Arianna's Tale: The Beginning Read Free

things that you two
don’t… and it affects the way I handle situations…” Austin uttered,
sighing, “But, hey, let’s get back inside so I can finish opening
presents.”
    The party lasted for hours, nobody really
wanted to leave; that was just how parties at my house were and it
was mainly due to my brothers and how all of the girls enjoyed at
least looking at them. Saying I was relieved when I finally crashed
into my bed, would be an understatement.
    The next days were a blur. School ended for
the year, Jason’s school had a small eighth grade graduation
ceremony, and then there was the humongous high school graduation,
which we all diligently attended to hear Austin’s Valedictorian
speech; my big brother, the perfect boy, the genius…. Dad showed
up, I was proud of him, and he didn’t miss the opportunity to ask
how things were going and if I had made up my mind yet, he seemed
more tired than usual though, but all he would say was he was
working a big case.
    “I’m not pushing you,” he added with a soft
smile, “I know I’m not the best dad, but I love you kids… and I’d
love to have you stay with me. So, take your time, and just let me
know whatever you decide.” I hugged him. He wasn’t the best dad,
but he never made excuses for himself, he was who he was and I
loved him all the same.
    “I just need a little longer to think about
it,” I told him, “I promise to let you know soon, though.”
    We went out for dinner after graduation was
over. Mom was flirting with her boyfriend shamelessly. Dad had
slipped cards to both Jason and Austin before rushing back to work.
I didn’t realize until we got back home and I was putting away my
things that Dad had also slipped $50 in my purse and I laughed.
     
    It was a Saturday: Austin was at work, Jason
was in his room playing video games with his headphones on, and Mom
was at her boutique. Being a Saturday, I was happily sleeping in.
Maybe things would have been better if I wasn’t such a light
sleeper, but I was, and when I heard my door click closed, my eyes
sped open and I was sitting up in my bed immediately.
    “Keep quiet,” Mark ordered and I froze,
wide-eyed before I screamed. “Shut up!” he hissed and his large,
coarse hand came down across my cheek, silencing me instantly.
“Just shut up,” he growled gutturally, tearing his tie off and
shoving it in my mouth.
    His mouth, that disgusting mouth, was
everywhere I didn’t want it to be and he ripped off my nightgown. I
fought, struggled, kicked, attempted screams that were muffled by
the reeking tie in my mouth, but he kept my hands pinned over my
head and leaned next to my ear.
    “If you don’t behave, I’ll break that little
brother of yours. He’s so fragile,” he hissed in my ear and I froze
again, but tried desperately to keep my knees locked together.
    A moment later, the pain that seared through
me blinded me, literally. He wasn’t careful, wasn’t nice about it
and I blacked out for a terrifying moment, tears streaming from my
eyes. The pain subsided a little, but my room remained blurred
through my tears and I struggled to think of anything else.
    When he was satisfied, he got up, zipped his
pants and leaned next to my ear again while pulling his tie out of
my mouth.
    “You tell a soul, and it’s your brother that
suffers,” he growled fiercely, unlocking the door and leaving.
    I stared at the ceiling through my tears,
and tried not to think of the pain, but the pain was still there
and it was practically all I could notice.
    “Oh God…” I uttered through my tears which
were shuddering my whole body, “Oh God, oh God….” I forced myself
up, through the shooting pain, and locked the door before I sank to
my knees in front of it. I glanced only once at my bed, there was
blood and… I shuddered and looked away.
    It was around the time my shaking wasn’t so
incapacitating that I heard Mom get home and Mark (I nearly threw
up) cheerfully greeting her with a homemade