Opened Sores by Zarah Smith (uplifting books for women .TXT) 📖

He was shocked, even more than shocked. He was hurt, heartbroken, and afraid. Gavin fell to his nears, his tears spilling out of her eyes. He cried into Mrs. Cameron.

"She didn't do anything," He mumbled.

"I know honey," Mrs. Cameron said softly. "Neither of us did."

Chapter 21:

Mrs. Cameron and Gavin walked into Alyssa's home with caution. The house was dark and silent. Where could they be? Gavin thought. As the two of them walked up the stairs, their vision started to waver, everything was becoming harder to see. Gavin held his hand in front of his body as he checked for obstacles in front of him. Out of instinct, Mrs. Cameron held onto Gavin.

"I can't see a thing," She practically exclaimed.

"Me neither," Gavin agreed.

"I guess I forgot to mention that the house gets pretty dark sometimes," She gave a hesitant laugh.

"You don't say," Gavin mumbled sarcastically.

"No, no! I do say."

Despite all that was happening, Gavin was surprised, though happy, that Mrs. Cameron could make him laugh. Gavin looked behind him at Mrs. Cameron knowing he couldn't see and smiled. He started to take a few steps, hanging onto the wall next to him. He squinted his eyes and tried to peer his way through the dark. Down the hallway he spotted a glimpse of light that flickered on and off. He stopped in his tracks and waited for sudden movement. The sound of screams were finally heard and Gavin rushed towards the sound. He tried to open up the door but it wouldn't buge.

"Alyssa!" He yelled. "Alyssa!"

"Gavin!" She screamed between her own cries of terror.

Gavin tried to get the door to open but something was blocking it. He heard a glass shatter and became scared. He looked towards Mrs. Cameron and then back at the door.

"May I?" He asked.

"Break away," Mrs. Cameron chuckled nervously.

As Gavin broke into the room he quickly looked around and called Alyssa's name. He heard a shriek and his eyes darted towards the closet. He walked cautiously to the closet and began to open it. He heard the clanking noise of a chair hitting the floor. He saw Alyssa' struggling to get out of the chair she was tied to. She tried to speak but had tape over her mouth. Gavin quickly untied her and took the tape off of her mouth.

Alyssa hugged Gavin tight when she was free. She began to chuckle at the thought of her father. He was so silly and not in a good way.

"That was so cliche," She slightly giggled.

"What?" Gavin said confused.

"That was so cliche," She repeated. "As soon as you came to bust me out, he tied my up to this chair. Who does that anymore?"

"I don't understand," Alyssa looked down at her hands. "Where is he?"

"I don't know," She mumbled.

"Why are you so, so-"

"Not freaked out?" She interrupted.

"Well, yea." Gavin averted his gaze.

"I am," Alyssa mumbled. "I just thought that...I don't know."

"I'm still confused," Gavin said.

Alyssa stood up and laughed. She looked at Gavin and gave him a quick kiss and hugged him again.

"I missed you so much," She said.

"Me too," Gavin hugged her back but felt her pull away.

"Well to answer your question," She started. "I'm not sure where my father is but if I know anything about him he'll appear any second so it would be best if we get out of here."

"Alyssa," Mrs. Cameron said stepping into the room. "Alyssa!"

"Mom," She ran to her and gave her a hug.

"Oh I was so worried," Mrs. Cameron said. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Not anymore," She answered. She saw something move in the reflection behind her and pushed her mom out of the door. "Come on, we have to go!"

The three of them started to run down the steps. They heard a noise and stopped moving. Mr. Cameron laughed as he sat on the couch knowing they couldn't see him. He watched them look around as he patted his side to make sure his weapon was there. He stepped a little closer to them and flicked the light switch up, reaveling everything in the room. There was shattered glass all over the floor.

"You people are so stupid," He laughed. "You could have turned on a light."

"Right, I should have thought of that," Mrs. Cameron whispered to herself.

"Really?" Alyssa nudged her with her elbow.

"Well it's true," Mrs. Cameron said.

"Precisely," Mr. Cameron smiled. He looked towards the person next to them and glared amusingly at Gavin. "Hey there son. Happy to be reunited?"

Gavin stepped towards him taking precaution. "Seriously, what do you want?"

"If I were to put that in words," Mr. Cameron said. "It would be too inappropriate for little Alyssa's ears." Alyssa's mouth gaped open in shock.

"Since when was I little Alyssa?" She asked stepping forward.

"Stay," Mrs. Cameron said watching Gavin nod in agreement.

"Alright," Mr. Cameron yawned. "Is the small talk over?"

