Chapter 6

Riley's POV

Ryan kept his eyes fixed on the tiled, grey floor. He earned himself a hard glower from yours truly. I could nearly feel my eyes penetrate into his pale face.

He shifted uncomfortably as a huff of air escaped his mouth. Ryan radiated aggravation when he clenched his jaw. His fist was opening and closing per second.

My memory flooded in like a merciless typhoon. Ryan made the same expression as my father on that cold December night. I was eight years old at the time.

The air outside was still, and solidly gelid. Shrill shrieking echoed from below. Without second thoughts, I hastened down the stairs in my Dora the Explorer pyjamas.

My mother was sprawled on the floor. A purplish bruise was forming on her cheek. She clasped her hand over it when she saw me standing in the doorway.

My father towered over her feigned limp body. His gaze was kept on floor. My father glanced at his fist with a look of regret.

"How pathetic," I thought to myself.

I scampered over to hug my lost-looking dad. My tiny arms squeezed his stiff body. His eyes were still locked on his fist.

"That was so... so brave of you... Daddy. But... but you know you'll get... get arrested." I whimpered as my tiny arms squeezed him, "don't leave me with that mad woman."

He pats my back as he lowered to my height, "Don't say that Riley... she's still your mom."

She staggered as she stood, "damn you Nathaniel! Now... now I have proof that you are an absuive son of a---"

I didn't hear the rest because my dad covered my ears. My body increased its involuntarily trembling as she inched her fingers closer to the phone.

I sobbed louder, "Mama please!"

She puts up her middle finger in my direction as she wears a scowl look.
My dad gasps, "how dare you do that to my daughter?!"

My mother had been drinking alcohol  again. It made her madder than she already was. She said hazily, "you... mean our... daughter."

"911, what is your emergency?"

I shook my head vehemently at her. As I tried to snatch the phone out of her hand, my father held me back.

"My husband... he punched me on my cheek! Oh my god, he is coming back!AHHH!" She frantically said as she fake wailed. An overdramatic scream was added at the end.

Then, repeatedly struck the speaker end of the phone with her hand.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! The police are on their way!"

I stood there hugging my dad as if it was the last time I would see him.
"Daddy please... promise to never leave me!!"

The sound of police sirens filled the dense air. His eyes were filled with tears daring to fall at any moment, "I promise Riley."

Five policemen busted into the mad house. Each carried a loaded gun.

I jumped away from my Dad's grip to the cops. Kneeling on my knees at their feet I begged, "don't hurt my daddy! He is the only one who takes care of me! She always attacks us, and he defended himself with one punch! My daddy never ever punched her before!"

One of the men lifted his black shades slowly. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me, he turned to his colleagues, "The child may have been manipulated by the father."

I had no idea what the word manipulated meant, but I knew it wasn't good--given the look the policeman gave me.

In a blink of a eye, the men took action. They handcuffed my father, then hauled him away from me.

Even though it was freezing cold, I pursued them with my bare feet and pyjamas. My tears were becoming sold ice---I was becoming solid ice.

My feet skidded on broken ice pieces, causing a gash of blood to come out. I grimaced in pain, but I stood to hop on one foot.

It was a futile attempt of saving my father. Seriously, a police car versus a one-footed eight year old!

My leg couldn't carry me anymore. My lungs couldn't take the extra capacity of air. My chest was seizing as my heart wanted to leap out of my chest.

I gave up.

"No... no...!" I screamed as the car disappeared into the night. A set of arms enveloped me from behind. My mind shut down---not knowing what to do in this situation.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The voice exclaimed slyly. It belonged to the devious woman I have to call mother.

I forced myself out of her clasp, "You don't work. Daddy does! What have you accomplished now... huh?"

Her smug smile was instantly wiped off.

At that very moment, every single thing went dangerously downhill. We lost our house, I was always hungry, and I was always tired. Most of all, I was robbed of my childhood.

~~~~~~~~~~~

When I turned eleven, my dad was released from jail. He found us living in a motel six blocks away from our old home.

After working so hard, he stabilized our family financially. My mother apologized for all the suffering she caused. My dad forgave her.

I did not.

She may pull off her I'm-so-changed facade with my dad. But beneath her top bejewelled layer, is undeniable hate. No wonder why they always fight.

Being the family man he is, he kept her in the house. He says something along the lines of, "I want us to remain as a whole family."

Psh... yeah right. We are totally the picture perfect family. With a mother who is jealous of her husband's success. Who goes at drastic lengths to strip it away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I come back to reality when I noticed Ryan fiddling his hand around his blade. The switchblade was fitted into one of his jean loops that you put your belt in. The blade end had dried blood on it.

What was blood doing there?

I reminded myself that this is a gang. Of course there would be blood on it. But, it looked so fresh.

Had he just stabbed someone before he came to me? I staggered backwards tactfully.

I froze when he met my gaze. Ryan trailed his eyes to his wrist.
In a swift motion, he made a call on his Apple Watch.

"Take Daniel to the ER... can you try to revive him?" He spoke with authority as he brought the watch closer to his face.

"He has 3 minutes left before all his internal organs shut down. We will try our best sir."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What do you mean by revive him?"

Ryan ignored me.

"Ryan, what's going on?" I lamented as uncontrollable tears shed.

In a few taps, he makes another call. He orders a bodyguard to escort me to my room. After nearly five seconds pass, the bodyguard arrives.

"Ryan! You bastard! I'm not leaving until you answer me!" I yelled angrily as I went in for a punch to his jaw.

The bodyguard grabbed my wrist. "No no Miss. Don't get ahead of yourself."

He hauled me away from Ryan. I restrained against his grasp with all my willpower.

Sighing, the guard grabbed me by my waist and put me on his shoulder. Our trip to my room began.

I was bashing my fists into his back while kicking my legs endlessly. "Ahh... that feels so good. Could you do that on my left side now? My back is in crappy shape."

"Stupid! I'm not trying to massage you! I'm trying to hurt you!" I yelled as I gave up. He chuckled in response.

Ryan suddenly shouted, "hey! I'm not a bastard! I'm a street bastard!" Then he winked at me.

I hate how he takes the street bastard thing as a complement rather than an insult.

People who passed by us murmured amongst themselves. They pointed as they miserably failed to cover their laughs.

My face turned into a stop light.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The body guard halted, then gently put me down. We were in front of a door.

I looked deeply at him as I quietly asked, "Do you know what happened to Daniel?"

The guard's eyes darted from place to place. His expressions changed every second. It appeared as if he was having an internal battle with himself.

As he let out a sigh, he reached for a large collection of keys. Turning the lock, the door opened.

I was pushed into the dark room. He quickly shut the door---leaving me to suffer in my bewilderment.

It's one thing to not tell me about what happened to Daniel. It's another thing to shut the door in my face.

I leaned against the door as I slid down. I brought my knees to my chest as I let out all my frustration by starting the rainstorm.

My personal rainstorm ended when I heard rustling from behind the bed.

Oh hell! The last thing I need right now is someone or something in my room.

Turning in my stealth mode, I flick on the light. The rustling increases.

Terror gripped at my chest---tearing it into shreds. Fear squeezed the air out of my lungs. Cold sweat dripped down my brow. An adrenaline powered by anxiety furiously pumped in my body.

Instinctively, I reached out of my switchblade. I swallowed down my fear as I prowled towards to my intruder.
___________________________

Author's Note:

Chapter Question: What do you think was in her room?🤔

Thank you for continuing to read my book. I appreciate it so much!

Since this chapter was shorter than usual, I'll update sooner.

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