Duck Drama

Chapter 8- Zehra

"STOP ACTING LIKE YOU CARE!" 

I blink. 

No way. 

While I stare at Athena, I start thinking.

How... How could she say that?! I'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR HER! MOM ALMOST PUT HER IN A TORTURE CHAMBER, BUT BECAUSE OF ME, SHE ISN'T GOING TO BE TORTURED WITH WHIPS, KNIVES, STRETCHERS, AND ELECTRICITY! 

Yelling at mom took away so much from me! My access to the outside world (unless for missions), my books, my TV, my computer, my toys, my BROTHER! 

Mom yelled at Matt, telling him... to... leave...

That's why he left! BECAUSE I TOLD MOM TO STOP HURTING ATHENA, SHE TOOK AWAY MY BROTHER! 

Why is it that whenever I care for someone, another person I love gets hurt...?

As I got lost in my thoughts, I didn't listen to anything else. Just my thoughts, and the look in my sister's face...

"If anyone gives you trouble over this, have them call me." Scrooge tells me. "Athena will be staying with us for the time being."

I nod and take the card he gives me. 

I look back at Athena. I try not to look hurt, but it's hard. All this is my fault...

"I do care..." I whisper, and she heard it.

"If you do care... Then why didn't you come to me once you found out Matt was here?" 

If I told her, he wouldn't come to me again... I didn't even believe I even saw him-

SHIT! He said he's watching me... he knows exactly what's happening right now... 

Where are you Matt?! HELP ME!

I open my mouth, but she cuts me off.

"He has to be here, Zehra! He ordered... He ordered Theo to do this to me, Zehra!" 

No.... No... N- No... he wouldn't... he knows how much I care for Athena... he wouldn't h- hurt me!

"Just... Leave." Is the last thing she tells me before I run away from this scene, Dewey chasing me. 

CAN'T HE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?!

"Zehra! Wait, let's talk about this!" He says before he catches my arm.

"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" I scream at him, and try to pull my arm away, but he still holds onto it.

"You know I can't do that," He says calmly, despite the fact I'm fighting his grip.

I break down and start crying, sitting on the cold pavement. Dewey joins me and just listens to me cry. 

"Why are you here?" I say between sobs.

"Didn't want you to be alone." He says casually. 

"Don't you have to go back to Athena? Make sure she's OK after what I did?" I stop sobbing, but tears still come down my cheeks.

"What? How could you have something to do with any of this?" 

After a minute of silence, I speak.

"My parents were always abusive... When my dad died, I felt better... until mom became worse... When she remarried- and Athena came- she hurt Athena. She was going to put her in a torture chamber and hurt her even worse, but I finally stood up for her..."

I notice Dewey listens... actually listens and focuses on what I'm saying... 

Why is that such a big deal? Because dad never listened to me? Or mom hurt me whenever I said something wrong?