Happy reading guys 🥳. Please ignore any errors, for now, I would fix them sooner or later 😖Thanks❤.

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What you believe is what you see

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-Chapter 15 - -Snowman-

My shaky hands cover my mouth, slowly trying to diminish the rapid short breaths that are coming in and out of my trembling lips.

Leo's laying down right next to me, under this big bed on the hard cold floor, just trying to do the same thing. He wasn't looking so well, a big bruise was under his left eye, as a small cut adorned the side of his lips.

Both he and I haven't eaten much these days, mommy keeps forgetting we exist.

She had us both locked downstairs in the dark for misbehaving when one of her boyfriends was here the other night. It wasn't our fault that he saw us in our bedroom. He's the one who came barging into the bedroom frantically when my brother and I were asleep.

My brother let out a small stifled cough, his eyes were filled with unshed tears. This feeling of hopelessness consumes me and kills me a little inside whenever I see him like this so weak and sick.

Inhaling under here is quite difficult, grey dust coats the dark wooden floor, it's making my eyes ache and my nose —burn a little.

We could hardly see each other under here inside this narrow space with the little light that is provided from the hallway flickering lights.

If mommy finds us hiding under her bed, again, she's going to kill us both. This time, she will do it. This time she will not lock us up in cages until one of us passes out.

Her cold sharp words popped into my head making every nerve in my body feel this rush of anxiety.' If I ever find any of you little dipshits inside my bedroom. Just remember there isn't going to be a next time.'

We both made a big mistake coming into her bedroom today, she doesn't like it when we don't obey her at not coming inside here… And when we don't obey her, we wish we had.

Mommy is a monster with red eyes, if she's not sobbing, drinking, or sleeping her day away she's making us whimper in pain instead and I don't know why. We behave, do our homework and chores.

Right now, Mommy is doing strange stuff with a guy downstairs, they keep making weird noises. I don't know if he's hurting her or not.

It was always better for us to disappear from her sight whenever she brought men back home. And the only place strangers wouldn't search or find us was under here.

It's like a temporary safe haven, a place that keeps us both safe for a few hours until mommy guest leaves.

It saved both of us discomfort, sometimes the guys were too touchy… Too friendly for our liking. They just gave off bad vibes. My skin crawls whenever they get close or lay their eyes on us.

Pair of soft footsteps resonated throughout the dark quiet room snapping me from my thoughts and making my heartbeat beat wildly inside my tight chest. My wide eyes gravitated to Leo, Who's looking worse by the minute. He was slightly shivering, his eyes were closed shut, as he scudded over to my side to get some warmth.

Today was too chilly to be under here with such thin clothes.

Everything outside is covered in white fluffy clouds. This morning kids from the neighborhood were playing outside, they even built a snowman. my brother and I wanted to join them but our mother told us only good kids get to play outside.

My chest compresses in fear when the bedroom door opens up completely…. The shrieking sound of that door opening made me close my eyes shut as a silent prayer spilled from my lips.

Please go away… leave us alone. Why can't she be nice? Is everyone moms like her… so mean.

Those soft slow footsteps stopped right in front of the bed, seeing those red familiar high heels so close was making my nerves tingle in terror. This strong urge to throw up overtook me, my hands slightly shook as my breath got shorter the more my eyes stilled on those dark red heels.

”Both of you come out of there. Right now, "Her voice comes out so soft, but we both knew better than to listen to a monster sweet talk us out. We both didn't move from our spot, it was weird that she didn't leave with that blonde guy. She always does whenever he comes over and she without fail always returns home the next day.

”Both of you come out from under there, right now!!!" She repeated much more harshly. But we didn't obey... Hoping deep down that she'll just give up and go away, and leave us both alone for the night.

For a few seconds, everything goes eerily silent, the only thing my ears could pick up is my heavy breathing and my ecstatic heartbeat that is beating rapidly in my ears.

In a blink of an eye, She had Leo by one of his arms and harshly yanked him out from underneath the bed, making me bolt out from underneath the small narrow space in a hurry.

