The mafia's clutch

Fractured memories

Chapter four

*Zara*

I jumped to my feet at the anger in his voice and rushed out of my room. I didn’t want him to wake the neighbors.

“Yes, dad?” I walked into he living room. He stood in the middle, glaring at me with red eyes.

“It’s you!” he pointed his finger at me as he approached me. I took steps back but I was now against a wall.

“W-what’s wrong?” I was scared with his behavior.

“You took her away from me!” he grabbed my neck harshly making my eyes widened in pain.

“Dad, you’re hurting me!” I cried out as I tried to release myself from his hold. He laughed bitterly, “You don’t know anything about hurt, you stupid b***h!”

He swung me across the room and I fell to the ground. I didn’t have time to get up when he kicked me in my abdomen causing the air to get knocked out of me.

“Dad, please stop!” I wheezed as I tried to catch my breath.

“Stop? Stop, what?” he snarled as he grabbed my shirt, pulling me up and tearing it in the process.

“You don’t deserve to be alive! We should have let you die instead!” he bellowed as he slammed me into the wall.

My head hit the wall harshly and I nearly fell unconscious. “I hate you so much!” he spat and I felt a sting on my cheek.

It hurt badly.

“Please stop,” I couldn’t stop crying. This pain was overbearing. He wasn’t usually like this. All he ever did was toss me around.

“Don’t tell me what to do!” he pushed me to the floor and kicked me again. I bit my lip by mistake and blood gushing out.

“You’re such an ungrateful child!” he kicked me again and I gasped in pain. I couldn’t even cry anymore.

“Stop!” I scrambled to my feet and tried to push past him.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he grabbed my shirt again, successfully tearing it into two. I pulled it off and ran out through the door.

“Zara! Come back here!”

I ignored his command and ran down the street.

I tripped on my feet and fell forward, bruising my palms and knees. I sniffled as they began sting.

Thunder roared in the sky and I couldn’t help but cry as I felt helpless. This wasn’t the life I asked for.

Picking myself up, I sat on the curb and inspected my now bruised knees. My left knee had scratches while my right knee had a bigger cut. I looked at my palms and picked out the stones.

I felt the rain start to drizzle but I didn’t move from my spot.

No one was outside and no one would want to walk under the rain, so I was the only one in the streets.

And I knew no one would come to my aid. They didn’t practice racism in this town but they weren’t keen on associating with people darker than their normal shade.

The rain soon turned heavy, so I brought my knees up to my chest and folded my arms on it before resting my head.

That man was right. I was better off dead.

I had no other family apart from my father. I had no other purpose apart from providing for us.

While people my age were doing what twenty two year olds normally do, I was here struggling to make ends meet.

Tears fell down my cheeks, mixing with the rain as I thought about how pathetic my life was.

Ever since I my mom fell ill, life turned into a nightmare for me. The doctors said it was because she had complications when she had given birth to me.

It got to a point that she couldn’t work anymore which meant she had to quit her job. I was only twelve at that time. Dad got furious that she was now almost fully paralyzed.

The hospital bills began choking us and his job as a mechanic wasn’t doing enough.

So I had to help out. I dropped out of middle school to work as a cleaner for the richer people in town.

When I turned nineteen, mom died. And life turned from being a nightmare into hell.

“I should just die,” I cried as I buried my face in my arms.

The rain was really heavy but it wasn’t as heavy as my heart. It was nothing compared to the pain I harbored.

I raised my head when I realized the rain wasn’t falling in me again. There was an umbrella above my head.

It was the man from earlier.

This time, I felt nothing.

If he has changed his mind to kill me, I’ll gladly welcome it. I didn’t mean anything to anyone so it’s better to leave this world.

“What are you doing here?” he looked displeased. “Enjoying the heavy rain and it’s aesthetic,” I forced a smile. He seemed taken aback by my sarcasm. I was too tired to be scared.

He said something in a language I’ve never heard before and held out his hand. “Come with me,” he said. It’s not like I had a choice anyway.

I took his hand and he took me to the familiar SUV. When did he get here? How did I not notice him?

He helped me into the back seat and went around to get into the other side. I instantly began to feel uncomfortable, fearing that I’ll soak the seat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked me and I shook my head as I pulled myself to the edge of the chair.

The car was warm but it did little to heat my cold body.

“You’re shivering,” he stated and pulled off his suit. My eyes widened at his gesture.

“I’m find. There’s no need for that,” I said.