Four Crows

by Lily White

  I loved him. More than anything I’d known in life, I loved my father. He wasn’t the nicest man to most of the people who’d known him. He wasn’t the best example of what a father should be. But he had been my world for so long, I was afraid to find out what life would be without him.

  When all you have is the worst of the lot, the worst becomes your normal because it’s all you’ve ever known.

  Settling himself, he coughed a few times, wiping the spittle and blood from his palm onto his dirty jeans before leveling his stare on me. “Where have you been going, Maggie?”

  “Daddy -”

  Holding up his hand, he growled out a frustrated sound. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Not anymore anyway.” All the anger had dissolved from his voice, resignation moving in to take its place. “I’m old, Magpie, and I’m dying.”

  Opening my mouth to argue, I snapped it shut when he gave me a look that promised punishment for every word I had to say. My father was done listening and I would be made to walk whatever line my brothers had convinced him to draw in the sand.

  “I’m dying, Maggie. You know it and I know it. I don’t need to throw money at a doctor to know it.” Barely able to keep his eyes fully open, my father swayed where he stood. I saw the half empty bottle of liquor on the counter and understood that some of his weakness wasn’t a result of being sick.

  “Evil is coming for you, baby girl. It’s been coming for you since the moment you were born, the moment the only thing good in your life - your mother - was taken away from you.”

  His expression fell until he looked tired enough to sleep for several days straight.

  “I thought I could protect you from it. Thought that maybe if I was strong enough, that if we kept moving around, it wouldn’t find you.”

  Biting off a hissed curse, he widened his eyes. “But now you’re running off like a stupid female, probably directly into the arms of whatever evil chases after you. I won’t allow it.”

  “I won’t run off anymore,” I promised, my heart shattering at the thought of never seeing Elliot again. They were too close to the truth and I wouldn’t risk leading them directly to the secret I was desperate to hide. I’d protect Elliot simply by staying put.

  “I’ll stay right here if it means we can live in one place for a while.”

  Shaking his head, Daddy leaned heavily against the counter. “No, girl. I’m afraid it’s already found you. I didn’t want to believe it, but even your brothers agree. We need to get you settled.”

  “Settled?”

  Breathing out a resigned sigh, his eyes flicked to Brody and Finn before returning to me. “Your brothers have worked out an arrangement for you, Maggie. For after I die. It’s not right for them to have to take care of you when I’m gone, and you deserve more from life than what you’ve been given.”

  Another gust of heavy breath fell over his lips. “The man who’s coming tomorrow night has agreed to marry you. He’s going to take care of you when I’m gone, and you’re going to honor him like a wife should…regardless of what he does to earn money to provide for you. Do you hear me?”

  Shaking my head, I stared at my father with disbelief widening my eyes. “No. Please, Daddy. You’re being ridiculous. I don’t need a husband, especially not somebody Brody and Finn picked out -”

  “Why’s that, Magpie?”

  Spinning to stare at Finn’s condescending expression, I fought back the tears that welled in my eyes.

  “Why wouldn’t you want our friend? Jack’s a decent man. He understands the lifestyle you live and can protect you. Plus, he’ll treat you right because he knows he’ll be dealing with us if he doesn’t.”

  Finn’s lips rounded, almost cartoonish in how precise the expression of feigned understanding twisted his face. “Oh…”

  His words were soft over his mouth as he angled his head to the side. “Unless there’s someone else.” A smile stretched his lips apart. “Is there something you’re not telling us, Maggie Pie?”

  Elliot… I’m falling in love with a good man named Elliot…

  “No.”

  “You’re marrying Jack.” My father’s voice drew my attention back to him. “If it’s the last thing I do in life, I’m going to make sure you’re safe. You’re not going to be able to survive on your own, baby girl. You don’t have an education. You can’t hold down a job -”

  “You don’t know that! You never let me try!”

