What I'm Not

Chapter 17

I half-walked half-carried Takara home. He didn't respond to anything I said to him, making me wonder if he died on my shoulder. When I got home, I kicked open the door and snuck Takara into my room. I ran downstairs and looked at the clock. 2:39. Twenty minutes until dad would be home. I moved quickly. I grabbed fish oil, bandages, some of his clothes, and some food. I brought it all to my room and locked the door. I took off Takara's t-shirt and began treating the cuts and wounds all over him.

When I was done, I put the new shirt on him and cleaned up my room. He sat up slowly and held his shoulder.

"Why were you walking up to me when you knew the shock collar would activate," I asked. I grabbed his arms. "You could've gotten yourself sent to the hospital!"

"I had to see how my sister was doing," he said with his head down. "Mike told me he was giving you the same treatment so I had to check on you."

I heard the front door slam. "Takara, hide in the closet."

I helped him into the closet and opened my room door. I ran downstairs and saw dad holding a BB gun.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

"I'm just getting into a new sport. I'm going to test my aim."

I swiped the gun from his hand and pointed it at him. "I saw Takara today."

His face scrunched up in rage. "So what? I wanted to protect you."

"Protect me from what? A brother who cares for me more than her own father does!?"

He took a step forward. "Give me the gun, Brooklyn."

I found the safety and clicked it off. He jumped back. "Leave. Go somewhere else and come back when you become a real loving father."

Dad's eyes flew up and his face filled with fear. I turned around to see Takara limping down the stairs.

Once he got behind me, he put his hand on the gun. "Can I see it?"

I let the gun go and he lifted it up to eyes level. "Dad was going to shoot you with it."

Dad's eyes filled with fear as Takara examined the gun. "A model based on the five-seven. The BB's are made of metallic spheres designed to fly at 75 feet per second. One shot can cause minor bleeding." He pointed it at dad and the man screeched in horror. "At point blank range, I could probably hit the bone in your arm. One shot. One hospital." Takara handed the gun back to me. "If you really want to hurt Mike, this is your chance."

I lined the front iron sights with his chest and my dad fell back.

"Honey," he said in a petrified voice. "Come on now, you wouldn't hurt your dad, right?"

I looked at Takara's eyes and saw emptiness. Not helpful.

"You're right," I said. "I wouldn't hurt my dad. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't shoot the man who threatened anyone I love."

I squeezed the trigger and a BB hit his chest. He screamed in pain and scrambled for the door. I fired again and he panicked further. He opened the door and fled. I ran outside to watch him scramble into his car and drive away.

Takara looked extremely tired so I led him to my room and tucked him in. He fell asleep instantly.