Poisoned Youth | Marvel616

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Four older men congregated together at a bench as a young, auburn-haired girl looked up at them. The power was in their hands. The gate to heaven would either swing open or closed for the 18-year-old. There was no mercy or feelings, just blank eyes.

            "Lyudmila Barnes, Miriam Alperstein, and Malcolm Deacon please stand for the verdict."

Bated breath left the room silent as the trio stood and faced their Saint Peters.

            "We have delivered the verdict of guilty. You will all be dishonorably discharged effectively immediately." The main man said as he brought down the gavel. As its bang traveled through the courtroom, time seemed to slow and stopped. Luda's world came crashing down around her. First, her mother's death at the hands of her godfather and now her future went up in flames. Malcolm's eyes were filled with tears. His only permanent home abandoned him like all the rest. He was never good enough. Miriam's heart sunk to her stomach. She was making her ancestors proud and protecting her heritage, and all she got was punishment for it.

            "You Nazi boot-lickers. You can't do this to these kids." A large man yelled out to the generals as they turned away. His metal arm glinting off the harsh light in the room.

            "Mr. Barnes, may I remind you that the government is the ones who are keeping you from a life in prison. That pardon was our mercy." The men didn't even bother to turn around. Years of being in offices and yelling orders have filled their head to the brim with narcissistic ideals.

            James' arms wrapped protectively around his daughter, but his touch was rejected as she rolled her shoulders to get away. Her throat burned with frustration and anger. She tore out the door without saying a word to anyone.

            "Luda," her father said in quiet desperation as he followed her out the door. Luda was sitting on the pavement lighting a cigarette. He sighed as he watched her and sat down beside her. "You know those will kill you right."

            "And?" She said harshly

            "Why don't you come stay with me? At home." James' suggested quietly.

            All the rage and tears she's swallowed over the years, all the grudges she's forgiven, all the memories she's forgot came back up like vomit.

            "YOU LEFT ME FOR TWO YEARS AND YOU EXPECT ME TO COME LIVE WITH YOU?"

            "I was trying to do what was best for you. Your mom couldn't even remember me, and all I ever did was get my girls hurt." James looked to the side, out of hurt. He knew he deserved every word she yelled at him. He knew he messed her up, but losing a daughter was better than having one die.

"You know what hurt? Not having a dad around." Salt burned her skin as tears rushed down her face.

"I never fully left. I always left you messages on the burner phones you never picked up. I always watched you from afar. Making sure nothing happened to my little girl." He pulled her into the side of his chest. Under normal circumstances, Lyudmila would've despised being called a little girl and being hugged, but right now all she needed was a loving touch.

            The three went their own ways. Luda moved to Indiana with her dad and left her mom's apartment unchanged. She couldn't handle cleaning it out, so there it sat frozen in time. Malcolm went back to Harlem, where he worked at a small diner owned by his best friend's family. Miriam went back home to her parents and started college for medicine.

One month later

A small handwritten letter was slipped in the Barnes' mailbox one summer morning. The Indiana heat laid a thick blanket over the drowsy town and made Luda feel like a tiger stuck in a cage.