The Obelisk of Karnak: Chapter 2

The door shut and Chad grabbed Luke and threw him up into the air before catching him. “Weeeee!” Luke shouted. 

 “Hey so what do you want to do today buddy? The skies the limit.” Chad was surprised; the snow, the spilled coffee, the despondency, were all finding there way into the back of Chad’s mind. Luke’s unbridled happiness were taking him back to a time when Chad’s biggest care in the world was what cartoons were going to be on the upcoming Saturday morning. 

 “Ummm…” Luke bobbed his head back and forth as he thought of what he wanted to do during the day. “How bout, umm…… the park, and play in the snow! Yeah, yeah the park and then ice cream!!” It didn’t take Luke long to decide.

 “Couldn’t have come up with a better idea myself buddy.  How about I’ll freshen up, we’ll watch a cartoon or two, then we’ll head out. And then… we’ll have hot chocolate when we get back! Sound good?”

 “Yayyyy” Luke’s happiness shined through.

“Oh, and feel free to have some of that candy on the table, just don’t tell your mom.” Chad sent a wink Luke’s way.

“Cool! Thanks!” This is why Luke loved spending the day with Chad.

Chad headed upstairs with a slightly more optimistic prospect about the day that lie ahead and a distracted mindset on his life in general. For his incredibly morose nature, he was somehow finding himself relatively chipper. He was looking forward to his day ahead with Luke, and it was all working well in keeping Sarah out of his mind.

As Chad walked towards the shower he once again noticed the snow out the window. Negative thoughts rushed to his mind abruptly. ‘NO!’ He thought to himself. ‘I’m not going to let these thoughts ruin the day. Not with Luke here.’ Chad was doing his best to plow any negative thoughts from his mind.

‘That shower certainly helped perk me up. Well, I guess it always does.’ Chad’s had these running conversations in his head for a while now. “I guess it’s time to watch some cartoons with my buddy.” Chad liked watching cartoons with Luke. He found it more enjoyable because Luke’s laughter and smiles rubbed off on him.

Chad headed on downstairs. “Hey Luke! I hope you’re watching a good cartoon!” Luke didn’t respond right away. Chad continued his way towards Luke.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea… Spongebob Squarepants.

Chad could hear the music in the background as he made his way to Luke.

“Hey great choice buddy! I shoulda known it’d be Spongebob.” Luke still didn’t reply, Chad thought it was slightly strange, but he knew Luke was certainly immersed in the show.

As Chad made his way to the living room, he couldn’t see Luke sitting on the couch. Now he was getting a little nervous.

If nautical nonsense be something you wish…

The music continued to play. Chad was a somewhat anxious guy by nature, and now it was just starting to get on his nerves. “Luke buddy where are you!”

As Chad made his way into the living room he dropped to his knees.

Ready… Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob Squarepants, Spongebob Squarepaaaaants. Hahahahahah. (Whistle Plays) 

“You’re an incredible lover.” Sarah took a much needed deep breath. She was understandably exhausted. “Oh man, since when did you get so good?”

“Since I found someone I really loved.” He replied. 

“Perfect answer.” Sarah smiled and rubbed her hand down his chest. She kept going.

“What do you think you’re doing.”  He tackled her in bed, and she started giggling. He was on top of her. “Well, whatever it is you’re doing… keep doing it.” Derek kissed her.

“God babe, I wish I could. But it’s 10 in the morning. I got that appointment in an hour.” Sarah replied.

“What appointment?” Derek had totally forgotten.

“Damn Derek, I’ve only been talking about it for two weeks now. You know, the one with the college recruiter.”

“Oh yeah, shit,” Derek was indifferent. "You go do that.”

“What you’re not going to come with me?” Sarah retorted.

“Babe, you know I got my fantasy football today.” Derek could see the upset in Sarah’s eyes. “Oh come on, I’ll make it up to you later. Derek grabbed Sarah and started kissing her rampantly on the neck. Sarah pushed him off of her.

“Ok, ok fine whatever.” She was still ticked off, however, she managed to smile at Derek. She didn’t want him to feel bad about it. “Have fun with your fantasy foozball.” She smiled again at Derek.

“My foozball! My foozball huh? Derek tackled Sarah again. “Who told you that? Mama?” Derek tackled Sarah again and tickled her. She began laughing uncontrollably.

“I love you babe.” Derek said.

