Nathaniel's POV:

     I  see Sarah pull out a book and read it.

     I smile at least she is preoccupied with something.

      I watch Chole come around the corner and smile.

     "Bee, we need to talk," I say.

      I can see her expression change. I watch as she gives me a puzzled look.

       I see her come and sit in a chair beside the couch.

       I  can tell I have her attention since she says nothing.

        I debate on telling her that I know who Queen Bee is or not.

          I can see she has a stunned look on her face already and have decided to keep that information to myself.

           "Chole," I lower my voice because I don't want Sarah to overhear.

         "Listen, Nath, let's talk elsewhere," Chole suggests.

         Chole stands up and grabs my hand. She walks up stars pulling me behind her. Once there, she turns left, then another left and enters the room. She smiles as she turns on the light. She closes the door but leaves it unlocked.

          I   sat on the bean bag chair, and she sat on the papasan chair.  

           The chair I was sitting on was yellow with black stripes and the chair she sat on was white and black two-toned, I thought it ironic the furniture was similar to Queen Bee and Kid Zebra's outfits.

         "What did you want to talk about Nath?" Chole asked. 

          "You and me," I said.

     Chole looked at me as if I had grown antlers or something. "What?" 

            "Bee, I want to know where we stand," I said. I could tell I had gotten her attention.  

                 Chole had started to twirl a piece of her hair around her finger and lick her lips like she did when she was nervous. She wore a yellow sundress with blue roses, yellow sandals, and a cute white hat.  She was gorgeous like she had always been to me. 

                 She stared at me as if trying to figure me out. I grabbed her hand and examined it. I saw a few scars on her knuckles and around her right wrist. I frowned. Was this part of what that monster had done to her?

                  I kissed her hand. Chole reacted by sobbing. I hadn't any idea, she would respond this way.  "Beautiful," I spoke the word slowly and softly. I wanted her to understand how I was not toying with her.

                   "Who am I to you?" I asked. 

                 Chole slides onto the floor and starts to whimper. I noticed that she wore the necklace I had given her, but I also saw something that made me want to strangle that man whose name shall not be mentioned. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a red blister-like mark on her right ear.  I saw a gash on her right cheek and another one bigger on the side of her neck.

                 I got off the chair and sat beside her. I let go of her hand and gently held her. "Shh, it is okay, I am here for you," I whispered. "I will not hurt you, Chole, Bee, darling," I say.

                  Chole hiccups, then she sneezes. She sees a small bruise on my face and gasps. "Who did that to you?" She asks.

                     "I would rather not discuss it," I tell her. "Why not?" She asks. She puts a hand right on my face beside the bruise and kisses the bruised area." I groan. I know she is trying to avoid answering my question. 

                    "Bee, tell me, "I say pleading with her. "Tell you want, Nath?" She says kissing my other cheek. "Who am I to you?" I ask this time I let go of her and gently put my hands on her shoulders. She flinches. I roll up the 3/4 inch sleeves and gasp when I see the marks, the scars, bruises, and burns on her shoulders.  Chole immediately sobs and starts whimpering again.

                  "Chole," I whisper her name. She stops whimpering and wipes away her tears. "Nath," she whispers. "Yes?" I respond. "Nath, y-you are wonderful, amazing, you are good to me, and to Sarah, you never beat me, kick me, cut, or burn me, and I..." Chole began to say.

            Before she could finish whatever else she was going to tell me, I heard a crash noise downstairs,  I heard a slam and screams.  The two of us stood up. We looked at each other and then at the door.  "Sarah," We both said together.

             I ran downstairs as quickly as I could. Chole followed me.

             I gasped at the sight I saw. Sarah was standing there with a familiar creep behind her. He held a bloody knife in his hand.  Chole saw it too, I knew she did because she grabbed a frying pan and sneaked up behind him. I did not ask where she had gotten it. I watched as Chole bravely hit him on the head, not once, but twice. The man fell cold onto the floor.

            The knife fell beside him. Sarah sobbed, whimpered, and grabbed a hold of Chole's right hand.  "Mom, you saved me!" Sarah said. "Of course, I did, Sarah, I could not let anything happen to you," Chole said.

                I  watched as Chole took Sarah to the bathroom. I  did not trust the creep not to stand up. I stood in the kitchen holding a baseball bat, and dagger. I was not taking any chances with him.

          I heard Chole singing to Sarah as she washed her wound. Then, I heard her sing that lovely tune as she used the first aid kit.  I wondered why Sarah could heal others' wounds, but could not heal her own.

         I saw the creep stand up slowly, and try to reach for the knife. "Not this time, mister," I yelled at him. I hit him with the bat then, kicked him, I hit him again and pulled out the dagger. "Try something and you are dead man," I said.

      "Oh, is that so? Chole adores me," He sneered. "Ha, not anymore," I scoffed.

        The monster grabs the knife and holds it close to me, I can visualize an untimely death for one of us, and it better not be me. I took the dagger and held it to his face, I scratched him twice.

      The creep, could not take a hint. He shoved the knife towards my chest and at the same time, I plugged the dagger into his.

     The bad man fell at my feet dead. Well, that takes care of him, I thought.

      I felt dizzy and passed out beside him. Was the way I go? If so, then, at least the girls are safe I thought as I felt the darkness surround me.

Find out more in Chapter 32

Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!