• Another harsh slap ripped across my cheek, the blow coming from my uncle's hand.
    "You stupid boy, when I tell you to wash the windows, you wash them. And you wash them my way, not yours!" He cried, staring down at me, his hard hand by my face, prepared for another slap.
    "I'm sorry sir, I .. I.. I didn't know how you wanted them done." I stuttered, my voice coming out hoarse and weak.
    "You stupid child!" He cried, slapping me again. I felt the tears come to my eyes. I try so hard not to cry in front of him, it makes the beatings worse. At least it wasn't like what he does to Scarlett.
    "Now go! Get out of my sight you bug." He said, turning to look at the paper again.
    I scurried quietly out of the room. I had to find Scarlett. He was going to use her tonight, he always did the night after I washed the windows.
    "Scarlett!" I whispered as I found her in the library, her nose in a thick book, as always.
    "I know. I heard you out there, Jasper." She said, not looking up from her book.
    "And you know what that means, don't you?" I asked, pulling the book away from her so she could look into my eyes. She was a year younger than I. Our uncle had been the only family we had. My mother died giving birth to me, and she was 'adopted' by him.
    "Yes..." She whispered. She only had about two hours before him.
    "Scarlett, how are you not scared? The things he does to you is terrible, and you just live with it, like there's nothing wrong, we need to get out before it gets any worse!" I cried, pulling her hands out of her lap and taking them in mine. My being only fourteen made our story less believeable, 'A child seeking attention' is what most called it.
    "Jasper I am scared! I never know when he might pull the gun out and shoot me. I never wanted you to know how scared I was though! Your pain is more often than mine, you need to be brave!" She implored. I thought for a moment before replying.
    "Your pain is worse... And you won't ever forget what happens to you." I said, the tears welling over, she was being tortured and eventually he would kill us both.
    "Hush Jasper. Just forget about it. We're stuck with Uncle." She said, pulling the book off the table and reading again.
    "Scarlett, come into my bedroom now." Uncle yelled from the hallway. He was calling her early.
    Her breath caught in her throat and she began to stutter. "Y..Y..Yes." She finally managed to choke out.
    "Noo.. Scarlett, don't go.. Please.." I begged, grabbing her hands. She looked into my eyes, tears in hers.
    "Leave while we're busy." She said quietly. She turned and walked out the door.
    She might never come back in here. I might never see her again, she could be killed any minute she was in there with him. She was in so much danger.
    "Go to bed boy." Uncle called before shutting his door, Scarlett behind it.
    I cried myself to sleep that night, trying to shut out the noises.

    I couldn't find the will to get up in the morning. I lay in bed, waiting for Scarlett to come in.
    "Jasper, get up." She said, yanking the sheets off the bed and pulling me by my feet.
    "Scarlett, quiet... do you hear that?" I asked. the walls between our room and Uncles room were very thin, and it sounded like shells dropping into a gun.
    "He's loading the gun." Scarlett stopped dead in her steps, and turned to the doorway.
    "He's going to come shoot us." I said, breathless. I jumped out of bed, trying to think of places to hide.
    "Let him shoot us." She said quietly.
    "What?!" I asked her sharply.
    "I don't want to live like this anymore." Scarlett said. She knelt to the ground and grasped at her hair.
    "I just can't take it anymore Jasper. I've had enough, I want it over with. I welcome the death!" She sobbed into her hands.
    I ran to her side and knelt with her. We sobbed together, hands clasped, heads together, until the footsteps reached our door.
    "I love you." I whispered to her.
    "Will you wait for me in Heaven?"She sobbed the question.
    "Right at the gates..." I whispered in return.
    The sharp clicks of the gun getting ready made me move my arms to hug her. We pulled eachother close and waited for the last moment to come.
    BAM!
    I couldn't look at Scarlett, her body went cold and limp in my arms. I felt the warm blood pool at my knees. My time had come, I had payed my debts, and I was ready. I wanted to be with Scarlett. Hopefully she had decided to wait for me at the gates.

    Death was easy. It was like just fading out of existence. Ceasing to be. Like drifting off to an induced sleep. Yes, death is very easy. Life is the hard part.