“I love you too.” She threw a pillow at his face. “But I’ve got to get ready for this college recruitment deal so get off of me.”

“Ugh, alright.” Derek said.

“Don’t worry babe, later… alright?”

“Whatevs.” 

Sarah got out of bed, got undressed and stepped into the shower, allowing the steam and hot water to immerse her body. It was all so refreshing.

As she was in the shower, an image flashed before her eyes. It was happening more and more often. ‘What are these?’ She thought to herself. ‘They seem like dreams. But they feel so real.’ She didn’t know what to make of it all. But the visions were becoming so intense and lucid, they were beginning to take over her thoughts.

They were all the same. She is hanging on to a cliff, holding on for dear life knowing that if she slipped she’d fall, screaming out for help, when all of a sudden a mystery man comes and pulls her to safety. She can’t see his face, but she instantly knows she loves him. The visions were becoming more and more clear and frequent. It was beginning to consume every bit of her thought, and irking her to no end.

Sarah dried her hair with the towel. “Let’s get this shit over with.” Life had become confusing and dull.

‘

“Where are you taking us?” Sarah nudged Chad and gave him a playful smile to try and get anything out of him.

“Well, I guess… that’s just going to have to be something you wait for.” Of course, while Sarah usually had her way with Chad, he didn’t cave that easily. “You know that saying, good things come to people who wait?”

“Haha, are you kidding me Chad! Of course I know that. But what I’m not entirely sure of is where you’re going with this.” It was somewhat odd, considering Chad didn’t normally build up such anticipation for much of anything during the time he spends with Sarah, she knew he must have had something special in mind.

“Ahh, oh well then. I guess I’ll just have to bear the torture.” She was obviously joking as she turned her head.

Chad looked over at Sarah as she was gazing out the window toward the green landscape. He appreciated the moment. He was so close to her, in so many different ways, yet he still wasn’t sure what exactly was going through her mind. But there was something sublime about that to Chad. He knew no matter how close they’d ever become, there would still be something he couldn’t reach, no matter how hard he tried. She’d retain this essence, this part of her, for her and her alone. And he’d forever want it. Forever reach for it. But it would certainly always remain out of reach, as it belonged. And that would eternally keep him wanting more.

Meanwhile, she didn’t know he was glancing her way, absorbing her hair as the wind scattered it about. But that was something Chad found special about her. She didn’t care so much if her hair was perfect, or if it was to style. That didn’t matter to her, and it didn’t matter to Chad either. Of course, he could care less if her hair was pristine, but Chad felt as if she also understood it didn’t really matter how it looked. She was what she was, and she knew that. Really, it had nothing to do with hair to Chad. It was about what mattered and what didn’t matter: and that was Sarah.

The interesting thing to Chad was that he was enjoying what he considered a special moment with her, and yet she had no clue this moment was even happening. It was some sort of romantic espionage from less than a foot a way. It was great.

“God I love you.” Chad just let the words slip out. He didn’t know what he had just done. He began panicking.

Sarah refrained from responding for what seemed like an eternity. For Chad it was unbearable. But he couldn’t possibly regret telling her the truth. 

The silence was killing Chad. They had been together for about 5 months, and he already he knew he loved her. Actually, he had known for quite some time now. As far as Chad was concerned, all that mattered was whether or not she felt the same way.

She never answered. He took it the best he could. He never intended to tell her he loved her at that moment. It just came out. And now Chad was suffering the consequence.

After arriving at their destination, they began making the hike up to the top of the mountain, just as Chad had planned. That's where he originally was planning on telling her he loved her. 'So much for that,' he thought.

The hike was awkward for the most part, with Chad and Sarah sharing  some menial conversation together. It wasn't until they got to their destination that Chad's excitement took over, and everything changed.

“Babe, c’mon, I want to show you something.” He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the precipice of the cliff. They were high atop the rolling green peaks of the Catskill mountains, and this was his favorite spot, the pinnacle of Wittenberg trail.

“Soak it up babe, soak it up. We’re at one with nature, at one with each other. Doesn’t get much better than this.” Chad was experiencing a level of happiness he didn’t often enjoy. The awkwardness from earlier was slipping away, for the both of them. It had to be a result of the liberating surroundings.

“Don’t talk. Just listen. Look.” Chad was a bit confused by Sarah’s response but he still loved it. He wanted to respond, but there was something to be said about respecting the silence she requested. So he did.

