The Flame Inside Her

Chapter 2: Secret Identity

 (Serina's Pov)

I opened my eyes when I heard my little brother Zack get up from the bed to go to the bathroom. I checked the time seeing it was around noon so I got up went to my bedroom to change before going down to the kitchen to make some lunch for both of us. "How's it going baby?" I asked Zack as he was turning on the TV "I'm good sissy!" I smiled at him just before my phone went off letting me know someone texted me.

I opened my phone to see a text from Daisy my eyes narrowed as I read her text, 'he did it again...can I hang out with you?' A second text came in with an address so I sent a reply saying I would be over in a few minutes since she surprisingly lived only 2 blocks away. "Hey baby I'll be right back to make lunch you can grab a snack if you want to I'm going to be bringing someone over that needs my help okay? Then I'll make your favorite for lunch, deal?" He nodded with a smile hugging me before locking the door behind me as I told him before I started walking in the direction of Daisy's so-called 'home'.

By the time I got there, a big muscled man came barreling out into the big truck in the driveway, slamming the door before driving away in a rush. I waited until he was around the corner before going up to the door giving it a soft couple knocks, I heard some movement before an older woman opened the door. My eyes almost went wide at her appearance, her hair was disheveled, her eyes had dark circles under them, and there were bruises purposely trying to be hidden under her clothes with a new one on her cheek closely resembling a handprint.

I wondered how Daisy looked but before I could say something the woman spoke up "can I help you, sweetheart?" I looked at her "yes, is Daisy here? I'm her friend from school" the woman's eyes slightly widened before a smile broke on her face "my sweet Daisy has a friend? Oh, I'm so happy! She never told me she had one" a small smile showed on my face "I didn't become friends with her until not that long ago, but I gave her my number so she has someone to talk to."

Her smile never wavered as she opened more of the door gesturing me to come inside "come on inside sweetheart! Tell me all about how you too met, please!" I walked in cautiously looking around noting that some nick-knacks were thrown on the floor but other than that it looks to be someone tried cleaning it up as fast as they could. "Where is Daisy?" I asked as I sat down on the couch "oh she's upstairs right now, I can go get her if you want?" She asked but I shook my head "no it's alright I'm sure she will come down soon, but I do wish to talk to you about some things."

Daisy's mother started looking uncertain before slowly sitting down on the couch opposite of me "of course sweetheart, what is it?" I took a deep breath bringing out the words slowly "I know exactly what he's doing to Daisy and you, Daisy didn't need to tell me since she broke down in tears when she and I were alone at school the other day, she told me because I wouldn't take no for an answer and I see almost the full extent of what he did to you today miss, as I saw him speed away."

Tears were slowly appearing in the woman's eyes as she placed her hand on her mouth to stop the sounds escaping "you don't need to worry miss, I told your daughter I would protect her and I'm going to make the same promise to you, he won't touch you anymore" "how can you make such a promise? You don't know what he's capable of let alone your age, how can you help us?" I can understand where she's coming from, but I do have connections I wish I could forget but it seems I have to bring them back into my life once more...

"Miss, I know you don't know me that well, but I promise you that I can protect you, you just have to trust me, okay?" I could tell she was hesitating for her, her daughter, and my safety when it came to her husband, but when she looked at my eyes I could see her eyes slightly widened, but before she could say something we heard a truck pull into the driveway and panic set into Daisy's mothers eyes "oh no! We are not allowed to have people inside! You have to escape through the back! Quickly!" But I didn't move from my spot "do you wish for me to protect you?" She looked at me like I was crazy "what are you talking about?! We don't have much time, please you have to escape before he sees you!"

"I will ask again, do you wish for me to protect you and your daughter?" She hesitated but as we heard the key enter the lock she quickly made her decision "yes."

~~~

The door opened with the same big burly man walking in looking around with a permanent scowl on his face, seeming pleased with the appearance of the living room he closed the door behind him just as his wife showed up from the hallway "welcome home dear, would you like something to drink?" He huffed pushing past her "get a f*****g beer b***h" she nodded meekly rushing the kitchen to get a cold beer from the fridge.

Without him noticing Daisy's mother quickly looked to a shadowy figure that's hiding behind the wall where the husband was heading. The shadow quickly disappeared just as the man passed it. Next thing you know you hear a grunt and the man falls to the floor completely unconscious. Daisy's mother rushed over checking his vitals "he's completely unconscious, are you sure this is going to work?" The shadow came out showing it was Serina herself "yeah it will, now it's time for you to get Daisy and get her to pack some things, along with yours as well we don't have time to waste."

Daisy's mother nodded quickly racing up the stairs calling her daughter's name. Serina kneeled next to the man looking at his face and down his body, studying everything she could before she stood up pulling out her phone, dialing a certain number before hitting call.

The phone rang a few times before it picked up with the sound of a deep voice coming through "what is it? Who is it?" Serina didn't say anything for a few seconds before she responded, "It's been a while...Reaper." The silence was the only thing on the other end for a couple of minutes just as the same voice came through once more "Serina? What the hell are you doing calling me? I thought you left us behind for good, what the f**k you think you're doing?" Serina could hear the slight concern in this 'Reapers' voice but didn't comment "I know what I said and what I did, but I need your help I promised someone at my school that I would protect her and I made that same promise to her mother not that long ago, I need your help with disposing a body or at least for now keeping an eye on him if he tries anything after his wife and kid are gone."

He sighed as Serina imagined him rubbing his face "are you sure you want to get back into this Serina? I'm not saying I'm not willing to help, but I just wanna know it's what you want to do...especially what happened last time." Serina didn't need reminding, the vivid images flashed through her head, but she already made up her mind "yes Reaper, I made a promise and I'm going to keep it, you know that about me." He sighed once more before agreeing to it hanging up the phone.

"Serina?" Serina looked up noting Daisy and her mother are standing there at the bottom of the stairs with bags in their hands, Daisy's eyes glued onto her father "don't worry he's just knocked out, but I'm taking you to my place, for now, you and your mother, you will be safe with me for now until I can work something out with a couple of other acquaintances of mine, deal?" Daisy timidly nodded to Serina as Serina lead them out of the house towards her home. "What do you think is going to happen Serina? Do you think he will come after us?" Daisy asked shyly while slightly shaking in fear.

Serina looked at her out of the corner of her eye before looking forward once more "don't worry even if he tries to he's not going to get close, I'll make sure of that." Daisy didn't know for sure but she could have sworn she heard an underlying threat to her statement. What did she bring herself and her mother into now?

She can only hope it's nothing too bad.