Ruthlessly

Bang, Bang

Jason's pov

I walked up to Karma's door, knocking once I reached it. I stood tall, looking up at the tall, structured, farm house in front of me.. A lot of bad things have happened here.

I jumped a bit as Karma threw the door open. I looked at her, she seemed confused about seeing me. I perked up and threw her a smile. I received a small one in return.

"Hey Kar, its been awhile.." I said, breaking the silence. She looked me up and down before smiling a bit bigger.

"Are you coming in, or just going to stare at me?" She opened the door, inviting me in. I walked into the doorway. I followed her into the kitchen, where she pointed me to a table. I sat down.

"Coffee?" She asked. I nodded my head. I could use a coffee after all that driving.

I needed to bring the situation up to her, I needed to explain it so that she was on my side. I cleared my throat.

"So.. I have a bit of a problem.." I began explaining. I heard her scoff under her breath. She turned to me while she was pouring the coffee into cups.

"And what might that problem be? I hope it isn't a money problem-"

I cut her off, "Jades ran away from me." I felt Karma momentarily stop what she was doing. Then she slowly walked over to me with the coffee cup. She set it down.

"Why would she do that..?"

I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. Acting like I wouldn't have a clue why she would run off.

"I'm not sure.. A few days ago, she went missing. She and Jody, the boy I took in." I took a sip of my coffee. ", so I went looking for her. Then, I got a call from the police.."

I watched Karma nod her head as she listened to my story, she looked like she believed me so far.

"Turns out.. She's telling stories, saying that I beat her." I watched as Karma's eyes widened. Then they came back to look me straight in the eyes. Her mouth hung open a jar.

"You should be out there looking for her then. She's still young, running off with that boy.. I told you he was bad news." She shook her head, taking her seat at the table. "Why the hell are you here and not looking?"

"Because she's headed here." Karma c****d an eye-brow.

"How are you so sure of that?"

I rolled my eyes. Why wouldn't Jade come back here? It's basically a safe haven for her.

"Well, you're the only other person she knows. Thats safe. That is, see, she probably thinks she can play a little convincing game to make you believe I hurt her.."

Karma nodded, "you've got a point.. She used to love this place too.." She looked off and smiled. Probably thing of a good memory. It's good she can still feel happy here. I could only feel the negative energy it still held within the walls. I cringe at every memory I have of the stupid place. I hate it here.

"Right.." I said with arrogance. I shook my head trying to get the feeling that overwhelmed me to go away. "So, why don't I spend a night if she turns up?"

She smiled, she seemed to like the idea. "Well, you still have a room here, don't you?"

I quickly shook my head, "No, I'll take the couch." I strongly stated. It wasn't a question, I hadn't been in my room for years. I hated the house. How do you think I felt about my own room?

She gave me a concerned look but agreed. She wouldn't make me sleep up there if I didn't want to. She knew how this place made me feel.

I then told her I had to grab something from my house. She only said okay before taking the dishes to the sink. I left outside the door and got to my car quickly. I didnt really need anything from home, I just needed to be out of there. I drove away and decided to go back away on the highway, to see if they might have changed direction. Although I was sure they were still headed here.

Jade's pov

Jody pulled me down as he noticed Jason walking back to his car. I flinched as he slammed his door shut. He drove away quickly after that, in the direction we had just come from.

After he was out of sight, I jumped up, only to be pushed back by my shoulder. Jody looked me in the eyes. "Are you sure it's a good idea to just bolt up in there? Maybe we should-"

I stopped listening to his concerns and jumped right back up. I felt my heart skip a beat as I ran up the path. I swung the door open without even knocking. I ran straight into the kitchen, finding my sister, before I collapsed into her arms. So many emotions broke out as I started balling in her arms.

I started to try to explain myself, only everything I said came out in rambled, confusing words. Nobody could've understood me if they had tried.

A second later, I heard the door shut, someone awkwardly stumbled in. I felt Karma's hand rub my back, and squeeze me a bit tighter. I could feel Karma glaring daggers at whoever walked in. I assumed it was Jody.

"Honey, you've got to calm down.." She pulled away and wiped my tears, then walked me over to the table, sitting me down on a chair. "What's going on baby?"

I was scared and reluctant to tell her. I didn't know what Jason had already told her.. What would I do if she didn't believe me?

'Show her.'

She had a point, I could show her my bruises and scars..

