Empty World
Chapter 1: Parents
Olive wakes up on her desk with notices that her laptop’s battery almost depleted. She just spent the entire day working on her art history report and have dosed off. Still feeling drowsy she looks up at the mounted clock on the wall. It’s almost 8:00, dinnertime.
A black SUV arrives at the driveway, Olive’s mother exits from the driver’s seat with a bag of groceries. She hears her mother’s footsteps from across the hall, soft with a slight tap on each step like a mother’s touch. Footsteps can tell a lot about a person’s attitude, at least that’s what Olive believes.
She saves her report then dashes down the stairs and walks into the living room. She sits at a chair and waits for her mother to open the door. Feeling a bit nervous, she takes small breaths for few seconds till she calms down. Art History isn’t one of her strongest subjects because of the large amount of research the school makes her do. Let’s be honest, research isn’t for everybody but it’s still needed, sadly. English on the other hand is much more fun because she gets to write short stories and reads them in front of the class. Her teacher even encourages her to publish her stories as she thinks she is gifted and has a strong imagination. She even have a short story saved in her laptop. Olive wonders what’s for supper tonight, maybe a big fat juicy steak that’s rich with flavor. The door opens with the same creaking sound that you hear in horror movies. They should really get this fixed otherwise she will assume that a burglar is coming in to steal everything.
“Good eveeening”
“Olive, you scare me sometimes when you talk like that”.
“that’s what I was hoping”
Her mother gives hers a paper bag with some frozen food in it.
“Did you do the dead?”
“You mean did I hide the body?”
“Olive, you know what I mean”
“Its almost done”
Olive doesn’t like her studies and can’t see the point of Art History. It’s not like she is going to use it in the near future and besides she thinks art is supposed to be more expressive.
“Olive, you have to take it more seriously otherwise you will be held back in school and I don’t want to hear from your history teacher that you are falling behind.” Says her mother.
“I don’t think that Mister Joe even likes me, maybe we should find him and make him give me good grades, I have some photos of him in my drawer right now”
“watch your tone otherwise, ill mention it it him in the next parent teacher meeting, now come and help me with a grocery”
She follows her mother to the kitchen. One by one they place food into the fridge which is huge that even Olive can fit in and there still be enough for a medium pizza.
“Promise me, not to get mad”
Olive opens a bag of Black olives and reaches for a piece and puts it into her mouth.
“Why would I get mad?
Her mother sighs and looks directly to her daughter
“Promise me”
“ok?”
“Your father will be joining us for dinner tonight”
Olives goes silent at the mere mention of his name like he is dead to her. Let’s just say that her father and her aren’t in speaking terms. He was known to beat his daughter and his wife when ever he is not happy even if it’s all his faulty . He almost tried to kill his wife but stopped after seeing his daughter crying and he stopped.His wife called 911 and the police arrested him for domestic violence.He had to spend 6 months in prison. This experience traumatized her and now she goes to therapy in a weekly basis and even takes some medications to calm her nerves. Luckily he spent most of his time in prison so there weren't any permanent damages to her mind.
“When will he arrive?” Her breath starts to shorten with every coming second. It’s like breathing too much oxygen
“I will have to go back up and get my meds”
She goes back to her room and searches for her medication to help her get thru today without any melt down. The room starts too look like a dump with clothes and books scattered on the ground. No medicine bottles are found. She leaves her room and runs to the stairs summons enough strength to call her mom.
“What is it?” her mom asks
“Where are my medicine bottles?” she says while panicking
“The bottle was empty so I threw it out”
“You What!!”
Olive bashes her head repeatedly trying to get a concussion.
How will I able to get through today
She goes down the stair case and sees her mom standing
“Come here”
Her mother opens her arms and puts it around Olive’s shoulder for a hug. It feels warm, like a jacket in a cold winter. Her hand touched her hair and she strokes it gently. They both sit on the stairs and wait for her father to arrive. Olive’s head rests on her mother’s chest while and they both stair at the door, waiting for her father to arrive.
“Thank you”
“It’s okay to feel afraid sometimes honey. Heck, I sometimes get scared”
“Really?”
“Of course”
“Can you tell me what it is?”
“Ok, but please promise me you wont laugh or tell anyone”
They both lift there picky and crossed them together making a strong promise.
“I am afraid of loosing you and a lot braver then me”
“you wont loose me, trust me”
“Are you sure you can”
“What?”
“Handle your father for tonight, I mean he has a few days off until ge can find”
“Ill do my best”
A police car arrives at the street and inside it is a man with some dangerous scars on his face. He is escorted by two policemen wearing blue uniforms. The door rings and Olive ’s mother open leaves her daughter and opens the door. She sees her husband in cuffs and the two policemen.
“Good evening Madam, my name is Jim and this is my partner Jeff” says policemen”
“Is this really needed”
“Of course, How else are we going to bring him in”
“We can use the tranquilizer, Jim” said the second officer
“Yes but that not fun and besides remember what happened with that hacker that we caught” says Jim
“That was a dozy”
“Lets go back to why were are here for”
“Now as the judge agreed, he will be in your custody for about three days then it’s back to prison and if he tries to escape then just call us and we will restrain him”
“isn’t that a bit excessive”
“Madam, Please, I have been doing this for years. Unless you’re my chief officer then you can advice us” says the second police officer with a straight face.
“Well, you both seem like a fine gentleman, now will you please give me my husband”
Release him Jeff says the first police officer. He frees him but not before warning him if he tries something dangerous then he will be detained.
“The father spat at one of the officer’s face and enters the house but before he could step in doors. The officer wipes the spit and punched him in the right eye. The husband has a black to keep.
