Chapter 106 The Past I

Chapter 106 The Past I
Raven 
Sixteen-year-old me was sneaking out the window with a pack of sandwiches and soda. I had switched off my bedroom lights and turned on the violin sounds. My mother would think I was asleep because I always sleep with the lights off and the music on.
It was 9 pm, which was way past my bedtime for a sixteen-year-old. My parents were strict, particularly my mum, so I couldn’t afford to get caught.
I landed on the old cushion directly below my window, but unfortunately, I hit my wrist on the wooden handrest. Now it hurts like hell.
I picked up the pace as I made my way around the lawn. I looked around, my chest heaving up and down. I don’t want to get caught, or I’ll be cooked alive, but I have to do this. I’m heading for the building next door.
There was a considerable amount of space between our houses, and a wooden fence that reached my shoulders. All the houses in this estate were built like this, but this one in particular was bigger than ours.
I wonder how many rooms they had. They were probably richer than us, but my mother likes to brag that she’s ten times wealthier than the Markov's. And that she had a happier marriage than they did.
She hates them.
I flinched when something ran past me, the food I had stolen from the butler falling to the ground.
“It’s that cat again.” I sighed in relief as the scrawny animal rushed past me.
I went over to the fence and climbed over it, using the log as my bench support to avoid tripping. Sometimes, I wish I were as tall as he is.
I made my way to the back of the house and to a broken shed under the lemon tree. Just as I thought, he was there. Sitting all alone with bruises all over his body.
I overheard the fight in his house this morning, and my mother had laughed, saying his family was a circus and probably the devil’s playground because they fight and smash things almost every single day.
I kept wondering why he was always the one with bruises. Why doesn’t his brother get beaten up?
“Hey?” I crouched behind him, dropping the pack of food at my side.
He opened his eyes. They were dull at first, but the moment he saw me, they lit up a little.“ You shouldn’t be here!” He panted, his eyes racing back and forth as he pulled me closer to him, shielding me with his body as if to protect me from invisible eyes.
His grip was so tight. "It’s okay…no one saw me. I was careful.”
“Are you sure? "He was still panicking; his hands tightened on my wrist. If we both get caught, then we are doomed.
I gently freed myself from him.” I’m sure…I brought you some food.” I picked up the food and handed it over to him.
His eyes fell to my outstretched hands and then to my face. I’ve been doing this for the last two months, and since then, we’ve gotten a bit close.
I feed him, treat his wounds and keep him company till almost midnight before I go back to my bedroom. It was tough because he had serious trust issues and was always on the defensive.
He took the food from me and immediately started eating. I watched him, my heart filled with pity.
“What happened this time?” I asked, tracing my hand on a cut on his left arm. I slipped out the cooling balm and band-aid from my pocket and began applying it to his wounds.
He stopped eating, his expression changing. “It’s nothing.”
I sighed. “Killian…this isn’t nothing. You should have listened to me and filed a report for child abuse and domestic violence. This isn’t right.”
He chuckled, stuffing the last piece of bread in his mouth. “I’m not a child.”
I gripped his hand, a worried look all over my face. I don’t like this …it keeps happening every time. “Yes, you are! They are your parents!
“I’m not…I’m turning twenty by December!’ he retorted.
I scoffed. “Then move out!”
He exhaled sharply, a deep frown on his face. “I will,” he said. I already plan to…I just need to get some things in place first.”
My heart warmed that he would be free soon, but at the same time, there was this tug in my chest. He lifted his gaze to me, and we locked eyes for some seconds, then he spoke. “ Come with me….”
My eyes widened, and I scooted back. “ What??”
He closed the distance between us, grabbing my hand. I winced, pulling my hand back, and he froze.
Shit. Now he’s going to find out!
“Are you hurt?” He asked, reaching for my hand again, but I pulled back.
“I’m fine.” I swallowed, avoiding eye contact.
He didn’t back down; he grabbed my wrist tightly, and I let out a cry as pain shot through my arm.
He chuckled. “ And you just said you were fine.”
He didn’t let go of my wrist. Killian tugged on my sleeve and rolled it up my arm, my skin getting exposed.
He stared at the bruise on my arm, his jaw tightening. “What happened?”
I pouted. “You didn’t tell me what happened to you. Do you really expect me to do the same ?” I crooked a brow at him
He shook his head. “ Stop acting like a child and tell me how you got this!”
I maintained my stand. “ A tooth for a tooth, Killian.”
He raised a brow, and I stuck out my tongue, earning a laugh from him.
“Fine…I’ll tell you.” He leaned against the shed, and I moved over to sit beside him.
“I went against my father, spoke against him at the office in front of a bunch of people and got into a fight with my brother,” he phrased.
I gasped, running my hands over his injuries. “You got into another fight?”
He chuckled again. “Don’t worry, I beat him up…broke his nose and gave him a few bruises.”
I wasn’t happy about this. He was always fighting, and it always got him in trouble, and then he would end up getting punished by his father and kicked out of the house for days.
“Stop going against your parents, Killian. We’ve talked about this.” I half yelled at him.
" If it means standing up for what is right, then I’m not stopping. My father asked the security to beat up an employee because he made a mistake in labelling. They were beating up a goddamn sixty-year-old man…. it’s wrong!” He retorted, his nostrils flaring.
I contemplated what to say. All I care about right now is him not getting hurt. “ And then you’ll risk getting punished for it?”
He looked away from me.” I get punished for a lot of things.”
I sighed. “ Killain, please…”
He shook his head. “You know what, forget about me. It’s your turn.”
I wanted to press him further. I know that’s not all there is to it, but he’s refused to open up. I know all too well that there must be something serious going on with his family, but he won’t spill it.
“It’s just a scratch, really,” I said, and he snorted.
" She hit you again. And here you are telling me to file a report for domestic violence.”
I placed a hand on his mouth, shutting him up.“ My mother was only trying to correct me.”
He slapped my hands off, his eyes blazing. He tugged on my shirt, rolling the material up and exposing my stomach.
“She wanted to correct you here, too?” He raised the sleeve of my second hand. "And here too …and here?”
“Stop!” I scooted away forcefully.
“Your parents aren’t any better." He closed the distance again. “Come with me, Raven. You can’t live like this.”
I shook my head violently, fear gripping my heart. I can’t run away. I had tried once, before we moved here, and I was caught. I don’t want to go through that torture of getting caught in the act.
“I have no reason to leave my parents. They love me!” I blurted out, my voice shaking.
Killian stared at me, reading my eyes. He knew I was lying. I thought he would press me further, but he only leaned back on the wall and remained quiet.
I kept my mouth shut as I stared at my fingers. Slowly, my eyes drifted to his thighs. He was wearing shorts, and he had a good measure of his legs exposed.
I stared at the scar on his right. He had a burn scar which he had gotten months back. He didn’t tell me how he got it, but he did say he got burnt.
“You should go back…. You have school tomorrow,” he suddenly said, and for a moment, I thought he was chasing me away until I saw him smile.
I nodded. “ Don’t get in trouble tomorrow….please.”
He smiled at me. “ I promise .”
And I left, sneaking back into my house. His words kept ringing in my ears as I forced myself to sleep.
‘Come with me.’
I want to.
I really do.