Your Unwilling Audience

History

Chapter 3: History

***

“Son you have to learn to hunt.” His father spoke through the opened door, it was still early in the morning so early it was still dark outside.

“What?” Allan felt like his heart was stopped momentarily. Hurting animals wasn’t something he enjoyed doing… and even more than that, the suddenness with which his father came in and spoke about that made him all the more unsure of his intentions.

“You’ve been acting like a soft wrist lately, my colleagues saw you exiting the house and thought you were my daughter and not son.” His father’s voice deepened to an uncomfortable degree. He grabbed Allan’s wrist dragging him out of bed. “You will learn to be a man, I won’t have you embarrassing me anymore than this…”

“Can’t it wait for another day?! I have a broadcast in a few hours and I have to leave soon-” Allan was hit across his face before he could finish his sentence.

“So broadcasting silly jazz music to a handful of listeners is better than hunting with your father? Is that it?” The way that man’s eyes darkened was the same as they always did when he was angry.

“…no…” Allan spoke in a low voice as he glanced across to his sister who was sleeping soundly, or at least she was pretending to. “Let’s go…” He quickly tried to grab the coat on the side of his bed but paused, seeing Richard’s coat there he left it and instead got his own.”

“That one isn’t thick enough for this weather, take the other one.” His father mocked.

Allan felt like he was going to get angry. “You never acted like a father before, why care now what I wear?” He questioned, the last thing he wanted was to soil his friend’s coat with blood and dirt because of his father.

“Freeze to death for all I care!” His father yelled and headed outside.

Allan followed along and watched as the other armed himself. He didn’t want to do this but refusing wasn’t an option either.

It had always been like that, he was pressed in a tight spot because of this man that he unwillingly had to call his father.

“To think I’d have such a frail son… puking at the sight of blood?!” His father yelled at him while pushing him to the ground.

“Gah…” Allan felt like his organs were being pressed hard as he fell stomach first onto a large rock. His breath was taken straight out of his lungs.

“Hurry up and get up, at least you can drag that deer back to the house.” His father muttered in a low breath angrily.

The deer in question’s eyes were still and wide. It almost reminded Allan of himself, it was shot by his father and it was unable to do anything about it… trapped into the confines of his abilities the deer was struggling to stay alive…

“This isn’t right…” Allan spoke lowly, he hated this feeling, the tears rolling up in his eyes staring at the poor animal that cried loudly.

“Real men hunt for their meat when in season, remember that.” His father repeated once more. At some point Allan had began completely tuning out everything the man said. Before the final blow was put to the poor struggling animal, his father forced him to be the one to do it…

To end another living creature’s life… it was the lowest of low that he’d ever felt…

*

*

*

“Brother?” When he got back home, Allan’s clothes were stained with blood, his bright pupils now looked less clear, almost like there was a fog in front of them.

“Serenity, don’t get dad angry today… in fact it might be better if you get out of the house, go visit mom until visiting hours are done…” Allan spoke quietly as he looked at his sister, yet if felt like he couldn’t see her clearly.

“Brother… you have… something in your eye…” Serenity spoke as she stood up but Allan walked back, he didn’t want her to touch him, he was filthy.

“Sorry… the blood is…” Allan rubbed his left eye that had a drop of blood clogging it. He felt like he would vomit again but he held back, instead he showed his sister a smile. “Please don’t worry about me.”

Serenity simply nodded her head in agreement, seeing as there was no other choice… They continued their day as if nothing had happened, just like any other day.

“For today’s broadcast, we have the up and coming artist who’s gradually gotten a following of listeners. Jeremy Kay! It’s a pleasure to have you here.” Allan spoke in an enthusiastic voice, with a smile stuck to his face as he had to Richard’s instructions invited someone on the broadcast that day. Although he had been an hour late because of the entire ordeal and his help wasn’t there to set up the equipment which further made it a scheduling issue.

“It’s a pleasure to be here, unfortunately I have but half an hour to give.” Jeremy responded, because of this mishap he was going to have to cut the interview short to fly for his next concert out of the city.

“We shall made due with what little time we have! Now for our first question from our viewer-” Allan spoke energetically and kept the man entertained through their conversation. By the time the half an hour was up, Jeremy didn’t want to leave but had to.

“Ha…” Allan felt like the time was far too short for anything too meaningful to have been said. It was almost like by the time they sat down, they had to stand up again. He was busying himself with cleaning the recording booth. He felt like

“Hey, you doing okay?” Richard had come over knocking on the door that was left half open when Jeremy left.

“What are you doing here pal? It’s kind of late to be going to the bar…” Allan spoke with a smile bright as before.

“You sounded kind of… off on the radio.” Richard spoke quietly as he helped the man clean up.

“Me? Off? No way!” Allan prided himself on being able to hide his emotions when he needed to, but when he tried to lie to Richard he paused. “I… I don’t know…” He looked down almost as if he was guilty of something.

“Hey, it’s alright you can-” Before Richard could reach out to touch the man’s shoulder as he always did, Allan pulled back.

“I’m… alright, seriously.” Allan shook his head and then turned around. “Here’s your coat back, sorry I kept it so long and your wallet is in there, don’t worry I didn’t touch it…” He spoke quietly.

“I know, I left it there. I was hoping you’d use the money if you needed it.” Richard simply replied while taking the coat in his hands.

“Huh? I told you not to caudle me like a child.” Allan spoke more seriously at that moment. “I can handle myself just fine and it’s not like you’re drowning in money, we’re in the same boat!” He yelled.

“….yeah… we are…” Richard paused, he seemed like he had wanted to say more but he stopped completely. “Have a nice evening, okay?” He headed out with the coat in his hands, somehow he looked almost defeated.

“What’s… with him?” Allan wondered out loud, the smiled he’d carefully crafted had disappeared from his face. He’d spend the next hours walking around until he went to the hospital to see his mother… but this time he was refused entry because she was discharged.

He headed to the bar to hopefully see Richard there and tell him the good news but he wasn’t there that night… surprisingly…

It had been about a month since they’ve known each other and somehow they’d always visit the bar at the same time almost like they were reading each other’s mind… so why was it at that moment that… they totally weren’t in alignment?

It didn’t matter…

He headed back home…

He headed back to that house… but this time instead of seeing his father sprawled onto the couch as usual he was faced with a horrifying sight.

His sister’s bloodied face and his mother embracing her on the floor, as if shielding her.

“Dear, you can hit me but the children! You can’t touch the children!” His mother spoke angrily, this was the first time Allan had seen her so angry, and the first time he’d seen such a serious injury on his sister…

He wanted to help and yet he was terrified to the point of freezing up, his entire body felt like it would break if he were to move it…

Yet he needed to do something, he had to do something or else… this time… they might now survive…