One foot in front of the other, I force myself to walk forwards. And then I’m sprinting.
“I—I just wanted to talk to you about your son. I’m scared of—” Jenny’s muffled voice from inside turns my stomach. She’s scared of me. She’s come to him, because of me.
A crash sounds from inside.
Fuck!
I don’t have a key.
Grabbing a rock from the garden, I hurl it at the window as hard as I can. It explodes, glass shards flying everywhere.
A scream rings out. Then Jenny cries, “Please stop!”
Rage burns beneath my skin as I climb through the broken window, glass grazing my arms and legs.
My father has Jenny pinned against the wall. Her skirt is hiked up to her waist, his trousers shoved down. Tears are streaming down her face, her nails clawing at his skin as his hips thrust forwards.
I’m too late. I didn’t move in time.
“Get off her!” I roar.
My father laughs as I charge forwards.
How dare he hurt her?
Before I reach them, there’s a flash of silver. The knife in hishand slashes across her throat. A river of red pours from her neck.
I halt; a silent scream lodged in my throat.
Her body is thrown towards me, collapsing in a heap on the floor.
I drop to my knees.
“No. No,” I whisper, fingers frantic. Her blood coats my hands as I try to hold her together, to keep it in. “No, baby. Please don’t leave me.”
“You’re so pathetic, boy,” my father spits.
“Why?” I croak, tears blurring my vision. “Why did you do this?”
I look into his unfeeling eyes as he shrugs. “She looks like your mother.”
“You killed her because Mum left you?” I whimper, still clutching Jenny to me, rocking back and forth as I sob.
“Your mother didn’t leave, Eli,” he sighs, rubbing his temples.
What?
But—
The realisation slides down my spine.
“You killed her too.” My voice is barely more than a whisper.
He rolls his eyes. “Look at you. Weak. Crying over a woman. Grow up.”
Jenny’s blood cools on my hands as I stare down at her limp form. Pain like I’ve never known splits my chest open—and then the anger comes. It burns through my veins until it’s the only feeling left inside.
I let out a scream of pure fury, staggering to my feet.