Beautiful beast

Chapter 3

MEGAN

“This is your reward for failing to tame your tongue. I hope that as you limp for the rest of your life, you will remember this day and the invaluable lesson it taught you to always keep your mouth shut”, the leader of the gang said, tucking his gun back into his pocket.

“Let’s go!” he ordered his men, and one by one, they marched out of the house in loud strides. And then, the door closed with a loud bang. Mum uncovered my eyes and we ran to Emily’s side.

“We need to take her to the hospital!” Mum screamed, holding Emily, with trepidation coursing through her body.

The bullet had torn through Emily’s leg, leaving a gaping wound that pulsed with pain and blood gushed out from it. I couldn't control my tears as they burned down through my cheeks. Emily had gotten into a big mess but strangely, I was more consumed with resentment toward the robbers than my sister's cocky attitude. Perhaps it was my natural response to the situation as her only sister.

We carried her into the car, hopping in as well at the backseat. The security guard kept looked at us helplessly. Jumping behind the wheels, Dad attempted to start the car but there were no response. Our fears intensified. What if the car was faulty? It was late in the night, which implied that there would be no taxis around.

“Patrick, you need to start this car. Do everything possible to make this car respond, your daughter is dying!” Mum yelled at him.

I watched Dad’s chest rise and fall rapidly as he attempted to turn the ignition again. After three trials, it finally respond, and breathed in relief, assuring Emily that we would soon get to the hospital. Dad sped down the car to the only hospital in Clinton Hill. Perhaps Emily’s shaky whimpers of pain propelled his speed.

“The Full Moon robbers?” a nurse asked as we got to the hospital and Emily was carefully laid on the stretcher.

Mum was devastated, so she couldn't answer.

“Yes, I guess they were the ones who attacked my family”, Dad managed to respond.

“I'm sorry for whatever losses they may have caused your family. This hospital has been filled with victims who were attacked by them, especially at this time of the day. I am assuring you that we will do our best for your daughter. Please, be calm”, she added and walked away.

“This was found in Emily’s jeans”, I said, moving toward my parents with a piece of long paper.

“It's her college admission letter”, Mum responded, taking it from me gently.

“She got into college? She didn't tell me”.

“Yes. She received the letter two hours before the attack”, Mum had tears in her eyes, and it was like she was suppressing her true emotions. The tension coiling in her heart was expressed strongly in her words. And unexpectedly, she turned toward Dad, shooting his eyes with a glare.

“This is all your fault, Logan!”

“How?” Dad fired back, unwilling to take the blame for the situation.

“You shouldn't have kept the gold in the house! That was what attracted the Full Moon robbers to our family!”

“Can you hear yourself? The Full Moon robbers attack any family at any time. You know about their wild rampage, don't you?”

“Logan, don't even try to avoid the obvious. You kept stacking gold in the house and you thought no one was going to discover it and rat you out? Just look at what your actions have done to this family.”

“Amanda, this is not the right time for this! Our daughter just got shot in the leg, she might not be able to walk properly again. At least, we should maintain the sobriety of the atmosphere. The deed has been done, let's just move on!”

I watched Dad say those words with a great deal of pressure on his face. It was obvious that he didn't mean what he was saying, it was just a strategy to mask his pain. Deep down, I was sure he badly wanted to hold us closely, reassuring us that everything was going to be fine. After all, he was the man of the house. The head of the family.

Mum walked out, and I couldn't help but indulge the wave of sadness that hit me.

“Dad, take it easy on Mum. It's not easy for her”, I said.

“I understand, Megan. Your Mum started this first, I am sorry you had to see us argue”.

I needed to speak with someone, then the thought of Chris crossed my mind. Stepping aside, I dialed his number but the operator kept dismissing the call due to poor connection. Where could he possibly be? I went in search of my mother who had stormed out earlier. When I eventually found her, her back was turned to the wall and she was screaming out her lungs at someone on the phone. I couldn't make out the words she was saying because they came out in a heated rush.

“Mum?” I called.

She turned to me and I deeply felt a tinge of fear in her eyes- like she had just been caught doing something wrong. Then, I felt an unusual urge to ask about who she was screaming at.

“Mum, who was that? Why were you shouting so hard?”

She slipped the phone into her pocket and put up a thin, fake smile.

“No one”.

But I could swear that she was telling a lie.