A Futile Revenge

Chapter 1; Reeking of alcohol

The clock on Lena's night stand blinked 12:00 am, its red glow enveloping her room.

A crash from downstairs jolted her awake, followed by muffled shouting. She groaned, knowing what usually follows the late night disturbance.

"Not today again." She muttered to herself verbosely.

She stood up and walked to the place the noise was emanating from.

She pushed the door slightly and entered inside.

"What." she rushed in and pushed her dad who was reeking of alcohol off her mum.

"What's wrong with you?"

"You think you can kill her and go unscathed? If you don't want the marriage again, divorce her. What sort of nonsense is all this." she yelled at her dad while casting a furious look on him.

Lena looked at her mum, taking in the fresh bruises and in a defeated posture. Her chest tightened making it hard for her to breathe.

She clenched her fist, nails digging into her palms as she fought back tears.

She has seen her mum endure the abusive treatment from her dad for years.

But it's getting worse as time goes by!

Mr Lewis continued ranting where he was standing.

Lena supported her mum out of the room and took her to another room.

As she supported her mother to the bed, memories of happier times flashed through her mind. Family picnic in the park, her father's laugh, her dad being romantic to her mum.

When did it all start going wrong?

She has told her mum a thousand and one time that she should leave her father. Because the beating was becoming too unbearable and frequent. But her mum always says she is there because of the kids.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through Lena's window.

She stood up and did her morning routine before sauntering to the study room.

She picked a business management and risk control text book and flipped the pages.

But the events of last night keep enveloping her brain.

As she stared out the window at the Emerald City skyline, her thoughts drifted from her business management and risk control text book to her dream of having her own Audit firm. But how could she focus on her future when her family was falling apart?

She was just reminiscing how her mother has been brazing through the fiery hell all in the name of marriage.

She has seen a lot of women pass through torture and abusive treatment.

Still, they don't want to end the marriage all because of societal standards!

"I really want to talk to you Lena." Lena heard the cracky voice from behind which brought her back to reality.

She was already entrenched thinking about all the things her mum has been enduring.

Without being told, she knew her mum had cried throughout last night.

"Alright," she turned, staring at her mom's gloomier face.

She knew it! Her mom is really frustrated with her dad's concerning behavior and she wants to talk about it again. Nobody to talk to except for the kids.

She felt dejected from her own family members all because no one supported their union from the onset.

" I am planning on running away from your dad. What do you think?"

Lena raised her head looking at her mum. Speechless.

She obviously knows the reason why her mum is living but an adrenaline keeps pushing her to ask her why??

" Why now?" Lena asked, still staring deep into her mother's misty eyes.

"I might die untimely if I continue staying with this heartless man."

Lena is twenty two years now and her younger sister Lucy is nineteen.

"I will take Leonard with me. Since he is the youngest among you three." Rose concluded.

This is not a joke!

Her mum has never made up her mind to leave their father...

Iena looked at her mum pitifully. Somehow, she was in support of her decision. But a part of her was still finding it hard to assimilate her plan.

A part of her wanted to beg her mother to stay, to keep the family together. But as she watched the bruises on her mother's skin, she knew she couldn't be that selfish.

"So when did you plan on living?"

The quest broke the awkward silence between them.

She stared at her again and saw her mum staring at her pitifully. Lena knows she is thinking how she and Lucy will cope without her.

"In two days time.

Your dad has a business meeting next tomorrow. So he will leave tomorrow afternoon. I want to leave before your dad arrives."

"What?" Lena found herself shouting.

She has already planned everything!

She never expected it to be so soon.

A part of her applauded her mom's bravery but another part of her felt somewhat lost.

"Okay then." Lena said and her mum stood up and sauntered to her room.

"Lena, Lucy ." Rose called out to her two daughters while standing by the door of their room.

Lena cleaned her face with the back of her palm because her eyes were still droopy.

She raised her head and saw her mum all dressed.

Lena's eyes cleared instantly.

'what? So this lady was actually serious.' she thought.

"Mum, where are you going?" Lucy asked while stretching.

Seems mum didn't tell Lucy about her plan. Lena thought after hearing Lucy's question.

"I am traveling to go see a friend. I will spend a few days there."

Lena knows why their mother lied to her sister. She is a daddy's girl. She doesn't mind spilling the beans to their dad when he asks about her.

"Oh okay... take care." Lucy said and reclined on her bed again.

Lena stood up from the bed and walked with her mum down to the car garage.

A chauffeur put her box and Leonard's box into the car boot.

Lena looked at Leonard. She knows they will eventually see each other again but she will still miss him without any doubt.

"Always be the good girl you are. Okay?" Rose said to Lena and gave her a tight hug.

Her eyes became foggy but she tried not to let the tears drop.

Lena hugged Leonard tightly and disengaged from the hug, they entered the car and the chauffeur drove them off.

Lena went back inside the house. Locked everywhere and walked upstairs back to her room.

The house looks so lonely and empty.

No dad, no mum, no kid brother.

She has to accept her fate now.

She went back to her room and saw Lucy soundly sleeping. Lucy had her own room. But she doesn't like sleeping alone most of the time. Hence the reason she is in Lena's room.

Lena notices her phone vibrating but ignores it. The phone buzzed again on her night stand. Whatever it was could wait until she is done.

She went to the bathroom and carried out her daily routine.

After blow drying her hair and dressing up, Lena took her phone.

To her surprise, she saw a lot of missed calls from her dad's personal assistant Mr donald.

Fear gripped her instantly.

She has never seen such a call from anyone. Talk more from Mr Donald, her dad's personal assistant.

There were also a lot of messages sent to her phone from Mr Donald too.

Her hand shook as she read the message from her father's assistant.

'There has been an accident. Call me immediately.'

Her mind raced.

"An accident? But her father was supposed to be in a meeting unless..."

"No way. No way." Lena screamed her lungs out immediately when she saw the content of the message.

Lucy jumped up from her bed startled.

"What's wrong?"

Lena couldn't answer her. Instead, she just handed her phone to Lucy to see for herself.