I can't let her hurt him, again. These past few days she has been directly taking her anger and frustration on him. This wasn't unusual of her, if it was not me it was him.

She likes taking turns between us. And unfortunately, he has her attention this time because he defended me when she was about to burn me for spilling some juice on myself.

She raises her hand high, ready to bring it down on him. Leo didn't even recoil or fight back, he seemed so exhausted and fragile.

Without thinking it twice I launched myself on her trying hard to stir her attention away from Leo and into me.

If I could take the beating this time, it would ease her anger towards my brother. Maybe even switch it towards me for a few days until Leo heals. Leo couldn't take any more of it... It reflected clearly in those dark eyes that seemed so painfully sad.

She snapped her eyes down on me, momentarily stopping on her action with wide eyes.

"Let go off me, you little bastard." She spills out as she lets go of Leo, Leo's eyes go wide with worry seeing how my arms wrapped around her waist. She didn't like any of us touching her or calling her Mommy.

"Run!"That word spilled out of my mouth as my grip tightened on her. At first, he hesitated, but he eventually ran out of the room.

"You come back here, ungrateful fucker.

Let go! "She shoves my body away making me lose balance and hit my head to the closest wall, my body instantly tumbled to the hard cold floor in a loud thump.

When my eyes reopen all I see are tiny lights adorning the cloudless pitch-black sky. I gradually sat up alerted and confused on the green grass. The cold breeze gently tussles my hair a bit as my mind ponders, on the dream.

It was only a bad dream… Why are these nightmares getting worse and more realistic? It was unusual to have bad nightmares but this was more realistic like if I was physically there.

I slowly got up from the ground and stretched my limbs that felt so numb.

Without thinking it too much, I Quickly made myself to the vehicle that's parked a few feet away from me.

There was no soul in sight and that fact alone is kinda comforting.

A peep sound emitted from the vehicle when I unlock it with my keys and open the door. I smoothly get into the vehicle and turn the engine on to life.

In no time, I'm making myself back home, roaming through these streets with no limits as my mind wouldn't stop thinking about that stupid nightmare.

In a few minutes, I was parking in the familiar driveway. Getting out of the vehicle as quietly as possible to not alert anyone inside the house.

The cold breeze momentarily eased my boiling thoughts which were making my head throb in pain.

Gently turning the key and opening the front door. The door creaks a little when it is pushed slightly open. I strolled in and shut the door behind me, stopping the chilly airflow that was surging through the door.

As usual, everyone's sleeping.

I made myself up the stairs and in front of my bedroom door. But before I twisted the doorknob, my attention snapped to Emma's door.

What was that sound? The sound is so faint. Who is she talking to? My legs automatically moved towards her door.

Was Leo there with her, I pressed my ear on the door… As my eyes closed shut, focusing on every little sound from the other side.

All my ear could pick up is her shaky soft voice. Her words were not making any sense.

When I quietly entered the bedroom the first thing I noticed was that nobody was in here with her. In soft quiet steps, I made myself towards her bed.

Her body seemed so small, coiled up like that on the mattress. Tears glided down her red cheeks as her body coiled itself a little more on the mattress.

What was she dreaming about that got her like this? My hand automatically moved to stroke her soft hair, but it stopped midway as more tears slid down her rosy cheeks. My thumb slowly erased those tears.

What the hell was I doing, right now?

I began to step away from the bed as this weird sensation invaded my whole body.

What the fuck is happening to me…

A low sniff made me stop my movement altogether, as my eyes landed on her sleepy figure.

It looks too inviting not to join her. Should I? Of course, why not? There won't be any harm if I leave before she wakes up.

I removed my black shoes and pulled up the thin dark sheet. She slightly moves a little and it makes my whole body halt on the spot, her body stills and a breath of relief passes through my lips.

My tense muscles instantly relax when I lay down right next to her and gently pull her body towards me, if only I could have her like this every night.

Maybe, those stupid nightmares won't plague me.

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