Sarah slowly walked his way. Only a few feet separated them, but now she was standing by his side. The next moment lasted only a few seconds, but felt like a lifetime to Chad. 

He peered out towards the great green beyond, with the Ashokan reservoir gracing the landscape with a mighty blue reprieve from green. It was at that moment he looked up he noticed a flock of birds flying overhead. The freedom they represented resonated on a deep level with him, because it was at that moment that he realized he never felt more free before in his life. The expanse and beauty he was beholding could be described as nothing less than overwhelming. As the flock flew overhead, a gust of chilled wind immersed his body in what felt like a dry bath. He never knew such an incredible thing existed, and wondered how he went his entire life without experiencing it. It was as if the wind was breathing spirit into his body and rejuvenating his soul at the same time. All the while, the sun was searching for an escape behind the white billowy clouds, randomly darting it’s bright rays on the landscape. And it was at the very moment the sun broke free from the frozen crystal captive that she blew into his ear.

Chad had to close his eyes. He was overtaken by the contentment of his surroundings, and now Sarah, taking it up a notch to a whole new level of euphoria. She nibbled on his ear, then his neck, causing Chad to open his mouth and reach for more air than his nose could possibly provide. He had never been more nervous yet more calm in his life. She reached to take off his shirt. After tossing it over the precipice, another gust of wind presented itself, this time more intense than the first. It was unclear to Chad whether that was due to the force of the wind or Sarah’s unmistakable presence. 

She softly grabbed his head and turned it her way. He wanted to speak, but couldn’t possibly dare, in risk of destroying the moment. He felt like it should have been him, not her, leading the way. But she was taking it upon herself to make this his moment, and he wasn’t going to stand in her way. She softly kissed his body, from navel to chin, an act that could have lasted no more than five seconds yet felt like five hours. She reached his mouth, and touched hers to his, for but a second. She was teasing him, and the word was taking on whole new meaning. 

She pushed him back towards the grassy knoll, providing her ample time to slowly pull off her top. She slowly walked Chad’s way, and tackled him to the ground.

The sun once again took cover behind the clouds. It was respecting their moment. But more than anything he knew she loved him back. She didn't have to say it, she showed it. 'Maybe that was her plan all along,' Chad thought. Either way, it was perfect.

“Now class, we have a new student. Her name is Sarah Grayson, and she just moved here. Now where was that you said you were from again honey?” Sarah paused nervously, as the eyes of every student in the class peered her way in what felt like tiny darts all hitting her at once.

 She was mostly speechless. “Umm.. umm.. I don’t remember.”

 He had never heard such simple words sound so beautiful in his life.

 The class burst into laughter. “What a dork! She doesn’t even remember where she’s from!” Shouted Norman. 

 The class continued laughing. In somewhat of a teacher cliche Mrs. Arcadipane did her best to contain the children. “Now settle down, settle down class. Let’s not hurt Sarah’s feelings on her first day.” She put her hand on Sarah’s shoulder to comfort her.

 No one noticed. No one but Chad as he sat with concern in the back row. He could see it on her face. It wasn’t quite showing. Not yet. But it was apparent to him that she was doing her best to hold something back. Putting every bit of effort into not displaying what she knew would only make matters worse. Anguish and hurt were beginning to become more and more pronounced on her face. It was happening all quite slowly, but to Chad, it was more like slow motion. 

 He was astounded. All she had done was walk in the door, said but a few words, and he already felt this unexplained connection with her. It was almost as if they had known each other, known each other well, and yet they had never met. It was all quite baffling to Chad. It was during this bemusement that he noticed the tear welling in her eye. As it fell down her cheek, he wanted to reach out to her. 

 Norman couldn’t keep his mouth shut as he noticed in glee the tears streaming down her face, “Haha, look at the little baby, she’s crying!”

 As far as Chad was concerned, that was the last straw.

Chad stood up from the back of the class in an abrupt show of defense. It was innate; he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. The rest was somewhat of a blur, with his provocation and sequential actions coming internally, not of cerebral origins.  

“Hey! Why don’t you just keep your stupid thoughts to yourself.” Chad really had no clue what he was doing, this outburst wasn’t like him at all.

“Chad Hunter!” The teacher clearly wanted to settle things down, not stir up any more commotion. “Take your seat please, and no more further outbursts!” 

