chapter 2

                                    

                                          
CARINA'S P.O.V.
                          
the past
                          
One evening, he went home drunk. Then I heard a lot of noise coming from their room, like someone was smashing things. They were shouting at one another. Then the morning after, I saw my mom with bruises. I tried to ask about it but she just averted my questions. 
                          
From that day on, his true colors came out. He always talked to us like we were garbage. Just a little argument and he would hit my mom. 
                          
There was a time when he was the one who picked me up at school. He saw me talking to a boy in my class in front of the school. I was wearing mini skirt and a hanging sleeveless blouse. He suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me to the car. I got scared when he suddenly drove off the car with a terrifying speed. I was shouting and begging for him to slow down but he didn't listen to me. 
                          
When we arrived home, he grabbed my arm again and hurriedly dragged me to my room. I was already crying and trembling with fear.
                          
"Listen to me! Don't you ever wear such provocative clothes ever again! You are staining my reputation!" he said pointing his finger at me. He is a pastor in our town's little church. I couldn't even believe that a person like him, a pastor, could act like this.
                          
"Look at me when I'm talking to you and I don't want to hear a single sound from you!" he snapped at me. I looked at him in the eyes and saw his bloody red eyes. I shuddered with fear.  I tried to stop crying and controlled my sobs.
                          
The next day, he throw all my clothes away and replaced it with "proper clothes" as he called it.
                          
I kept on asking my mother to leave him but she wouldn't listen to me. She was a perfect mom to me but I didn't understand why she couldn't leave him. 
                          
One day, my stepfather went somewhere and told us he would come back the next day so mom and I decided to go out and have fun. It's been a long time since we last went out together. We went to the movies, ate in a restaurant and went to the amusement park. We were so happy. When we arrived home, we were so shocked to see my stepfather. He was so angry at us and beat the hell out of us. I couldn't go to school for a couple of days because of that. 
                          
We lived like that for 9 years. He, as the ruler of the house, and us, his puppets. He wouldn't tolerate any complain from us, even a little bit. Every Sunday, we went to the church as a family. Pretended that we were happy.
                          
Then on my 20th birthday, my friends and I celebrated it at the beach resort of Christine's family. I enjoyed it a lot that I forgot to go home early. When I noticed that it was already dark, I told my friends that I needed to go home. 
                          
Just before I closed back the main door, my stepfather grabbed my hair and dragged me to the couch. I instantly got frightened that I cried and begged him to stop. 
                          
"You never learn do you? It looks like I need to punish you severely so that you will never ever defy me again" he said as he started to unbuckle his belt. I was trembling that I couldn't run. At first I thought he was going to hit me with his belt but when he started to strip his shirt. That was when I realized what he was about to do. He grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head. I started screaming like crazy and tried to fight him with all my might but he was so strong. He started kissing my neck like there's no tomorrow. I was so disgusted by what he was doing. Just when he was about to pull my skirt down, the door opened and I saw my mom. 
                          
"Jack! What the hell are you doing to my daughter?" she shouted as she tried to push him away from me. Jack got angry and pushed my mother away, she fell on the floor. Then he proceeded on undressing me. I tried kicking him but he pinned me with his body and slapped my face so hard and punched my stomach I almost lost consciousness. I felt so weak. Then I saw my mom hit my stepfather with a vase on his head. He fell to the floor and groaned because of pain. I saw blood dripping from his head. My mom went towards me and hugged me.
                          
"Are you okay baby?! Come, we need to get out of here!" she said panicking. She helped me dressed and assisted me as I barely had no strength. Just as we reached the small gate, my stepfather caught up with us and grabbed my mom's hair. My mom and I were screaming and caught the attention of some bystanders along the street. 
                          
"Help us! Please, help us! I shouted even though I couldn't feel my strength and my throat hurt. Then I heard a thud. I saw my mom lying on the ground cupping her stomach. A lot of blood was coming from her. I approached her then I realized that Jack stabbed her. 
                          
"Mom! Are you okay?! Heeelllp! My mom was stabbed!" I shouted then I heard the siren of a police car. Jack tried to flee the scene but was caught by the police. 
                          
When we were in the ambulance, I tried to talk to my mom, did my best to keep her awake.
                          
"Mom, please don't leave me! You're all I have. Please, fight for me" I begged as I held her hand crying. 
                          
I felt her pressed my hand and motioned me to lend her my ears. 
                          
"Cari, I don't know.....if....I can m-make it.....but I need y-you to find Florent Denois If...I d-die."
                          
I panicked. I barely comprehended what she was talking about. All I wanted that time was for her to be okay.
                          
"Mom, please. Promise me that you won't leave me" I cried.
                          
"I-I love......you, my baby......."
                          
"I love you too mom. Please don't talk. Just save your strength until we reach the hospital".
                          
I felt her press my hands once more.
                          
"My....room...search...for h-his......huhhh..." then I felt her hand let go of my hand. Then I saw her eyes closed as a tear fell from it. I panicked and I shook her to wake her up. Then I saw the medical staff in the ambulance tended to my mom. Then we got to the hospital. After that, I barely recalled what happened. The only thing that registered in my brain was the doctor telling me his condolences, patted my shoulder and left...
                          
"Come back! Come back! My mom's not dead....she's........."
                          
the present
                          
"Earth to Carina!" I saw Christine waving her hand in front of my face. 
                          
"What happened to you? I was busy talking to you but you were also busy in your own thoughts. Not at all listening to me". She whined and sat on the sofa. 
                          
"I'm sorry. I just remembered something"
                          
"About what?" she asked, then she noticed my sad expression. She got up and put her hand on my shoulder.
                          
"Okay. I think you need a breather. Let's go somewhere tonight" she said smiling.
                          
"Where to?"
                          
"You'll see".
                          
"But I haven't unpack yet" I said as I eyed my belongings. 
                          
"It's okay. Let's just leave that to Nancy." She winked at me.
                          
"But.." I tried to protest but she interrupted me.
                          
"No buts" she said with a finality in her voice.     

                          
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