"Karma.. Jason's been hurting me.." She looked at me, a bit worried. Then she laughed a little, she didn't believe me.

"So, Jason was here earlier too. He told me that you've been making up some funny stories.."  She put her hand on my arm. I pulled away, I was upset. Jason easily got in her head..

"I'm not making it up-"

She got up from the table and headed for the phone that was attached to the wall. "You can't spread stories like that Jade.." She put the phone to her ear. Jody made a face, but kept quiet. He didnt want another glare shot at him. "I'll call him, I think you too just need to sort things out."

"No, Karma! Please you have to believe me!" I jumped up off the chair as I shouted. Karma physically jumped as I did. I don't think she was used to me acting like this. I pulled my shirt up, showing her a huge bruise on my side. I got it after Jason kicked me repeatedly.

Karmas's eyes widened. I quickly turned around to show her the lash scars and cigarette burns. I heard her gasp. Then I heard the phone hit the wall. I pulled my shirt back on and spun around with tears in my eyes, hoping what I showed her was enough for her to believe me.

She had her hands over her mouth. Her face was twisted into a saddened yet shocked look. "But.. Jade.. How did you get..." She was trailing off. My back must have looked pretty bad or else she would at least be able to finish her sentence.

"Its.. True..." She finally spit out. Only a second later, her facial expression went from confusion, to pure terror. Karma looked from me, to Jody. "Jason's coming back here tonight!"

My brain processed what she had said in seconds, my eyes widened, I felt my heart rate pick up and then the hyperventilating kicked in. I was gonna be caught. The second he walked through that door he'd drag me back. He'd kill me, he'd bury me alive, or sell me to some druggies or-

"Jade! Calm down, he's not laying a finger on you. Or else I'll rip em' apart." She shook me by the shoulders, I snapped out of it. She put her hand on my chin, then forced me to look her in the eyes. "Do you understand?"

I got a grip over myself and nodded. I hoped to hell that Jason couldn't push karma around. My older sister was the toughest person I knew.

"Okay.." Was all I could manage. I felt dizzy, thanks to breathing so fast and so hard. I must have been visible because Karma steadied me with her hand on my shoulder.

"Why don't you head up to your old room and get some sleep? You look exhausted, hun."

I merely nodded and turned towards the kitchen doorway, headed for the stairs. I could hear Jody shuffling behind me.

"Eh-eh, not you. Your gonna stay and talk to me, pretty boy"

I could feel the tension of my sister glaring down at Jody. I felt bad for him, but Karma wouldn't hurt him.

I hope.

Jody's pov

I stared at Karma as Jade left the room. Honestly, I was scared of being left alone with her. She kept glaring at me. I could tell that she didn't like me.

She glared at me before motioning her hand to the chair beside her, telling me to sit down. I slowly moved towards the chair and sat down with suspicion. My eyes never left hers. Her face softened from its hardened state as I sat down in the chair.

"Let me start by asking what you've seen..?" She asked her question with caution. She sounded like she didn't want to hear the answer.

"I-" I cleared my throat. I didn't know what to tell her. Actually, I didn't know where to start. I felt ashamed of myself, I wouldn't be able to tell her of any times I stepped in front of one of Jason's many rages, because I never did. "I can't say I've ever seen her being beat.. Jason kept her in the basement.. Thats where he'd do--it- to her."

Karma's brow furrowed, she looked very upset.

"I would hear it, though.." I continued, she looked up to me. "When-- it-- happened, I'd always go check on her. I'd clean and wrap her wounds.. So I have seen things, but never when he actually does them."

She nodded, seemingly thinking before she looked back up at me.

"I just.. Can't believe he would do this to her.. Or why, or even how-" she put her hands over her face and leaned onto the table. She made a groaning sound, out of sadness and disgust. " She's our little sister.. We were supposed to protect her."

I nodded in understanding, but mostly, I didn't have any words to say. I couldn't express anything to make her feel any better. I was as much to blame for her abuse as Jason was. I was a bystander in this whole situation. The only thing that made any of this better was that. I cared for Jade as much as Karma did. Karma was right, Jade needed to be protected. I was going to protect her.

Karma was still sitting at the table. Her hands didn't cover her face anymore, they rested against her chin while her elbows stayed in place on the table. Everything went quiet. Neither of us said a word.

The silence was broken by a car door slamming shut. Karma and I looked at each other, her face twisted from fear to pure anger.

Jason was back, and I was positive Karma was going to rip his throat out.