Everyone stood still and waited for someone to make a move. Mr. Cameron lunged at Gavin with a smirk glued to his face. Gavin dodged and conteracted with a punch. Alyssa stared at the two of them with fear in her eyes. Fist were flying everywhere and she didn't know what to do. She spotted something black hanging from her fathers pants. It was small and metal. She stared at it and saw that it was a gun. She wanted to help but didn't know what to do. If she made a wrong move Gavin could die. If she made a wrong move, anyone could die.

Alyssa's eyes looked to the large shattered pieces of glass on the floor. It was like she was hypnotized. She stared at it and all the memories from the previous year flooded back to her. She remembered the countless times the she deliberately inflicted pain on herself and she remembered all the terrible beatings her father gave her. It was all so painful but if they never happened, maybe she would have never got together with Gavin. She looked at Gavin and her father as if everything was slowing down, as if the world was waiting for her to decide. It was her father, her own flesh and blood, or Gavin, the love of her life. Alyssa picked up a sharp piece of glass, handling it carefully so she wouldn't cut herself.

"Alyssa," Mrs. Cameron whispered. "Don't."

"I have to do something," She said.

"Not like this," Her mom said.

"Then how? Beg dady to stop?" Alyssa asked. "Really, mom? He was so cruel to rape me and beat me. Do you really believe that he won't hurt Gavin in an even worse way?"

Mrs. Cameron looked sad and she pressed her lips together knowing Alyssa was right. She knew that she wasn't going to do anything herself.

Alyssa looked away towards Gavin and her father. Her father was craddled on top of Gavin pinning him down. She saw him reach for his gun and quickly lunged at him driving the shard of glass into his side. She heard her father grunt and fall to his side and watched as the gun slid across the living room. She started towards the gun but felt something catch her ankle. She fell onto some glass and winced as little specks cut into her hands. She looked at Gavin and saw him slowly getting up. He looked badly beat up.

She rolled onto her back and ignored the crunching of glass. Her father pulled the glass out of his side like it was a splinter. She started to crawl backwards and watched her father get closer. Her hands were shaking and slowly crumbling under her weight. She watched her father lunge towards her and she cringed, closing her eyes. Noticing she wasn't tackled, she looked at Gavin and her father fighting again.

Alyssa scrambled towards the gun and picked it up. It felt heavy and cold. She checked how many bullets it was supplied with and saw only one. She had one shot. She held up the gun, her hands shaking and tears slowly falling out. She hoped she wouldn't miss. Alyssa took a deep breath and slowly started to pull the trigger.

After the bullet had left, she dropped the gun, her body shaking. All the comotion stopped and she prayed that she didn't hit Gavin. She looked towards him and saw shock and terror in her eyes. Her eyes fled towards her father and she saw him on the ground holding his wound. He was bleeding and gasping for air. Alyssa fell to her knees. She watched her father's head tilt upwards and saw him look at her.

"I-I am proud of you," He said between breaths.

"W-what?" Alyssa stuttered.

"You did it," He gave one last, loving smile before closing his eyes forever.

Mrs. Cameron ran to Alyssa and wrapped her arms around her daughter in a comforting mannor. Her eyes were slightly puffy and they started to tear up. She rocked back and forth with her daughter in her arms and said "shhh" to quiet her. Mrs. Cameron looked across the room curiously and saw Gavin sitting next to the wall shocked and exhausted. It's finally over, she thought.

Epilogue:

Alyssa sat at her father's grave reading the note that she had found. It was in his hand writing but she couldn't believe the words that she was reading. It sounded nothing like him. He was so sincere and nice, nothing that he has ever shown her.

Dear Alyssa,

I know that you probably don't understand my actions. What I have done and why I had done it. As crazy as it sounds, I did it for you. A lot of parents would not approve of my actions and my decisions but as It was MY choice and no one else's. Through out your life, you have lived believing that I disliked you. It seemed as though that I hated you. I, for one, am not great at showing feelings and that's partly why I have treated you the way I have. I have thought about my choice. It wasn't a matter of one day I rolled out of bed and thought, "Hey, maybe I don't like my daughter anymore."

I imagine that your mother told you that I never wanted to have kids. That was not entirely true. Yes, I did not plan to have you but it doesn't mean that it makes me upset and disgusted. I know that your mother told you about your sister and I don't exactly blame her. In order for me to persue my decision, I had to get your mother to believe the same as you.

I'm sorry, Alyssa, for all of the pain I put you and your mother through all of these years. This was my "sick" way of preparing you for life. No one could ever fully understand me and I don't want them to. All that really counts to me is that you grow up to be strong. I know that you probably hate me and if I know anything, I know that if you were raised correctly then you don't hate me because no matter what, you couldn't even hate something as small as a fly.

I really do love you and I am proud of you, Alyssa. You