  “I’m sorry, Maggie. But I’ve made this decision for you and you’re going to respect it.”

  No. No. No. This wasn’t happening.

  My entire world was imploding around me and I was losing my grip on every small ounce of freedom and happiness I’d just found. Why did my life always have to work out like this? Why couldn’t I have just five minutes to feel happy and breathe?

  “I don’t even know this guy, Daddy!” A twig snapped by the weight of the world, my resolve burst apart, my voice shaking with anger and pain. “I don’t -”

  “That’s what I mean, right there,” Finn’s voice rose over mine, the deep baritone smothering every plea that left my mouth. “She needs to be brought back under control.”

  Brody sat silently as usual. He never dared cross our older brother. Even if he had spoken, I knew it would only be to prod Finn along.

  “Yeah, son,” our father drawled. “I think you’re right.” Disappointment and defeat softened his shoulders. “I can’t do it. I just can’t. You two take her out back and get her back in line.”

  Finn stood from his chair, the metal feet scraping loudly across the linoleum. He’d crossed the room and grabbed me before I had the sense to move away. Knowing better than to struggle, I lost my battle against the tears in my eyes that demanded to fall.

  Soon, Brody joined Finn to lead me out of the house. Turning before they’d shoved me through the door, I begged one final time.

  “Please, Daddy. I’ll be good. I’ll do what you ask. Please don’t let them do this.” Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, every ounce of hope, possibility and goodness stripped away until I was left with only terror and despair.

  Clenching his eyes shut, my father shook his head. “I’m sorry, Maggie, but your brothers are right. Something wild has gotten inside you and we need to keep you safe from yourself. You’ll understand someday. I promise you, you’ll understand.”

  Shoved out into the silent stillness of the deepening night, we paused long enough for Brody to ask, “How many, Dad?”

  I heard my father sigh.

  “Twenty should do it, son. Twenty should set her straight again.”

  Throwing a wrench into the large toolbox that stood to the side of the garage, I wiped the sweat from my brow with a dirty rag, instantly regretting the decision as soon as I saw the oil all over my hands. I had soap that would help remove the stains from my skin, but I’d have to scrub to ensure it all washed away before I went to see Maggie.

  It would be hard to explain the telltale signs of a mechanic when Maggie still believed I hadn’t been able to fix my truck on the day we first met.

  Straightening my tired body, I turned my head to peer out of the bay, narrowing my eyes against the blinding light of an unsympathetic sun. I was seventy-two hours away from the anniversary of Katelyn’s disappearance, and I’d begun the process of making preparations for the vengeance I sought.

  My bags and truck were already packed with the tools I’d need to finish the job. I hadn’t bothered packing any clothes or other possessions because I didn’t plan to walk away from the property after the Crows were no longer breathing. I’d penned a letter to my parents to explain my decisions and to apologize for failing them as a son.

  Mom had begged me to move on…but not in the way I’d chosen to do so.

  Knowing my parents would sort out whatever personal effects I left behind, the only thing left to do was say goodbye to the man who had kept me together long enough for this day to come. It would take some finesse to get out what I wanted to say without
drawing Henry’s suspicion, but I couldn’t move on to whatever Hell awaited me without letting my boss know what his concern and patience had meant.

  Telling him now would be better timing than waiting for the seventy-two hours to be up. Henry would wonder. I knew that. But saying it now would give me two more days to come in to work, to pretend like everything was normal so that any suspicion Henry had over the word of thanks would diminish at seeing me return to life as usual.

  “Hey, Boss. I’m taking off for the day.”

  Henry slid out from beneath the ‘65 Charger he’d been working to restore for over a year. He had the girl running pretty good. However, he still believed there were a few kinks that he might never be able to work out - despite the amount of times I’d told Henry he was full of shit.

  The car ran like a dream, but Henry was a perfectionist and wouldn’t accept anything less than the best.

  Arching his eyebrow in question, Henry stilled when he saw my expression. “Everything okay?”

