Drowning: the story of a teenager

Chapter 5:
Natalia knew it was a mistake from the very beginning, but she had never felt so lost in her entire life after Jim died. That should never have been an excuse, but Natalia found herselve even expecting a blow, anything familiar to fill the void she was in… even if that thing was making her suffer. She knew from the beginning that Dan would be the same. He was such a close friend of Jim’s. They shared the same habits, indulged in the same vices, even slept with the same women, especially now that she had been married to them both.
Everyday that Dan spent at the house was another day towards that first hit, the first angry word. But those words never came. Natalia found herself lulled into a calm in the presence of this man, who seemed to be the good version that Jim had failed to show in their marriage.
The two were married. Dan was so successful at his new assigned district. He became a local hero. Everybody loved the swarthy, handsome cop who held doors open for ladies and crossed the street to help a senior citizen across the intersection. He put a stop to petty crime, juvenile delinquency… He was Officer Dan Stant: the one man you coud trust your life with. Oh, how everyone loved him.

And that’s when the trouble started.

It was the same with Jim. The adoration went to his head. Dan loved the power that came with so much blind faith. Everything came so easily, so when something went a little astray, there would be a price to pay.

Dan came home one night, late from the station. Natalia had a cup of coffee prepared for him, some leftovers from dinner. He was tired, grunting his thanks.
The coffee was cold. Leftovers a little stale, like they hadn’t been warned properly.
“Make this again,” he had said, shoving the cup of coffee back at her. She had hesitated, staring at her hands, before reaching slowly across the table.
“What the fuck are you waiting for woman?” and he’d grabbed her hand, yanked her across the table and stared at her. She trembled, but quickly went and made him another cup without comment.

That was how it started. Quiet, little outbursts. Perhaps a little anger in the voice, a rough grab here and there, but nothing terribly difficult to deal with. It was continous, though. A constant negative voice, and for someone like Natalia, even the slightest comments grated against the stone she had erected around her heart. It wore away her numb defenses, leaving her exposed.
She would remind herself, it’s only so little… it could always be worse… but it did little to comfort her spirits.

The first night he came home drunk was different.

Misha and Natalia were seated at the kitchen table going over a homework assignment as Dan barged through the door.
“Fuck woman, where are you?” he had shouted groggily. Misha looked up in alarm and had tried to rush past him upstairs. She hated herself for wanting to leave her mother behind, but she was so scared…
Dan grabbed her arm as she tried to run past. “Misha, give Danny a kiss, alright? Give your new daddy a kiss,” he grinned at her forcefully bring her face to his. Misha grimaced at the sour smell of liquor on his breath.
“Let go of me, Dan,” she said through her clenched teeth. “Get your hands off of me.”

There was a loud thud, and black lights sparkled Misha’s vision. The volume in the room seemed to ebb in and out, and she thought she heard her mother’s voice. Something broke, she could hear a crash. Shaking her head, Misha struggled to stand upright again. Natalia had been knocked to the floor, breaking a side table and a lamp. Misha rushed to her side, cradling her mother’s head, a large gash was oozing blood down the side of her face.
“Get up, Mom,” Misha whispered, patting at the sides of Natalia’s face. She stirred slightly, but remained unconscious.
Dan was standing over them both. He grinned suddenly, yanking Misha away and dragging her back to the kitchen. Roughly shoving her onto the table, Misha’s homework tossed to the floor, he smiled again, a glazed look in his eye.
“You’re so pretty, Misha,” he slurred, standing between her legs. Misha could feel tears stinging at her eyes, unable to move, paralyzed with fear. He began to undo his belt, unzipping his pants, pulling down his underwear; his erection sprang free, and Misha felt herself gag in her mouth. Her body was trembling but she couldn’t grab onto a thought, make her body move.
Dan leaned forward, the crazy smile still plastered on his face. “I knew you wanted it, too,” he said hoarsely. “Your fucking mom… haha not fucking, actually.”
His hands gripped at her waist, fumbling with the button on her jeans, and awkwardly yanking down the zipper. “She won’t let me touch her. The fucking cold-hearted little bitch. I have needs to, you know? And you’re so pretty. So fucking pretty.”
His hands paused at Misha’s cotton panties, and his large hands began to trace circles on her crotch. His touch made Misha shiver, and she immediately focused on his hands.
His hands that were touching her, his disgusting filthy hands were touching her.

Her leg shot out, and dug fiercely into Dan’s naked crotch, and she grimaced as he bent over in pain. Jumping off the table, she pulled her pants back up and dashed to the front door, ignoring Dan’s grunts and shouts for her to come back.

Running into the streets, the cold air stung her eyes and the tears finally spilled past her eyelashes. The bastard. That disgusting, fucking bastard. “Fucking bastard!” she shouted and ran.
“I’ll go to the police station,” she said, and began to run again. “They’ll lock him up; they’ll put him away and we’ll be ok.”
She paused at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green. A patrol car pulled up next to her, windows rolled down.
“Everything ok, miss?” the police officer asked.
Misha shook her head, still panting from running. “Dan—Officer Dan—“ she gasped out.

The police officer cocked his head and recognized her. “Oh! You’re Officer Stant’s step-kid, huh? Man, he’s a great guy. Glad to work in the same station with him. It’s people like him that make me proud to be a cop. Give him my regards, will ya’? We all love him. He’s the best cop in this city, young lady. You sould be proud of him.”
Misha was stunned, “No, please—“
“Now, now, no need to be modest. Serioius. He’s the best damn cop around. Pardon my language.”
Misha shook her head vehemently. “Please—“
“No need to thank me,” the officer said, and paused as the dispatcher’s voice was heard over the radio. “Ah, ‘scuse me. I have to take care of this. Don’t stay out too late. And say hi to your dad for me. ‘Night.”
And he drove off.

Misha stood on the corner, her mouth agape. He didn’t even listen. Didn’t care what she had to say. All he knew was Dan was a good cop. Hah, just like Jim was a good cop. They’re all fuckers… she though. But if they all think he’s a good cop….


She found herself standing in front of the police station, but now completely sure she wouldn’t find any help in there. No one was going to stop Dan. He was the city’s hero. No one would believe her.

Misha slumped onto the stairs in front of the building, holding her head and crying in earnest.

“Listen, bitch you better get the fuck out of my way, or I'm going to make you move."