killer christmas lights
Fallon
My reflection in the mirror stared back, a blank canvas mirroring my mood as I sat on my bedroom floor, the curling iron hissing against my icy blonde hair. The air, thick with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla, signaled the candles Brady had lit downstairs. Christmas music, a soft undercurrent from speakers strategically placed throughout the house, struggled to lift my spirits, mired as I was in the tangled thoughts about Hitch and War.
When Brady and I were young, we had only each other. For the holidays, he’d transform our tiny apartment, meticulously decorating and wrapping gifts for me, placing them beneath the miniature tabletop tree he'd always insisted on having. Our father was locked away for a triple murder while our motherlost herself at the local bar, where she met Hitch's father and, consequently, brought them into our lives.
But before them, it was always Brady and me. He always went above and beyond to ensure I had a good Christmas. Then I discovered his ties to the Mexican Mafia. The knowledge terrified me. I knew I had to help him, to get him out. Presents and decorations paled in comparison to the horror of my brother being controlled by evil.
I was fifteen when I secured Brady's release from Foley. He never knew it was me who orchestrated his freedom, and I never wanted him to. In exchange for my brother’s life, I had traded my own. But Evander Foley… he was charming, devastatingly handsome. Young and hopelessly naive, I fell for his manipulation and signed my soul to the devil without ever realizing it. A boy a little older than me tried to warn me, but I didn't listen to him. Though he was always around when I needed saving from Foley. I never knew his name, just remembered those crystal blue eyes he had, and as time went on, secret encounters and conversations with him became nonexistent. He disappeared, and I had no idea where he went or even who he was. He was involved with Foley in some way, and I never was able to figure it out.
Finishing the last curl, I grabbed my makeup bag, the memories of how it all began crashing back. Evander wanted a girlfriend, but not just any girl. He wanted them blonde, young, and easily controlled. I had no idea what I was volunteering for when I eagerly took on the role, but I did it with no hesitation.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin as the memory replayed in my mind, my throat tight. Holding the mascara wand beneath my lashes, I felt myself sinking deeper into a past I desperately tried to bury.
Foley controlled me. He raped and beat me. He manipulated and humiliated me as punishment. He eroded my self-esteem,leaving me a hollow shell of myself. The night of his Christmas party, I finally broke free. I went into hiding, but it was too late. The damage was done. He ruined me. My life. Everything. And I was expected to simply ignore it all. To pretend the past ten years of my life, chained to him and sworn to secrecy, never happened. He wanted me to act as if I didn't know him, and he would have punished me if anyone had discovered who I truly was.
When I was finally free, I had to figure out how to care for my brother while appearing strong, acting as if I wasn't falling apart. It hasn’t been easy. The truth, always on the tip of my tongue, threatened to spill out at any moment. I wasn't prepared to face it, to own it, and deal with the aftermath. I was still searching for who I was after the trauma had subsided. While living with the effects got easier, it still sickened me to my core to think about it resurfacing.
A knock on my door pulled me from the past. I offered myself a grateful smile in the mirror. When I opened the door, Julian was there, radiating joy in a new outfit I'd bought for him. His smile was infectious, his light cutting through the darkness, and for that, I was eternally thankful.
"Are you ready, Fallon?" Julian asked, running to me and launching himself into my arms.
I hugged him tightly, inhaling the sweet, innocent scent of his hair, a fragrance that could melt the ice around my heart. Carrying the three-year-old, I went to the closet, slipping into black, rhinestone-studded combat boots before grabbing a black leather coat.
"Where are we off to tonight?" I asked, setting him on my bed as I put on my coat and smoothed my curls so they cascaded down my back.
I added diamond snowflake earrings and clasped a diamond snowflake pendant around my neck, finally feeling somewhat atease. Julian, captivated, played with my hair, his innocent green eyes tugging at my heart.
"Daddy's taking me to see Christmas lights again, and there's fun Christmas things to do!" he announced with pure excitement, a smile forcing itself onto my lips.
"Sounds like fun, kiddo. I can't wait," I said, ruffling his blonde curls.
"Santa will be there too," he exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "Are you going to sit on his lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?" The question was so innocent, it lodged a lump in my throat.
I couldn't swallow. I couldn't even speak. Lost for words at the simplest of questions, I simply nodded, wanting only to make him happy. Picking him up, I held him tight as we walked towards the door, fighting back tears as I thought of what that little boy had been through. I walked straight into a solid chest as I stepped into the hallway, catching myself.
"Son of a bi..." My voice trailed off as Julian stared at me, but the throbbing in my nose intensified, and my eyes began to water. "Biscuit," I finished, correcting myself. "Son of a biscuit that hurts."
He laughed, reaching for Hitch to take him. It warmed my icy core to see the love they shared. It was pure, real, and utterly beautiful. Julian rested his head on Hitch's shoulder, clinging to him as we started down the hall.
"Are you alright?" Hitch asked, genuine concern in his voice.
I actually looked at him, really saw him. Dressed in black jeans and a green and black flannel, Hitch had a glowing aura surrounding him, drawing me in like an addiction. He wore clean, crisp Timberlands, a black beanie covering his hair, and a black vest that helped cushion the blow my nose had taken.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I've been through worse," I laughed, feeling suddenly shy around him.
I was never shy around Hitch, not even at first. I felt comfortable with him, and ended up clinging to him like he was my safety net. And he definitely protected me from any danger that came my way. He was the answer to my prayers. My knight in shining armor, my prince charming, or so they say.
The night Hitch crossed the line and took advantage of me, I lost more than a lifeline. I lost the answer to my prayers. I lost my knight in shining armor, my prince charming. Even though I could tell he was sorry and felt awful, I couldn’t get past the betrayal. I couldn’t accept his apologies, and it eventually tore us apart.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I stopped short, almost running into my brother, who was laughing and chatting with War. I nervously glanced at Hitch, gauging his reaction. Judging by his pissed-off expression, he was just as surprised as I was. But why was War here? He was stalking me, but had he become so bold as to stalk me in my own fucking home?
"Fallon, there you are," Brady said, taking Julian from Hitch's arms.
"Yeah, here I am," I replied, trying my best not to look at War.
"Your friend War stopped by and I invited him out to the Christmas festival with us tonight," Brady said, starting to put Julian's boots on.
