To Catch A Dream

Bailey Part Six

Cover by @_GirlyCurly_  !

 After six hours of unconsciousness, Dad finally got the alcohol out of his system and awoke. And his mood is anything but pleasant. I can hear him silently climbing up the stairs, so I shove my laptop away onto a shelf. I try to look busy, practicing with a dagger using my left hand. Dad always used to lash me because my left hand was less skilled than my right, he wouldn't stop until he was satisfied. But he can't anymore because I've grown too fast for him. He leans on the door frame, smiling a little. Not a genuine one though. Never a genuine one. With his expression hardening, turning into something cold, and brutal, he lunges towards me. In his hand is his blade positioned to scratch my neck. I quickly spin away, my cloaks rivaling the shadows of midnight. But Dad is faster. More agile. He grazes my neck, and blood starts seeping through the wound. Shit. I've got to deal with this now.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Dad rages.

"Practicing with my dagger," I reply, only speaking half the truth.

Dad grabs me, and I can tell he sees the fear shining in my eyes, even through this darkness. Out of nowhere, he punches me. Again. And again. And again. By this time, my jaw aches, and bruises form on the side of my face and on my ribs and arms. Pain stabs me in many places. Great. When he is satisfied he shoves me into the ground and leaves, slamming the door. I collapse onto the floor, not daring my father to see me like this. How many blows was that? 48. Only 7 away from his all-time record. I let out a disgusted laugh. My head throbs, but that cannot compare to that emptiness in my heart. Nothing can. The agony and sorrow have been eating at my soul for years now, there is no shred of light in there. Only darkness thrums through my veins.

...

I wake up to a sky streaked with red. Blood from all the lives lost from my hands. It eats me alive to think about all those people who have died because of me. It hurts. Only someone like Dad would be proud of something as twisted as death. Hitler would be too, if only he were alive.

I pull out the laptop again. After years of researching those three schools, I've finally settled on Oakmont High. I type it in my search engine, for the last time, to make my final decision. Here's what comes up:

Population : 2564 students

Grades : 9 - 12

Contact Information : 408-925-0221,

OakmontHigh@gmail.com

Rating : 9/10

Known for : AMAZING sports teams

Our motto : Scientia Defendit Nos

(Knowledge protects us)

And this, compared to all the other schools, is way better. I've got to find a way to convince Dad. A lie is the only thing he'll take. Something to shadow the truth, to make it hurt less. For all this time, I've been putting up this facade to hide the truth from Dad. I do not want to be a part of the military.