The Unknown

Only once part 4

Julie's pov

At the park

No witnesses.

That's why he's taking me into the dugout. So nobody on the road can see or hear us. That's why he doesn't want to wait until we get back to the NJC. No witnesses. He sits me down on the bench and I lift my head to meet his gaze.

KABOOM! The bomb goes off.

Shane rips his belt from his jeans with lightning speed and slaps it into the palm of his left hand.

"DRIVING DRUNK! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. YOU COULD HAVE KILLED YOURSELF AND STACEY AND LISA. HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO UNBELIEVABLY STUPID AND IRRESPONSIBLE? HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY CAR AND SNEAK OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. YOU BROKE CURFEW. YOU DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED ME. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS LITTLE STUNT YOU PULLED WAS? THEN YOU ADD ALCOHOL TO THE MIX. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? HOW DARE YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN YOU'RE IMPAIRED, PUTTING EVERYONE'S LIVES IN DANGER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TERRIFIED I WAS TO GET THAT CALL AT 2AM AND FIND THE THREE OF YOU MISSING, YOUR ROOM EMPTY? I WAS SCARED TO DEATH SOMETHING AWFUL HAPPENED TO YOU. I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING SO ASININE EVER AGAIN!"

He yanked me to my feet, throwing me over his left leg, which was propped up on the bench. Then he started raining blows with the belt, hitting my back, bottom, and legs repeatedly. I could feel his anger with every strike.

For the first time in seven years, I was truly scared of Shane. He'd never punished me out of anger before. (and never did again- only once.)

This was terrifying. The pain from the welts and bruises of the belt was unbearable. I seriously thought I was going to pass out. I was crying uncontrollably. The hits just kept coming. He rained down blow after blow with a relentlessly persistent pace. I'm pretty sure he drew blood in a few places. I could feel his anger building, in each and every harsh stroke. He was trying to hurt me and he succeeded. This whipping was fueled only by rage, it had nothing to do with discipline. I was sure of that, in no uncertain terms.

Finally, when I was positive I couldn't take anymore, he stopped. Without saying a word, he dragged me back to the car and threw me into the passenger seat. He drove back to the Center while I sobbed hysterically next to him, my shoulders heaving as I hyperventilated. I didn't recognize the man, or more accurately the monster, sitting next to me. He was cold and heartless. I truly felt like I was sitting next to a stranger.

Mike's pov

I watched Shane drive off with Julie while Stacey continued to puke in the ditch. There was no way I was letting her in my car until her wretched stomach contents were emptied out. Ten minutes later, we were ready to go. As we got in the car, I turned around to face the girls.

"I don't want to hear so much as a peep out of the two of you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," the girls say softly.

The drive back seemed endless. We were stopped by a never ending freight train and the fact that I was physically and emotionally exhausted didn't make things any easier. Fifty-eight minutes later, we finally pulled into the Center's parking lot next to Shane's empty parking space. That's odd. How could we have beaten him back? I was too tired to worry about it. I just wanted my warm bed and my elusive best friend-sleep.

"Straight to bed, girls. We'll talk about this later."