Chapter 3

It's embarrassing for me to admit but I had cried myself to sleep that night, it's such a shame. It was  a good day until I had to come home and see father, and mother when she was like that.

This isn't something out of the ordinary though. For the past year, father has been coming home seemingly, more drunk every night. And even more angry, he calls her names too. Just awful ones that hurt for me to hear. But I know they hurt her even worse, I wish there was something I could do but of course i'm only a child.

It wasn't weird for me to cry until I fell asleep either, whenever the screaming, yelling, and fighting gets too bad I usually end up falling asleep with tear tracks down my cheeks. I suppose i've gotten used to it, I wish I hadn't.

The silence that followed after all the arguing was relieving but also deafening. I often think about how life could be different without him here. Without doubt it would be much better than it is now. I wouldn't have to cry in my room because of him, mother wouldn't have to go through the physical, and verbal abuse from him. He is the cause of our problems. He is the worst.

But what would get him gone for good? I think about how it would feel to bring him as much pain as he causes me and mother. I also wonder if or rather, when, he'll start to lash out on me as well. It's one of the many things I fear. I hate him, so very much.

But it's morning, no need to dwell on that right now. Just get up, no matter how much you don't want to.

"Darling? Are you awake?" My mother asked as she stepped into the room, at this moment I was just getting out of bed.

"Yes, I am." I said, but not with a smile. Remembering the events that took place last night.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

She was wearing a blue nightgown with a light blanket overtop. I could see bruises that covered her legs and what was visible of her neck and shoulders, a dreadful sight.

"Why do you stay with him?" I asked her with a small sigh.

"What do you mean Alastor?" She asked me.

'You know exactly what I mean'  I thought.

"Mom..are those from him? Again..?" I asked, but I already knew what was likely the answer.

"Of course not." She said, looking at the bruises. Rubbing one of her arms in the process.

And I had already knew she was going to lie, like she had done the many times before. Why does she bother to lie to me? She knows I know what happens to her so I don't see what the point is to try and hide it from me.

"Get ready for school, are you hungry?" She asked as I shook my head.

"No, i'm not. I'll eat later." I said.

"Very well, and Alastor i'm-" She was cut off by my fathers yelling, he was still here? I was hoping he had already gone off to work.

"I-" She paused for a moment before continuing, like she wanted to tell me something but decided not to. Perhaps it was something regarding him, or the marks that were made on her. But I suppose I won't know.

"Have a good day at school darling, i'm cooking your favorite for dinner tonight." She said as she rushed off to fulfill whatever need my father was asking of her.

Though, what she was making for dinner caused a small smile to form on my face. I had already knew what she meant by my favorite dish, she said she was going to teach me how to make it when i got a little older, she was making jambalaya. How I wish that I could have Y/n over for dinner as she and her mother did with me, I think she would quite enjoy my mother's cooking. Much like I do, its my favorite. I wish to cook like her one day.

Just those few words were able to get me a little excited for later in the day, I hurried and got dressed, fixed and cleaned myself up, before heading out the bedroom door. I went downstairs and grabbed my bag, ready to leave for school. Before I could even get out of the front door though, father had asked me to get him another beer.

I guess my mother was busy doing something else for him so I was next in line to follow his orders and his requests. I didn't want to get yelled at or possibly hit so I did what he asked. After I got him one I rushed out the door before he could ask more of me. I then made my way to Y/n's house, hoping we could walk together to school.

I knocked on the door, expecting to see Y/n or her mother answer it but instead I was greeted by a man that I assumed to be her father.

"Oh hello, is there something you need?" He asked.

"Is Y/n here? I wanted to walk to school with her." I said politely.

"What's your name?" He asked me.

"Alastor, i'm Y/n's friend." I answered as a smile formed on his face.

"I'm glad that she's made some friends, please come in. She's putting her shoes on and finishing up, she'll be done soon." He said, stepping aside to allow me to come in. As I stepped in, I looked over to the couch across the room to see her. Like he said, putting on her shoes.

"Y/n!" I said as I ran over to her, she lifted her head from her feet to see me.

"Alastor? What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice alone made my smile grow.

