The Gift by Easton Livingston

Author:Easton Livingston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMD Publising
Published: 2017-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

Part IV - Special Delivery

Jason awoke with a start two hours later from one of his routine nightmares based on his life. The differences between the two was in environment and physiology. They were pronounced, marked by grotesque distortion. His dad was the most ominous among them, his features resembling free flowing Silly Putty. In addition, he loomed over everything. He was already big to begin with but his dreams magnified that tenfold. His words shook him to his bones, reverberating echoes sounding like the voice of God.

The terrifying part was that Jason could only move in slow motion. No matter how much he attempted to exert himself to move faster, it was to no avail. His cries for help were silent or near it, little more than faint screeches emitting from the bottom of his throat. Even if he could get out a scream, he knew no one would be there to hear him. Wailing in the wind.

The reasons for the screams, or the lack thereof, were because of his father. Always on his heels. Always in pursuit. The ground trembled with each of his footsteps and then a shadow would fall over Jason as his father's monstrous hands scooped him up like a toy soldier. Unable to move in his grasp, Jason would try to squirm free as his father's scowl reprimanded him for some unknown deed. Then his fist would come down like a hammer on his head. That's when he awoke.

Sitting up, he stared at the wall with a blank expression. It was dark. The perimeter of his forehead moist with perspiration, heart racing, pounding in his head. In despair, he whispered, “Will it ever end?”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knock was coming from the front door. It was loud and urgent. Odd. It was rare that they received visitors. It was probably one of his father's friends coming to pick him up to go to the bar. None of his business.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Jason turned his head towards his door. He would have heard his father by now complaining about all the knocking.

He may already be at the bar.

He threw his legs over the side of the bed, walking to his bedroom door, opening it as quiet as he could. It was risky. If he was wrong and his father caught him, there would be an automatic assumption Jason was snooping and disobeying him on purpose. The earlier order not to come out of the room for the rest of the night was non-negotiable. The consequences would not be pretty. Yet something told him to risk it. What... what if it was his mom that was coming back? Then they could be a family again. That alone was worth it. There wasn't much hope that would happen. That notion had danced across his mind a million times. But maybe, just maybe… he had to risk it.

With soft steps, he maneuvered towards the landing and crouched, peering around the baluster as he waited for his father to answer the door.

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