The Shock of Guilt

Chapter 1: Isolation

February 8, 1973. The small town of Victorville was closed to the idea of creating a town that was open to the common. More so, the founders wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of having anyone and everyone in their town. The secret beheld by Ruben Smith wouldn't have availed the situation. And the horrible aftermath would be even more unholy. How could he ever tell anyone, especially his best friends, that his own abhorrent father was beating him two times a week? No one could ever withhold a secret of this kind, but unleashing it would cause a mayhem. His father, Steven was the latest town hero. A savior to the entire town and his family, too. He had saved an entire family from a burning building, which was a good deed, but what he was doing in the dark was much more evil.

"Dad! I home from school", Ruben called as he walked in the door. His Father had come home from work early and had taken a task in trying to drown his sorrows. The abomination freed and embellished himself in a cup of single malt Scotch. To him, the taste was more than just a drink. It was a way to free his demons, but it freed them at a cost of another.

"I'm in the kitchen, son", he yelled, trying to not slur his words. As Ruben slowly walked into the kitchen, scared of what he might uncover, he threw his jacket and backpack on their new couch.

"It's 6:00 and you were supposed to be home 3 hours ago", his father said slurring his words and drinking his liquor at the same time.

You could say that his father was Liquor Lover, but that would be a devastating understatement.

"I know, dad. Im sorry", Ruben said.

" Me and the guys decided to go get some food". "I guess we lost track of time".

"I don't care what you wear doing, Ruuben", His father tried to say as a whole, but couldn't. He slammed his glass of whiskey down and it lightly spilled. Ruben ran to catch the glass before it fell and collapsed, but it was too late. The beautiful, clear glass evaporated and shattered on the floor.

Steven was too drunk and ignorant to help, so Ruben decided to clean it himself. He got the trash can and started to pick up the little peelings of glass.

Then, it happened. It was like something shut off in his dad. Whether it was his humanity switch or maybe it was his drunkenness, but midway of his son picking up the glass, Steven transformed into a psychotic person. Not too long after, he started to yell and scream. Ruben had no idea what was happening and how to stop it, but it was too late for him. His dad started to punch his oldest son.

"STOP DAD", Ruben yelled.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?", he couldn't get his point across by just talking, so he had to yell at the top of his lungs.

His dad wasn't listening, just hitting him over and over and over again. Ruben didn't want to fight back, but in order for him to survive, he needed too. Blood almost started to drip from Ruben's face, but thankfully his mom stepped in. She and Ruben's little brother, Marty had been out for a grocery run, while all of this was taking place.

His mom. Mrs. Martha Smith, an amazing and wonderful person. She worked alongside Ruben's father, as a dispatcher in their local fire department. Martha had been aware of how Steven was acting when he was at home, but when they first met, it wasn't like this.

He was nice and thoughtful like a gentlemen, but he still had a little mysteriousness that made him exciting. She wasn't aware of his "little problem" when they first met, but then again, they were still in their twenties'. They had their whole lives to figure out each other's personalities.

"STOP IT, Steven", she yelled as she walked in the door. Mrs.Smith was so stunned, she dropped the groceries. She never thought that her husband could take it to this level.