playdead

Chapter Eighteen

Belle walked through the dead streets of Kietzke.

Yellow streetlights shined on her, the light forming a cone on the cracked and grey sidewalk.

Up ahead, a store called "Walgreens" was open. The red logo outside flickered. Occasional cars drove in or out of the parking lot of the store.

Belle walked to the end of the sidewalk, where two traffic lights shone to barely any cars. Belle crossed the street and walked to the front door and opened it. The bell above her rang out, "ding!"

Hardly anyone was there. At the check out counter was a teenager reading a magazine called "Playboy" on the front with a highly promiscuous girl on it as well. The TV blared a loud music.

Belle walked over to the drinks section of the store and grabbed a pack of Coronas. They shone blue in the fluorescent lights overhead.

Belle walked to the counter and put it in front of the teenager. He rolled his eyes and put down the magazine.

"You reelly be buyin' beer at your age?" He said.

"Nuh-no, no, it's for my...my dad." Belle replied with a soft voice.

"Why not gimme some head behind this 'ere counter, sugar?" He said. "I'll give ya this for free."

"...I-I'm 13." Belle said.

"Don't matter, does it?" He replied.

"I'll juh-just pay, for it. Please." Belle said, almost to a whisper.

"Ugh." The teenager grunted, and scanned the beer. "That'll be 19.34."

Belle gave him a 20 dollar bill and reached for the beer pack.

Suddenly he snatched Belle's arm, put her close to his face. He smiled with a toothy grin, his horrible breath burning Belle's nose.

Belle pulled away as strong as she could. The teen tried grabbing her again but missed. Belle frantically looked around for a weapon, a use of defense.

The teenager hopped over the counter and slowly walked over to her. She backed away from him.

"You got some nice juggies for a lil' kid, not gonna lie." He said.

Belle ran as fast as she could. The store was like a maze now. Any corner he could pop up.

Belle ran to the drinks section once again. She grabbed a big bottle of wine and and stood her ground. She didn't want this. It's time she defended herself.

The gremlin popped out and went "BOO!"

Belle screamed, and swung the bottle at him. It bounced off his skin, but it hit hard.

"OW! You fuckin' bitch!" The teenager said. He reached for her.

This time, Belle swung down onto his head. The bottle shattered, spraying reddish-purple liquid everywhere. Glass and blood laid on the floor.

"AGHHHHHHHH!" The teenager screamed.

Belle dropped the remaining part of the shattered bottle with shaking and scared hands. She was horrified. To what she had done.

She's never done anything like that ever.

"That's it you fuckin' slut! Time to break your pretty little FACE!" He shouted. Belle sprinted to the counter, grabbed the beer pack and slammed her back to the door, pushing it.

Belle ran outside, before hearing, "THE NAME'S JACK McCARRAN! TAKE IT TO COURT, BITCH!"

Belle slowed down, once far away enough from that monster. She shuddered violently.

Every god damn adult here is a creep. Every single one. I'm alone. I can't do this.

Belle walked back to her house crying silently. Before she arrived, she made sure she was clean. She wiped off any glass on her. She wiped her tears away.

She straightened her right jean shorts and short shirt. She hated her shirt. It revealed too much. She didn't need boys looking at her belly button every so often.

She entered.

He was watching television. Full House, she guessed.

"No trouble, right?" He asked.

"Nuh-none, daddy. None at all." Belle replied. She brung the Coronas to him and gave it to him.
He smiled.

Belle smiled painfully back.

She walked to her room and closed the door. She cried for two hours. She didn't want this.

Why?

Then, she fell asleep before anything could answer that god forsaken question.