Daisy (Part I & II)

Chapter 1 - Abused Baby

These people—not mama or Mark—move around every room upstairs, they travel across the house at a fast pace. I can only curl up into a ball and allow myself to rock back and forth as I pray they don't find me. What if they hurt me or kill me? I know I have been bad but I don't want other people hurting me too.

In a blink of my eye these strangers push the door I spend my days staring at open, they swarm the basement with their guns drawn. I whimper and duck my head back into my thighs. Tears fill my eyes as fear runs its course throughout my body. One says something and another starts to tread carefully towards my balled up figure. A flash light shines on me but I don't look up. I shake and silently cry until the person bends down in front of me. At this I go absolutely frozen, paralyzed with fear.

All I can do is beg, "please don't hurt me. I will be better. I promise."

"We won't harm you, we are here to save you," a soft female voice says quietly to me. I still don't look up. "My name is officer Taylor, I know you are scared but we can help you. You are safe now."

I slowly look up at her. She tries to hide her surprise when she sees my face, I don't know what I look like but mama was right then. She always said I am ugly.

Before I can beg for my life some more my vision starts to get hazy. The concrete walls and officer Taylor's face starts to spin and the last thing I see before I pass out is people with some sort of board rushing over to me.

-

James

I tiredly sigh as I drive home from work. It was another mentally exhausting day of signing business deals and listening to people I hate beg for my money. Today is not a good day, from the moment I forced my eyes open to now driving home from work, I jut knew that today would be harder than any other day. Once I get home, my brothers and I gather around the table to eat our meals in silence. There is no "how was your day's" or "let me tell you what happened today's," we all decide to keep to ourselves.

Today is November 3rd, the day our baby sister was born. She would be turning fourteen today. I have thought about her every day since she disappeared. I miss her so much. We all do. We miss the eruption of giggles that would flow through the house that produced a smile on each of our faces. I miss everything, even the small things like the way I would kiss her button nose and they way she would give my nose a kiss back because she just loved to copy everything we did.

My mom and dad were never around. Our mom was always absent, she was never around to raise us. I can't even say that she's my mother because she never earned the title. Yet, I refer to her as my mom despite her not deserving it. My father was a sadistic asshole who either made our lives a living hell or was always working at the headquarters leaving us to fend for ourselves.

I raised all my siblings. More so Roman, Xander, and Daisy. Henry and Noah were old enough to help me out. From the moment Daisy was born I was her caretaker. I changed her diapers and gave her baths. I made sure she was fed and happy. I never minded though. Back then I would've rather have a night in with her, than go to parties with my buddies. I had a huge soft spot for her. All my brothers did.

I take a moment to look at my brothers, they sit slumped over their meal pushing the food around completely in their own heads. Their expressions are tired, pissed off, or blank. Xander stabbing his fork into his food is the only sound that bounces off the walls. None of us dare to speak and I don't even think I have the courage to say anything at the moment. Everything is too heavy today. Her absence stronger than ever, it twists my heart when I glance at the empty seat at the table.