“But, but…” Chad still had no clue what he was doing

“But, but what Chad?” Chad’s adrenaline was slipping away. “Now take your seat! It’s not your place to meddle.” Mrs. Arcadipane was making it clear that she was running this show. He was becoming deflated, and as such, was finding his knees weaken and felt obliged to to bend them and sit down.

Chad felt like a failure. He looked Sarah’s way, and saw her head bowed down, still trying to hold back the tears. He noticed her peer up his way. He wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but Chad felt as if that momentary glance was Sarah’s way of thanking him, but also somehow encouraging him, as if he was the only person she had to rely on during this degrading moment.

As Chad slowly sat back down in defeat, Norman thought it was his place to make another cruel remark. “Hey, and look at her clothes, they don’t even fit and look like she got them from the dumpster or something!” 

“Norman! Stop that shouting right now!” Mrs. Arcadipane was doing her best to control the situation.

Sarah immediately started bawling. Chad’s adrenaline came rushing back. He burst out of his chair and quickly made his way to Norman. He really had no clue where all of this was coming from, but the defense of this helpless girl seemed to come all too naturally to him. 

“Chad Hunter go back to your seat!” The teacher shouted. At this point, Chad could care less what she had to say.

“Shut your mouth Norm or I’ll shut it for you!” ‘Where the hell did that came from,’  Chad thought to himself.

“Haha, that’s real funny Chad. So what you gonna do about it?” Norman retorted.

Norman had a good thirty pounds on just about everyone, so this really wasn’t the fight Chad wanted to pick, but his concerns were not centered around himself. He looked Norman in the eyes, glanced over at Sarah who was still sobbing, and did the unthinkable, at least for Chad. He grabbed the desk that Norman was standing in, and flipped it on its side. In the process of the desk tipping, Norman got tangled in it and hit the floor like a tree.

Mrs. Arcadipane rushed to the scene to make sure the situation didn’t get any worse. But what’s done was done. The chair had hit Norman on the head, and now it was him who was crying like a baby. He looked at Sarah, who was now gaining her composure, as the class was now laughing at Norman. 

She smiled his way the best she could while still holding back the tears. In the briefest of a glimpse, Chad saw what appeared to be his future flash before his eyes, and Sarah was a part of it. Chad had never felt more satisfied in his life. 

Chad’s overwhelming satisfaction after the incident with Norman was enough to make him take some sort of pride in the fact that Mrs. Arcadipane was sending him to the principal’s office. Even at that young age, he realized that if you stand up and do the right thing, even so called negative consequences could and should be viewed as victories: something to the effect of martyrdom-lite. 

“Jessica, while I deal with Chad, please run down and get the nurse come here address Normans injuries,” retorted the teacher.

As the teacher grabbed Chad’s arm after the incident was over, pulling him out of the classroom more quickly than he would have wished to walk himself, he got the chance to walk right past Sarah in what he considered the most heroic moment of his young life. She glanced and smiled straight at him, while he just stoically looked her in the eyes, doing his best to figure out what exactly she might be thinking about him. But then again, he didn’t want to know for sure. He wanted to imagine her thinking the best possible things, and the truth could just ruin all of that. Looking into her eyes and imagining the best was enough for now. 

Chad found himself sitting in front of the principal, Mr. Tiano. This was his first visit to the principal’s office, so he felt extremely out of place. However, a certain unexplained calm was taking him to a place where he really didn’t care what reprimand the principal would direct towards him. He was on a higher plane and he couldn’t be touched. 

“Chad Hunter, Chad Hunter… let’s see. Well, this is the first time you’ve ever been here. That much I’m certain of. You’re an A student for the most part. I’m also certain of that. What I’m not certain of is why a seemingly upstanding student like yourself would lash out violently at another classmate. Could you perhaps shed some light on that enigma… I mean these unexplained actions?” Mr. Tiano stared him down the entire time, speaking in  a deep monotone voice that should have instilled anxiety. Chad wasn’t phased.

“I did what I had to do.” ‘Short and sweet,’ Chad thought to himself. Really, it explained his actions from every angle you could possibly dissect them. 