  It was hard to look at my boss’ face, to see the concern behind his eyes and the accusation written into the line of his weathered brow. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I just wanted to say thank you, brother. For the job and all.”

  Reaching up, I scrubbed my palm over the back of my neck, wincing when I squeezed my fingers over a sore muscle. “I don’t know. Just for being a good guy. You believed in me when other people didn’t.”

  Scooting out from beneath the car completely, Henry sat up. “What the hell is going on, Elliot?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean. I’m just saying thank you.”

  “No. That’s not just what you’re saying. You’re not the feel good, emotional type.”

  Laughter blew over my lips. “It’s just a thank you, Henry. Just grumble out a response and we’ll both get back to our usual tasks.”

  His eyes pinned me where I stood. “And what tasks are those?”

  “You cussing up a storm beneath a car that doesn’t need any more work, and me heading home to drown myself in a bottle.”

  After another scrutinizing look, Henry nodded his head. “Just be sure you’re drunk as piss when I get to your house tonight to check on you.”

  Somehow, I knew that would be Henry’s response. Glad to have done this now instead of on the last day I intended to show for work, I smiled and said, “I’ll see you tonight, Brother. If I happen to be sleeping when you get there, just be sure to spoon me nice and tight. You know how much I like it.”

  Henry laughed so hard the sliding board beneath him shook back and forth. “No problem, Elliot. Maybe if you’re good, I’ll even read you a bedtime story.”

  Smiling at the easy friendship we had, sadness settled over me. I’d miss joking around with Henry. After all was said and done, I hoped Henry wouldn’t be upset for too long.

  Pulling up to the abandoned farm, I took my time crawling out of the truck. The past several days had been the same. Arrive, wait an hour or two, watch as Maggie emerged from the woods and then paint on a pretend smile as I worked her into such a frenzy she forgot to keep her secrets to herself.

  The first day the smile I’d forced pained me. I hated to realize that each day it became a little easier to smile when I saw her stepping out of the shadow of trees into the brilliance of late afternoon light. Each day, that smile became less of a disguise and more of a truth I was irritated to acknowledge.

  I liked Maggie. I couldn’t deny that fact. But I could, and did, regret it.

  Maybe I could help set her up with another life. Possibly pull all the money I had saved and place it in an envelope where only she would find it. I wouldn’t be alive to help her rebuild from the loss of everything she’d known, but if the money would carry her until she planted her feet in a new life, at least it would help her recover.

  There was another possibility for Maggie as well and I made a mental note to write one more letter. I’d ask Henry to give her a job at the shop, to give her a chance to show him how good she was at turning wrenches. She’d have a place to live. She’d have a job. And she’d have enough money to keep her going until she found the strength to let go and live again.

  The thought was still bouncing around in my head as my feet hit the ground, but I hadn’t yet shut the door to my truck before motion caught my eye at the perimeter of the woods surrounding the property.

  Stumbling out from the tree line before pushing herself back to her feet and taking off across the field, Maggie moved like she was being chased.

  My heart was in my throat as I took off at a dead run towards her. “Maggie!”

  She waved her hands at me, saying something that I couldn’t hear over the pounding of my heart and the heavy fall of my boots against the ground. The expression on her face when she was finally close enough for me to see it only made me run that much faster.

  “Maggie!”

  I couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like the frantic girl was screaming for me to shut up.

  Snapping my trap shut, I ran faster, dust kicking up around me in a cloud. I’d barely reached her and wrapped my hands over her shoulders before she was begging me to leave.

  “You have to go,” she said breathlessly. “You have to leave now and never come back, Elliot.” Tears streamed down her face as she pled, “Please, get in your truck and leave. Just pretend like you never knew me.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said, hating how she averted her eyes because I knew it meant she was hiding something. Gripping her chin between my fingers, I forced her wild and frightened gaze back to mine. “What the hell is going on?”

