Oh, Baby! #Wattys2020

Chapter Thirty One

Hale drags his beaten body upstairs, skipping the step that squeaks in order to not wake Kevin up. If he were to receive one more blow, he's not sure he would live to see the morning. His room is the only safe haven he has, and when he gets there, to the clean environment, he collapses onto his bed.

It was a small room to begin with, but then Kevin shoved all of their storage stuff into his room to make a man cave. Now Hale only has room for his race car bed and a night stand. He rolls over on the bed, his feet hanging off since his growth spurt after his tenth birthday and grabs the helmet sitting on top of the night stand. He hugs it to his chest, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I know I promised you I'd be strong, Dad." He whispers, tears streaming down his face. "But it hurts so much being strong."

His voice cracks, "Is this what it felt like to be you?"

He rocks back and forth, gasping and smothering his cries in his pillow. "It' so hard, why did you have to go into that building? You were my hero, wasn't that enough?"

He knew it wasn't, his dad was just one of those people who loved everyone and wanted to help everyone he could. There wasn't a bad bone in his body. And that's why Hale looked up to him so much. His father was the kindest and most caring person he knew. And when he went into that building, he wasn't just going in there to be the hero. He was going in there because no one else would. There was a family of four stuck inside, and no one would go save them because the building was too unstable.

Hale was told his father's last words were, 'Well, I have to at least try. That's my job'. And he did, he saved three of the four. He died trying to get the mother of the family out.

He was trying to summon his father's strength as he squared off with Kevin. They were the same height, but Hale was a lot less bulkier. Four years in prison really did a number on Kevin's once obese body. He sure knew how to hit too, his strategy was like one of a wild animal trying to escape.

And no matter how much Hale wants to think he will win this fight, he knows there's no winning against Kevin. Even if he were to gain the upper hand, he's sure Kevin would pull something dangerous. He's already threatened to kill Mia several times. Right now, it feels as though he's trying to kill Hale. He doesn't give up, he just keeps fighting. He has to prove to Kevin that he isn't a weak kid anymore. He has to protect his family. He has to be the hero.

He stumbles, grabbing his ribs, his breathing comes out as wheezing. But he glances around to see Laura slowly coaxing Mia out of the hay into her corner of the barn. Hale groans, his body screaming for him to give up, but he pushes through, slamming his fist into Kevin's lip. It busts open, coating his chin in red. Hale expects a punch to land somewhere on his body, but instead hears maniacal laughter.

"That was a good one." He laughs, not even bothering to wipe his lip. Hale stumbles backwards as Kevin advances.

"But it'll be your last."

👶

"We're sending Bella in." Henry tells Austin for the millionth time. Things have escalated, there's a lot of yelling and grunting going on. And they're sure Kevin and Hale are fighting. But it's been going on for a while, they are worried that they might kill each other.

Bella pushes past Austin, "I'm doing this. I need to get them out of there."

"Bella, it's dangerous."

"I can't lose Hale."

"Your family doesn't even know you're here." He seems like he's trying to convince her not to go. But she can't think of a reason why he would.