Beyond the Deep Water

Free

Facing her father for once and for all, even when the pain is excruciating but something in her willpower keeps her on her feet. Although her spine stabs sharply; her face is almost numb, even then, she waits.

“Camille, no...” her mother exclaims in dismay.

Frightened to see the determination in Steve’s cold eyes. An evil grin on his face and suddenly, he changes his anger to delight. The joy to finally hear the question he's been waiting to answer for so long. Camille notes the desperation in her mother's voice.

“Oh, Camelia, she wants to know, the girl wants to know...” Steve tells her with a mocking tone that infuriates the girl.

“Stop. You know you’re not allowed to…” Camille’s mother warns him with teary eyes.

She glances at her broken daughter, someone she treasures so much but can’t do anything to help. Deep down, Camille has been condemned to go through this hell of a life, because of a mistake. To see her suffer and fall, until her destiny is fulfilled.

"Stop it! Just tell me," Camille struggles.

“Camille, Camille...” for the first time, the man calls out her name without shouting. Steve flashes her with a smile, making her feel threatened.

“Do you want to know that badly? Do you really want to know!” he laughs stumbling to stay on his feet. Finally letting the alcohol effect get to him, she tilts to the side letting his own weight drag him down.

“Don't, Steve…” Camille’s mother panics behind them, her eyes full of fear and remorse.

“I’ll gladly tell you, after all, I've been through hell already, why would I care if you or your mother get to experience it,” his eyes show nothing but disgust, although there’s a degree of pleasure mixed in it.

“Steve, don’t!” Camelia tries again; this time with more courage.

“What do you want me to do, honey? The girl wants to know!” he shrugs his shoulders, clearly knowing that the truth can be hurtful not only to Camille but for them all.

Camelia turns pale, her hands shaking over her mouth. Desperation grows in her big brown eyes. At this moment Camille already knows the secret; she can feel it deep inside, ever since she can remember. She only needs to hear out loud what the whole town has always whispered about her whole life. A girl with her features can be the daughter of such a monster.

“Don’t pretend, now. Everybody knows, so you do you,” the man shrugs his shoulders without any emotions.

“It’s not hard to guess, is it?” he asks chuckling without humor.

“This whole goddamn town remains me of the f*****g hell our lives are! We're trapped here and it’s all because of you!” he screams in frustration, violently shaking her hair.

Camille notices the distress in the incoherent man, someone so scary, someone who finds joy at anything that brings her misery. He’s clearly frustrated and angry.

“Steve...” Camelia hopes that he’s intoxicated enough to just drop unconscious.

“Mom...” Camille notices the desperation in her mother’s voice, making her heart squeeze in her swollen chest. She breathes in through her nose.

“Why?!” she demands for the first time in her life, she raises her voice.

“You, a constant reminder that... “ he stops erasing the smile off his face. His eyes turning icy cold, emotionless, without giving her a chance to react.

Steve grabs Camille’s neck again and this time add more pressure than before. Strong enough to lift her, she starts kicking as she feels the air restricting inside again. Shocked by the unknown force driving him insane, Camille can see it in his eyes. He’s not Steve, he’s a monster. A real monster. Someone without a soul that could kill her without remorse.

“ It makes me sick to see your face... you’re not my daughter! you're not my fault to bear! so leave! Get the hell out of here! Disappear from my life so I can be free...” he hisses, but a smile still playing on his face.

“No!” Camille’s mother cries in pain.

Camelia grabs the heavy lamp Camille keeps on at night to protect her from the shadows. Able to gather all her strength, she lets the lamp crash against the back of Steve’s head, immediately losing consciousness. He drops in front of them, and so does Camille.

Stunned and hurt, she wipes her bloody mouth as her mother reaches for her. Camelia’s arms tremble weakly as she hugs her broken daughter. Deep inside, Camille has known all along that Steve isn't her father. The pain in her empty heart feels like the whole world is falling apart, but for some reason, she wants to smile. And so, she smiles at her mother.

“He’s not my dad,” she repeats breathlessly.

There’s relief in her soul, knowing that she'll never be loved by the man she thought of as her father but broke her in every way possible. Camille can finally break free from this torturous secret that stopped her from opening up to Adam. Now she can freely say that the monster that used to take advantage of her, is not her father.

“Camille...” her mother hugs her tightly.

“Mom, I still love you,” she admits, feeling a touch of happiness.

Camille crawls to her mother's side. Her trembling hand on her mother’s shoulder, she doesn’t need an explanation. Looking at the bloody man lying by her feet, Camille turns to Camelia. She wipes her tears and gives her a gentle smile.

“Listen, Camille, I don’t know what will happen when Steve wakes up...” Camelia stutters looking at the amount of blood spreading on the floor. Thanking God for letting her son Jordan out of the house for the night. Camelia knows that now that her daughter knows the truth the real danger is rising from within the darkness.

“You need to go. Go to your friend’s house. I’ll call you when things get better.” she urges the girl, feeling guilty for actually hoping for Steve's death, she knows they're not that lucky.

“Mom. No.” Camille argues firmly, also struggling to stay awake.

“I’m sorry, honey...” she gives her a tight hug, Camille winces in pain but holds it in.

“You deserve better. You need to find a better place for you, and I know you will. Now go, let me handle this. I’ll find you when I get things back to normal.” Camelia pushes her daughter away, Camille glances at the man on the floor and back to her mother.

Gathering the last of her strength she gets on her feet. Drying her eyes, and her mouth, she can’t feel the pain anymore, but she’s exhausted.

“Okay, I’ll go to Paige’s house. Please, take care of Jordan, and call me,” with a last look at the despicable monster, Camille gives him a cold heartless smile.

“Go, honey.” Camelia encourages with a deeper pain that Camille can’t understand for now. Leaving her mother helplessly crying behind, Camille makes it to the front door.

Opening the door to freedom, the cool breeze of midnight slams against her face, fanning her hair back. Camille tries to open her lungs to let the fresh air go through her nostrils. She spreads her sore arms and grins.

“I'm free. I’m finally free,” she says, raising her eyes to the starry sky. With tears in her eyes, tears of happiness, tears of joy and relief.

“Free...” she repeats with a trembling tone as her heart squeezes tight, as she gets ready to face a new path.