  Unable to keep her eyes locked to my face, Maggie scanned the distance behind me. She twisted to look behind herself before grabbing my hand. “Dammit, Elliot. You need to leave.”

  Tugging on my arm, she attempted to drag me back in the direction of my truck, but I wouldn’t budge. Like a stubborn dog, I dug my feet into the dirt and leaned my weight back in an effort to keep from falling forward with how desperately she tugged.

  “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong. You look like hell.”

  More tears fell from her eyes, her panic ratcheting so high she could barely stand on her shaking legs. “Fine, you dumb shit, but at least come inside the house with me. We can’t be seen out here and I don’t know if I was followed.”

  Wrapping my head around the fact she just called me a dumb shit, I watched Maggie spin towards the house, her skirt flying up in the wind to reveal an angry purple line across the back of her thighs. She hadn’t made it a single step forward before I grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled it up farther.

  “What THE FUCK happened to you, Maggie?”

  It wasn’t just one ugly and angry line glaring back at me…it was absolute destruction of what should have been pale and smooth skin. Line after line ran up her thighs, over what I could see of her swollen ass, and ending at her lower back. Some were just raised welts in a vivid red color, others were deep and bluish purple, so new they hadn’t had time to begin fading to a putrid black and green.

  The ones that set my hair on end and caused my fingers to clench into painful fists were the lacerations. Thin, but long, those cuts were fresh with small wisps of blood seeping down her skin, most likely because they’d been reopened from running.

  Her hand smacked down the material of her skirt, her eyes locking to mine with as much defiance as there was shame.

  “The house, Elliot. If you’re going to be a stubborn dick about this, then at least go somewhere we can’t be seen.”

  It wasn’t until I was walking behind her that I noticed her strange gait. She could barely stand, much less walk straight. I wondered how much pain she’d endured to make her way through the woods to meet me.

  We made it inside the house without speaking again, but that rotting wooden door hadn’t fully been shut and locked before I glared down at Maggie.

  “I’m giving you one fucking chance to tell me the truth about what happened to you. You’re a h
orrible liar, little girl, and if I get the feeling you’re lying to me, I’ll -”

  “You’ll what?” she asked, the anger behind her voice so sharp it sliced through every ounce of sweetness that had once been in her. If the marks hadn’t alerted me to the fact that something was wrong, her voice would have. “Take off? Like I want you to do? Like an intelligent person would do? Dammit, Elliot, why do you have to be so -”

  My hand gripped over her mouth, the tips of my fingers digging into her cheeks. Bending down so that the tip of my nose touched hers, I spoke slowly and succinctly.

  “I don’t know what you were about to call me, and I don’t want to know. But if you don’t tell me who the fuck gave you those marks, when I remove my hand, I’m giving you a few more.”

  Maggie’s eyes rounded with a mixture of fear and anger.

  I grinned.

  “And don’t call me dumb again. You’re the one who is beat all to hell, yet standing here trying to tell me to leave so I can’t find out who did this to you and return those marks right back to them. I’m not wrong when I say that makes you the dumb one between us.”

  Seconds passed as we stared at each other in tense silence. Feeling Maggie’s body relax from defeat, I straightened my body and pulled my hand from her mouth. “Fess the fuck up.”

  “Elliot -”

  “No, Darlin’, I can tell you it wasn’t a guy named Elliot, unless you’ve been sneaking around with another man by that name. So you can stop right there. The next time you open that pretty mouth of yours, I want to hear the name of the son of a bitch that hit you.”

  She flinched at the rage in my voice. It took her several times of opening and closing her mouth again for resignation to finally shadow her eyes, tears to slip down her cheeks, and the whispered words “my brothers” to fall from her lips.

  My blood boiled at her confession, but I still managed to bark out, “Thank you.”

  When my hand slammed on the knob of the front door, Maggie lunged forward to grab me. “Where are you going?”