The Cross's Curse

Chapter 4- Part 1

Chapter 4

Daughter's Freedom

"Lucy, he needs this. Think about it like he's going on a court ordered vacation for a few months."

"I know how the system works. He'll be in jail and have to go to rehab. It won't work on him and we'll be back to this."

"He will never touch you again, you have my word. I promise the same for your mom as well."

"Why? You hardly know me or my family."

"I want to know you though, if you'd give me a chance."

"Why should I give you a chance? I don't know who to not give chances to apparently."

"They deserved the chance, but they abused your trust. I promise you I won't do that."

"Your word means little to me at the moment," I said harshly.

"I guess I'll just stay around until it has meaning."

I laughed and walked outside to greet the police. Their grim, tired faces told me that they'd had a long day and weren't looking forward to the longer night. Chief Jonathan passed by me without a word. Another one of the officers walked up to us.

"Lucy, I need to ask you a few questions about your dad. Is that okay?"

"It's fine. Do you want to join the party Salem?"

"Sure."

"Let's go!" I said excited to get the first interview over with.

As we were walking towards our car, I saw him. He was still wearing the same clothes he had on when he walked in, but you could see cuts in the fabric. He wasn't putting up a fight like I thought he would. Our eyes met.

"Au revoir à l'enfer; bonjour à vie." Goodbye to hell; hello to life. I called out with a smile.

"Bonne chance avec ça," he spat. Good Luck with that.

I blinked back the tears at his harsh words. I saw him get in the car. Momma cried as they put him in the car. They were married eighteen years, I thought. We went downtown, which was unusually quiet for a Friday night.

"What time is it?"

"Around four," the officer replied.

"Why are the streets so empty?" Salem asked.

"The partiers must've gotten a little too out of hand."

"Does that happen often?"

"Just for the holidays, especially Mardi Gras."