Promises From Broken things

T W O

    "You wanna take Phoenix to New York?" A hand slammed down on a table downstairs. While Dusty was telling James he would be taking me back with him, I was up in my room throwing things everywhere just to sort out the important things.
    "Why is this such a big issue James?" Dusty's voice rose higher. I stopped putting my books in a bag I had found and walked quietly down the stairs. Careful to miss the step that creaked. Living in an abusive home you learn that type of stuff.
    "Well because she lives here with me." James spoke as if he actually gave 2 shits about me. He barely cared when I broke my leg. Told me to "stop crying, and walk it off."
   I looked out from behind the wall and watched as the 2 argued.
    "Okay James not to be rude or anything," Dusty walked forward resting his fist on the table, "but she's my sister, she's not your daughter. I understand you took care of her for 4 years and all," I rolled my eyes, "but I think she would much rather be with me." His jaw clenched, and his knuckles grew white. Their was something in his eyes, and in his voice that wasn't there before. Just the way he said it. Did he know. Jesus.
I held my breath and my nails dig into the wall behind me.
    "What did she tell you boy?" James stumbled backward a bit and his voice lowered.
    "It's not what she said." His teeth looked as if they could break if he clenched them tighter. James jumped a bit as he looked down at the hand Dustyn put on his shoulder.
     "It's what I saw." My eyes grew wide, and I felt as if I couldn't breathe. Dusty knew. Dusty's hand was now on the collar on James shirt. He didn't do anything, maybe he was giving James a minute to redeem himself.
    "Dusty-," James eyes grew soft and kind, "That girl ain't right in the head. She gots something wrong with her." By the time he finished what he was saying Dustyn had James up against the fridge. James shirt looked like it could rip at any second by how tight Dusty held him.
    Something grew more intense behind Dusty's eyes, a sort of angry energy. This was a person I've never saw before. Dusty's face was just inches away from James.
    "I swear to god," Dustyn huffed, pointing a finger in James's face.
   "I will kill you." Dusty promised.
       I didn't know what to do not knowing what to do,  if I didn't say anything and quick James would probably be dead. Something in me wanted him to do it. Something in my heart told me to just turn around and let Dusty kill my monsters. I want this to happen, but it can't.
      "Dusty, please don't." I whispered quietly to myself. 
    "Nix get in the car." He didn't even stop to turn around. He must've known that I was there the whole time. But how?
    Now that my cover was blown I walked into the middle of the kitchen seeing my brothers hands around the neck of the man that abused me for 4 years.
    "Dusty lets just go." I went up to Dustyn pulling his arm, his stone cold arm off of James neck. His face was starting to get purple, and Dusty wouldn't budge.
    "Nix-." I cut him off.
   "no I'm not leaving until your in that car. I'm
Not leaving this kitchen until your out there with me." I screamed balling up my fists. I'm willing just to leave everything behind if he just follows me out the door.
Dusty looked back at me and his eyes immediately changed to a look as if he were debating on listening to me or not. After a while he loosed his grip on James neck.
   "Dammit." He huffed his eyes now fixed on the ground. He sighed. Looking back to James who had just gotten somewhat of his breath back he slammed him into to fridge. Dusty pulled James was by his hair to his mouth and whispered something I couldn't hear.
James pulled back With Dusty's permission.
   "Do you understand?" James looked like he saw a ghost. His mouth was wide open and his eyes were fixed on me.
"Don't look at her." Still having James by the back of the neck, he smacked him lightly to catch his attention.
"Do you understand?" He asked James his words firm.
"Yes. Yes I do." He stuttered out. He let James fall to the ground.
    James sink on to his knees his head in his hands.
Dusty stood there his eyes still fixed on James. His face twisted with anger, his eyes grew small with fire, and his fists formed rocks at his side.
This wasn't over.
    Dusty began to walk away, but looked like he chafed his mind.
"Oh and one last thing James." He looked up at dusty, his eyes were red from crying maybe. Within seconds Dusty has smashed his fist into James rotten thin face. Something inside me smiles widely.
Dusty turned around leaving James coughing up blood and spitting up a tooth that flew across the room. I enjoyed this sight a little too much.
"Let's go kid." His eyes were still fixed on something other then me, he wasn't satisfied. Maybe angry with himself for not knowing and with me for not saying anything.
I followed him quietly, getting in his rusty old truck he slammed the door shut and shoved the key violently into the ignition.
   "I hope you have everything you need," he said grabbing the back of my seat and looking behind us. He didn't know all I needed was right here in this car. I needed him forever.
    "Yep have it all." I buckled my seatbelt.