Excerpt: Critical Hour

It was dark. Sora could not even make out his own hand as he held out it out in front of him. The one thing he was absolutely sure of though was Roxas’ warm presence beside him. His elder brother had one arm wrapped around his small shoulders, squeezing his left shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. It was all futile though - the screams just outside of their bedroom door could not be ignored. The sounds of continuous struggle only increased in intensity and volume as the seconds slowly passed.

“Its going to be alright Sora.” Roxas assured him, his eyes resting anxiously on the door as if expecting someone to kick it in. The brunette boy bit his lower lip, letting his head rest on his older brother’s chest. Roxas kissed his head, his childish voice whispering soothing words into his scalp. Sora squeezed his eyes shut trying to block the terrifying noises. He blindly reached out to take a hold of his brother’s t-shirt, grasping it hard enough to make his knuckles nearly go white.

“What did I tell you?” A loud voice suddenly boomed from the hallway. “I told you not to be involved with that man and yet what do you do?” There was no mistaking who had spoke those harsh words, and yet the boys still wished to deny who it was. Surely their own grandfather could not be so vicious towards his own daughter. And yet the evidence was so obviously displayed before them that doubting it would be the up most foolish thing to do.

“Does it really matter who I marry father?” You still got your heirs didn’t you!?” Merely moments after the bold women‘s questions their grandfather let out a low, ferocious growl and then the sound of a body colliding against a wall could be heard. Their mother let out a shrill scream of pain the moment of impact.

“Mother!” Sora started, struggling out of Roxas’ hold as soon as his heard his mother’s anguish scream.

“Wait, Sora you can’t -” Roxas began, but his warning fell on deaf ears. His brother had managed to wiggle his way out of his hold and bolted for the door screaming for their mother frantically over and over again. Sora threw the door open and ran out into the hallway, bright blue eyes gravitating instantly towards mother who was struggling to get up from the floor. She lied on her stomach facing him, practically gasping for what ever little breathe she could take. One side of her head bleed profusely, creating small little rivulets down the side of her face.

Sensing her son’s presence in the hallway the women strained her neck upwards to look at him. Her wide brown eyes met the equally wide ones of Sora. “M-Mother…”

Her words came quick and sharp. “Go back in the room Sora!” Her eyes then abruptly rolled into the back of head and she lost consciousness. Sora stood frozen at the sight, not responding until Roxas came stumbling out into the hallway. His older brother automatically latched onto his arm pulling Sora towards him.

“Stupid girl,” The man muttered from his position several feet away from them. His caliginous eyes were narrowed down at his daughter‘s form, his face scrunched up in an angry scowl. Their grandfather shook with an uncontrollable rage and both boys feared that if they stood there to long they would be the next victims.

Roxas glanced quickly down at his mother not knowing what to do. There was no way he could carry the women away from here - he was only nine after all. The best thing to do in this situation was to secure Sora and put him back in the room. They shouldn’t have left its protection in the first place.

“Hey Sora..” Roxas shook his little brother’s arm, trying to gain his attention. Sora didn’t even move a muscle, instead the eight year old stared straight ahead of him at the towering form of their grandfather who has of yet hadn’t acknowledged them - which was probably a very good thing.

“W-Why?” Sora finally asked, taking a timid step forward. Roxas watched in shock as his brother bent down and touched their mother’s head not seeming to mind the blood that had gathered at his fingertips. He looked up at the old man with sorrow filled eyes.

For an instant Sora thought he saw a tint of remorse in the man’s eyes, but it was gone as soon as it had come. “Take care of your mother,” he said softly, turning on his heels as soon as the words fled his lips and existed the hallway. Sora’s eyes filled with tears as he watched the man go, cradling his mother’s head in his lap. The strength of which the front door was slammed shook the house violently.

This was a day that he would always remember - a day that would be forever engraved into his mind. Sora would be able recall with an almost perfect recollection the feel of his brother’s arms as the older boy hugged him behind. The uncontrollable sobs that broke free from his throat. His mother’s pale face as he held her head in his arms and mostly importantly the blood. The bright red substance of human life that now dripped down his bony fingertips. This was a nightmare in its truest sense.