Fallen Angel

12

MAX

Flinder did not return. He waited for her for over a week now. Max tried to let her come to him. He stole from three stores. Paid with fake money for food again. He even got into a fight with a man, because he was looking at him. But the Angel did not return. Maybe she left him, he thought. Maybe she didn't want to see him anymore. He liked listening to her. She was interesting and cute. An emptiness in his heart, he filled by f***ing Katie every night. She didn't complain and neither did he.

Max hadn't returned home since he broke his father's nose. Staying at Katie's house was pretty amazing and interesting too. Katie lived with her mother and stepdad. Her stepdad was a soccer coach at the local primary school. He could talk on and on about it, but no one listened. Her mother stayed quiet and only smiled sometimes. Her smiles didn't reach her eyes when she did. He wondered what that was all about. Is that how marriage works?

Sitting alone in Katie's house, he was waiting impatiently for Katies return. She was giving a house party, because the house was empty this weekend. Katies stepdad's soccer team had a competition and he and her mother would come back sunday night. They invited like everybody from school and people they knew. Katie was getting alcohol and cups, but she was gone for a long time, he couldn't take it anymore.

Max: Where are you?

Katie: Still at the store. Be there soon.

Max: Just hurry.

Katie: …

Hearring her scooter, Max stood up. ‘Finally.’ he said. But when he opened the door for her, it was not Katie in front of him. ‘Dad, what are you doing here?’

‘I came to find you.’ His dad said full of anger. His breath smelling like alcohol. Swinging his hand at his son, hitting him full in the face, Max fell into the hallway, reaching with his hands towards his swollen cheek. Right when his father started to kick him in the stomach, Katie came home.

‘Stop! Mister Johnson please stop!’ Katie tried to get his father off of Max, but now he turned to her and he started to hit her.

Max found a new strength and stood up, not thinking about the pain in his ribs and stomach. He was slowly walking towards his dad and Katie. Katie was lying on the ground, screaming with blood on her face. ‘Dad stop hitting Katie.’ he said.

His father turned around. ‘She grabbed me first.’

‘Doesn't matter. This is between you and me.’

‘I totally agree with you son.’

‘No.’ Katie said softly in pain. ‘He will kill you Max.’

‘She is right. I'm here to kill you, my son.’

Max looked at his father in disbelieve. Was he really going to kill him? Taking out his pocket knife in his right hand, he was waiting for his father to step closer. He dove down when he tried hitting him once again. Max jumped at his father's legs. They were both falling to the ground.

Trying to stand up, his father pinned Max down. He hadn't seen the knife and was surprised when Max stabbed him in the chest. He screamed in pain, as he fell down next to Max. ‘You stabbed me! Son, you stabbed me!’

‘Yeah, I did. Just leave dad. I don't want to see your face ever again.’