Octavius

xx

FINLEY

        "P-papa!" My shell of a cracked voice resonated in the dark-lit voice as my trembling, pruned fingers pounding absently against the doorframe; a desperate attempt as to conquering the walls of barricades that stood before my father and I. "Papa! P-papa, p-please... please Papa! I'll be... I'll be good, I-I promise."

        I let out a low whimper as my legs collapsed beneath me, all precious hope I had once kept had dispersed into nothingness. "Please... please. I-it's dark, Papa. I... I'm scared. I-I'll be good.. good, really really good." My small frame slid down the door, my back pressed firmly against the doorframe as I brought my knees to my chest.

        Almost like I couldn't control my tears, heart-wrecking sobs spilling over open salted wounds forced their way out of my chest, my chest shaking in an odd, trembling rhythm.

       I hated the dark. I hated the room. It was his. Evelyn.

        "Have you learned your lesson, little one?" His deep, rather toneless voice questioned and delicate hair started to tinge along the back of my neck almost like it was my body's natural response to the commanding voice of my father. "Or should I grant Cas the pleasure of reteaching you simple manners, yes?"

Deeply eloquent pair of blue eyes flashed through my mind, prodding through the barricades of control I had learned to take back possession of. Eyes that could take worlds apart and remake them with a single glance of their glowing dark depths.

Deep, piercing blue eyes like Mount Everest—the tiny specks of indigo consumed my timid gaze, almost drowning in their depths and it wouldn't be the worst way to go.

"Finley. Answer when I am speaking to you." His crushingly powerful voice spoke and my limbs went numb with absolute fear, drowning in a sea of my guilt-ridden fear as I stared wide-eyed into space. Papa had never laid a hand on me. Ever. Yet that didn't mean he didn't find other ways to teach me a simple lesson.

        "One... Two. When I get to three, I expect you to answer my question. Shall I fetch Cas?" He demanded through gritted teeth, his vague words washed over like loose and powdery sand.

Cas. No. No. No.

        I shook my head adamantly even though he couldn't see me, the feeling of dread crept from the shadows and overtook my natural ability to respond. The simple whisper of his name terrorized me, leaving me with the beast of fear holding my entire being captive.

"No... no, Papa. I-I'm sorry.. I'm so s-sorry, please... please... I can't... I can't be in here, Papa. I-it's dark, it's so... so dark. P-please... please let me out. I'll be good!" I sobbed lowly, my fingers clung onto the door handle jiggling the knob as if it would break free in my firm hold. 

        "Hm, will you?" The quiet clicks of his precise footsteps overwhelmed my ears and I could hear the slow, dragging beat of my heart as the footsteps quickened, getting closer... and closer till they stilled in front of the room. "One night. Cas will let you out in the morning. Behave, little one."

        "Papa! P-papa! No... please!" I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe as my chest constricted. I subtly felt the pulse in my neck and wrists, and began to feel it pounding in my head. I clenched and opened my fists slowly, trying to keep them still, but I couldn't.