Where Cruelty Lies

Chapter Two

WARNING - This chapter depicts scene's of physical abuse that some readers may find distressing.

Ten Years Later . . 

'You nasty piece of scum, why was it not you? why her?' My father roared as his fists rained down on my bruised and battered body, I was suspended by a heavy metal chain that was secured around my wrists, from a hook drilled into the ceiling.

I stayed silent, wincing as each strike to my body sent rivers of pain through my system, I kept my eyes closed as I tried to breathe through the beating, knowing that if I cried out, made any kind of sound, it would only fuel my fathers rage, extending my torture.

Finally my father's arms fell to his side exhausted, breathing heavily he lent forward, his Whisky laced breath enveloping my nostrils as he whispered in to my ear, 'I wish it was you, I wish we had never had you, if I had known when you were born that you would murder my mate, I would have chucked you in a bag, tied the top and thrown you in the river like the unwanted mutt you are.' he slurred, before staggering toward the basement stairs and using the railing to drag himself upwards to the kitchen, slamming the door shut behind him, the only sound to be heard was the creak as he pulled open the fridge and took out another beer, popping the top off before heading back to his chair and flicking on the tv.

I stayed where I was, hanging limply, trying not to move and further aggravate the burns to my wrists from the silver that coated my manacles.  After a while, the heavy snores of my father told me that he had finally passed out, lifting my knees I gingerly placed my bare feet onto the cold concrete floor, wincing as I forced my lacerated legs to take my weight, before standing straight and flipping the chains over the hook, thankful that I was now tall enough to be able to unhook myself now, when I was younger I used to be left all night suspended by my wrists until my father woke up from his drunken stupor and hoisted me down, throwing me up the stairs and barking at me to get out of his sight.

Sinking to the floor, I picked up the key to the padlock off the small table underneath the tiny window that allowed the only light available to enter the basement, that my father had thrown their hours earlier and used it to unlock the chains that were wrapped around my wrists.

Looking up quickly I heard the soft creak as the basement door was slowly opened, panicking, I pulled back into the shadows, worried that my father had awoken and was returning for another session.

'Brandon?' came a small sweet voice from the top of the stairs, 'Brandon are you ok?' the worried voice whispered.

'I'm fine Elise' I whispered back, keeping my tone low, 'go back to bed angel, you have school tomorrow, you need your rest.'

Hesitating for a moment, Elise finally replied, 'OK, night night' before she stepped back shutting the door quietly and I breathed a sigh of relief.  

Crawling over to the basement stairs, I sat leaning against the bottom step for a few minutes before slowly, painfully I pulled myself onto the step, lifting my body inch by inch until I reached the closed wooden door.  Pulling the handle down, I eased the door open and slid onto the kitchen floor, breathing heavily as I lay on the cold tiles, listening to the rhythmic snores coming from the living room.

Rolling onto my stomach, I stifled a groan as I pushed my body upwards, clambering to my knees as I checked my ribs, sure that at least one was broken as I took shallow breaths, fighting the nausea as I staggered to my feet.  Creeping down the hallway, I climbed the stairs to my room, using the banister to support me as I tried to hold my ribs still to lessen the pain.   Reaching the landing, I stepped into the bathroom, locking the door behind me as I turned on the shower.  Stripping off my shorts I stepped under the cool stream, gasping out as the water hit the scars and bruising that covered my torso.  Washing my body carefully, I removed all the drying blood, cleaning my wounds delicately as I couldn't risk Elise seeing them and getting scared.

Once I was sure I was clean, I turned off the taps and stepped onto the dingy linoleum that covered the bathroom floor, grabbing the towel that was on the rail next to the bath, I dried myself off, before wrapping the towel around my waist and opening the door, tiptoeing my way to my room where I dragged on a t'shirt and clean shorts before depositing the towel in the bathroom hamper and heading toward my sisters room, pushing the creaky door open as I held my breath, cursing at myself that I still hadn't got around to oiling the hinges on her door.

Slipping inside I smiled as the sleeping form of my sister came into view, her soft blonde hair spread out over her pillow, shining in the glow of the unicorn night light that was plugged into the wall.  Walking over, I placed a soft kiss on her forehead before pulling her duvet up higher, tucking her in, listening to her soft breathing as she snuggled further into the warmth of her bed, her hands clasping Mr Jinks, her favourite brown cuddly teddy bear that I had bought her one Christmas having saved up all my wages from my part time job to afford it after she fell in love with it when we walked past the toy store one day.

Looking round the room, I took in the pink wooden dolls house that sat on the floor at the foot of her bed, the bookshelf overflowing with books, a toy box overflowing with games and dressing up clothes that our father had bought her over the years.  I was thankful that he did not blame her for our mothers death, he treated her with love, hid his dark side from her, was loving and caring in front of her.  That is why I took my beatings from him without protest, as long as he had me to blame he had no reason to hurt Elise, I would take everything he needed to throw at me if it kept her from ever suffering at his hands.