Family always protects each other.
*****
I ran my hand through Cloud's soft fur.
"When is Alisha and Alex?" I asked Damon.
"Those two lovebirds are going to be an hour late. Apparently they are stuck in traffic," he replied.
By now both Damon and I knew that those two had the worst sense of timings. I loved them with all my heart, but as a punctual person absolutely hated their lack of punctuality. Nonetheless, no matter how different we were, we were stuck to each other like glue. We are each other's shields. When the inner demons become too powerful, they are there by my side to save me.
Eight years ago, I had an experience with a demon, not internal but external. Then also I had someone to save me.
Eight years ago
I brushed my hair for the final time and checked myself in the mirror. I was happy with my look. I was wearing a red crop top and black high waist-ed pant. I had put on a lip gloss and some blush. I hated too much of make up. It sort of suffocated me. My light brown highlights became more prominent under the light.
I had begged and pestered mom to allow me to get these highlights, much like how I begged dad to allow me to go to this party. Begging and a puppy face is the key to success.
This party was supposed to be the biggest party of this year. It was organised by some senior I did not even know. He had invited everyone from the age fourteen to twenty to this party and everyone was going. It created all the buzz in the school.
So naturally even I wanted to go. It was my first ever big party, all the other parties I went to were family occasions. I was a bit sad that Alisha wasn't coming with me to the party as she had gone to visit her extended family back in India.
With one last glance at myself in the mirror, I went downstairs. Uncle Aaron,Beth and my grandparents were waiting for me. Mom and dad had gone out for dinner date, while Aunt Rose was out of town for work. So it was just us five in the house.
"Oh my darling, you look gorgeous!" grandma announced and engulfed me in a hug. I was now taller than her, standing at five-feet-five.
"Listen little monster, have fun but come home alright. Stay in one piece, keep others in one piece," grandpa's tone bordered boredom. I knew he loved me and just enjoyed teasing me by calling me a 'monster' and using his bored tone.
"Why can't I come with you?" Beth whined.
"Because you are not invited Bethy, but I m gonna miss you," I hated leaving Beth alone. She was like an extension of me. We were attached to each other with glue.
Uncle Aaron's voice broke the moment. "You are going to a party not battlefield. That reminds me kiddo, I will pick you up at sharp 9:30, that is 2 hours from now, should be enough time." No it was not! I was about to voice out my protest, but saw the look on his face and knew the battle was over even before it started.
"Okay,"I whispered. We then left the house.
After the excruciatingly long drive, we finally arrived in front of a brightly illuminated house. Loud music could be heard till the drive way. I said goodbye to uncle Aaron and went inside.
Hours went by as my friends and I danced, ate,talked and ate some more. Everyone knew food was number one priority. Soon it was time for me to leave.
"Mia, I need to leave,"I screamed over the music. My friend, Mia nodded in understanding. I went away from the house and the blasting music. I stood on the sidewalk of the drive way and took out my phone from my pocket.
"Where are you?"I texted uncle Aaron.
Immediately my phone dinged, alerting me of a notification. "On my way Kiddo."
As I put away my phone, I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. I spun around to face a guy about a few inches taller than me. He had spiked blonde hair. He looked like those rich kids who thought that they could pull of the bad boy look and that they looked like Greek gods. Oh how wrong they were.
I would have laughed, if I wasn't intimidated by the scary look in his eyes. He was tipsy and was using my shoulder as support.
"Hey beau..beau..beautiful," he slurred. Oh great! I was about to ignore him, when he groped me.
"Dude!" my eyes widened in shock, I lifted my hand to strike him which he caught. Now I was struggling to get out of his grip.
"You turn me on so badly, baby" his eyes were now clearly filled with lust. I could feel his erection, which disgusted me even more.
"GO TO HELL!" I screamed at him. I kept crying for help but no one came. The struggle had cause some parts of my dress to rip. The sight probably turned him on even more. Disgusting bastard!
No!no!no! this couldn't be happening to me. It was supposed to be a fun night not a nightmare. I was tired of struggling but the adrenaline forced me to fight. It was fruitless fight, I could not even move an inch, he was too strong and too big. When I was about to give up, I felt his grip loosen and then it was gone.
"Stay away from my niece," I heard someone say in a menacing tone. I was barely holding on. I could barely make out the form of my savior. It was uncle Aaron! My eyes became wet and tears started streaming down my cheeks. I was crying out of relief.
Soon I was blanket-ed by a familiar warmth. It felt so good.
"You are safe now, kiddo," I heard my uncle whisper before I succumbed to the darkness and exhaustion .
PRESENT
After that incident, the kid was sent to juvenile center, while my parents enrolled me and Beth in a martial arts class. I was never banned from going to party as they believed I should not live in fear. I was so glad that, that night I did not protest or negotiate the timing with uncle Aaron. I couldn't even imagine what would have happened if he did not come at the nick of time.
Only on that fateful night, the demons had become too powerful. There was no one to save us.
I wish there was. All of this won't have happened. My family would have been intact and maybe even happy. The story would have been different.
The thing was my family's destruction did not immediately start after that night, no. Cracks had formed, but it could have been repaired. What caused the destruction was the regular visits to the court, being forced to bring up every single detail of that night, forced to re-live that night again and again. It did not let the wounds heal, it led doubt, blame and hatred seep into the relationships. It did not help that the court was not making it easy for us to punish the boy who ruined us. We had to face him everyday, he haunted our lives. The continuous reminder ruined us.
Through it all fate stood there watching and enjoying, maybe even feasting on popcorn.
Fourteen year old Evellyn
******
Hello readers,
So what do you think about this chapter? what do you think happened that night?
Before I bid thee farewell, I have a reminder as usual. The world is not all fairy tales. There are very bad people out there, some obvious while others hidden. Be careful and wary of them. If you suffer through any abuse (mental, domestic, physical, sexual, emotional), tell someone. Being quiet you encourage your abuser. I understand it is hard to go and seek help ], but do it for yourself, your family and for many others who could become his/her victim in the future. Take care of yourself, don't trust people easily, if necessary take self defense classes. [Safety tip: if a car is ever following you, run in the opposite side. So if the car is driving forward, turn around and run in the opposite direction. keep your phone charged]
That being said (it was a morbid but very important reminder), stay tuned for more. My next book The Pierced Heart will be published after The Sister Song (a snippet in the next chapter).
THANK YOU for reading. Add this book to your library or reading list to stay updated.
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Spread Love,
Thedreamer64