Chapter Seven



Over the next few days, Justin pretty much keeps Todd and I separated, thankfully. I've been chopping wood quite a lot, seeing as it helps to keep the anger at bay. I think Justin has figured this out, so whenever he feels like I'm getting close to losing it, he sends me out to chop some more fire wood. There's quite a stack at the back of the barn now. Mike has taught me how to clean out stalls and make feeds for the horses. I haven't been allowed to handle any of the horses yet. Justin says I'm too volatile, that the horses will pick up on my anger and react to it. To be honest, I don't really care about handling any horses. I like the physical work. I like using my anger to break things, so I'd rather do those kinds of things, especially seeing as it helps to keep my muscles toned and my strength up.

So far, I've managed to make it five days without giving in to the hunger. I've only had black coffee in the morning for breakfast. I've been drinking loads of water and sweet tea in an attempt to keep my glucose levels up enough to work.

At dinner on the fifth night, Justin shoves a plate of fried chicken and mashed potatoes into my hands and says, “You will eat. That is not up for discussion. You're not going anywhere until you finish all of the food on that plate. You've made your point, so now you will eat. Sit at the table.”

His tone leaves no room for discussion, but you must know me a little bit by now, so you'll know I'm not one to go by the normal way of doing things. I am hungry and I don't know if I can go much longer without food, but I'm not going to give in so easily.

I nonchalantly say, “I'll eat if I sit over by that glass wall. I'm not sitting with that scum bag.”

Although I haven't had to work with Todd, I've heard what he's said about me to Mike. I've heard him telling Mike what he'd like to do to me and how he'd like to show me who is boss. Like that's ever going to happen. I've also heard the way he talks to Louise when he thinks no one else is around. He's a male chauvinistic pig and I'd so like to smack the cocky attitude right out of him. The beating I gave him earlier in the week has left him with some nasty dark bruises, which makes me smile secretly.

Justin sighs, probably not really wanting any confrontation. He nods a little, so I take the plate and head for the living room. I hear Todd whine, “What? How come she gets to sit in there? What if I want to go and eat in the living room?”

“Todd, you really want to go and eat in there with Ariya? You think she won't throw down that plate and beat on you? You think she hasn't heard your comments these past few days?”

Todd doesn't answer Justin, which is a very smart move in my opinion. If he'd have answered, I'd have to give him a beating and I don't know if Justin would be able to hold me back if that happens.

I eat slowly. The taste of the chicken is amazing. As much as Louise might get on my nerves, I have to admit the girl can cook. After not eating for so long, I can't actually finish everything on the plate. Justin dished a huge portion for me, but my stomach lining has shrunk, so I can't eat that much. I just sit on the edge of the couch, pushing the food around, waiting for everyone to finish. When they decide to spend time talking, I decide I can't wait for them, so I stand up and take my plate to the sink. I wash up my dishes and say, “Thanks Louise.”

The whole room falls silent. I literally hear the crickets chirping outside.

Todd has to open his big mouth as he walks to the sink. “Yeah, thanks Lou. At least you know your place is in the kitchen...”

I grab a hold of him and shove him against the counter. I grind out, “You speak to her like that again and I'll rip out your voice box. You better apologize or I swear I'll start ripping out your fingers until it makes you apologize, you little turd.”

I don't shout, I don't even let him know I'm angry. My voice is cold and meaningful, which makes the whole situation much more scary. I don't doubt that everyone believes I will do exactly as I promised.

He hesitates, so I send a few blows to his ribs and then grab his hand. Just as I'm about to grab one of his fingers, there's two bodies on either side of me, grabbing me and forcing me away from Todd. My eyes are like ice as I speak, “I'm warning you. You better apologize to her, coz if you don't I will catch you when no one else is around to save you. I'll make you wish you were never born you filthy piece of scum...”

Todd's eyes widen in fear, and he quickly says, “Sorry Lou, I shouldn't have said that.”

She nods, but doesn't say anything to him. Instead she's watching me with confusion in her eyes.

“Don't you let him talk to you like that. Grow a spine and tell him where to go...”

Justin's voice is deep and strong as he speaks, “Enough Ariya! Get yourself under control...”

“I am in control.”

“Keep your mouth shut...”

I scoff at Justin's order, he thinks he can just boss me around and I'm going to take it like all his little minions here.

“Last I heard there was this thing called freedom of speech...”

Todd must feel brave because Justin and Mike are still holding onto me. He snorts and says, “Do as Justin says, Ariya, and keep your mouth shut...”

I launch myself out of my human shackles and throw myself at Todd, taking him down in a football tackle most NFL coaches would be proud of. I let my fists fly at Todd and get in about 12 good hits before I'm lifted off him. Through the red haze of anger, I vaguely hear Mike's voice question, “Outside, J?”

I'm carried outside and before I know what's happening, I'm thrown into some cold water. I come out of the water spluttering and breathing fire, so I launch myself at Mike, who is the nearest target.

