Lost and Found

Hide and Seek

"Av don't make me come look for you! Get out her now! I swear to that bastard above, if I have to come find you myself you'll only get it worse!"

My father screamed for me at the top of his lungs for me to come out of my hiding spot, where my mother had placed me. She told me no matter what I wasn't to move from this spot. His anger only grew more as his boots paced the hallway wondering where I could be.

"Where is she? Tell me dammit?!" He screamed to my mother. I heard him grab her, a yelp bouncing off the walls as I clutched my legs closer to my chest.

Then I heard it. That cracking sound that disturbed the air in the whole house. It was always the same sound, but this time it didn't stop. I knew we'd really done it this. Daddy's rules were so easy to break, almost as if I was meant to break them whenever he was around.

My hiding spot was new, and my mommy knew that, and now daddy did too. My mother pleaded on my behalf," Honey, please just let this one go. It wasn't her fault at all. It was me. I swear baby. Jessie had nothing to do with my accident in the basement. It was me I swear."

He laughed. A crack sounded and my mother had grown silent.

"Then explain to me why my daughter has been hidden from me. If she's so damn innocent then she'd be here in front of me Josephine?"

"You know why don't make me say it," my mother spoke softly to my father as if he were me. "Please just let it go. I'm sorry Jamie, I won't let it happen again," she pleaded

With no reply he ventured though the house again. Calling my name as he climbed the stairs, I heard his footsteps pass by the guest room I was in. A racket sounded letting me know he was down the hall. Things being thrown and knocked over.

Oh, Elaine you hid her good this time. Avery," he dragged my name out as if this was a game," Come to daddy honey." I bit my lip in silence fighting the urge to go to him like I'd been trained. "WHERE ARE YOU AVERY!" He struck my mother again and I heard the door burst open. She unknowingly told him where I was. I screwed my eyes shut as I felt the air hit me from the doors being sling open.

"Well, what do we have here," I whined softly covering myself for protection. His large hand closed tightly around my arm," Oh it's a little too late for that now you little shit." I let out a small sob as he dragged me out of the cabinet in the en-suite bathroom, and over my mother's shaking form. I reached out for her even though I know she'd tried to take the beating for me. It never worked.

"Jamie please! I told her not to come in with me. She listened. I did it." She pulled my ankle back toward her chest," Baby please." He shifted lifting me off the ground kicking my mother's hand off my leg. I could feel his fingers dig into your ribs, as he knocked her back down to the floor. He quickly strode over to the bathroom across the hall slamming and locking the door. I cried trying to pry myself out of his hold," Daddy I swear I didn't do it." My mother began screaming over my pleas for it to be her instead. He yanked back the curtain and turned on the shower ignoring my little hands clawing and begging him not to water me. I dry heaved into his shoulder as he forced me to stand on my converse clad feet.

" I'm only going to ask you once, we're you in my office space under them stairs?," I shook my head," N-no sir, mommy was down there, b-but I stayed by the d-door at the stairs. I didn't go inside d-daddy. Please don't ." He shook his head as steam began to cloud around us. Daddy didn't like that answer," You were in the room. Once you step past the damn door I'm pretty sure I remember explaining this to your little fucking mind," knocking against my head as he yelled into my face.

"As soon as you walk past that door I said was my office space you're trespassing where I said DON'T GO. I'm in charge NOT mommy." He slammed my small frame into the waiting shower. I screamed feeling the hot water soak my clothes. "How many times have I told you!! Too damn many. I bet now you'll remember. He held me under as I tried to squirm away from the heat. I managed a glance but was thrown down smacking my back to the bottom. Daddy made quick work of his belt yanking the knob the opposite way. I cried cowering into the shower knowing better than to move from where he placed me. He swung at me as the water turned cold. I cried out for my mommy as he continuously made contact to my wet clothes and exposed legs. I grabbed for the ledge trying to keep the water from my nose and mouth. Choking and spitting up as much as I could before I felt an arm yank me backwards and upright. I yelped feeling my arm pop.