Awakening Chapter 8: "Why me? "
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"Dad, where's mom?" *The little girl yawned as she rubbed her baggy eyes.*
"She's-" *The father abruptly halted. It took him a solid minute to come up with an excuse that wouldn't hurt his young daughters' feelings.*
"She's on a vacation, sweetie. A long...long vacation." *his gaze flickered back and forth between the rundown room and his daughter on the bed.*
*The father gagged, his nose scrunched up as an insect found its way onto his hand.*
"And what's a vacation, Dad?" *Cotton found its way out as the little girl held her teddy bear tightly.*
*The father slapped off an insect from his shoulder before he replied.* "A place where you go...and never come back." *He reached out his rough, dirty hand then gently tugged a loose strand of hair behind his daughter's ear.*
"Dad, the smell is getting worse." *Said the little girl before she nuzzled her face into her father's chubby neck.*
"Sorry sweetheart...we ran out of perfume..." *The father released a heavy sigh as he took a good glance at what was supposed to be their home.*
*It consisted of only one room with what remains of a toilet seat on the corner, a big, rusty and warm down mattress that emitted dust whenever they lay on it. Creeks all around the ground, floor and ceiling where insects, and various rodents found their way through.*
*one small broken window which emitted the beautiful blue moonlight on them. Giving them warmth and hope.*
"Sorry..." *he muttered underneath his breath.* *the little girl looked up at her father.*
"It's ok Dad, I know you try your best."
*The father placed a gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead, his arms gently wrapped around her small frame.*
"That's my little girl. It's getting late now, Sweet dreams....."
"Sweet dreams to you as well Dad!"
*Their bare bodies pressed against each other in an unwavering and intimate embrace.*
*I always wondered, where's my mom? Why did she leave my dad and me? Doesn't she love us anymore? But I shouldn't think much of it, because I have my daddy and that's more than enough.*
"Goodnight, Marry."
"Goodnight, daddy..."
*The following morning, Little Mary
Woke up at the sounds of birds chirping and tweeting a beautiful melody...*
"Aughh!" *Marry yawned* "Good morning Mr Cuddles." *Marry giggled, the little girl hugging her plushy bear.* "If we're lucky we'll manage to be on time and get extra rations of food!".
*Marry stood up on her little legs, washing her face and brushing her teeth quickly before storming off the house alongside Mr Cuddles.*
"The weather is quite nice! Maybe we could go for a swim with Emily later on Mr Cuddles!" *She laughed, hopping her way in front of the shattered and empty houses. Each step creates a little print on the warm sand as Mary makes sure not to stop on any sharp debris or broken glass.*
"Yo! Marry!" *A voice called out in the distance.*
"Oh! Emily!" *Mary jolted at the sound of her friend before hurrying in front of her.*
"I think I saw the food trucks on the street again, and the kind lady is also there! Quick maybe you could get yourself a sweet this time!" *She said while rushing towards the north, Emily's jet black hair flowing in the winds and her smile bright as ever.*
"Not fair! You know you're older and faster than me! Wait!" *Marry whined before running after her friend.*
*After a fun little race the girls eventually reached the food trucks which arrived every day early in the morning and offered free food to everyone who would come, it might not be enough to fill them up but it's more than enough to get by.*
"There you go kid, and one for your father as well." *The Food lady smiled down at little Mary.*
"Thank you, ma'am! You're so pretty!" *Her smile is radiant in such an area that it's almost unbelievable.*
"Aww aren't you a little Ray of sunshine here you go a sweet lollipop for the sweetest girl!"
"THANK YOU!"
*Mary's smile widened at the kind gesture, not waiting a second before popping the lollipop in her mouth.*
"Aren't you gonna take anything, Emily?" *Emily questioned, her gaze curious.*
"I'm good I already ate before you." *She answered.*
*Before Mary could insist that her friend should take more food a group of people were in a hurry*
"MOVE ALREADY TAWT" *one of them yelled.*
"Isn't she Robinson's daughter?!" *A woman holding a crying baby in her arms muttered.*
"Disgusting..."
*The little girl got mad at their words? "Hey- I'm not- Emily?" *Mary panicked as her friend seemingly disappeared.*
*Mary didn't hesitate to leave the scene immediately, finding a good place to hide inside a broken car.*
"... you said you'll stand beside me the next time they are mean!" *shs held her sobs*
*Emily appeared next to her, guilt-ridden on her face but what else could she do?*
"I was scared...sorry." *She muttered*
"You're always sorry..." *Mary wiped her tears before hopping out of the rusty car.*
"I'm going home-"
*Before Mary could finish her sentence she was met with 3 older boys, twice her height and size.*
*James spoke first, his tongue dangling from his mouth like a dog.*
! We were wondering where the little lamp went"
*followed by Jason, cracking his knuckles with a wide grin.
"I almost got worried that you were beaten up by another group!"
*The eldest brother, Jack spoke up, his voice strict and straight with a hint of malice.*
"Hand over your food and we might leave you with many fewer bruises."
*The J. brothers are a group of bullies who use power and threats to get whatever they want.*
"N-no .. my daddy needs the food" *she hugged her teddy bear tightly, luckily for Mary she kept the food inside the car.*
"Mud Glove" *Jason used his powers first to create a glove of dried mud on his fist.*
"Then allows us to sharpen our skills Hahaha!"
*James and Jack both activated their abilities and began beating the little Mary up right in front of Emily who stood motionless... doing nothing as her friend was brutally beaten... Almost as if she didn't move they wouldn't notice her.*
"I'm sorry...Marry...that I can't do anything.." *she stood there... sobbing quietly.*
*after the J brothers had their fun, Mary slowly woke up... beaten, battered and most of all quiet. Not a single tear despite what happened.*
"The food... daddy needs it." *Mary limped to pick the food from the car before continuing towards her home in the dark.*
*The waves were calm tonight, and the sand felt gentle on skin and Mary's home was right there... in front of the shore away from all other houses... it didn't look good, far from it but the other houses as well.*
-knock knock-
"Daddy, I'm home and I brought food..." *Marry smiled at the sight of her father despite her battered and bloody state the little one was happy to help her daddy.*
-Slap!- *A loud slap could be heard from all across the beach.*
"WHY WERE YOU LATE! AND YOU DARE GET BEAT UP AGAIN! HECK YOU EVEN HAVE BLOOD AND SAND ON THE FOOD YOU PATHETIC LITTTLLLEEEE!" *The dad removed his belt, before dragging Mary inside, closing the door shut.*
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End of chapter 8.