‘This… why would he do this?! Anger Management Therapy, my ass!! How dare that scum lay a hand on his own daughter?!?!’ Were the wild thoughts going through Kyle’s head when he looked at the state Marie was in, and those were just some of the more tame ones.
The teenage boy was aware that Miss Degrace’s relationship with Marie’s father could only be described as a one-sided, abusive relationship filled with domestic violence. Kyle had already grown used to the cycle of the Degraces falling out with the guy, his own mother securing them housing in a hotel like this, the two of them moving in as well, only for Marie’s mother to eventually forgive the bastard who was responsible for all of it, and getting back together.
The only thing that had ever changed in this cycle was the time between each new rotation… yet this time he had done something even more outrageous than the previous times…
Seeing Marie's eye, and nose in pain, and watching his own mother bandaging her up, something was boiling inside Kyle. He had never been a violent child. Despite being Damion’s son, Eleanor had done her best to raise him up to be a sensible child, one that wouldn’t resort to violence, even in the kind of world they happened to live in.
Not wanting to disappoint his mother, Kyle had never gotten into fights, never wished pain on other people, but after seeing the state of the girl who he thought of as a sister, for the first time ever, the teenager didn’t just wish him bodily harm. No, he wanted for him to die in the most brutal way possible.
The blood inside him was boiling, so much that he didn't even know what to say to Marie as he helplessly looked at her. His heart only hurt all the more, when she looked back at him, forcing herself to give him a battered smile, wheezing slightly from the pain in her eye.
“Ellie, you were right… I should have listened to you a long time ago… maybe if I had left him after the first time this happened, all of this could have been avoided...” Kiki Degrace was sobbing on the couch, a bottle of wine in her shaky hands. Kyle had never seen the woman so broken before. No matter what had been done to her, she had always managed to keep up a strong facade, though Kyle believed she had done that more for her daughter’s sake than her own, but not this time.
This time, he had crossed the last line. Marie’s mother seemed completely broken, even ignoring her own injuries that were worse than ever before. So far, it had been ‘just’ a black eye or a bruise, yet judging by the swelling on her arm, this time he had broken a bone.
“Kiki, let’s talk about this later. First, let’s get both of you treated at the hospital. Don’t worry, I'll pay for everything, and you can stay here for as long as you like.” Eleanor replied, seemingly in her usual voice, yet as her son, Kyle didn’t miss the higher pitch in her voice. Even she seemed taken aback with the level of violence displayed.
“And then what?!” Kiki shouted as she smashed the wine bottle on the floor. “I’ll have to go back to him eventually anyway! It’s impossible for us to escape that bastard! If we stay here too long, he’ll just come looking for us. Even if we run away, the Underdogs will come after us, we will just be forced to be on the run for the rest of our lives! Tell me, Ellie, how am I meant to protect my daughter in front of that monster?!”
Unlike what Kyle might have thought, Kiki Degrace was neither stupid, nor naive. Perhaps she might have fallen for the sugary thoughts of Marie’s father the first time, but certainly not the ones after. No, her choice to get back with him was one out of desperation. The woman knew perfectly well that she was trapped in that relationship, and the consequences if she truly dared to break it off. Her only hope so far had been that something might happen for him to truly change, her sole solace that he had at least never harmed his own daughter… at least until today.
“I have to get out of this, I have to protect Marie, please help me…please…” Kiki was begging her oldest friend. Unfortunately, Eleanor couldn’t bring herself to lie. If she had a way, she would have long since suggested it, so saying anything at this moment would just give the two false hope.
Finishing with Marie’s treatment, his mother’s eyes gestured for Kyle to take the girl elsewhere, while she tried to calm down her friend. Not saying anything, he carefully helped Marie to another room, where she broke out in tears, just like her mother.
‘If only that man would no longer be there…’ Kyle thought as he did his best to console Marie.
———
A few days passed.
After the visit to the hospital, Mrs Degrace had been kept there overnight before being discharged. By now, the swelling had gone down on both of their faces, and neither Marie nor Kyle had talked about that event. Things were pretty self-explanatory, so he just kept her company, doing what he could to keep her from having to remember that day.
Alas, their somewhat idyllic life suddenly got interrupted.
When Mrs Degrace had received a certain message, she had broken out in tears again. Looking at the message, Eleanor had checked her own phone, and to her dismay, she had received the same text. As his mother comforted her friend, once again, Kyle looked over at the content.
The message was from the Underdogs, informing them that there would be a funeral soon. For it to be something so formal, it would mean that either multiple members of the family had died at once, or someone quite important had died. In those cases, attendance was mandatory. This included the entire family.
Kyle would be attending with Eleanor and for Kiki and Marie they would have to come as well. If they didn’t, then the other members would be sure to ask questions, putting him on the spot. If that were to happen, there was no telling how he would react. Right now, it was most likely that Marie’s father was thinking that the same as usual would occur, as it always had done.
With Marie and Kiki going back to him in due time, yet if they didn't turn up, it would only make matters worse.
“What am I meant to do? Do I go back with him on that day… maybe you could take Marie, at least I can make up some type of excuse.” Kiki suggested.
Eleanor didn't like the sound of that, although she never wanted Marie to get hurt and felt like she should never step foot in that house or near that man again, she was also worried that her daughter was the only thing keeping Kiki alive. Who knows how far things might go if the two of them were left on their own…
In the end, they had no choice, and the day of the funeral had arrived. It was done in a large rented out hall. Everyone was wearing black suits, including Kyle, who was scanning the room.
Part of him was hoping to speak to his father and perhaps say a few words, but he was constantly surrounded by other people. Right now, he was next to several caskets with pictures of the deceased. It seemed like something had gone very wrong, as quite a few people had died, leaving his father in a horrible mood. Kyle understood that today wouldn't be a good time to talk to him now.
As for Eleanor and Kiki, they too had attended, with the latter wearing a veil and heavy makeup to cover up the marking. They were staying in the corner to avoid garnering attention, occasionally exchanging some words with some women, though only ever so briefly.
Meanwhile, the children had been left on their own in a different room. That was until Marie informed Kyle that really needed to go to the restroom. Naturally, he accompanied her there, and waited outside until she was done.
At that moment, Kyle locked eyes with the man he had been thinking about all too much these past few days. The teenager seemed unaware, but his hatred was written all over his face, causing him to pull a certain look. Eventually, noticing the stare, the man started to walk over.
The young man in his twenties had light brown hair, but wasn't overly muscular or anything like that. Still, he had enough strength to overpower a woman and a young teenage girl. Clenching his fist, Kyle started to straighten the look on his face.
“You got anything to say to me, bastard?” The man taunted him. Of course, Kyle said nothing, but as the man turned around and left, he had a few last words. “I can’t believe I have a brother like you.”
******
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