“No, no, I’m sorry Chad. But you’re extremely mistaken. At no point do you have to use violence to make your point, especially in the form of…let’s see here” Mr. Tiano grabbed his reading glasses to look down at the teachers recount, “grabbed a desk with a student in it, and without regard for the safety of another student, flipped it on its side, so as to cause the desk to fall on top of the student and injure him. After the incident he seemed unphased and seemed preocuppied with something else, staring towards the front of the room.” Mr. Tiano put his reading glasses back down on his desk. “Now the part that stands out to me is not what you think it might be. Let’s forget about the fact that you seemingly had no regard for the safety of this student, and obviously intended to cause him some sort of physical harm. That part concerns me to some extent obviously, but who are we kidding…” Mr. Tiano chuckled in what was perhaps a coupe to seem relatable. “…we all know students get in fights and end up hurting each other. What really concerns me, Chad, is the part where you appear indifferent to the incident, and are found seemingly staring off into space.”

Chad knew he wasn’t staring off into space during the moment in question, his eyes and concern were glued on Sarah. Why should he be wasting his attention on Norman, he thought. Chad didn’t realize it, but just thinking about the incident had him staring off into space that very moment. It didn’t appeal much to Mr. Tiano.

“Chad, are you with me? You seemed to have drifted away there.” Chad smiled and nodded his head in agreement, but the reality is he was only partially “with him.” 

“So tell me Chad, what do you have to say about all of this.” Chad’s response was the most striking and disturbing response Mr. Tiano had ever heard from a student in his 45 years in the business. 

Chad steadily looked Mr. Tiano in the eyes. He pondered his question, thinking to himself, “What do I have to say about all of this?” But the question to Chad was not what he had to say about all of this, but what did he have to say about all of this to someone, who he had discerned, clearly wouldn’t understand why he did what he did. So he opted for the snide remark, “Oops.”

“I’m sorry, that’s just not going to do it Mr. Hunter.” Mr. Tiano rejoined. “If that’s the best you can give me it looks like we’re looking at a 2 week suspension, at least.”

“Best, I can give you, best I can give you…” Chad didn’t like that. Now it wasn’t about whether the principal would understand, or whether it was worth Chad’s time. It had become a personal challenge. Chad knew he could give him much, much better.

“How many children do you have?” Chad thought it was a simple enough question. 

“I’m sorry Chad, the number of children I have has no bearing on this discussion and the subsequent repercussions the actions you have taken will beget… excuse me, cause you.” He apparently had this thing with using words that were too big for children to understand.

“What was that Mr. Tiano, beget? I understood the first time, no need to clarify the denotations of your word choice. Beget, I get it, to bring about. In fact, “cause you” was really not the correct denotation of the word. I really don’t understand what you’re trying to do, perhaps talk above me to somehow subconsciously appeal to your blatant narcissistic tendencies. But let me ask you once again sir, how many children have you begotten?” Chad clearly wasn’t curt with his replies at this point any longer.

Mr. Tiano stepped up out of his chair and raised his voice, “Who do you think you…” Before he even had a chance to finish his sentence, Chad continued. “You know what, don’t even bother answering that question, from the looks of it,” Chad nodded his head in the direction of some sort of family portrait Mr. Tiano had on the cabinet in the corner of his office, “My personal guess is 4, or 5. You want to know how I know that? Actually, I really could care less if you wanted to know how I know. But, the photograph you have on display is obviously nebulous at best. However you’re clearly the matriarch of the photo, standing in the back center with your arm around your wife. You know what sir, let’s forget about how many kids you have for now.” Chad had the principal in some sort of distressed trance, as he peered down on this child who was somehow using verbiage against him. He had never seen anything like it in his life.

“How did your wife feel when you fucked that other woman?” Chad wasn’t holding back one inch.

Mr. Tiano snapped out of his trance, “Who the hell do you think you…”

Chad didn’t even let him finish his thought. “You know what, don’t even answer that question yet. You’re clearly of the lascivious mold.”

“You better stop right where you are you son of a bitch.” Chad was clearly getting the principal to lose his professional standards.

“What? You don’t think I’ve seen you around school. Flirting around with and touching the younger teachers. Tell me, when was the last time you made one of them perform sexual favors in order to stay in your good graces?”

‘14 months ago.’ Mr. Tiano thought to himself.

The principal barely knew how to respond to these impetuous attacks. “Why, I ought’a show you how we disciplined incorrigible fiends like you back when the world was straight.” Chad let him finish his thought.

“Maybe later. You know, your wife is clearly gaunt in that picture. How long ago did she die of cancer?” A little more subtle of a jab from Chad.

