WILDFIRE

CHAPTER THREE:

CHAPTER THREE

ARIA POV:

After I got home, my mom and sister were still sleeping and Jack wasn’t there yet. So I ripped up the note. I started my chores. I heard my little sister, Tonya, wake up. She came out. She said “sissy, I am hungry.”

I said “I am about to make dinner right now.” She gave me a hug, and walked away. I started with mashed potatoes, Salisbury steaks, with corn. My mother doesn't cook anymore. All she does is sit in the living room with my stepdad. My stepdad takes a break from watching whatever comes into my room to get me to sleep with him and I keep telling him no. Yes, if you are wondering, I am a virgin. I am not a prude, honest. But I can’t go out unless my stepdad is out at work and my mom is sleeping. And the only time they let me out is when my little sister wants to go to the park, and even then they still have people watching me, so I don't tell anyone about what is going on there. Like Jack says, it is his word against mine. I can't go to school. I can only go to work, because it is my break in money for them to spend my hard-earned money. That is why I put half of my paychecks in a bank that they have nothing about. They don’t know because they didn’t ask for my paystop, thank the lord. I was in the middle of checking out dinner when my phone rang. I looked at the number. I didn’t know it. I answered it. I said “hello?”

The male voice said “ Hey, Is this Aria Moon?”

I replied “ Yes, who is asking?”

The male voice replied “this is Toby Dodger, the guy you met in the woods today.”

I said “hey, hold on.” I had to get out of the kitchen and into my bedroom. I took the phone back to my ear and said “I’m back.”

Toby asked “ Hey, is this a bad time?”

I replied. “ No, I wasn’t sure that you would call me, that is all.”

Toby asked “why wouldn’t I call you? And hey, why did you act weird when we got to my dad’s work?”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I said “I will explain that at a different time.”

Toby asked “ Hey, can we hang out again tomorrow?”

I replied “I don’t know if I can.”

Toby replied, “I really want to hang out with you.” I was worried because I didn’t know when Jack would be home. But I made up my mind that I really wanted to see him.

I said “ Okay, how about this? Meet me at my house and we can go hiking. Say noonish?”

Toby replied “ Okay, no problem. I will see you at your house tomorrow.”

I replied “ OK, see you tomorrow. Well, I have to go. See you tomorrow.”

Toby said “okay.” I heard my stepdad come through the door. I said “shit.” I thought I had hung up the phone. Jack came immediately to my room and said “it is time for you to give me what I want.”

I said “no, not going to happen.” I started to cry. Once I said that, Jack started to punch, kick and beat me. As he was undoing his belt, he said “I told you you were going to regret telling me No.” He started to whip me with the belt. It hurt so badly. I was crying. I was hoping my mother would help me, but there was no use calling or praying for her to help me. I have been alone since my father left to fight for the country. Once he stopped whipping me, he left the room. I looked at my phone. That is when I noticed I had never. That call. As soon as I noticed, I hung up immediately. I sat in my room for a few moments. Two minutes later, Jack yelled. “YO, CUNT GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE TO GET DINNER DONE FOR YOUR SISTER, MY MOTHER, AND ME. NOW BEFORE I COME UP THERE, WHIP YOU SOME MORE!” I got up and went downstairs. I finished dinner. I served everyone. Tonya said “thank you sissy.”

Jack said “Tonya, don’t you ever say thank you for that thing. You are way better than her.”

Tonya asked “why can’t we be nice to her? She is my sissy. I don’t care what you say.” Jack just sat there and ignored her statement. See if I made that statement I would have gotten punished for it. Once everyone was done eating. My stepdad, sister, and mother went to the living room to watch TV. I was in the kitchen cleaning up. Once, I was done with that. I went to the basement to do laundry before I went to bed. It is my normal routine. When my cell dings.

Toby said “ Hey Aria. Do you want to go to a party with me?”

I responded “Can’t, sorry. Raincheck.” I knew if I asked. I would be burned with one of Jack’s cigarettes. Once I got done with texting Toby, I had to finish getting everything done. My stepdad didn’t know that I used the computer when I was sleeping to get my homework, because I was still going to school behind his back and my mom. And I thought when I finally leave this place, I will never come back, and if only I knew if I would get through what has been happening to me. Yes, my stepdad wants me to have s*x with him and I keep telling him, no. So he beats me for literally everything that I can possibly do wrong throughout the day. My mom and my stepdad don't know that I am on social media. And I blocked them alone with all of their friends so they can’t come across my f*******: page. Anyway, I decided I should see if Toby has a f*******: page. I am not stalking him, I am just trying to figure him out. So what, I like Toby, but I know I can’t do anything about my feelings until I leave this hell hole. When I heard moving around. I quickly got the computer and started to go to my room and Jack went out into the living room.

Jack said “what are you doing in the living room?”

I replied “I was cleaning it up. My chores.”

Jack commented, “well, it is about time you did your chores without your mother or I screaming at you.” With that, he stepped closer to me. He said “well, since your mother and sister are asleep, you can finally f**k me like I want. Right here and now.”

