Scars of Time

Chapter 10: "Rain"

Hope's POV

I was looking through the window as the sky was darkening from the fogs that were forming little by little, preparing the earth that it was going to be pouring.

The only thing that comes to my mind right now is Time.

I called him, but he was not answering the phone. I hope he is at least indoors when it starts raining.

I took a deep breath and sat beside the window where I could see more clearly. When I say Time is the only one that comes to mind when it's raining, I mean the 9-year-old Time crumbled at the corner of the room, holding his ears, as I'm fighting for my life in the hands of the man we used to call Father.

If Time wants to hide inside every time it's raining, I want to go outside hoping that rain might be able to wash every inch of my body that the man who had adopted us had touched since I was 7.

The sound of thunder sends shivers down my spine, causing my body to tremble uncontrollably.

I used to think we were so lucky to be able to get adopted to a new home from the orphanage we had been abandoned at. We were told that our new home would be a haven of prosperity, as the husband was a very well known businessman and the wife was a nurse. That meant they were good people, and we were going to be a family. Furthermore, the thing that excited me most was that they were willing to adopt Time as well. If only I had known what would happen, I would never have insisted on him being brought in as well.

Everything was going well until it was not.

And that was when Mom died.

I'm saying mom because she was really a mother to us. A mother which we had the chance to have only for two years before life took her away from us. And when I say I bring bad luck to people, this is what I mean. Maybe if we didn't come to this house and if I didn't convince them to bring Time as well, she would still be alive.

Her life was tragically cut short by a sudden heart attack when she stumbled upon her husband mercilessly beating Time, causing him to bleed profusely. The reason behind which was simply a childish mistake on Time's part.

On that fateful day, she unexpectedly walked through the front door earlier than expected. Little did we realize that it would be the last time we would see her, as an ambulance appeared, carrying her away from us forever.

That was the day I grew up. I decided, If I'm going to be bringing bad luck to people around me, at least those people have to be bad ones who deserve the bad luck coming their way. Like my Father.

But that bad luck came around and found me at the end.

And Time.

Because his bad luck started since the day I came to this world as his sister. That's when our parents decided to give us up.

Maybe they already knew what kind of monsters they had given birth to.

Maybe they already knew what kind of monsters we would become.

..............

Time's POV

I was running out of breath as I heard thunder from the sky, and that meant it was going to rain.

Even though the world started spinning around me, I knew I had to continue chasing after Jo because we were in the middle of the woods and I was worried that something might happen to her.

I yelled her name, but there was absolute silence all around me.

A little drop of rain landed on my face and that's when I heard a piercing scream from the other side.

"Jo???"

"TIME....help me...."

"Jo, where are you??"

"Help me Time."

"Jo, stay where you are. I'm coming to save you."

I was running around, looking for her as the rain started becoming heavier and heavier. The lightning was not showing any signs of stopping and neither did the screams I was hearing.

"Jo, just tell me where you are. I'm coming to get you."

My pulse quickened, thumping in my chest, as a sensation of lightheadedness washed over me, making me feel like I was about to pass out.

I could hear her voice from every direction, and yet I was not able to find her anywhere.

In utter devastation, I crouched down, my trembling hands clasping my ears, desperately hoping to silence the tormenting sound of her screaming my name if I was not going to be able to help her.

At least if I didn't hear it, I wouldn't feel responsible if I didn't help.

Then those screams were coming closer and closer and even though I was covering my ears I was still able to hear them clearer.

The agonizing echoes of Jo's desperate cries for help pierced through my shattered heart. Then I heard Jo's voice tremble as she pleaded with father to stop. But the torment didn't end there. I heard Father's voice, filled with disdain as he labeled us worthless, and accused me of being the cause behind mom's untimely passing.

According to him, it was only fair that I witness the suffering of someone dear to me, as he believed it was now my turn to experience such pain.

But that person was always Hope!!! Why is he after Jo now?!

"Please.....please....beat me up....you can do what you want to me.....Please...Stop...." I was mumbling through my breath even though I knew he was not going to stop until the rain did.

Thats why I started begging for the rain to stop. Sometimes it rains for a short time, but sometimes it rains for hours and then days. Right now, it seems like it's going to rain for the whole night.

I have to find the strength to stand up, but I know I'm covered in blood and bruises. Each attempt I make is met with a symphony of pain resonating through my entire being, and as the weight of my exhaustion became unbearable, my eyes gave in and closed, succumbing to the weakness that had overtaken me.