Page 13 of Run
Bounding into the house, I immediately burst into song.“... ass in the sand, ain’t a worry in the world …”
School let out early today because there was some sort of water main break, and I got a ride home with my buddy Sean’s dad. He hinted at wanting to hang out here with me, but I took a raincheck since, for once, I will have the house to myself and can sing out loud and run around in my underwear.
OK, I probably won’t do that because it’s cold as all get-out, but I’m definitely changing into my basketball shorts.
Also, I’m pretty sure Sean has the hots for Ari, which is weird because we’re, like, tweens, or whatever. But ever since they met one day when he came over after school, he asks about her.
Still singing, I kick off my shoes and head down the hallway. I do a two-step this way, then a two-step that way, and shimmy toward the bedroom door. Just as I get to the chorus again, throw the door open, and jump inside, ass first—to go with the lyrics—I roll my hips around in a circle until I face my bed.
“… Ain’t a worry in the world—Gah! What the?” I find myself with my back pressed against the wall, hand on my chest, as I stare at the back of a head of red, matted hair that looks like it’s been slept on. Ari is standing at my half-open window, looking like she’s ready to sling a leg over it. Her coat is in a ball in her arms as cold air filters inside.
“Ari?” It’s a question, even though I know it’s her. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry,” she mumbles quietly, but her voice is muffled.
Remembering what I told her that first day we met, I rush out, “Are you OK? Why weren’t you at school today? How long have you been here? What … Actually, that’s it. I’m out of questions.”
She doesn’t turn around. She doesn’t answer me. She doesn’t even giggle at the fact that I came in here dancing like an idiot when I thought no one was looking.
Taking a step closer, I place a hand on her shoulder, and she stiffens. I let that hand slide down her back, hearing her hiss through her teeth. Not waiting for her to move, to say anything or push me away, I pull the back of her shirt up—then quickly drop it and take a step back when I see what’s underneath.
My heart drops into my stomach. My mouth opens but no words come out. And since Ari doesn’t immediately give me the“it’s not that bad”line she normally does, I know it must, in fact, bethatbad. Stepping back toward her, I lift the shirt again and take in the red, raised skin laced across her back, with lines going this way and that. There’s bruising around her shoulder blade, and it looks like the skin is split right open on her lower back.
The bastard used a belt this time.
I swallow and pull the first full breath of air into my lungs since seeing the carnage. “Ari—” I start, but then she turns and looks at me.
People talk about what it’s like to witness a train wreck. They say something like, “I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t turn away.” This must be how it feels. Ari’s left eye is swollen shut. It’s an angry shade of blue-black and inflated to the size of a lime. Her lip is puffed up as well, with dried blood in the corner of her mouth and spread down her chin a little.
My chest heaves with a forced breath. “Red.” It’s all I can muster, and it sounds like a cry as it breaks from my quivering lips. “What …” but I don’t finish that question. I know exactly what happened. “We have to call the police. He can’t do this toyou and get away with it, Ari. Next time he’ll kill you. Crap, it looks like he almost did.”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep in your bed,” she says quietly.
“It’s OK. I told you to come here if you ever need me.” Taking a few steps closer, I assess her face again. “Come on, let’s go to the bathroom. We can wash the blood off.”
Taking her hand in mine, I lead her across the hallway, gesture to the bathtub, and she sits on the ledge. I take a washcloth out of the cabinet and soak it before turning back to face Ari, ever so softly dabbing the material at the corner of her mouth. “I meant what I said, Ari. You have to go to the police. Axel is a very bad man and next time … Ari, if he’s capable of this, imagine what else he’s capable of.”
She shakes her head and mumbles, “I just have to finish high school, then I can leave.”
“You’re barely twelve!” This time I raise my voice. “That’s, like, another six years. Imagine what he’ll do to you in six years!”
“I’ll just learn to not make him so angry,” she says in a rush. “Please.Please, Ethan, I can’t go to an orphanage or a foster home. That’s what’ll happen. And no one ever wants to take in an older child. I just have to stick it out.”
“OK. OK,” I concede. “Would you like me to wash the welts on your back? A little cool water might make them feel better.”
Ari nods.
“Here.” I take a folded towel off the rack next to the cabinet and hand it to her before turning around. “Just let me know when you’re covered.” Giving her my back and crossing my arms over my chest, I squeeze my eyes shut and will the tears not to come. Axel is an animal. How could he do that to anyone, let alone someone who is supposed to be his kid? And how could Lena let that happen?
“I’m good,” Ari’s voice breaks my thoughts.
I walk over and turn on the water before sitting next to her, straddling the tub. Ari clutches the towel to her front as I wet the cloth and squeeze it over her exposed back, watching the water dribble down her skin. It streams over her shoulder blades, over the welts that are now even puffier than they were when I first saw them, and down the bruised valleys of her back. We sit in silence as I continue the gentle pats on her skin with the cloth, a tender wiping here and there.
“So, um, did you like my rendition of Zac Brown?” The side of Ari’s mouth quirks up just the tiniest at my question, so I sing out loud,“Life is good today.”
We stare at each other as the words hang in the air. “Well, crap. I guess those are probably a poor taste in lyrics considering our current predicament. But to be fair, I had no idea I was gonna find you hiding in my room!”
Her smile widens, and then I see it—a broken tooth.That freaking monster.
