Chapter 34

Breathing felt difficult for Luca as he closed the door behind him.

“No, please. OH, heavens no!” Maisie’s cries echoed through the door.

Luca closed his eyes as he held onto the doorknob. He knew well enough what Leo was doing inside. The lump that had formed in his throat felt like it was suffocating him. He could not get himself to turn around and walk away like all the previous times. Her pleading cries felt like a thousand blades had pierced into his flesh. With closed eyes, Luca slid to his knees.

‘Why did he have to stay and torment his soul, why couldn't he just stand up and walk away like a normal fool? He could not. He could not seem to get his limbs to move. His head banged against the cold concrete floor. To muffle out the sound he tightly pressed his hands against his ears. But to no prevail, he could still hear every sound.

Flashbacks of his past flickered before his eyes. He was taken back to the memory of his mother.

With no recollection of his Father, hell he does not even remember his mother telling him anything about the man. He was well aware of the strange men his mother would always bring into their derelict home. One could barely call it home since it only consisted of a one-bedroom and bathroom. They had barely enough money to buy food.

“Luca, Luca. Listen to me. now boy,” the memory of his mother’s voice was so clear in his mind that it felt like it was happening again, “You know what to do. Go in the closed and cover your ears. Mamma has to work now. Remember do not come out or you will get a wiping, do you understand me?” Luca nodded his small head as his eyes shone brightly as he listened to his mother’s words, “Be a good boy now!”

His mother’s voice would always get louder upon telling him he was going to get punished if he did not obey her words. At such a young age he never knew what type of jobs his mother did to help these men. He hated it most to hear her scream. Sometimes he would hear her being beaten by these men and he had to endure her pleading and screams. Hours would pass until these men would leave and his mother would once again open the closet door for him. Unfortunately, one day she never came to open the door. Hours passed and his mother never came. He had to use the loo and could not wait any longer. Even if he would get beaten it would be better than wetting himself. Upon opening the door, he saw his mother lying limp half off the bed. He quickly looked away afraid he would get seen then hurried toward the bathroom. Luca silently walked back on tippy toes back when he was done but stopped when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that his mother was alone and still in the same position, she was previously in.

“Mommie?” Luca called out in a hushed tone. Without moving he looked around the room and noticed the covers scattered around, her clothes were ripped and lying over the few pieces of furniture they had left. She was alone, there was no one left but them.

“Mommie?” Luca called out again.

Her body was lifeless. She laid so still. He knew she was dead, but he could not accept it. ‘How can the only person he had in this world be dead? That was not possible right?’ He thought to himself. His small legs slowly walked forward, his eyes never moving from his mother’s face.

“Mommy please, please mommy say something.” He begged for the last time before he reached her in the hope that she would once again blink her eyes and smile at him, but no, his mother's stale eyes stared back at him.

His small hands hesitantly reached out and lightly shook her.

“Mommy please wake up, please.” His words broke as his tears rolled down his cheeks. He did not dare to scream. He knew his mother hated it most when he screamed or made a fuss.

He slowly touched her cheek, but it felt cold underneath his touch. He took the covers and cover her as much as he could. Luca lifted her head with all the strength his little body could master and placed it back on the bed. He quickly climbed onto the bed and tightly lay next to her, not knowing that the passed he had was better than the future that was yet to come.

~~~~~~~~Present~~~~~~~~~~

The screaming lasted for a while until only the boots of Leo could be heard as he walked toward the door. Luca’s body shot upright upon reflex, like a soldier waiting for its commander.

The door was yanked open. Leo walked out and stopped upon seeing Luca.

“Wow, you’re still here?”

Luca stared straight forward looking into the distance, his eyes vast of any emotion.

“I did not take you for once to listen,” Leo said as the corner of his mouth tugged up slightly as he smirked. “I wanted to call someone to watch over her, but since you are still here, you can do it.” Leo looked Luca up and down and took his silence as an agreement, then Leo walked away.