ShaneI hold Lyla as she wails on my cut. The pain I hear in her cry is enough to create my own tears."He was drunk. He never ever got that bad, but this night, he was completely wasted. I kept telling him repeatedly, that I didn't want it, but he wouldn't listen. I have never been hit that hard in my life." She sniffles, and I tighten my hold on her."What happened babe?""I was tired, he had kept hitting me and I didn't want to be hurt anymore. He's hurt me before, but nothing like that night. I let him do whatever he wanted that night, then he proceeded to pass out. As soon as I realized he was asleep, I ran out of there and straight for my mom's. I told her everything, and she didn't believe me. Figured I was acting out. Accused me of acting like that since we had gotten engaged. A blind man could tell I was only marrying Rory because it was what everyone expected of me. Our families were lifelong friends and partners. My family needed the money, and the Mitchelson's needed th
Lyla"Alright now love bug, mommy needs you to be nice and still for me okay?""Mommy, I have to go potty.""Oh honey, I asked you before we put you in your dress if you had to go, you said no.""I know." Adrianna says as she begins doing her potty dance that always has Shane busting at the seams with laughter. "But, I do now. Can't granny take me?"I stand up, adjusting my dress, then look down at my daughter. It's Christmas eve, and as amazing as this day has been, it's been equal parts hectic. Today marks project 'just get down the aisle already'.After everything happened a few months ago with Adrianna's kidnapping, so much has happened. Candice wanted to postpone the wedding, but Shawna and I pulled her to the side and told her that she needed to just have the wedding she wanted and be done with it.So here we are, on Christmas eve, locked in Shane's old room at the clubhouse, getting dressed. Candy and Austin agreed to have it at the clubhouse, have a simple wedding like t
VOLUME THREE: CHANCEAbby Age 5I hold daddy's hand as I walk behind the men from his club. There is a total of six men holding mom's casket. One of them is Tom Stone, my daddy's president. Three days ago, my mommy and I went and visited daddy at the clubhouse. I love being there, and even though Max, Austin and Shane are a lot older than me, they play with me and buy me stuff all the time. Mommy and I were getting ready to head to the kitchen so that we can get some food ready for the men, when we heard daddy yelling.There was a loud noise after that and then a lot of people running in the clubhouse. That's pretty normal, but that day was anything but. They grabbed mommy and I, then put a gun to my head. I was so scared. I kept crying and screaming while the guy holding mommy was getting mad at me. I couldn't stop. There was so much noise. People yelling, daddy yelling, me screaming and mom just sitting there. I remember looking at her and seeing her smile at me. Why was she smi
Chance 10 years ago"Look Mr. Malone, I understand where you are coming from, but the truth is, I just don't have enough in the school's funds to get you what you want.""It's not something I want, it's something the students need. Your students. The same students that walk the halls, same as the other thousand.""And here at Silver Creek High School, we try to make all accommodations for all the students and faculty as we can, but the truth is, we just don't have the kind of funding for your project." Mr. Malley, the school principal crosses his fingers, elbows pointed upright on his enormous desk."Please don't give me the typical political answer on why the school needs more money. It's simple. This program helps students that are failing, catch back up again. If you don't have any failing students, you get more money.""Look, Ryan I'm trying to level with you, but those punks don't care if they graduate or not." Mr. Mallery stands and walks over to his office door, placing o
ChanceThe roar of the bike rumbles under me as I ride hard and fast down the long narrow street. What would normally take me a good forty-five minutes, is now going on fifteen. The roads are slippery and still damp from the small snow we got this morning, but I let nothing stop me as I rush to my target.My bike speeds down the suburban neighborhood, car alarms go off as I pass them, but my focus is on one thing and one thing only.Abby. Normally the road keeps my mind free of conflict and aggression, but not tonight. Tonight, my anxious form is hunting, and my bike is merely a means to an end.I can still remember the day I met Abby. Austin was giving me a tour of what would be my new home within the Nightmare Warriors compound. I was done with life, ready for it to take me away. I had hit rock bottom and wanted nothing, but something in her called to me. Some kind of deep darkness that she tried hiding behind the depths of her blue eyes, but I saw right through it. Only certai
AbbyI attempt to maneuver my arms in a more comfortable position, but it seems nearly impossible. I have been here in this hell hole for hours and yet have no idea where I am.A trickle of blood spills down my arm slowly and I watch it with aggravation as it reaches my flowing white dress sleeve I was excited to wear tonight. I blink back a few tears at my situation and give myself a small pep talk. I cannot break down. No there. Not now.I attempt another maneuver to try and get comfortable but the handcuffs that are connecting my small frail hands with the steel beam above me prevent me further. The man that brought me into this small windowless basement of some kind is the same man that had my father in a choke hold with a gun to his neck.My father.Just the thought of the last way I saw him has the damning tears falling without any sort of control. It was the same way I remember seeing my mother just before she died. Helpless is the feeling I could best describe it.I brief
Chance Ten years agoDead eyes stare me down in the mirror as I wash my face in the sink for the second time today. My face is sunken in from the weight I have lost and the scraggly beard I have grown in the last few weeks is getting too long.Rattling pounds the bathroom door and seconds later Laurie opens the door, letting it bang against the wall with a loud crash. I close my eyes, remembering the very first time I laid eyes on her. I was a pathetic sophomore in college, whose whole life revolved around graduating with honors. My parents could barely afford to send me, but with loans, scholarships and hard word, I had my foot in the door. Laurie was a new freshman, whom was in the same boat, but instead of looking at life half empty, full of bills, debt and responsibility, she showed me what it would be like overflowing with joy and happiness. Showed me that we had the chance to overcome everything that was put in front of us. Her deep red hair and dark green eyes called to me
AbbyI watch as he approaches me with the same dead eyes as before. I practiced lifting my legs up and down to see if I could somehow fend off his attack with the lower half of my body while still cuffed, but all that did was aggravate my already raw wrists.My breath hitches when he reaches me, but I release it when I see he isn't going to hurt me, instead he reaches past my sore arms and uncuffs me. My body automatically falls to the ground and I welcome the blood rushing back to the numb parts of my body. Rubbing my wrists and arms, I look up to the see the same dead eyes staring down at me.His face remains calm and blank as he indicates with his finger extended to the only other door down here besides the one he comes through.A bathroom.I walk over, glancing backwards every few feet, only to see him adjusting the steel beam and restraints. Closing the door behind me, I hurry to do my business, not realizing how much I had needed to go. After washing my hands and trying to s