Chapter 3 A Hard Lesson

• He pulled me through a small hole in the back of the shed and I was barely able to squeeze through. He helped me up by holding out his hand and I took it. My eyes widened as I took in the space. Hanging from the ceiling were metal hooks of all different sizes. Strange tools were laid out on a large table beside a chair in the middle of the room. The floor was stained. I felt cold. We weren’t supposed to be here. This didn’t feel right. I grabbed on to Julien’s arm. “Julien... I think we should leave...”
• I didn’t know what this place was, but it seemed dark, dangerous even. I felt goosebumps on my flesh and looked up at Julien. His dark eyes were as wide as mine. He didn’t say a word.
• “Julien I—“
• We both froze as we heard footsteps outside. Julien grabbed my hand and pushed me behind a box by the wall. He crouched down beside me and placed his finger to his lips. I nodded and stayed quiet. My breath caught in my throat as the door creaked open. The footsteps fell heavy on the wooden floor and I immediately knew it was him. Daddy. He was here. He found us. I wasn’t quiet enough when I snuck out of the house.
• “I know you’re in here. Come out.” His voice was as rough as I always remembered it. He was angry.
• I went to get up but Julien pushed me down. He stood up and emerged from our hiding spot with his hands up. “You caught me.”
• Daddy stalked toward him. He fisted his hands in Julien’s shirt and lifted him off the ground. “What are you doing in here, rat?”
• Julien shrugged. “Exploring.”
• Daddy’s eyes narrowed and he smirked. “Where’s my daughter?”
• Julien shook his head slightly, telling me to keep quiet. “I dunno. I’m out here alone.”
• “Bullshit. If you’re here, then so is she.” he growled. “Marina. Come out. Now. I know you’re there.”
• “I told you. It’s just me.” Julien argued. “She’s not here.”
• “You’re a terrible liar. Marina, come out now or you’ll be sorry.”
• I had no choice but to show myself. Daddy was going to find me anyway, it was inevitable. Julien frowned when he looked at me but I kept my eyes locked on to my father, tears falling from my eyes as I trembled. Daddy turned to the chair in the center of the room and roughly sat Julien in it. He clipped his hands into a pair of cuffs attached to the arms and shot him a glare. “Don’t move.” He growled.
• He turned to me and grabbed me roughly by the arm. Daddy brought me so I was standing right in front of Julien. My eyes widened when I heard the sound of his belt being pulled from the loops of his pants. More tears fell as I sobbed.
• “No! It was my idea.” I couldn’t bear to look at him. His voice was so distraught.
• I felt the first strike of leather on my cotton covered backside and cried out. My flimsy sundress didn’t give any protection against his punishing blows. Daddy fell into his usual rhythm with strike after strike and every time I sobbed and begged for him to stop.
• “No! Stop! Punish me! It was my idea!” Julien yelled from the chair he was sitting in. “Leave her out of this! Punish me!” He struggled in the cuffs and I will never forget the sound they made as they clinked against the metal chair.
• Daddy laughed coldly as he continued to beat me. “Don’t you see?” He sneered. “This is your punishment, rat. Remember it.”
• One strike turned to ten.
• Then twenty.
• Then thirty.
• I lost count as I wailed.
• Finally, he pulled his belt back through the loops and I fell to the floor in a crumpled mess of pain and tears. I sobbed into my hands and listened to his footsteps subside.
• “If you’re not back in your room in fifteen minutes, I will come back and repeat the punishment.” Daddy threatened. “And don’t ever come back here again. Both of you.” I could hear the annoyance in his voice. He stalked over to Julien and released his wrists. I heard him laugh again as the door to the shed slammed shut.
• Julien rushed out of the chair and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Marina.” I sobbed loudly into his chest. I wasn’t capable of answering anything he said so I just cried. “I’m going to get you out of here. One day, Marina, I’m going to take you away from your father. Away from all this.”
• I wiped my eyes with my hands and stared up into his dark eyes. “P-promise me.”
• He smiled warmly. “I promise you, I will take you away.”
• I frowned as I stared down on the red and purple bruises around his wrists. I grabbed his hands and lightly ran my thumbs over the marks. “You’re hurt.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. In his struggle, he rubbed his wrists raw. “Julien... I’m sorry.”
• He shook his head rapidly and pulled his sleeves over the marks. “No. This isn’t your fault, Mari. I’m fine, see?” He gave me a lopsided grin and I felt the tears fellow again. I couldn’t deal with the fact that I had gotten him hurt.
• We sat together on the floor until I began to calm down. The tears still fell but not as often. I had to leave. Daddy said he expected me back. I hugged Julien tightly. “I have to go.”
• He frowned. “I know. See you tomorrow. Mama said you can come over.”
• I smiled small. “I’d like that.”