The Devil's Circus

7 Years Old

"I'm Anoka Ammiko! I live with Mommy, Daddy, Nikki (my sister), and Jamie (my brother). My grandma died the day I was born. I've been told that she held me, looked my in the eyes, had a heart attack, and then died. So I've been blamed for her death.

"I've been beaten up my whole for it. But I was told that if I wasn't born then, none of this would have happened and that Grandma would still be alive. So, you could say that it's my punishment."

I took a deep breath. "Daddy throws glass bottles at me after he finishes drinking them. And if I don't get one to him quick enough, he grabs the leather belt and whips me with it."

I felt tears stinging my eyes. "Mommy makes sure I make every meal. She never taught me how to cook, so I had to learn. If anything isn't cooked right, even the slightest bit, she slices me with a kitchen knife. One time, she almost hit me with a hot frying pan, but she slipped and fell down while I made my run to my room."

Tears began to slip down my face. He wiped my tears and lifted my head. "Please, continue." I nodded and took another deep breath.

"Nikki is the oldest of us all. She makes me do all of her chores. And if Mommy or Daddy yells at her because it's not perfect, she throws me from her window into the pool. She's done it during the winter too. I had to freeze outside until I was dry enough to go back inside. And then I was yelled at and beaten for taking too long."

I looked at the man. He seemed to have sympathy for me. Is that a good thing? "And last is Jamie. My brother. He makes me do all of his schoolwork and homework. If he gets even half a point taken off, he beats me with a baseball bat. One that has a couple of nails sticking out if it. That's where I get all of my scars from."

I finally felt the tears that had seemed to be streaming from my cheeks for longer than I thought. The strange man hugged me and told me, "We will be back for you. Wherever you are at age 14, we will find you, and be your new family." He leaned back from the hug. "The Devil's Circus understands what you're going through. And if they have continued this behavior after you leave, even if it was only once, tell me. I will make sure they can't hurt you. EVER AGAIN."

I smiled at the man. "Thank you. By the way, what's your name Mister? I wanna be able to find you in seven years."

He chuckled. "My name is Hayden. And don't worry about finding me. I'll find you my dear." And like that, I left. I skipped almost the entire way home. When I could see my house, I started walking slower and taking deep breaths.

He's going to come get me. I know this. He said he would. And I believe him. So for now, I'll keep track of how many times each one of them hurts me. That way I can tell him. Mister Hayden. I like his name. I'm glad I could finally tell someone.

I approached the house from the side where the basement window was. I silently slipped into the basement and closed the window behind me. Only to be met by a very mad Daddy.

"H-hi Daddy-"

"Don't start that crap with me now. Where were you?! I had to get up and grab a beer by myself! You disrespectful little brat. I'll teach you a lesson!!" The glass bottle broke open on my skin, cutting me in several places. Some of the glass even stuck into my skin.

"I apologize Daddy. I was going out to by more food but then someone came by and robbed me." He seemed to calm down, but only by a smidge.

"How much money?"

"Ten dollars Daddy." He sighed and began to leave. "Clean up this mess and then go to bed. I'll punish you tomorrow. I'm too tired to do that right now."

As soon as he shut my door, I opened up my notebook that I bought last week. I didn't know what I was going to use it for, but now I know. I put four names on the first sheet.

Daddy, Mommy, Nikki, and Jamie. And Daddy had a tally mark under his name. So far, only one incident. But today was Halloween, my birthday. I turned seven today. But I now have to wait seven more years for Mister Hayden to return.

But that's okay. Because I'll be ready when he comes.