Karma's pov

Jody and I shared a look as we heard a heavy slam. I was terrified at first. What was going to happen? Would I have to fight him off the property? Those thoughts disappeared as anger settled into my mind's core. I could feel it in my chest. He was not laying a hand on her ever again.

I turned to Jody. Rage was evident on my face. "Get upstairs with Jade, kid." I turned towards the door and slowly stomped over, then swung the door open. Causing it to slam against the wall. "This might take a while."

I could feel anger boil inside of me as I stepped outside. I marched over to Jason. "H-ow could you?!" I screamed at him. My voice broke as I did. I swiftly moved my right hand to slap him across the face, only he caught it. I quickly moved the other hand and succeeded in a clean hard slap to the face. He stepped back. His hand clinging to his face. I glared at him and he glared back, sadistically.

" You're an i***t! You'll never see Jade again!" I spat at him. I felt myself shaking. He only stood still. He already knew what I knew. He wasn't playing his mind games anymore.

"Your done for, do you hear me?! If I ever, ever see your mug around my farm again, I will not hesitate to blow your f*****g head off!"

I don't think he heard a word I said. He moved his head to the top right window of the two-story house, Jade's room. He then aggressively pushed me out of the way and walked towards the house. He used force, as I fell to the ground. Did he really just do that?

'Mhm-mhm, no. This boy does not want me to get back up.'

I jumped up and ran frantically inside of the house.

Jades pov

I could hear fighting downstairs. I sat on my bed next to Jody. My knees were on my chest. Loud crashes could be heard along with swears and grunts coming from both of them.

I couldn't tell who was beating who. I was terrified that if Jason got his hands on Karma well enough, she'd get really hurt.

I covered my mouth as I heard a large gasp come from Karma followed by a 'f**k you.' "Maybe.. I should just give myself up.. No one has to get hurt because of me."

Jody put his hand on my shoulder and shook his head. He didn't want me getting hurt either.

"I'll go down, I'll help her of she needs it."

He reached the door but before he could open it, we both heard a gun c**k.

Click, click

Jody and I looked at each other. I tensed. Knowing what the sound was. I felt myself jump twice, unsure if I really heard the sound or not. I clutched my eyes shut.

BANG, BANG!

The last thing I saw was Jody reaching for the door handle and rushing to the staircase. My hands crashed into the blanket as I gripped it for dear life.

Who had just shot who?

Jody's pov

I almost fell down a flight of stairs as I rushed out of Jades' room. I gripped the railing as I went flying down the staircase. I stopped at the fourth step. I looked at the scene presented below me.

Lamp tables were knocked over, couch pillows were thrown over the ground. The kitchen was destroyed, broken glass cups littered the floor. And the coffee table was flipped over. I glupped before looking up and meeting eyes with Karma. She wasn't the one who was shot.

She had a shotgun aimed at Jason's chest. Just above her head was a large hole in the ceiling. I looked at Jason, who made eye contact with me and snarled. Lifting his lips in a disgusted emotion. He had his hands in the air, he looked away to stare down at the barrel of Karma's gun.

She pushed the gun forward, hitting Jason's chest.

"I don't want to ever see your shitty Chevy in my driveway again. I never want to see your f*****g face again. Stay away from here. Stay away from us. We aren't your family anymore." She never took her eyes away from his. She followed his every movement with her weapon.

He started to back away slowly, keeping his hands in the air. He started to chuckle as he did. He shook his head then looked from me back to Karma.

"You can wave that thing in my face all you want." He put his hands down and moved outside. I couldn't see him anymore, but I could still hear him. Karma cautiously followed him outside. "I'll be back for what belongs to me. I won't be alone either." He scoffed, "you know how the cops are here in latitude city, Kar.." Karmas' eyes widened as if Jason had made a reference to something important. Something that she remembered. Something painful towards her. "I'm sure they would cover up you three traders, as suicide by pig." He gestured towards us. Karma never said a word, only looked as hurt as a person could be. She only watched him as he left. I heard his car door slam and the car rev away.

Everything went deadly quiet. Karma shut the outside and screen doors before locking them.

"Are you.. Are you okay..?" I sheepishly asked. I looked at the downstairs floor. It was a mess.

She looked at me and shook her head before looking back down.

"I should've shot him.." She quietly said as she ran past me and up the stairs. I stood by myself in dead silence for a few minutes.

Guess I'll just clean this up then.