Beyond the Deep Water

Courage

Deep in her sleep, full of fatigue and pain Camille rolls around in bed. Something doesn't feel right, those horrible dreams start to take form. Her subconscious can sense the monster dashing through the darkness, rushing to get to her room. The walls seem to cave in as the ominous energy expands through the air, creeping on her body and soul. After bursting her feelings out on Adam, Camille has fallen exhausted to the point her eyelids seem to be glued to each other, though her senses are wide awake.

Her brain starts shooting waves of alert through her nerves, as the monster approaches rapidly. Vile and thirty for pain, for vengeance. Stumbling his way, he smirks with pleasure to imagine Camille’s face. His hands shake with the desire to break her, his eyes dying to see tears and blood. His ears longing for her pleads of desperation. The worst monster Camille has ever known. Steve, her father.

The rusty door that keeps Camille safe at night, slams wide open. Camille jumps awake, with a fast reaction she pulls the covers all the way to her head. Chills run through her spine as she gasps in shock. Alarmed she curls up unable to breathe she shut her eyes hoping that Steve is too drunk to try anything.

"Well, hello there..." he studders as he stumbles closer. Her heart accelerates in a painful rhythm, as his presence becomes more threatening.

“No!” Camille screams in desperation as his dirty hands grab her legs.

Although her injuries from the day before give her a disadvantage. Fragile and helpless, but still, she squirms around to free herself from his grip. Her heart drops to the floor, her soul leaves her body as his cold hands make it to her hair. Dragging her out of the bed, Camille’s body slams hardwood floor knocking her out of breath but she still fights against the monster. Steve lets out a burst of amusing laughter to see the girl tensed up, her toenails anchoring on the floor, hoping that his drunken body can’t be strong enough to get his way.

“Let Go!” she shouts breathlessly.

In a defensive move, Camille grinds on the wooden floor, screaming as loosen sprinters pierce in between her nails. Annoyed by her hysterical cries, Steve unleashes a strong blow right to her abdomen, Camille flinches in pain coughing her lungs out she stops.

“Steve!” Camille’s mother cries restlessly in horror behind the monster.

“Step back!” he mumbles turning around to land a punch on the woman’s face.

“Mom...” Camille tries to get a grip on her pain. She can’t be weak, her mother needs her to be strong and fight.

“Stop!” she arms herself with the courage to protect her mother.

Thin and unhealthy, Camille trembles her way back to her feet, launching herself against the unsteady man. Steve easily takes her on and slams her against the wall, making her moan loudly. Her spine cracks and so does the back of her head, making her sight blurry from the pain and tears. Trying to stay strong Camille takes a deep breath. She can’t back down, not when her mother has finally seen the monster steve is.

“How dare of you, think you can fool me, huh, Camille!?” his raspy drunk voice reeks of alcohol.

Swinging his hand across her sweaty face, Steve knocks her down again. Immediately tasting the blood on her lips, making her nauseous. Weakly she slides to the wall, forcing her brain to stay awake. The stinging pain numbs her body, she's been hurt before, now reopening old injuries, refreshing her bruises. Camille wipes her tears, forcing herself not to give Steve the pleasure to see her cry. She wipes her blood, realizing that there are more bruises she can’t hide, more pain to bear in silence.

“Steve! please, I beg you, stop...” Camille’s mother begs desperately trying to snap back but unfortunately, she’s weaker than she looks.

“Shut up, this is all on you!” he stutters without losing focus of Camille. His green eyes look so empty and cold; like there’s no life inside.

“That little boyfriend of yours...” he whispers with an evil grin that sends chills through Camille's veins. Her eyes snap awake as Adam’s smiling face pops up in her mind.

“Don’t you dare...” she struggles, feeling the blood drip off the corner of her mouth.

The smell of alcohol fills Camille’s personal space; making it more difficult for her to stay alert. The shock is too big for her to understand what’s really happening why is Steve mentioning Adam? Her heart clenches with remorse for even having a disgusting, disgraceful human being mentioned Adam’s name.

“Are you defying me, Camille?” Steve questions her, twirling a handful of her hair, he pulls her close to his face.

Camille forces herself to face him on, she can't back down when Adam might be in danger because of her. Furious, Steve flexes his fist and in a blink, he crushes it against her face, making her jaw crack.

“No!” Camille’s mother pleads again, but the man is deaf with fury and hatred towards the girl.

Camille winces and moans in deep pain, but tears won’t fall from her eyes anymore. She's forbidden herself to do so. Forcing herself to be stronger than any insult or any hit from this coward man, Camille fights her own tears every time, with more determination she looks at her mother who's already crying them for her.

“Does that little guy give you what you need?” he whispers in a disgusting tone that makes her sick to the bone. Her stomach twists with revulsion but she takes on that to fight her fears. Camille looks at him straight in the eye as he smirks taking on her challenge.

Grabbing her thin neck, his eyes turn lost and empty as he slowly puts more pressure on his grip. Poisonous and evil eyes glare at her with satisfaction. The blood drip from the corner of her mouth as she slowly struggles to breathe.

“Tell me, Camille. Come on, tell me!” he presses tightly as she feels her lungs closing in, her chest starts to burn and her face heats up. There’s no more oxygen coming through and Camille starts kicking in with desperation.

“You’re going to kill her!” Camille’s mother cries behind him but seems to be glued to the floor to even try to defend her. He chuckles as he slams his fist on Camille’s face one more time.

“You’re no one to get into this! And if this piece of s**t has done whatever she likes, it’s because of you! You’re not following the rules, Camelia…” the furious drunk man struggles with his words.

But with enough balance to keep himself on his feet, Steve ignores Camelia and turns back to Camille. She can’t feel the pain anymore, letting go of her neck, she falls back to the floor.

Camille has had enough of being hurt by her own father without knowing why. Being constantly humiliated, at least she wants to know the reasons behind such hatred. Wiping off the disgusting taste of blood from her mouth, trying to collect her voice. Camille struggles to stand straight but she pulls her shoulders back. Finally pushing out the courage to speak up, she takes one last breath and asks.

“Why, do you hate me so much?” her violet eyes peer him as her chest violently hyperventilates. Bloody stains on her clothes, her hair is a wild mess, leaning to the wall for support, Camille waits for an answer.

“I’m your daughter. How can you treat me like an animal?” Camille demands, glancing in her mother’s direction, she exhales loudly to release the strain.

Camille knows her mother tries to make up for all the abuse she endures, but, it’s not enough anymore. She’s sixteen; she's been knocked down and beaten up since she can remember, and never understood why. Blaming the alcoholism is not an excuse anymore, Camille knows something is not right. He’s a monster, a criminal that abuses of her every chance he gets. Camille is tired and she can’t take it anymore.

“Not even animals treat their offspring like you treat me! To hurt me like you do! to-” she stops as her blood rushes to her brain, Camille can’t bring herself to acknowledge the revolting acts she’s a victim of.

Trying to keep her mind clear and not say more than she needs to, for the sake of her mother and her younger brother. An innocent boy that can’t be a part of this mess.

“Just tell me...” she takes a deep breath hoping to calm her torture. The only thing she can hope now is to be clear and end it. Maybe find a way to cope with her trauma but end it for once and for all.