The Cold Unknown

Chapter 4 - Two Weeks Torture

(Listen to this on repeat while reading) - Daffodil

I was sitting at the table playing with Timothy. Todd was on the couch watching TV and drinking. Kara was working on laundry in the laundry room. Not too long later, Todd got up from the couch and went upstairs to go to the bathroom. When he came back, he looked over at me, beer bottle in hand. 

"Hey, Alice," he started saying. I looked over at him.

"Yes, Father?" I asked.

"Did you know you look so much like her? Your Mom?"

Okay, I know Caroline isn't my actual mother. But, Todd always says it like she is. 

"I... I do?" I questioned back.

"Of course you do, you brat! And I don't know why I continue to deal with it!" He yelled. Oh, no. He's drunk isn't he?  "The least I could've done is tried to forget, but, NO! I had to keep myself in the memories, drown in them! Why couldn't she have taken you? You'd have a perfect life with her wouldn't you? Cause you don't want me as a father, you want that fucking accountant that she ran off with! Because you hate me, don't you?!"

"No, Father I-" I started. Kara walked out of the laundry room, and I saw the worry fill her eyes. But, she continued to stand there.

"You what? Calling me 'Father'... Remember when you called me 'Dad'? Where has that gone, huh?.. Oh, so now I'm just the jackass here, huh? The man you fear? The guy you hate?"

"No, I-"

"SHUT UP FOR GOD'S SAKE WILL YOU!?" He screamed. "You've never loved me, Alice! Have you? No... This is your fault! if you weren't here, I could do whatever the hell I want! But, it's you that always gets in the way!!"

Todd lifted up the glass bottle he had, and brought it down hard. It shattered when it hit my head, and both me and the broken bottle fell to the floor. Todd went to hit me again with what was left of the bottle in his hand, but then something happened that I never expected...

Kara stood in front of me.

The broken bottle smashed against her arm, and blue blood started to leak from the cut it made.

"What are you doing?! Get out of my way!!" Todd yelled at Kara.

"NO!" Kara yelled back. "You're hurting her! Leave her alone!"

I sat on the floor in total shock. Kara... is protecting me?!

"I said get out of my way, you little bitch!!" Todd started smacking Kara, hard. she was defenseless against the oncoming brutality. I stood up instinctively. "Daddy, stop it!" I started sobbing as he continued. "Dad, let her go!" I tried pulling him away from Kara, but he shoved me away. My back hit he wall, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I weakly looked up at the horror scene before me, with Todd's angry mutterings and cursing, along with Kara's pleas and cries. The last thing I saw was Todd punch Kara square in the face, giving me an image from like a nightmare as her face plate smashed inwards - shutting her down.

And then, I passed out.

*An hour later*

I woke up, still laying on the dining room floor. He didn't even bother to put me in bed. I thought to myself, saddened. I sat up, my head spinning with still-fresh pain. I looked around, realizing that neither Kara nor Todd were there. I took a peek outside and confirmed my thoughts. They weren't there, the car was gone.

I hope he took her to a CyberLife store to get repaired... Or maybe he just dumped her... Oh, please let there still be some heart in him. The thought of Kara gone brought fear to my bones - well, bio-components - and made me shiver. With Kara gone, Todd could get even worse. He could beat me until the police found out, which with a run-down neighborhood like this, wouldn't be for a while. 

I went up to my room and drew a few pictures about what happened, just in case I needed to tell someone what Todd has done and I was no longer here. I drew one of me with blood on my head, but red of course. One with Todd angrily taking my hand, trying to get me to listen to him. Another with Kara standing between me and Todd. Then, the last with me crying over a disassembled Kara laying on the ground.

As I was finishing coloring them, I heard the loud rumble of Todd's car pull over at the house. I quickly put the drawings in order and into my treasure box, along with Todd's old family photo, locked it, and hid the key in my fort. I then started reading The Jungle Book as I heard the front door open. I wish I was raised by wolves, instead of by him.

The sound of Todd's footsteps came up the stairs and over to my room. As he appeared in the doorway, I scooted farther back into my fort.

"Kara is getting repaired. It was pretty damaged, so it'll take about two weeks to get it fixed up, they said." Todd told me.

Two weeks?! Alone with Todd?!.. I'm probably gonna be dead by then... This is going to be torture.

"Oh, well at least she's okay..." I said quietly.

"Yeah... Alice, I'm sorry... I just get caught up into things, you know? Feels like life is choking me. I lose control. And I'd like you to know that I am sorry... Can you forgive me?" 

I didn't respond. Neither did I give any gesture, or movement. I just sat, still, in silence.

Todd sighed. "I understand. I already know you hate me anyways..." He then shut my door and left.

After he had gone, the pain started to hit me again. Images of what happened just hours ago flashed through my mind, especially the last thing I had seen. I started quietly sobbing. 

Monster. What kind of person would... That horrid last frame came to me once again, making me cry harder. Monster! My body was shaking with the sobs taking over. 

Why can't he just love me?.. How on Earth am I going to bare two weeks alone... with a monster?...