Olive goes back up stairways to get ready for dinner with out single word as if she forgets the promise. Her didn’t mind her not talk as has some other things in his mind.
“Frank, your asshole, you like to get hit, don’t you” says his wife sarcastically while staring at his smug face
“He was asking for it, Zoey. These two really enjoy making prisoners suffer. It one of the perks of being a cop”
“It takes one to know one” Zoey Whispers from back
“What was that Zoey?”
“nothing”
“Remember to behave”
“What are you, my mother?”
“I might as well be”
“seriously, Jack, if you inflict anymore harm on our only daughter then Ill never forgive you.”
“Alright, already”
“Also, your crashing into the couch for the rest of your stay and no more questions”
“fair enough woman”
“Now, when do I get to see my daughter”
“You mean that reason why I am still alive”
“Its all in the pass, Zoey”
“I never forget Frank”
“Olive is treated badly in school after they found out that she is daughter of a criminal”
Olive comes down the stairs all dressed up and ready for dinner. She sees her father but doesn’t say a word to his face. She stands next to the stair case while her father goes to the next room. He crashes to the couch and turns on the tele. Zoey goes to the kitchen and picks up some very fancy white plates with flower decoration engraved on the center. She makes paints and draws for a leaving and even has her own art studio that’s in the basement. She even shares the room with her daughter for some inspiration. But her husband thinks that they are junk whenever he sees them. Wendy brings the plate to the dinning room and puts them on the table and Olive gets some silver wear on to the table. Eventually the entire table is filled with dinner. Olive sits first then her mother next to her and finally her father contrasting Wendy
“Well” says Wendy “Lets get started before the dinner gets cold”
Olive’s father sits next to her and stares at her with unemotional eyes. Olive moves her body trying to avoid his watch. She feels like her entire soul is slowly being drain like he is killing her from the inside Her mother looks also uncomfortable. She wonders how he managed to get with such a great woman as her mother? She does get some money from her art studio.
“So, Olive, how is school treating you”
Olive’s eye contact shifts down to the table, too scared to even answer his question. Her mother sits next to her and says that it’s ok. Frank is a bit intimidated by his own wife for being with her. He tries again but kinder and a bit more thought.
“Kind daughter, how was school treating you”
But she still isn't responding to his words. Zoey asks her daughter to talk to her father fearing that he might cause a seen in the first day he is back.
“F….ne”
She is to scared to even form a single word but is doesn't stop her stubborn father, shivering from the waste down. Her mother puts her arms in her shoulder for comfort. “Do it for me” she says and Olive stops shivering and speaks.
“It was fine”
“Was that hard now”
“It was almost painful” she whispers behind her shoulder.
“What was that ?”
“I said it's almost painful” she shouted at his face, a bit of spit is shot, oh no, Olive is about get schooled by her own father. He gets up from chair and slaps his own daughter in her right cheek.
“I hate you”
Olive breaks into tears and left the kitchen, up to her room then slams the door with force that it can be heard from a mile away.
“Wendy, has the girl done her homework yet? The father asks, still refusing to speak to Olive directly. This guy just doesn’t understand the word nice apparently.” “I wont answer until you start speaking to your daughter, you’re becoming colder and colder each year”.
Pointing his fork in Olive’s direction with rage. “Listen, you are reason why I am angry. You just had to be a girl instead of a boy”
Chapter 2: World
Olive enters her room and slams the door so hard that it could be heard from miles away. She dives onto her bed and covers her face with a soft white pillow.” Why can’t he understand” she asks herself with her right hand on her forehead and looking up at her blue ceiling. “I am not a boy and I don’t want to become one just to make him happy” She then sits on her bed and covers her face again but this time with both her hands.” I want him to leave me alone, no, I want everyone to leave me alone.” She closes her eyes and empties her mind completely. “I want the world to just leave me alone” her Her tears spill onto the sheets. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
Opens them to a dark beach; no sound exists only emptiness. It’s so empty that Olive’s thoughts and emotions echoes like in a large cave. We are in Olive’s happy place, in which she is the existence. Some picture happy thoughts such as a castle or happy family memories, but Olive prefers isolation. This place was made by Olive’s 8-year-old self. Olive is truly a creative person. This is also a place were Olive learns more about herself as her emotions can speak instead of just feel.
(Why does dad hate me so much)
“I don’t know”
was it my fault, that he was taken?
Don’t say that, mom picked him for a reason
Maybe she didn’t know and just thought that he a nice man
“When I asked mom what’s wrong with dad, she ignored me, like she was hiding something important”
Could it be that Dad isn’t even our real dad but a stranger she met a long time ago?
“If that’s the problem then he has something that mom wants, after all she did tell me once that the man she married was kind yeah until we find out that he killed many women”
I will have to find out the truth
“Its almost time for me to leave”
But I wish I could stay here forever
“Maybe if I die then”
Yeah, maybe my father will be happy because he tried to kill mom
Olive takes a small pause and looks at the horizon with revetment.
Maybe that’s the only way, maybe I don’t even deserve to be born
She strips down to her underwear and does some stretches then takes a deep breath. “Well, it looks like ill have to see if it’s true”
And what if it’s not
“Then I will have to stay here for the rest of my life”
It’s a promise
Zoey slowly takes a small peak at her daughter’s bed room and sees that olive is fast asleep. She sneaks into her room and kisses her on the fore head. She leave her room and head to her bed room. She felt happy to see her daughter and can’t wait for her to grow up. She does downstairs to check up on her criminal and what you know sitting on the couch thinking.
“Frank, what’s wrong with you?” she asks
“I don’t know what your talking about?”