‘6 months ago.’ Mr. Tiano thought to himself.

“You shut the hell up boy, you have not the slightest clue what you’re talking about. You’ve more than crossed the line!” Mr. Tiano lashed at Chad with his most stern repeated pointing of his finger inches from Chad’s face. Chad wasn’t phased.

“I see it in her eyes.” Chad was transfixed with the photograph. “She’s smiling, but there’s so much sadness, so much anguish. She doesn’t want to be smiling. Actually, it’s all over her face.” 

“I’m warning you boy, stop while you’re still ahead.” Mr. Tiano was nearly trembling in fury over this twisted parlor game Chad was playing with him.

“Yeah, so how could a man possibly fuck another woman while his wife of what, 30 years was dying of cancer?” Chad chuckled, then repeated the question. “I mean seriously, how could you do it? How could you fuck another woman while your wife was dying of cancer?” Mr. Tiano clenched his fist as it was trembling ever more. Chad raised his voice and stared straight into Mr. Tiano’s eyes. “What kind of a man are you?” Once wasn’t enough. “What kind of a man are you? What kind of a man are you?” Chad raised his voice to point of shouting as he stood up. “What kind of a man are you! What kind..!”

Mr. Tiano’s trembling fist struck Chad across the cheek, snapping his head to the right in one powerful blow.

Mr. Tiano breathed heavily as he looked at his ever trembling fist. Chad swallowed the pain down his throat. He set his eyes once again on the photograph, as his head was pointed in that direction from the blow. He brought up his hand to sop up the blood on his lip. He slowly turned his head back towards the trembling principal. He had no clue what he had just done, but knew he somehow accomplished his end goal.

“What was that you were saying to me earlier about not using violence to make your point?” 

Mr. Tiano was speechless and horrified. Still trembling he said, “How about we just keep all of this to ourselves. Uhh, head to the nurse, say the injuries were from the fight. There will no suspension.”

“Fair enough.” Chad replied, as if waking up from some sort of twisted dream.

“What the hell did I just do? That wasn’t me.” Chad inquired to himself. Something was wrong, Chad knew it.

Chad was still trying to get his bearings after the unfolding of events in the principal’s office. He somehow knew what he knew about that man; everything he had said was true. It could be argued Mr. Tiano got what was coming to him, but that verbal assault was simply not like Chad. His whole state of mind during the exchange was something he had never before experienced. ‘How did I know all that?’ he wondered. He was honestly marginally frightened. 

“Hey Chad!” A girls voice came from directly behind him as he was walking down the hallway to go to lunch. It was so abrupt and somehow uncanny, it gave him chills. 

Chad turned around to acknowledge the girl who beckoned him. As Chad had sensed by that point, it was this girl whom he never before met, but was already defending with his entire being. After all of this, he was still terrified about the prospect of interacting with her. “Uh, hey.” He was at a complete loss for words.

“I wanted to thank you for standing up for me in the classroom today. That means a lot to me.” Sarah was entirely comfortable with the situation.

“Yeah, uh, no problem. I just hate that Norman kid.” ‘That’s wasn’t my motivation.’ Chad thought to himself.

“Oh really? You hate Norman? So that’s why you kept looking at me, huh?” Sarah was cutting straight to the point.

Chad just didn’t know how to deal with a situation like this. He wondered to himself: ‘What? Am I supposed to come and tell this girl I don’t even know I had some sort of instant connection, an intrinsic desire to stand up and protect you. That would just sound weird.’

“No, I mean, you just looked really upset, it bothered me. Maybe that’s why I was looking at you. But I’m glad you seem to be doing a lot better now.” ‘Good save,’ Chad thought to himself.

“Hmm.. and all this time I thought you were helping me out. I guess I was wrong.” Sarah knew she wasn’t wrong, but she had Chad doubting his responses.

“Uhh, well maybe I…” Sarah cut Chad off. 

“Well maybe this, maybe that. Stick to the truth Chad Hunter. The rest will work itself out.” Sarah smiled at Chad.

Sarah was now putting Chad in a state of trance like shock. ‘How does she even know my full name,’ Chad thought. ‘Hmm, maybe she heard it in roll call.’ It was all perplexing, but he was finding himself more entranced with this girl than he originally imagined. 

“Uhh, what do you mean the truth? And how do you know my full name?” Chad needed to know.

