“Daddy stop it!” The red-haired woman suddenly appeared by the woman’s side.
S-s-s-Sybil…jackpot.
She yanked the blonde woman from her father’s grip, forcing herself between the two. “Go back inside Mom. I can handle this.” She addressed the blonde while glaring up at the man. His arms trembled, his hands balled into fists at his side as he glared down at her, towering over them both.
Now that’s some tasty hatred I smell.
“No,” Hhr mom spoke. “Baby, it’s okay. It’s okay, Sybil.” From what I could see of the woman’s face, she had two yellowing bruises around her eyes and old, healing scrapes on her legs. She was oozing with the smell of fear, which meant this violent moment was but one of many.
Interesting.
“Mom. I said go inside.” Sybil refused to break eye contact from her father. The look she wore on her pale face was similar to the one she had shown Crissa before at the pizzeria, full of loathsome distaste and a hint of spite. I was too entertained and curious to move, and decided to remain hidden and watch.
The gangly man grimaced and scoffed. “She doesn’t need your help, you stupid fucking brat. No one needs you!” The man swung his arm and backhanded Sybil, knocking both her and her mom into the gravel. “You can dye your hair and hide your face, but you’ll always be just likeher!” He pointed to her mother. “Trash! Useless, fucking trash!”
Such hatred stewing between them.
I watched the scene before me as the red-haired woman suffered in her own, unique way. It reminded me of the many sufferings Crissa had endured at the hands of this very same woman, which made the scene even more intriguing. It was truly poetic.
The blonde woman pulled Sybil close to her chest. “Come on, baby. Don’t listen to him…he–he doesn’t mean it. He’s just had a bad day, and I—” The woman hesitated. “I didn’t clean up the porch like he asked. I should’ve...it’s my fault he’s upset.”
“Mom, stop it!” Sybil pushed her mother away. “I’m not like you! I can’t just sit here and let him beat me over something so fucking stupid!” She glared back up at her father. “I’m not doing this anymore,” she shouted as she stood up. My attention remained fixed on the red-haired woman as she intrigued me so. And I wondered if this dynamic in her home life was responsible for making her the way she is.
I intend to find out.
“Daddy, stop it, now.” Sybil’s words remained unwavering as she spoke to her father. The tall, scrawny man swayed back and forth, obviously drunk. “You’ve got to stop. You don’t let Mom do anything, ever. You make her stay home day in and day out, demanding endless things from her, and no matter how hard she tries to make you happy, you treat her like shit. You treat both of us like shit! We’ve donenothingwrong! Why do you hate us? We do everything you ask, and even still you hurt us. Why?”
He groaned at her words.
“Why?!”
The man swayed some more. “You don’t do nothin’ for me! Neither of you! You’re just an ungrateful bitch who is always sneaking out, doing whatever the hell you do when you leave…leaving your mother to do it all by herself!” He tsked. “You don’t even want to be here. Hell, I–I don’t even know why you’re still here! You’re a grown ass adult, which means you’re no longer my responsibility. Ha!” The man ruptured into a drunken laugh. “You should just leave. Leaveallthis behind.” He motioned dramatically all around him before his eyes settled back on Sybil. “Go on then. Run.”
“Dad—”
“Don’t ever call me that again. I never wanted you...still don’t. Hell,no onewants you. Go on! Get the fuck out of here.” He looked past her at the older blonde woman. “This ain’t about you anyways. Candice, get the fuck up and get inside. Now.” She didn’t move. “Woman, I fucking swear!” The man shoved Sybil aside and yanked the woman by her arm. He then threw her back toward the trailer they’d come from as he turned to address Sybil who was rushing after them. “Uh-uh!” He pushed her back. “You don’t live here no more.” She tried to fight him, but it was no use. “No. Get. And I better not see you on my property again, you little brat.” The man shoved Sybil to the ground. “This ain’t your home anymore.” He then proceeded to kick her repeatedly in the stomach.
Yes…how very poetic, Sybil. Your hatred for my human is beginning to make much more sense now.
“Stop it!” The mother cried from where she sat at the base of the porch stairs. She cried and shouted but made no actual effort to stop him. No attempts to protect her child. She just sat there and allowed this poor excuse of a man to attack her flesh and blood.
Motherly instincts have clearly left this woman’s body. How utterly disappointing.
I continued to watch from my cat-piss-drenched hiding spot, looming from the shadows as I took in every ounce of misery that Sybil endured. The thick, heavy scent of her fear and hatred hung in the night, caressing my nostrils and teasing my taste buds. I let it fuel my hunger, fanning the flames of it while I watched.
Dinner and a show.
Eventually, Sybil’s parents returned inside, leaving her on the ground. She sat there for a minute before finding her way back to her feet and walking toward the trailer they had gone into. It was a rather daring and unexpected move. And I needed to witness it.
She gently cracked the screen door open and stepped inside. I waited a few moments before slowly walking back onto the road, creeping nearer. My body clung to the side of the trailer as I used my claws to lift my weight and crawl along the side like a spider. I noticed a small opening in the curtain above what appeared to be the kitchen sink and inched closer. The small gap allowed me to see into the trailer and what was happening inside.
“You have to go back outside before he sees you,” her mother whispered as she wiped off the counter tops. “If he finds you in here he–he’ll lose it again. And this time he’ll hurt us both.”
Sybil crossed her arms and huffed. “And what do you expect me to do? Sleep outside?” She scoffed. “I’m not a fucking animal, Mom,” she whispered loudly.
Her mother whirled around and gripped her frame tight. “Please, Sybil!” She looked around, half expecting the man to appear before whispering again. “You need to leave. Can’t you go to a friend's house? Or that nice family down at the end of the road?”
“Mom,” Sybil sighed. “No, I can’t.” She was obviously frustrated. Even with the window shut, I could still smell the emotions seeping off her body. “It’s almost two in the morning. I can’t goanywhere. I don’t have any money, or a job, and I don’t have a place to stay.” Her head tilted in disbelief. “You’re really going to make me sleep outside? Your daughter?”