I said “AGAIN, Jack. That won't be happening. So do yourself a favor and don’t ask and don’t touch me. Because you know as much as I do and I will scream and hit everything so my mom and everyone will call the police, then you will be out of the house, and my mom’s mom go f**k all those damn w****s that you are telling my mom that your going to work. Yeah, I know about it and I know all about the unpaid bills because of it, plus you use whatever money I bring so you can try to pay the bills so they don't get shut off because then my mom will find out everything. So I am going to bed.” With that, I walked around him and went to bed. That was the first time he didn’t hit me when I talked back to him. But I am still sleeping with something in front of my door because I don’t touch him. Once, I was back in my room. I looked at the time, 11:45 pm. So I texted Toby.

I texted “hey, are you up?” In about 3 minutes, I got a vibrate to let me know I got a message.

Toby said “hey, I was just getting ready for bed.”

I said “I am sorry if I am keeping you up.”

Toby replied “ Oh, don’t worry. It is okay. I would rather talk to you than go to sleep. How was your night?”

I replied “they are the same, because I had to make dinner, when you texted and asked me to go with you. I wish I could, but I couldn't. I am sorry about that, by the way. But after dinner, I had to get my little sister to do her homework, plus do the dishes, give her a bath and then get everything cleaned before my mom and Jack got back. But that is how it went. Hey, do you have a f*******:?”

Toby replied “the party was okay, I just hung out with some of my friends. Had literally only two beers, which is not like me when I am partying with my friends (but don’t tell my dad :).) I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

I replied “ Oh, couldn’t you stop thinking about me? I hope I didn’t do anything wrong?”

Toby replied “ What, no you didn’t do anything wrong. You're good.”

I replied “alright, I just wanted to make sure you got home safe from your party and talk to you before I went to bed. I will see you tomorrow at noon, Toby.”

Toby replied “Good-night Beautiful.” With that I went to sleep with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time.

The next morning…

My alarm went off. I rolled over and saw the time it was 4:30 am. I didn’t get up. I knew if I didn’t get up. I wouldn’t be able to get a shower. I got up, got into the shower and got ready for the day. I started getting Tonya’s school stuff ready to go. Then I started making breakfast for everyone. Once I was almost finish.I grabbed my plate. Yes, I have to sneak food because if I don’t I will be punished for eating “their” food, but in reality, they pay for everything with my money. So I sat near the counter and I sat. I was eating, and I looked around. It was time for me to go get Tonya up for school. I went upstairs and got her up and ready for bed. I said “Tonya, go to the table. Breakfast is ready for you. I then knocked on my step dad and mom’s room, my mom said “what do you want?”

I replied “it is time to get up for work.”

Jack said “shut the f**k up. We know when to get up.” With that I walked away from the door. When I was walking away I heard moaning. I rolled my eyes. I got Tonya’s breakfast. I told her to get into my car so we can go to school. Yes, I brought my own car. My mom said it was fine because I have to get to work, do all the running around, take Tonya to school so she didn’t have to get up with her at all. Jack says it is his car because he lives at the house and thinks he can take it whenever. But I only put enough gas in it for my running around and not his. He tells me to put gas in it so he can drive it. I say no. He will always beat me to the pulp. Once I got back to the house. Jack came out and asked “Did you put gas in my car?”

I said “no, I only put gas money in MY car. Which it is in my name, not yours.”

Jack said “so, how am I going to get to work?”

I replied “mom doesn’t work today, you can use hers because I have a lot of earrings to run, like grocery shopping, and getting Tonya from school, then going to work.” Jack huffed and puffed and went into the house and came back out in 2 minutes with my mom’s keys. I looked at my cell phone’s clock and it was 8:30 am. So I decided to grab the list of groceries. I asked “Hey, mom can I get the money to go to the store for food please.”

My mom said “sure here is ten, that is all I am giving you so you have to use your money for the rest.” I took the ten. As I was leaving, my phong dinged. I looked at the message and it was Toby.”

Toby said “hey, how was your morning?”

I replied with a smile “it is the same old same old. How about yours?”

Toby replied “Slow, I keep checking the time when I can meet you.”

I replied “oh, well if you can give me about 45 minutes you can come up earlier. I just have to go to the store at the moment, and do my daily chores.”

Toby replied “yeah that is fine. I will see you in 45 minutes.”

I said “see you in a little bit Toby.” With that I got into the car. I started it up. I went to the nearest grocery store near my mom’s house. I got everything on the list. The cashier said “Hey Aria, what have we got here for you today?”

I replied “oh, stuff for dinner and my mom’s and stepdad’s. The normal. How are you today?”

The cashier said “oh, I have been good. Hey don’t mind me asking, but what happened to your face?”

I remember I forgot to put on makeup to hit the bruises again that Jack left me last night. I replied “oh I bruise really easily, my little sister and I were playing outside with the ball and she threw it too hard and I wasn’t paying attention when it hit me right in the face and well, now I have bruises.”