“The truth?” Sarah gave chad a little nudge. “You’re a part of it now. Stick to it, like I said.”

The enigma surrounding this entire exchange had turned Chad into a veritable deer in headlights. He wasn’t sure if this girl was entrancing, or just plain weird at this point anymore.

“Oh, and one more thing Chad. What did it feel like when the principal hit you?” Sarah winked at Chad.

‘How could she possibly know the principal hit me,’ Chad wondered to himself. ‘She wasn’t there for that. Hmm… maybe she just figured it out somehow.’

“Uhh, how do you know that’s what happened?” Chad was beyond confused.

“You helped me didn’t you? Well, I helped you.” Sarah once again winked at Chad.

“What is it with the winking? If you’re trying to tell me something I’m totally lost. The winking really isn’t helping.” Chad was getting a bit upset at this point.

Sarah laughed. “It’s not that hard to figure out Chad. It doesn’t matter, you’ll know soon enough.” Sarah winked again.

“Again with the wink, jeez.” Chad was shaking his head.

Now she was really cracking up. She covered her face with her hands, and then patted Chad on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Hey, I’ll talk to you later.”

Sarah turned her back to Chad and began walking away. “Wait!” Chad shouted as she walked down the hallway. “Is that how you have a conversation with someone? That’s not a normal conversation!” 

Chad ran down the hallway after her. It wasn’t the last time he’d find himself running after her.

Sarah crouched with her head between her knees on the backside of the bed. She wished it didn’t have to be like this. She was ready to take just about any one else’s life at that moment, because she knew what was coming. She knew what was coming, and she knew she didn’t want it. But she also knew sometimes, it doesn’t matter how hard you want something. You can want, and want, and want, and yet the bad things would still happen. Sarah didn’t think life was fair.

She was so nervous she trembled; Sarah thought her trembles would shake out her fear. She waited for her trembles. She wanted the fear to go away, but it only really went away after it was all over.

She was so torn apart she cried. She thought her tears drained away her sadness. So she cried to get rid of the sadness, and it came all so easily.

Thump. The first one was the second worst she realized. Thump. Slightly louder than the first. And it continued: thump, thump, thump. At least she was upstairs so she could hear it coming; Sarah tried to look at the bright side. Until the final thump. That was the worst. It was the worst because she knew the door hitting the wall came next.

The door crashed against the wall, and that was the worst sound in the world. After his voice.

“You sorry little bitch. That’s right, you heard me. I told your sorry little ass you’d be sorry, but did you listen? Like hell, you little shit.” Her “dad” Wesley was the worst kind of a father a girl could ask for: a drunken, sadistic, household despot, no mistakes went unanswered without the most brutal of reparations.

“Daddy please!” Sarah begged for mercy. “I didn’t mean it. Please stop drinking your angry drink.” She didn’t know what it was, but she knew it turned him into the worst version of himself.

“My angry drink?! Oh no no, you mistaken little…” Wesley stuttered, he was attempting to conjure another malign word to hurl her way. “Shit. Yeah that’s right you mistaken little shit.” His vocabulary was vacuous at best, even with the only words he seemed to have any command over, his malicious curse words. “You think that’s my angry drink. Well guess what?” He slapped his belt against the wall, inflicting a snapping sound so piercing Sarah’s entire body seemed to jolt off the floor at once. “You got it all wrong. This just happens to be my happy drink.” He threw the glass against the wall, showering the room with splinters of glass and remnants of his back washed whisky.

Sarah had been able to create something of a callous to this horrible treatment, bearing and gritting her way through it like some sort of prisoner of war at the age of 10. “I didn’t mean to knock over your bottle daddy, I, I would never want it to break.” He told her to call him daddy.

He forcefully grabbed her by the shoulders. “That’s right you call me daddy, no more of this Wesley shit. I think I deserve that much.” He muttered to himself. “Putting food in your ungrateful little mouth.” She sometimes mistakenly called him Wesley. She hated calling him daddy, or even dad.

“You do daddy, I’m so sorry.” Sarah pleaded.

“You are sorry, that’s right. And I’ll damn sure make sure you remember how sorry you are.”

Sarah closed her eyes. But she could still see it all.

Wesley cocked his arm and slapped Sarah across the face with his belt. The sting coursed its way through her entire body. She was sobbing during the entire incident.

