Shaded

Chapter 10

• Flashback •


Harry's P.O.V


"Hey, little freshman. You got me my lunch today?" One senior walked over to my table just as I was about to eat my sandwich. I placed the sandwich back in the wrapper and handed it to him. He grabbed it and smirked. "Anything else?"


"B-But, I'll have nothing to eat if I give you my apple," I whispered, hoping he wouldn't force me to give away my apple.


"Too bad, nerd. Give it," He demanded, holding his hand out. I took out my apple from the brown bag and handed it to him. "Clever boy," He turned around and walked away. I looked down and pushed my glasses back to the bridge of my nose. I went the whole day without eating.


At the end of the day, I skipped the walk home and headed straight for the hospital. I smiled and walked over to the elevator, eager to see my mum. I stepped out of the elevator and walked down the long hall. I entered my mums hospital room and I quickly walked over to her bed.


"Hi, mum!" I exclaimed, opening my arms for a hug.


"Awe, hello, Harry." She smiled and opened her arms. I hugged her for a few minutes. The more I hugged her, the more I was becoming sad. "Harry, did they do anything today?" She asked.


A tear slid down my cheek as I pulled away and sat down on the chair next to the bed. "A senior stole my lunch. But, luckily, that was all." I confessed.


"Harry," She sighed, tears forming in her eyes as her chin trembled.


"I'm fine, mum! It's getting better, I promise!" I told her. She shook her head and closed her eyes, not believing my words. Who could blame her? It was getting worse everyday.


"How's Gemma?" She asked, trying to calm herself.


"She's good!" I chirped, my smile growing back onto my face.


"How's your father?" She asked, again. My smile faltered and soon faded.


"He's, um . . . He's ok," I looked down at my hands.


"He hasn't done anything to you . . . Right?" She grabbed my hand and caressed it with her thumb. Her hand was cold and pale, along with the rest of her.


"N-No," I furiously shook my head, not able to look her in the eyes and say it.


"Harry. Please tell me what he did," She whispered. Tears formed in my own eyes, thinking about the past few days I spent at home. "Tell me everything."


"Um, w-well, he would make me s-sleep outside if I didn't do the dishes. He would have his friends over and they would harass me and h-hit me," A few tears ran down my cheeks as I told what he would do to me. "He'd g-grab a belt and-"


"Harry, stop." She demanded, closing her eyes as she processed all that I have said.


"I love you mum. I want you to come home," I complained, my voice cracking.


"I know, baby. Mum loves you too," She whispered, bringing my hand up to her chapped lips. She suddenly looked up at the ceiling, staring at it for a whole minute.


"Mum, are you ok?" I asked, my face becoming even more serious.


"H-Harry," She whispered. "Push the red button." She choked out. I hopped out of the chair and did as I was told. The sign read, "PUSH FOR EMERGENCY" I quickly pushed it before pushing it again and again. The heart monitors beep quickened as I frantically ran over to my mum.


"Mum, please, don't leave me," I begged, tears springing out of my eyes. I ran over to the door and pushed it open before yelling out, "Help!" I saw movement before I ran back over to my mum.


"H-Harry," She whispered again.


"Mum! Stay with me! Just stay!" I yelled. It was no use; the heart monitor had quickly drew a straight line, her chest no longer rising. "Mum!"


"We're going to have to ask you to leave for a moment, young man." A nurse pushed me out of my mums hospital room. They closed the door as I stood there, the tears falling. I had lost the most important person in my life. I stood there, waiting a whole hour to see what they had done. The door suddenly opened and my heart filled with hope.


The nurses walked out and brushed passed me as I stood, questioning if someone would inform me on what happened the whole hour in my mums hospital room. A doctor appeared in front of me and he sighed.


"We couldn't do anything to help, son." He laid it on me. I could practically feel my heart breaking. "We tried our best. But, you may see her one more time."


I slowly nodded and thanked him. I walked into the room, noticed a white cover covering my mum's body from head to toe. I sat back down on the chair, too afraid to pull down the cover. I wiped the tears away. Spending only 3 minutes in the room, I couldn't take it anymore.


I quickly stood up and walked out after I looked back at her covered up body. I walked down the hall.


•••


"Where have you been?" My dad questioned, looking up from talking to his mates.


"At the p-park." I lied. He suddenly stood up and walked over to me with a beer bottle in his hands. His mates had their full attention on us.


"I'm gonna ask you one more time. Where were you?" He growled. I inhaled quietly before telling the truth.


"At the hospital, visiting mum." I whispered, looking down.


"I told you to never fucking visit her again!" He yelled, throwing his bottle at the wall, causing it to smash into pieces. I flinched and looked back at him.


"I'm s-sorry! It'll n-never happen." I stuttered, knowing fully well that it won't happen anymore.


"Gemma! Get your ass down here!" My dad yelled. I heard footsteps and soon Gemma was by my side. "Have you visited Anne, lately?"


She shook her head, no. It wasn't a lie, she didn't want to get raped by one of his mates, again. I tried to stop it from happening. But, with me being so weak, I would get a massive beating.


"Good." He smirked, stepping closer to her. One of his mates stood up and walked over to her.


"You got one hella daughter, John." He slurred, picking up a strand of Gemma's hair and twirling it around his dirty finger. I was losing my patience. He ran his hand down her arm. She nervously exhaled before stepping closer to me. "No need to be afraid, babe." He chuckled, grabbing her waist and pulling her back in front of him.


"Harry, go to your room." My dad demanded. What were they going to do with Gemma? I looked at Gemma as she looked at me with tears in her eyes. I obeyed my dad and walked up the stairs. Stepping inside my room, I suddenly heard a scream erupt from downstairs.


"Gemma," I whispered, running out of my room and back down the stairs. I stopped in my tracks once I saw what they were doing. They had her pinned to the ground. She had no shirt on, leaving her in her bra. "Get off her!" I yelled in rage. I did not like the way they were touching my sister; their filthy hands running up and down her body.


"I told you to go to your room, boy!" My dad yelled, stepping in front of me. I glared at him, my fists clenched. All the fear and rage that had built up inside of me the past fews years, were finally starting to release from my body. I raised my fist and slammed it into his face. He stumbled and fell to the ground, unconscious.


"Get off her. Now!" I demanded, again, stepping closer to the men holding Gemma down. They soon let go of her and stood up.


"Run, Gemma." I told her. She quickly pulled her shirt on and ran up the stairs.


"Didn't know you had it in you, Harry." One of them smirked. I clenched my fists, again.


"Lets get outa here." One whispered, scared by my evil glare towards him. They all agreed and ran out the door. I sighed and walked passed my dad. I walked up the steps and into my room. I started to pack comfier clothes that my mum always bought for me, in which I've never worn before.


Without thinking about anyone else but myself, I walked out of that house full of terrifying memories. I slept on park benches. My hair started to change into its original curls after long days of no showering. I hung out with the wrong crowd, which was the only crowd the accepted me. I fought bad men who resembled my dad.


Whenever I saw someone doing something wrong, I'd think of my dad and I would usually just beat the shit out of them, thinking it was my father. I fear that one day he would find me. I wake up wondering where Gemma is and if she broke free from our little curse. I want answers. But, it simply comes back to haunt me in my sleep.