His Redemption

Chapter Seven

Eva's pov

The heavy scent of damp concrete drifted through the air. The air was cool, almost clammy, clinging to Eva's skin as the dim light flickered weakly from the single bulb overhead.

She was seated in the corner of the basement with a book and pencil clutched in her hand.

"Eva!" at the sound of celeste's gruff voice she quickly shut the book and kept it aside, she then got to her feet and rushed out of the basement.

When she reached the living room Celeste was sprawled on the couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey dangled loosely from her fingers. Celeste's eyes were glassy and unfocused when she looked at Eva.

Eva's breath hitched, her mind reeled back to the day when the abuse first started, when Celeste first laid her hand on Eva.

A few years ago.

Eva was six years old, she was curled up on the couch waiting for her mother, Celeste to return home from a party. Her sister's, Sarah and Jasmine were fast asleep upstairs and her father was still at work.

The door opened and Eva quickly got off the couch and rushed toward Celeste, wrapping her tiny arms around celeste's waist.

"Mommy, you're home!" Eva said.

Celeste's jaw tightened as she glared down at the little girl in front of her. She hated the child, she always had since the day she was born.

"Weren't you supposed to be in bed?" Celeste asked, her voice low but sharp.

"I couldn't sleep because I was worried about you mommy," Eva said softly as she looked up at Celeste.

Celeste scoffed and shoved Eva's arms away from her. "I don't remember asking you to wait up for me," Celeste Slurred.

"But I wanted to and I was worried about you mommy," Eva said, her voice cracking slightly.

"Well you shouldn't!" Celeste yelled, startling Eva.

"I can't do this anymore," Celeste muttered, pulling her hair.

"Mommy are you okay?" Eva murmured.

Celeste's eyes narrowed into slits, she grabbed the vase from the coffee table and hurled it across the wall.

Eva jumped, startled. Tears rolled down her face, she shook like a leaf as she watched her mother unleash her anger on her.

"You!" Celeste snarled, pointing her finger at Eva. "It's because of you my life is ruined, you destroyed everything, you always did since the day you were born."

"Mommy," Eva pleaded, her voice trembled with fear. "I didn't do anything-"

"Shut it!" Celeste hissed, hurling another vase across the wall.

Evangeline shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face.

The first slap came out of nowhere.

Eva's small body hit the floor hard, pain exploding across her cheek.

Her vision blurred, her ears rang.

“Look at you!” Celeste snarled, yanking Eva up by her hair.

Eva whimpered, her face wet with tears.

"You're pathetic just like her," Celeste muttered.

"Mom?"Jasmine appeared, her eyes wide with shock." What are you doing?"

"Teaching this little piece of s**t a lesson," she replied. "Return to your room and stay there," she added, turning to Eva.

Jasmine didn't say anything she turned around and walked up the stairs.

Once Jasmine was out of sight, Celeste picked up a jagged piece of glass from the floor and moved toward Eva.

Evangeline’s tiny heart pounded wildly in her chest as she watched Celeste approach her.

"You're going to die," Celeste smiled coldly. "You're nothing but a burden to us all," she snarled aiming the jagged piece of glass at Eva.

"Mommy, please don't hurt me," Eva pleaded with tears running down her face.

“Celeste!” Luke's voice thundered through the house.

He rushed forward, grabbing Celeste’s wrist before she could do anything further.

“Have you lost your mind?” he barked, wrenching the object from her hand.

Celeste laughed—a broken, unstable sound. “She’s worthless!”

Luke shoved her back. “She’s a child.”

Evangeline collapsed to the floor, curling into herself as sobs shook her tiny body.

Luke didn’t bother to touch or comfort her. He just stood there, running a hand through his hair, already exhausted… already detached.

The present.

“Evangeline!” Celeste barked.

Eva blinked and immediately straightened.

Celeste was staring at her with irritation etched across her face.

"Are you deaf as well?" Celeste asked. Her eyes dragging over Eva, judgemental and cold.

Eva shook her head and lowered her gaze.

Celeste exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't know why I put up with you," she muttered.

"I need you to go to the grocery store for me," Celeste said as she handed Eva a list along with some cash.

Eva nodded, taking the cash and list from Celeste.

Eva turned to leave but stopped at the sound of Celeste's voice. "Don't be too long, you still need to come back and prepare dinner and don't forget anything this time because if you do, you know what will happen," she threatened.

The afternoon sun hung heavy in the sky, warm and unhurried, casting a golden glaze over everything it touched.

Eva stood by the front door with the list clutched in her hand. She closed the door behind her with a soft click.

She pulled her hoodie tighter around herself and started walking.

The grocery store was a few blocks away. Eva quickened her pace, she had to make it quick before it got dark.

___________________________________________________

Inside the grocery store the fluorescent lights hummed loudly. Eva

moved quietly through the aisles,

picking exactly what was written on the list. Milk, bread,

canned soup, detergent.

Before she could go to the till she went through the list one more time just to check if she hadn't missed out anything.

The old, familiar woman at the till smiled warmly at Eva. "Good to see you Eva, she said,"

Eva nodded, giving the older woman a small smile.

"You know," the old woman began. "I've been looking for someone to help me in the store. I'm getting older and I can't seem to manage on my own anymore. Would you like to work here everyday after school?" she asked.

Eva's eyes brightened with happiness. Finally, she thought. I've applied almost everywhere and they all turned me down because I can't speak.

Eva smiled widely and the old woman took that as a yes.

"Wonderful. You can start tommorow if you'd like and whenever you want you can take the day off, there's no pressure here,"

Eva was grateful for this opportunity.

Atleast now she could think of going to college to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

When Eva stepped back outside, the streetlights had flickered on. The sky was dark now, the moon hidden behind clouds.

Eva swallowed and adjusted the grocery bag in her arms. If she took the long way around, she would be late. Eva hesitated standing at the corner of the street, her eyes then flickered to the alley.

It cut through two buildings, narrow and poorly lit, the single flickering light at the far end doing little to chase away the shadows. She paused at the entrance, heart beginning to race.

Just a few minutes, she told herself.

The alley was colder than the street she'd just left, a narrow strip of darkness between tall buildings where the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Eva pressed a hand to her throat out of habit a silent reminder of the words she couldn't speak and continued forward, her steps careful, soft, nearly soundless.

A cat suddenly darted across her path, knocking over a tin can that clattered and echoed through the narrow walls. Eva jolted. Her pulse quickened.

Just a cat. Only a cat.

She kept walking until a shadow peeled itself away from the brick wall behind her.

"Well, well," a voice drawled, low and slurred. "What do we have here?"

A man stepped into view. Tall. Broad. The sharp stink of alcohol clung to him. His smile was crooked in a way that wasn't friendly at all.