“You see… you see what happens?” Wesley was slurring his words. “This is what happens when you break my bottle of Whiskey and make me throw my “angry drink” on the wall.” Wesley made a distorted parenthesis gesture while still clinging to his belt.

“I’m sorry daddy! I’m so sorry!” Sarah pleaded as she sobbed. 

“You’re damn sure gonna be sorry.” Wesley stumbled a bit as he went to slap Sarah again. While stumbling, his foot caught a portion of the wood floor where his whiskey had splashed. Wesley slipped and fell to the floor, with his back hitting against the floor first, followed by the slamming of his head against the wood. His hands naturally attempted to catch his fall, and wound up getting punctured by splices of the broken glass. 

Wesley paused to examine his hands, bloodied by the shards of glass on the floor. “Oh, you gonna get it now bitch. Oh you really gonna get it now. You fucking make me bleed. Guess what, I fucking make you bleed!” Sarah was watching in terror. She had been afraid for her life before, but never on this sort of a level. She started trembling uncontrollably.

Wesley returned to his feet. “Yeah, that’s right, tremble you little shit. Yeah, that’s good. You go ‘head be so scared you never break my bottle again.” Wesley was finding some sort of masochistic pleasure in her pain. 

Sarah trembled even more. She closed her eyes as hard as she could. Her hands and fingernails fastened to her face around her eyes so hard her fingernails were digging into her skin, creating tributaries of blood that painted her face. The salt from her tears penetrated into her wounds inflicting even more pain.

“Even better. Do the work for me.” Wesley cocked back his hand again, lashing the other side of her face with his belt. Sarah’s head instantly snapped to the right. It must have been retribution for the fall, because this time he swung even harder. 

Sarah let a scream of torment and anguish. It was so piercing, the angels heard it and began weeping. She could no longer speak, but began trembling even more, as the sobbing continued; it was dampened because of her weakened state.

“Like I said! Keep up that trembling you little fuck.” She couldn’t stop if she wanted at this point. “But I think, you want to know what I think? Well, I don’t give a shit if you care what I think or not, but I think I’ve gone easy on you long enough.” Wesley grabbed Sarah and tossed her face first on the ground, like some sort of a rag doll. Her face pressed down against the shards of glass and alcohol, continually stinging her wounds with a level of pain that can’t be expressed.

Wesley pulled down her pants. “Get up you shit. Get on your knees! Keep your face on the ground!” Sarah slowly did as he said. “Yeah, keep shaking you little bitch. It’s gonn’ help.” Wesley began pulling down his pants. Her trembling only got worse. “Good, keep that shit up.”

Sarah began trembling even more. “Well slow down there, that’s a little too much.” With the last ounce of energy Sarah had she looked up towards the ceiling. Her trembling was now beyond severe. 

“Wait a minute. What the hell is that? What the fuck you doing?” The pictures on the wall began shaking, in rhythm with Sarah’s trembling. A picture of Sarah hanging on the wall fell to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere.

“What the fuck is this? You got this shit on some strings don’t you? Nice try bitch.” Wesley slapped her back with his hand. The shaking only got worse.

A lamp starting shaking uncontrollably and shattered across the floor. “What the hell is going on you little Lucifer.” The alarm clock, started buzzing as it shook and fell to the ground. The television turned on, began wobbling on its base: left to right, left to right. It picked up momentum until it crashed on the floor.

“What kind of twisted Beelzebub bullshit is going on here.” Wesley took to his feet in terror. Sarah’s shaking continued as Wesley’s belt snapped from the ground, flinging towards his neck. The belt wrapped itself around his neck. Sarah’s trembling continued.

The constriction from the belt made it hard for Wesley to speak. “Wha the fu..” He grabbed the belt around his neck to attempt to loosen it from its grasp. While Wesley was struggling with the belt, Sarah found the courage to stand up. As soon as Wesley saw this, he lurched towards her to try and grab her. “You do thi shi! You little bit..” The belt tightened as Wesley reached for Sarah. 

He fell to the ground from the lack of oxygen. He couldn’t say another word. All he was capable of doing was producing a gag like coughing sound. He did it over and over and over. Blood spat out from his mouth. Sarah watched in terror and pleasure. She really didn’t know how to feel. 

The gag like coughing and struggle continued for about another thirty seconds, before Wesley tipped over and attempted to take a few more breaths, before breathing his last.

This chapter of her life was over.