The cashier looked at me skeptical and I could tell she was not believing my lie but I said “well, I have to go home. I will see you later. After 30 minutes, I had fifteen minutes to get to the house and I got home in five minutes. I got out of the car, I got the groceries out and went into the house. I looked around to find my mom and sister sleeping on the couch, while watching tv. I started to put the food away. Once they were all done. I went to my room and grabbed my hiking gear. I was waiting outside for Toby. He showed up and Toby immediately saw my face. That is when I realized I didn’t cover up my face.

Toby asked “what happened to your face? Who did this to you?"

I replied, looking down at the ground. "Um, I don't want to talk about it right now. Did you hear anything before I hung up the phone last night?"

"Yes. Who was that guy in your room? And where was your mother?" He asked her.

"Please forget about it," she begged him.

Toby said "okay, but did he do this to you?" I couldn’t hide it anymore because he heard everything that was happening and then I nodded her head yes. Just then there is a car pulling into the driveway. I started to panic. I was scared of what would happen and told Toby "Get on your horse. I will meet you in the woods. I promise," said I. Once he was on his horse, and started to ride into the woods. I started to run back into the house before he caught me and gave me another beating. I was about to get into the house when Jack saw me. He got out of the car. I ran into my room. But when I was about to close the door Jack came into the room and started to beat me. He punched me in my face. I was screaming for him to stop. He took his beat off and he started to wipe me with it. He kept doing it where I saw blood coming from my body. My little sister said “daddy, stop hurting her. You're going to kill her.”

Jack said “Tonya shut up, leave now.” Tonya had no choice, which I do understand. When he was done he left the room and locked my door. I am glad I have the only fire escape connected to my room. I started climbing out of a window, once I was done on the ground, I ran towards the woods where Toby was. Toby caught up to her and grabbed her arm when he did. Aria was frightened by him, so she let out a high-pitched scream.

"Calm down, it’s just me, Toby. Get up on Skylite." I calmed down and did what he said. I winced in pain when I was climbing on the horse. Toby noticed and looked at me with a look I haven’t seen since my dad was home. But he let it go because he didn’t say anything. After that, we started to ride a little bit. They got to where they met. It was a beautiful place. Aria finally realized that there was a waterfall. She didn’t realize it when they met. Toby stopped Skylite, they both got off of the horse and Toby turned to me "I saw that guy chasing you, Aria. Can you please explain to me what is going on?" Toby pleaded with me and I moved very close to him.

I said "Okay. My dad was a marine. But he was only given two weeks to spend with my mom and I. This was before my little sister was born. The day after he left, his camp was invaded and he was listed as M.I.A. Two days later we were told the horrific news. We were very sad. That same day is when Jack came into the picture. Jack and my mom became very close friends. He stayed over multiple times. Probably somewhere around the fifth time he stayed over, he was drunk. He came into my room and he wanted me to do inappropriate things with him. I told him no as I reached for my bat. I told him that he had better get out of my room. Jack told me that I was going to regret telling him no and I should watch out. So now, every other day or sometimes everyday lately he comes over to see my mom, since now he is most likely living there. Any little things, like me not doing my chores because I had homework to do, would result in him beating me. That same year is when my dad went missing, that is when I decided to start exploring. I was trying to stay out of the house when he was there. But most days I have to clean, cook, give my little sister a bath, feed her and help with her homework. But please Toby, don't tell anyone. Please." Toby saw the look on my face and knew I was serious.

Toby said "I won’t say anything, but I really think that you should tell someone." .

With tears in my eyes I continued to beg him. "Please don't tell anyone Toby. Please! Promise me."

Toby gave in, "I promise." I hugged him and he hugged me back. I heard something behind both of them. I turned around quickly and saw that it was Jack. I became instantly terrified.

"I thought I told you not to leave the house anymore? And who is this? Now you're coming with me." Jack said sternly.

"Jack, please let me stay. This is Toby, he is one of my friends. Toby get on your horse and go right now and leave me here." I pleaded with him.

Jack replied, "that is very smart Aria. You let your friend leave you here." Toby got back on his horse and rode back over to me. He saw me crying and Toby grabbed my hand. He pulled me up and then they started riding away. There was nothing Jack could do anymore. I was holding Toby really really tight. When we got to town, they went right to his dad's work.

"Aria please! Please go in and tell my dad everything that happened." Toby’s dad came outside and saw that I had bruises all over her face. His dad tried to get closer to her, but I was so scared that I ran. Toby ran after me, I stopped. I turned around and just hugged Toby. "You don't understand."

Toby looked back at me, "what don't I understand?" There was a car that drove up to them. Her mother got out of the car, along with Jack. Her mother walked up to me. "Aria, honey. Why did you run away? All Jack was doing was trying to get you back inside and not leave you alone with this boy in the woods." I knew I was in for it now.

"Come on sweetie, get into the car." Jack grabbed me and yanked me out of Toby's arms.

"See, Toby? You don't understand." Then Jack forced me into the car and they drove off. Toby was looking at where the car was.