Drowned In Silence

46. Hide & Seek

Hide & Seek

Dynah - Flashback

“Little Sister! Where are you?!” He yells through the empty house.

Our parents left us two days ago, and still haven’t come home. Well, they aren’t our parents, they are only kind of mine. Eli came to stay with us a few days ago and I’m so happy! I’ve never had a big brother before and I never want to go without him.

“I’ll find you! You can’t hide forever!”

I giggle into the empty cupboard of the downstairs bathroom. I can hear the floor creaking from the kitchen as he walks around stuff, trying to find me. As soon as he nears the bathroom and sees me peeking from behind the cupboard door, the front door opens and my Mom and our Dad walk in.

“No. I understand why he can’t stay here, but he’s my son. I just… I don’t know. I wanted to try to raise them together. Maybe use them to my advantage within the church,” Father says to the person on the phone.

“Dynah, let’s play pretend again okay? You just be quiet as a mousey in there, and I’ll deal with him. Okay?” Elliot asks from the other side of the cupboard door.

“Okay,” I agree. I don’t want to get punished again for being in the same room as Eli, so when he stands up to walk out the door, I can’t help but to grab his shirt hem. “I love you, Eli. Be careful.”

He squats back down, opens the door, and kisses my forehead before standing back up and walking out.

“There you are, you little shithead. What are you doing in there? Who told you that you could leave your fucking room?” Father yells.

“No one, Sir. I just… I had to pee,” Eli whispers.

I can hear the slap from in here and I bite my bottom lip to help me stay silent. If I get caught in here, then it’s game over. For both of us.

“Go get your things, you're leaving in a few minutes,” Father demands.

Without thinking, I bust open the cupboard and run out of the bathroom straight into my brother's arms.

“No! You can’t take him! I love him, Daddy! Please don’t make him leave! We will be good kids and listen and stay in our rooms! Don’t punish him for leaving!”

Our Father looks at me with an evil glint in his eye before raising his hand and slapping me across the face. Tears instantly well up in my eyes and pour onto my cheeks. Eli pushes me behind him, standing up to Father and hiding me.

“Don’t hurt her. I’ll go. I’ll go if you promise not to touch her again. Not until she has a chance to fight back. Not until I come back for her. Then, if you want to fight someone, you can fight me,” Eli says, standing up to him.

Father leans down and gets in Eli’s face, whispering loud enough that I can hear him. “I won’t touch her, but I will let anyone else in the world touch her tiny body. Just remember, Son, this was your fault. You just ruined her life, and I’ll make sure you never get a chance to save it. You’re going to another Godly household with another kid, and I will make sure you never see Dynah again. At least not until you’re both on my altar, praying for forgiveness. Now say goodbye,” he sneers.

I move to his side and look up at Eli right as a picture of us is taken.

I’m going to lose the only thing I’ve ever loved in life, and it’s all Father’s fault.