Strings Attached

~Chapter 4~

And then, all hell broke loose. There was a sharp thwack of the leather, and an unbearably excruciating, stinging sensation shot up my back, making me howl in pain in my shrilly voice. He hit me again, and again, and again, until I lost count.

"I'll drink, fu**, kill and do whatever the hell I want!" he shouted ominously and gradually, vocalizing his thoughts with each blow he sent my way. "And you can't do anything to stop me."

There was a commotion from the outside, and I could see Molly enter the room, crying, through my half-closed eyes. She screamed for him to stop and he slapped her hard, sending her flying into my mom's dresser. "You stay out of this, bi***!" he warned her. When he hit me once more, I couldn't take it this time. And I passed out, just in time to feel the jab of a pointed shoe kick me in the side as my insides twisted in pain.

When I came around, I was lying face-down upon my bed. The upper half of my body was bare, and I noticed a bandage covering the length of my torso. Something soft, yet searing connected with my back and I hissed in pain. "Stay still, my boy. It'll hurt a little, and take some time to heal. But you'll be alright," Molly told me gently. I jolted upright and sat up straight on my bed, my back hitting the bedpost as I did so and making yet another yowl to get out of my mouth.

I didn't need her gentleness, or her sympathy. "Who told you to come and touch me? Get away from me, you nasty woman!" I shouted at her, as tears never seemed to cease from clouding my eyes. "Calm down, Danny," she said, her voice a little sterner this time. "I'm only trying to help you." "I'm not your Danny! And I don't need your help!! Take all your medicines and go." And by the time she tried and succeeded in getting me to lie back down, I was practically throwing a tantrum.

"Stay away from me. You're not my mother. I want my mother!" I bawled as she proceeded to clean my wounds and re-wrap the bandages on my back. "It's ok, my boy. I will not hurt you, I promise," she voiced, trying to pacify me. But I wasn't really the one to listen. Although, she'd cleaned my mess a few times in the past, I'd never been able to warm up to her. The memory of my mother and what I had lost was still fresh in my mind.

Letting someone else in just seemed preposterous!

I began to sob uncontrollably into my pillows, but this time she didn't say anything. "Go away, Molly! I do not need your sympathy!!" I cried once again, putting more force behind my words this time round. Surprisingly, she got up without saying a thing, and went out, slamming the door behind her. I instantly felt the need to call her back. But I laid down, and went back to sleep.

______

I feel someone shove me to wake me up. And now that someone is drawing the curtains of my room. I feel the bright lights stab my eyes and I clutch my head from spinning mercilessly as a sudden sharp pain shoots through it. Molly! "What the f***?! What's your problem, woman?" I let out, my voice coming out as a hoarse whisper. In case I forgot to introduce this annoying woman, she was my mother's personal maid. Yeah, we're rich. Well, at least my dad is, and mum was. The woman came with my mother on her marriage from Ireland. Needless to say, she annoys me now. I wouldn't admit it to her ever, but Molly has helped me immensely ever since mum died.