Mind Games

A Matter of Family

MEGA LANGUAGE AND THEMES WARNING! I WATCH WAY TOO MUCH DEADLY WOMEN!

 

“You lying bastard! You say I’m the one you love, you say you don’t have the money, you drag me through that trashy little shit-chapel to keep me from running off with someone who’d take care of me!”

“Arthur, who is this woman?”

“And you two-time with this little slut, spoil her rotten with everything you should’ve given to me?!”

“Dad, what the hell’s going on here?!”

Everything goes silent downstairs after Michael speaks. Mark hugs me tightly and pulls me against him.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”

“MICHAEL, RUN!”

I hear the sounds of metal and the wall and people tripping over. I almost scream, but Mark pushes my face against his chest so I can’t.

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!”

“YOU CHEATING MOTHERFUCKER!”

Screams, banging, more sounds like people falling. Bad pictures come into my mind like they’re from my nightmares. Mark covers my ears, hugging Tim and Nadaka between us. Even through his warm hands, I can hear some of the sounds. I whimper against his shirt.

Stop screaming. Stop screaming. For God’s sake, I just need the screaming to stop. Someone get me out of here!

I’m in the MI unit.

I look up at Mark; the detached glint in his eyes fades into troubled realization.

“Among the Sleep all over again.” I mumble.

“Yeah.” Mark agrees with a numb tone. “But I think this is worse.”

Mark doesn’t take his hands away from my ears for a long time. When he finally does, the house is almost quiet as a crypt.

“We need to get out.” Mark whispers, crawling free from the blankets. “Come on, sis.”

I stiffen slightly, the last few words replaying in my mind. I crawl from the bed and look up at Mark, eyes round with curiosity. His own determined gaze meets mine.

“I said, we have to go,” he whispers, tugging my pajama sleeve. “Come on. We can get the neighbours to call the cops.”

“Yeah.” I murmur, wrapping my slightly pudgy hand around his. “Just don’t leave me.”

“You sound funny when you’re talking like a little kid.” Mark states bluntly, pulling me towards the door to my room.

“Why are we going to my room?” I ask.

“Your closet is right by that door.” Mark says. “And the lock on the hallway door to my room’s broken. We can find a way out your window.”

“Right.” I murmur, following Mark to my room. He lets go of my hand. It’s cold now.

Mark starts to shove at my wardrobe, trying to push it in front of my door.

“Marly, gimme a hand.”

I first lock my room door from the inside, then huddle up next to Mark and shove on the door. I grunt with the effort.

“S’too heavy.” I mumble. “Hang on…”

I move away from the closet and run to my toybox. I hang over the edge and dig through it.

“C’mon, has to be here… Aha!”