Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Dark Past

Chapter 46:

Dark Past

Alana dried her tears, and refreshments were ordered. On a day like today, a cup of hot chocolate fit the bill just fine. With the maid leaving three of them, they bowed before leaving. It was odd having maids and butlers, but they did their jobs and were well paid for it. I still wasn't entirely used to it.

Alana was in awe at the way everything was. She really couldn't believe this was all happening. When she had asked to come with me, she really didn't understand until now just what that meant. To me, she was the closest thing I had to a daughter. I was lazy, I'd admit, but when it came to Alana, I was the one who raised her.

She was born when I was only 13-years old. Her mother, Dolores, was just 16-years old. This already caused arguments with our parents. They couldn't believe she was pregnant at that age. Let alone who the father was, Braden. He was ten years older than Dolores.

A huge fight broke out, but it was decided Dolores would have the baby. Nine months later, Alana was born. Her father wasn't there and had skipped town. He has not been in her life since. Charges were pressed, but went nowhere.

With George already moved out, he had nothing to do with us. Only sending some money every now and then. Our parents worked, so they were either gone or too tired. It fell to Dolores to care for her child, and who was there with nothing to do? Me.

It was the perfect excuse for her to pawn Alana off on me. She would disappear for hours, sometimes days trying to retain a semblance of the life she once lived. The truth of being a mother never really hit her, but she sure bragged about it a lot. "My Child" tis and "My Child" that.

She used it to garner sympathy, but not from the right people. Those who came into her life were abusive. I can't recall how many times I had to step in when things got heated. After a while, she'd not bring them around the house, but we still knew what happened.

Black eyes, bruises, and more that she tried to cover up. Dolores would ignore any piece of advice we would give. After a while, my parents just gave up. I watched Alana when no one else would. She'd take naps on my bed while I played games or read a book.

Whenever I made food, I made it for both of us. Alana was innocent in all of this. She didn't ask for any of this. She did nothing wrong, but blamed herself. At a young age, she once told me that she should not have been born. It was what finally broke my heart. What cemented my bond with Alana.

From then on, I made sure to protect her as best as I could. When Dolores finally raised her hand against her, I stepped in. This caused a huge fight which I thought opened her eyes. She profusely apologized to Alana, but my parents had enough. They kicked them out.

I argued a storm. Alana should have stayed with us. Somehow, her mother kept custody and my parents were fed up with it all. I resented my parents a long time after that. They never seemed like the ones who would kick even Alana out. It is something they've felt guilty about ever since.

I had thought Dolores had finally opened her eyes. She proved me wrong when she got together with a guy named Derek. He seemed nice, but only on the surface. I had felt something off the first time I met him. I blame myself to this day, but am grateful I acted when I did.

I won't mince words. Derek attempted to rape Alana. She was just 8-years old. Locked in her room, she was scared. Derek had come to visit her mother, but something seemed wrong to her. I had never heard Alana ask for help before.

She never asked for anything. She would get in trouble with her mother when she did. So, when I saw the message, my blood ran cold.

--"Uncle...Please help. I'm scared."

Those words still burned in my mind to this day. I was 21-years old at the time. I rushed over there, an iron taste in my mouth. Even though I was in much better shape back then, my asthma was still a bitch. When my sister didn't answer her phone, I grew anxious.

When I heard Alana's scream, however, it all washed away. Bursting in, I made my way quickly to Alana's room. Derek was there, his wiry frame leaning over her. His greasy brown hair fell around his pale face as he attempted to tear at her clothes. The rage I felt in that moment pushed everything else out of my mind.

I should have killed him then and there, but my priority was Alana. The satisfying "thunk" as my fist connected with his face still resonated with me. I could still feel it even now. As I beat him till my knuckles were raw, he put up a fight, but my anger was nothing he could match.

Only Alana, her timid voice calling to me brought me to reality. I saw the fear in her eyes, but more than that I saw something else. Worry. Her tiny hands touched my arm, her eyes looking at my hands. In that moment, all I thought was that I needed to get her out of there.

After that, Alana stayed with me and my parents for a while. Dolores had to get clean before she would get her daughter back. Derek disappeared, and we thought she was done with him. When she finally took Alana back, we thought that was the end of it. That she finally turned a new leaf.

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Truth be told, when I found out about Cecelia's yandere tendencies, I thought she had taken care of him. Unfortunately, she was unable. In fact, she didn't even know about it. As much as she tried, she couldn't always keep an eye on me. It was something that greatly upset her.

"I should have been there...I should have been able to do something..." Her words were deeply apologetic and self-blaming.

Of course, I couldn't blame her. I learned that it was around that time a huge conflict arose within and out of the company. A war, in fact. Her attention was focused on quelling it quickly. by the time it was over, the whole thing with Derek was over. She had no idea he ever existed because we never talked about it since.

To think he had returned now. Cecelia was ready and geared towards ending this. The guilt that we all had was heavy. If I had killed Derek at that time, or if Cecelia had been more pro-active then my sister wouldn't be in this state now. It was something that didn't escape Alana's notice.

"...Uncle," Her gentle touch brought me out of my thoughts, "I know what you're doing. You can't blame yourself."

"Huh?" Blinking, I smiled dismissively, "What do you mean?"

"It's not good to lie," Yuriko's finger poked my cheek, "Yuriko can tell too."

"...Sorry," My smile turning a bit sad, I looked down at Alana's hand.

It was over the bandages of my right hand. She was gentle, but as I looked up at her face, I saw that worry again. Taking a deep breath, I patted her hand reassuringly.

"I'll try not to," I told her, genuinely, "It's difficult."

"I know, Uncle," She smiled in understanding, "It seems you've hurt yourself again though..."

"Y-Yeah, but it's not as bad," I laughed lightly, looking towards Yuriko, "Her and Cecelia insist I keep the bandages on."

"Of course!" Yuriko protested, "Alex can't be hurt! Yuriko will protect him!"

As she said this, Yuriko thrust her fist up into the air confidently. Her serene smile a breath of fresh air to the gloomy thoughts in my head. More than that, however, was the lighthearted giggle I heard from Alana. It washed away whatever remained of the gloom.

With her free hand over her mouth, she covered it as she giggled in delight. Exchanging a look with Yuriko, a warm smile to my lips, for I saw the knowing smile Yuriko had. I saw the twinkle in her eye. She was keen of mind and acted in such a way as to lift the spirits of both me and Alana.

"Thank you," I mouthed to her, to which she simply shrugged as if it was no big deal, "Gods...I am falling even more in love. Honestly, these Ishikawa-Alden women..."

Taking warmth and solace in the first laugh of Alana's I heard in a while, I found myself relaxing for the moment.

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