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This could be the love I’ve been searching for.
CHAPTER2
GRIM
Go forth, sinners'souls, from this world. May you suffer in darkness, may your home be in Hell, and may the Devil fuck you with his horns.
Blood drips from my fingertips onto the floor of the Confessional. Soul and Malice are standing behind me, and I can feel their stares boring holes into my back. I know I went a little overboard with this particular sinner, but I couldn’t help myself.
Slowly turning around, I face my brothers. My chest heaves from exertion, and my heart is thundering against my ribs.
I arch a brow. “What?”
Soul and Malice exchange a look before focusing their attention back on me, and it’s Malice who responds.
“What did the bastard ever do to you?”
I shrug. “He was breathing.”
“Well, he’s not anymore,” Soul adds.
“He molested seven children during Sunday school class,” I remind them. “Did you really expect me to take it fucking easy on him?”
Malice’s face hardens, and he’s no doubt remembering his own suffering at the hands of a priest. “No, but you could’ve let me get a few hits in.”
“You snooze, you lose.”
“No one fucking snoozed,” Soul counters, his movements stilted. “You went ape shit.”
Instantly, I’m transported to another time, another place.
“Craig, leave him alone.”
I stare at my mom’s lips, trying to figure out what she’s saying, while Dad grips the collar of my shirt in his fist. I’ve been deaf my entire life, and sign language is the norm in our house, but I’ve also started to teach myself how to read lips. I don’t think my parents realize I know how to do this, and it’s something I plan on keeping to myself for a while.
“He’s seven years old,” Mom says. “And he wasn’t ignoring you. He can’t hear you.”
With Dad at my back, I can’t see what he’s saying, but his hands are shaking so I know he’s angry. He’s always angry though. Unless we’re in public. When there are other people around, he could win an award for dad of the year.
“It’s gorillas, not apes.” Mom rests her hands on her hips and frowns. “And he’s your son, not an animal.”
Dad’s grip tightens, and he starts to drag me toward the door that leads to the backyard. I struggle against his hold, knowing he’s taking me to the shed, but my efforts are useless.
A hand settles on my shoulder, and I’m startled from my thoughts. It’s been a long time since I’ve let my parents invade my mind and for good reason. Any time I think about them, I’m reminded of just how much hate I was surrounded by as a child.
Soul locks his gaze on mine, and chills skitter across my back. I hate when he stares at me because it’s like he can see all the way to the darkest parts of me.
“I’m not a fucking ape!” I shout, my words muffled.
I stalk past my Prez and VP and leave the Confessional. My shitty childhood is no secret, but I don’t like to talk about it. Especially since Malice had it so much worse.
Shadows dance on the walls, and I glance over my shoulder to see Malice following me.
“Would you stop?”
“Fifty bucks,” I counter.
He stretches his arm out and grabs ahold of my cut. “Maybe I’d sign if you’d slow the fuck down.”
