" Devon stammered.

"My father killed him," I said, my voice wavering. Devon shook his head and I sighed.

"My father was a drunk and my mother worked twenty-four seven. She was never home to see what my father did to my older brother and I. He.. wasn't right. He would always say that the voices had told him that we were bad children. That we always broke the rules. He called us demons," I whispered.

"Natalia," Devon said lightly but I shook my head and raised my hand.

"You wanted to know," I said quietly and took a deep, shuddering breath, then continued. "Mom was at work one day, as usual, and dad was drunk and particularly agitated that day. He said that I needed to leave his daughter and go back to the dark hole I crawled out of. I was six so I had no idea what he was talking about. He dragged me to the coat closet and locked me inside. My older brother Kallin had always protected me. He took the hits when dad was convinced that I was a monster sent to punish him."