Angels and Humans | Ep09 | Adaptation

To: Ep08 | Shadows

She looked down at his face

Dark circles still remained from the last beating. They usually didn't touch his face but it was school holidays, the marks would have time to heal before he was allowed to leave the home again. The reason for the beating was the same as always, nothing.

He never had to do anything to deserve it just be there when they were in the mood for a little game for torture, 'Time to Play' is how they expressed it and they had being playing this game for a long time. So long, that he hardly felt the strikes as they came, and the pain in the following days was more of a dull ache. It weighed more heavily on his heart than anything else and he wondered, was she always there watching?

He looked up into her eyes, as his parents bent over him like vultures feeding on carrion. He had learned not to struggle too much or it would bring harder punishment but, he must struggle enough for them to see his pain, to witness their grotesque handy work, instilling fear through violence into a little boy.

She kept watching

He kept his eyes on her as much as possible, the narrow face, skin like china, soft pink lips, expressionless. On a shelf she would be mistaken for a doll. But, even though a hood shadowed her eyes, the intensity that shone from within was evident. Occasionally he would catch a glimpse of emeralds on fire.

He never spoke to her, never asked for help from her, he just observed her observing him. It calmed him, brought focus on, rather than distraction from the pain. He learned quickly how to deal, how to absorb, how to make pain a part of him without it breaking who he is. Power is not what one has over another, that is manipulation. Power is the ability to fulfil personal potential, no matter the circumstances. Adaptation.

Her eyes shone

Just once would be enough, the softest whisper and she could end the suffering, the years of abuse but the words never came, barely even the thought considering it. She was glad, he was strong, he was learning, he was evolving. It wouldn't be long until he would have all he needed from this.

She had watched this play out countless times and at each instance, her heart felt torn anew as for her, there was no hardening, no desensitisation possible and she felt it all. What he suffered, she suffered and although she had experienced so much worse, she felt it as he did, experienced it as the boy did himself.

The first serious time was the worst, having the feelings of a four year old, the confusion, the pain, the tears, the complete innocence being torn away like strips of flesh to reveal bone. Even then he saw her but would not look and she felt his shame at being powerless to act, powerless to protect himself from those charged with his protection. It was the only time she felt his shame.

The anger that built with her at this point was only tempered by his attempts to control himself, to grab frantically at the tethers of life that whipped wildly with each blow. Some people are undeserving of the lives they hold, he was not counted among them.

She smiled at him

She smiled. The first expression that escaped her features in ten years and he knew why. The time had come, he was ready, there was no more to be learned in this place. He had packed a bag with some meagre possessions, some T-shirts, some underwear a little cash in small notes and metal he had slowly collected and hidden behind his dresser. This would be the last time.

His father's fists had been coming harder of late, his mother's taunts and kicks strengthening even further. It was like they knew their time was coming to an end, their ability to control him, overpower him and humiliate him. They didn't know they had lost these abilities long ago.

This was the first time he had seen her when he was not being beaten, something had changed and he knew what it was. Him. He swung the bag over his shoulder and headed through the dim hall to the front door. As he passed the living room, his father was coming out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Where the fuck do you think you are going boy?"

"Away."

He reached for the door handle and his father pulled hard so they were face to face. His mother had come out of the living room to stand behind and he watched as the anger in their faces pulled back into fear and the blood drained away. He looked at them cowering like rodents trapped and then turned back to wards the door, twisted it open and stepped out into the light of day.

She watched him walk out of sight and turned her attention to the house

"Time to play."

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]

To: Ep10 | Suited