"I was wondering if you wanted to walk with me to school." I said, she fully got her shoes on and stood up, grabbing her bag that was resting next to the couch in the process.

"Sounds great, I was actually gonna ask you the same thing but I guess you beat me to it." She said with a small laugh.

"If you're ready we could leave now." I said as she nodded, she said goodbye to her mom and dad before we walked out the door and began to walk to school.

~~~

(Y/n's Pov)

The school day was now halfway over, I was thinking about the lake that me and Alastor were going to go to this weekend before I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Alastor, he had a piece of paper that was folded up that he gave to me.

"Open it" He whispered before the teacher caught him.

"Alastor, no talking please." She said as he nodded.

"Yes ma'am, sorry." He said, still with a smile as he sunk back into his seat.

I opened the piece of paper, it was a little note.

"How about we go to the lake today instead, if you're not doing anything" The note read with a little sun drawing. I folded it back up and put it in my pocket and turned around to look at him, he was eager for an answer. I nodded my head to which his smile grew more before he nodded as well.

But I guess that our little adventure will have to wait until after school, for now we just had to pass the time.

~~~

"So, should we go now or stop home first? To drop off our bags and such." He said as we stepped out of the school building.

"Hm, we should probably stop at our house's. We wouldn't want to get our bags dirty at all." I said as we began to walk.

(Alastor's pov)

"Can we go to your house first? I'd like to see it if that's okay with you." She asked.

I believe that father has work today so it should be alright. Besides, i'm sure mother would like to meet her since she hasn't yet.

"I don't see why not." I said with a closed-eyed smile as we continued walking.

"Yay! Are your mother or father home? I'd like to meet them if they are, of course only if its not an issue." She asked. No, i'm sorry dear you would not want to meet my father. I wouldn't want you to meet my father.

"I don't think my father is home but my mother probably is, she usually is." I said.

"Oh alright. I suppose i'll meet your father another time?"

Preferably not, i'd like to keep you away from him. He's utterly horrible and I don't know what might happen if she does but I would rather keep her spirits up, keep her happy.

"Yes, another time." I said, knowing it was a lie. But we had made it to my house, to my suprise, his car was in the driveway. Meaning, that he was home. Which of course was not good, at all.

"Woah, your house is nice" She said as I turned to her.

"Thank you but I apologise, I think you'll have to wait out here." I said as she raised a brow

"How come?" She asked.

"It's a little hard to explain, but i'll be quick. I promise." I said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"FIne alright, hurry up." She said with a smile as I nodded and walked up the few concrete steps that led to the front entrance. I knocked three times before opening the door, only to be met with more yelling.

"I don't know, I promise you I didnt touch it." My mother cried as I walked inside.

"It's gone and I sure as hell didn't take it so where the fuck is it?" My father yelled as he walked over to my mother.

"Give me your purse." He demanded as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"GIVE ME IT! WHERE IS IT?" He yelled loudly as she whispered something that I was unable to hear. He left the living room for a moment before returning, purse in hand. He dug around in it before pulling out various bills out of it.

"So you did steal it." He said, throwing the purse to the ground.

"I-I'm sorry I wont do it again dear I-" She said before he had slapped her across the face, she placed a hand on her cheek where a new mark from him had been left.

"It will be worse the next time you steal or do something like that again." He said before tightly holding the money he had confiscated and walking away.

"M-Mother are..are you okay?" I asked, a few tears falling from my eyes.

"I-I'll be alright darling, i'm so sorry you had to see that." She said as she gave me a kiss on the forehead before wandering off.

Wiping the tears, I placed my bag down and walked back outside. Y/n was still there but now with a frown on her face with a single tear that was threatening to fall from her eye. Of course this worried me, what could have happened to make her upset?

"Y/n what's wrong? What happened?" I asked, walking closer to her.

"Alastor, you left the door open. I uhm..saw everything, your father he.." She paused for a moment.

"Is that why you didn't want me to meet him?" She asked as i stood there in shock, how could i have been so stupid as to leave the door open.

"Yes, it is. I'm sorry for leaving the door open. I apologize, you shouldn't have to had seen that." I said to her as she walked close to me and gave me a hug.

"You shouldn't have had to see that.."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I want to kill Alastors dad.

Word count: 1925