Captive

Chapter 4: Austin

Chapter 4: Austin

Santa Fe, New Mexico

3 Years Ago

I was born to a very abusive life. My mother, Jenna, blamed me for everything bad that happened in her life, mainly she would tell me that I was the reason that my father abandoned us. I never really understood that. How the hell was it my fault that my father abandoned us? How the hell was it my fault that he didn't find her appealing anymore, and decided to run away with a woman prettier than her? Well, my opinion never mattered because she said that it was my fault, and that was the end of the discussion.

She would abuse me, and torture me with the story of why my father abandoned us "He left because of you," she would yell from the other side of the door. "You drove him away! You were too needy, and were a fucking disappointment! I hate you! I hate your face! I hate your smile! And I hate your soul!" She would bang on the door for another thirty minutes with another twenty insults, while I laid on my bed, holding my knees, and tears going down my cheeks. I never understood why I cried. It was never the first time that she would say that to me.
While other kids had the skills of reading stories, and adding 1+1, I had the skills of running and hiding from my mother. Other kids had family night with their family, while I hid in my room, playing with socks, while my mother banged on the door after drinking a full bottle of liquor.
Every morning, I had to sneak out of the house for school, so that I would not feel the 'Wrath of Jenna'. Her usual routine was 'drink, beat on Austin's door, and then pass out on the couch'. I would always succeed in sneaking out. I had never made a noise, and was always very quiet. There was this one time, though. That one mistake I made, years ago, that is stuck in my head, till the day I die.

I had just finished my breakfast, and was heading out the door, when 'BANG!'. I looked down and was paralyzed when I realized that my backpack wasn't zipped all the way, and one of my books had fallen. I slowly pick it up, and look to the couch. I turned white. White as a ghost. My mother was sitting up, giving me the most evil look in all fucking hell. It was a look, that read 'Have you any fucking idea, what you've just done?'
It was a stare off. The only words that can describe this scene is the same words that describe, when a man is face to face with a predator, like a lion or tiger. It was a stare off, of death.
"You're gonna abandoned me the way your shithead of a father did?" The calm way that she said this sentenced made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. After realizing how much danger I was in, I bolted out the door. Knowing school was only three blocks away, I sprinted, not knowing whether she was behind me or not. I didn't care. All I cared was that I needed to reach school grounds as soon as possible. After reaching a block, I stop, and turn.
"Get back here you littleshit!" Cried my mother. She was only three yards away from me, so I fled, using all my lifetime energy on my legs. I could feel her inches from my back. I could here her legs just inches behind. I was petrified, but didn't bother to even breathe. As my mind went to survival mode, I noticed I was meters away from my school, and my teacher, Mrs. Gerrette, was just reaching the door, when she spots me.
"Hold the door!" I cried. She squinted her eyes, trying to figure out who I was.
"Please!" I continued "Hold the door!" She noticed that I was coming full speed, and moved just in time as I slid in the tile inside of the school. As I layed on the floor, crying, out of breath, and very hysterical, she put her hand on my back, trying to calm me down.
"Austin!" Mrs. Gerrette spoke. "It's alright. You're ok now. What happened?" I quickly looked, and saw that my mother was nowhere to be seen. "Austin!" Mrs. Gerrette broke my train of thought. "What happened? Why were running?"
I looked at her, and opened my mouth "I-" I stopped myself. I wanted to tell her the truth, but I knew the consequences would be bad. If I thought that my mother was bad, what would foster homes be like. What if I were put in with a family that worked on even worse abuse, or even sexual abuse. I knew I could deal with my mother, but not with any strange assholes who preyed on abused, and defenseless children. I quickly came back to earth, when I noticed Mrs. Gerrette was still waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry to have scared you, Mrs. Gerrette," i finally answered. I kind of overreacted." She raised an eyebrow, not knowing what I meant "my neighbor's dog was after me, and it kind of got me by surprise. I am so sorry for scaring you, Mrs. Gerrette."
"Oh, sweetheart," Mrs. Gerrette said. "It's alright! You're fine now, Austin. Don't worry about it." She hugged me, as a tear went down my cheek, knowing I had just made the lamest excuse to cover up abuse at my house. "Don't worry!" She continued "You can spend as long as you want down at the nurse's office. Just until you calm down a bit, and then you can come to class" she smiled at me, and I at her, as I wiped the tear off my face.