The Soft Glow in the Dead of the Night (Part 1 - History Unedited)

Chapter 10 - Little Red

Rue walked into the front door and her parents were sitting at the table. She said hello and ran to her room. She walked into her room and saw her clothes on the floor. Her heart dropped as she saw the wooden floorboards from under her bed was laying on top.

She darted towards the gap and searched for her coins. They were gone. She cursed at herself. She knew she should have just moved them. But she wanted to keep some just in case she needed some while Mars wasn't around.

She needed to make a choice. Get out, or face her parents.

She ran over to the window. Her parents wouldn't listen or understand. She tried to open the window, but it was nailed shut.

Her door swung open.

"Did you steal from us?" Her ma's voice was spiteful.

"No, ma."

"Where did you get the coins?"

"I halved what I got when stealing. I always made sure to give you both what you asked from me."

Rue's pa stood behind her ma.

"That's the same as stealing, Rue. You stole what could have been ours. You kept money under your floor, when you could have given it to us." He pa's voice was full of anger. "Who's that woman you spend your days with?"

"What woman?"

Her pa walked into the room and slammed the door behind him, shutting her ma in the hallway.

"Don't lie to me!" He screamed so loudly that Rue stepped back.

"I help in her shop. She teaches me to read and write."

"Teaches you? You don't need to be taught anything like that. She's filling your head with ideas. Are we not enough? We house you, clothe you, feed you?"

"You do so when it pleases you. I am only your daughter when you see it fit. I shouldn't have to fight to be fed, I shouldn't have to ask for your love. I should feel safe in my own home. Yet, I do not."

"She's turning you against us. Your own parents."

"No pa, you did that to me yourself."

"Hold your tongue girl."

"No! She feeds me, I learn by the fire. I know I am safe. She pays me. That's how you're getting your money."

"That's why there is a jar with your name on in the shop."

"You've been there?"

"Yes, stole myself a nice book. Just a bunch of stories about a boy. Silly nonsense. Made myself some coins."

Rue sat on the bed. She knew the book he spoke about. How Mars had said it was priceless, passed down to her by her mentor.

"How could you?" She shouted at her pa.

"How dare you speak to me like that. Show some respect."

"Respect should be earned not demanded." Rue stood up and tried to stop her knees from trembling. She needed to leave now.

He pa darted across the room and pushed her against a wall. Rue screamed and tried to pull her pa's hand from her chest. He pinned her to the wall as he unhooked his belt.

"I'll teach you to respect me you little wench."

In one sharp pull his belt was free. He turned Rue around. He was much stronger than her, and even with all of her force she couldn't fight him off.

The belt made a sound as it flew through the air. She screamed as the leather hit her back. Pain shot through her body and hot tears poured from her eyes. She screamed again and again as he continued to thrash her.

She screamed over and over.

Then nothing. She didn't hear the belt anymore. But she didn't dare move.

Her pa spun her around to face him. She tried to look at the floor, but her pa forced her to look at him.

"It hurts me to do that to you. But you must learn."

Rue spat in his face.

"You enjoy it because it makes you feel better about yourself. It makes you feel stronger because you are weak out there. You are a slave to the master of alcohol. It holds you to it's will and you can't fight it. And you know it."

Her pa slapped her cheek. She placed a hand over her red hot skin.

"You're a brute."

"I will beat you again and again until you learn."

Her pa pulled back the belt and Rue closed her eyes as she heard the sounds of it rushing through the air. She waited. Seconds felt so much longer. She risked a peek. She saw the belt still in the air. Her pa desperately trying to pull it down.

Rue stepped out of his reach, towards the corner of the room as she watched him struggling.

Mars stood by the closed door.

"Only a weak man would beat a child." She said, an edge to her voice.

"I am not weak. She is my child and I have a right to discipline her however I see fit."

"That is true. But there is a line that you have long crossed."

"Who are you?"

"I am Mars and you will not hurt Rue anymore."

The belt dropped through the air and hit Rue's pa on the head. He cursed.

"Rue is coming with me." She said.

"No. She stays here, where she belongs."

"I don't belong to you."

Rue's pa rushed forwards to grab Rue, but before he reached her he shot backwards and landed against the wall.

"You cannot hurt Rue anymore." Mars smiled. "You've lost your control."

"You turned my daughter against me. You witch!"

"No, that you did by yourself." Mars turned to Rue. "The choice is yours. Stay here, or come with me. Live with me, where no one will hurt you again." Mars held out her hand and Rue took it without hesitation.

"Goodbye pa." Rue said as Mars opened the door.

Together the pair walked out of the house. Rue didn't look back.

"I'm sorry about your book."

"No worries. I'm sure it will be back at my house. It always comes back to the rightful owner."

Rue smiled and held onto Mars' hand as they walked down the street.

"That trick with the belt and where my pa went flying back was cool."

"It was, and it wasn't me."

"Huh?"

"That was all you Rue. You're special, just like me."

"I'm not special and I'm not magic like you."

"You are and that okay. I'll teach you to control it, to make it stronger if you want. We are two of a kind and we were destined to meet. I've been looking for you for years, I knew our paths would cross eventually."

"What will happen to ma and pa?"

"They will continue with their lives. Rue, no one is going to hurt you again. No one at all. I'm sure you can look after yourself, but you don't have to. Not anymore. I'll look after you. Teach you, care for you every single day."

"We'll be a family?"

Mars looked down at Rue and laughed. "Yes Rue, we will be a family."

Rue looked at Mars and then at their hands. She smiled. She finally knew what it meant to feel safe and loved.