Four or Dead by G O A

Four or Dead

Chapter 136

Flashback, Reyes 7 years old

Loud shouting and the sound of objects breaking come from downstairs

I am hiding under the bed in the small, messy room I share with Alec, my older brother. I have always been scared when our parents fought

Lately, it has been happening more frequently than before

My father, Ander, works many hours and is rarely home. When he is home, he spends as much time as possible with Alec and me

My mother, Roxanne, fills her days with drinking and is drunk most of the time. When Alec and I return from school, we often find her passed out on the couch. There were times when we found her with other men, drinking or inhaling a white powder through their noses-cocaine, Alec called it. I have never liked those men. Especially Azael. He has always looked at Alec and me in a way that makes me uncomfortable

Sometimes, Azael and Mother would go into my parents' bedroom

Since her room is next to mine, I could hear strange noises coming from there. When I asked Alec about it, he told me to ignore it

I even started to think Azael was hitting Mother. Once, when Mother was screaming Azael's name, I was on the verge of tears because I thought he was killing her. Alec took out his guitar, the one our father got for him the first time he went to a very special place on the day he turned twelve-which I am not yet allowed to know about-and played a song, calming my nerves

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When I turned seven, some months ago, Azael brought me a book about angels and demons. It told the story of how the demons rebelled against Heaven, and God cast them out. Father told Alec and me that the demons left Heaven because the angels became corrupt, so I confronted Father about his lies. When asked where I heard about the angels being good, I showed him the book and told him about Azael. That day, my parents had their real first fight

The front door slams and only Mother can be heard yelling, letting me know my father has left. Knowing what will happen in the next few minutes, I curl into a ball

"Tt will be alright. I won't let her harm you anymore," Alec tells me. He has been sitting on the bed since the start of the fight

A few minutes of peace followed, and I think Mother might not be mad at me tonight. I am about to get out from under the bed when I hear

footsteps down the hall, and I freeze

The door to the room opens

the doorframe, a belt belonging to

peeing my shorts. I bite my fist.

stands. "Mom, you should go to your room and lay in

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left me because that little bastard couldn't keep his mouth shut!"

seven years older than me, has always been my hero. And now,

under the bed, isn't

know where he is." Alec tries to push her out of the

after all

only seven," Alec

a man. And tonight, I will teach you two what it means to be the sons

Alec before. Only

I can't see what is happening, I can hear the sound of the belt on skin, followed by Alec's scream. I can't

see me as she is facing away from me.

as she hits Alec

bastard that ruined my life," she yells and grabs me by the

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talk, but only a faint whimper comes out of my mouth. She hits me with the belt over my bare legs. When I scream out in

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Alec tries to intervene, but she slaps him across the face so hard that he hits his head on the

wail when Alec does not

of bruises, welts, and blood. The first time she hit me was the day I told my father about Azael, but she has never been so vicious "Look at the

behind her, I drag myself to where Alec

the bone visible. I put my head on Alec's chest and

Alec says. I nod in his

gets me in the shower, and helps me clean the blood from my legs. Before taking me back to the

Chapter 136

the blood flow

sits on the bed. "Could you bring it to me? I am

from the corner where Alec had put it earlier. It is still plugged in, and I sit next to Alec on the bed. I love listening to Alec play

the second song when the door opens again, and Azael enters. Mother