He blocks my hits and Justin pushes my head back under the water. This is repeated a number of times and each time I come up fighting, knowing they're only going to do the same thing every time. I'm stubborn, you should have figured that out already. After what might have been the fifth time, I shout, “Hold me down there a little longer and maybe I won't come back up. That'll solve a lot of problems for you and me both...”

Justin responds, “Just calm the heck down and we won't have to keep doing it. Just chill out!”

This time, when they dunk me into the water, I stop fighting but I make myself a dead weight so I don't come out of the water straight away. It's almost like I'm unconscious and I think they panic slightly because they rip me out of the water and lay me on the ground, calling my name. I use this opportunity to jump up and push them away from me. I'm not going to go back into the house and hit Todd, not just yet anyways, but I want to get them away from me.

“Ariya, I swear if you go back into that house and start on Todd again you are seriously going to regret it. You will be forcing me to do things I don't want to do...”

Justin's tone is deadly serious and if I was more sensible I would be frightened. Now, I'm not the most intelligent person in the world, but while he doesn't frighten me, I do recognize the seriousness behind his words.

“I told you to keep him away from me. I will hurt him if he even looks at me the wrong way.”

“Go on in, Mike. I can take it from here. Help Lou clean up and lock Todd up in his cabin.”

“Yes sir. I'm gonna turn in after that. Is that cool?”

“Yeah. See you in the morning.”

Mike nods and leaves Justin and I in silence.

“Just say whatever it is you want to say so I can go inside.”

“You need to sort yourself out, Ariya. You can't keep going on like this. You know why Todd is in his own cabin? Because he's kept his head down and behaved himself since he's been here. If you do the same, you'll be allowed more freedom.”

“Whatever.”

I don't care about having more freedom; I just want to get away from that awful thing called Todd.

“Why are you so intent on dying? That's at least 3 times that I know of that you've made a reference to dying.”

I scoff, “You've read my file, oh great shrink. You tell me all about it. You think you know me, that you've figured me out, so please enlighten me about my life.”

“Your juvenile record has been sealed. There's nothing on you before you were 18.”

“Well, isn't that a shame? Guess you'll never know then. Actually, I'll let you in on a little secret. The thing that makes me the way I am is, I'm just a nasty person with a temper you don't want to know about. Are we done?”

“You make out like you're some horrible person, but you seem to forget that I noticed you were sticking up for Louise. Beating Todd up was just a bonus for you. You were angry at what he said to her, not just because it was him who said it.”

I chuckle, “Dude, you really have lost your mind. I will warn you now, any excuse I can find to hurt that turd I'm gonna take it. I'd advise you to keep me away from him, coz I will snap big time if you don't. And when that happens, not even you and Mike will be able to stop me.”

“You know, you have a choice on whether you're going throw a beating down on him. You can choose to be the bigger person and not react to whatever he does or says...”

This time I actually laugh, “Yeah, good one dude. Have you met me? Obviously your shrink skills are fading along with your mind.”

“Why do you have to be so angry all of the time? It's not healthy and it's going to kill you...”

“Hopefully sooner rather than later, huh? That way the whole world will be rid of me. I'm sure there's going to be so many tears shed after I'm gone. Probably tears of joy...”

I walk away and squelch into the house. As I make a move to go through the kitchen, Louise is standing in the doorway. She whispers, “Thanks Ariya.”

“You all seem to think I did that out of the kindness of my heart. I didn't. I hate Todd and it gave me an excuse to hurt him. You need to grow a spine and fight back. Otherwise everyone will walk all over you forever. They think they're better than you coz you let them think that. Get a grip and get back at them.”

She looks shocked as I walk upstairs and wait for Justin to lock my door. As I'm waiting, I overhear him mumbling to Louise, “She didn't mean that, Lou. You're doing just fine. Todd is just trying to get a reaction out of Ariya, so he's using you as bait. Despite what Ariya says, she didn't like the way he spoke to you. She did it to defend you, just remember that. You going to be ok?”

“Yes sir. Thank you. Am I doing breakfast in the morning?”

“No. I'll get breakfast sorted. Ariya will help me.”

They both said goodnight and when Justin appears in my doorway, I'm leaning on the bathroom door frame.

“You're helping me make breakfast. Be ready at 0400. I know you'll be awake; I hear you every time you get up.”

“I won't be much help. I burn water.”

I actually have never tried to cook. My parents weren't the type to teach me things like that and being in and out of foster homes doesn't exactly make for the perfect family life. I thought admitting that would get me out of spending extra time with Justin, but no such like.

“Don't worry, I'll teach you how to cook. I'm going to teach you life skills, including how to be nice to people. Get some sleep, Ariya.”



I don't reply, I just wait for him to lock the door before I head to the shower. I spend a couple hours exercising and training through the night and get maybe 2 or 3 hours sleep. It's not enough, but it's all that my body will allow me. Sleeping on the streets means you need to keep alert. Anyone could appear at any time and things can turn nasty very quickly. Even fighting over prime sleeping location can end up in someone being severely hurt or even dead. I've seen my fair share of fights between homeless people and I swore to never let my guard down, even though I can fight, I won't allow someone to get the upper hand by catching me while I'm sleeping.