Stuck in my past

Creed

I lay on the cold floor of the basement, my father sent me in here. My older brother Reign broke the family frame and pinned it on me.

My father's words scarred me.

"Who knocked this down?" My father asked my older brother who was sitting in his office.

I was peeping from the study where I was reading some books before my dad came in. My brother made eye contact with me and pointed at me.

My father looked in my direction. "He broke the frame?"

My older brother nodded in agreement. My father pulled my ears, dragging me out of his huge study into his office.

"Why did you knock this over? Your stepmom said you have been acting strange so this is what you have been up to."

I stared at him as I didn't understand what he meant, was my stepmom saying mean things to my Dad?

"I can see you want to kill everyone here like you killed your birth mother."

"No father." I stuttered. A slap landed on my face, I didn't even know where it came from.

"Are you saying my son is lying against you?" My heavily pregnant stepmom defended my older brother.

"But." I tried to argue.

"Save it." My dad stopped me from talking. "Luke! Drag this boy to the basement. " He used his leg to turn me over. "Don't serve him any food or water.” He ordered luke.

Luke lifted me and put me on his shoulders.

"Put him down, did I ask you to put him on your shoulders?" My father said, "I'm going to treat this boy the way wants."

Luke put me down and my father dragged me by the collar into the basement. Luke followed my father closely.

"Let him out after two days." My father instructed luke, and he left after locking the basement.

“Are you crying?” Luke asked me, he probably heard my soft sobs. “I know you didn’t break the frame.”

My soft sobs became loud.

“Hey, Hey, Creed,” Athena shook me. I opened my eyes. “Why is a grown-ass man weeping from his sleep?” She sneered at me. I touched my face, tears drops were on it. It was a normal thing but her mentioning it made me feel weak.

“Since you won’t say anything, I am going in first.” She opened her car, then she went into the hospital.

I locked the car before leaving and I walked slowly behind her. My steps were much slower than hers, she walked briskly into the hospital ward.

“Creed,” Athena called me immediately after I got in. She gave me a warm hug, I must admit that I love her hugs. “Honey, Me and Ham are going on an important business trip, free up your schedule to stay with Athena.”

This was the first time I was receiving this kind of attention, and I was loving it. Athena looked like she wanted to hit her mom in the head.

“Er… Sure, I will do anything for her.” I replied to her, scratching my head not sure if that’s what I was supposed to say.

“I told you he was a good one,” She said to her husband, Athena looked at me indifferently while she was breastfeeding Ava.

“The boy isn’t sure of himself.” He responded to what his wife said and faced Athena. “I still don’t get why you are in love with this skinny man that looks like he can’t look after himself. I chose his elder brother for you, the better one. You think you know what’s best for yourself”

His words angered me. Is there anyone that doesn’t think Reign is better than me?

“I can see from afar, Father unlike you,” Athena replied to him and I felt the chills from her.

“You don’t speak to your father like that.” Her mom quickly interjected. "It's not right."

“You tell your husband to not speak anyhow to me and I will mind my mouth.” She said again, making me happy. I resisted the urge to laugh and I went close to Athena and whispered in her ear. “Please let them go home.”

I faced her parents with an apologetic face, “I am so sorry about her silliness. I think a good night's rest will calm her down.”

“It better calm her down.” Her dad yelled before leaving.

“I will be calm if you respect my husband,” Athena yelled after him. Her mum shook her head and I went close to her, and she hugged me again. “I will be sure to take care of her.” I saw her off at the entrance of the hospital.

She held my arms, “Thank you, son.” Athena’s dad honked severally, and Athena’s mom left hurriedly.

"You didn't just talk to your parents like that because of me. I appreciate it but it wasn't necessary." I said to her.

“I am not you, Creed. You suck up to your parents, that is your choice, leave me to mine.” She yelled at me. Why is she mad at me? Ava started crying. I rushed to her cot and picked her up. I patted her back softly and her cries were subdued.

Athena faced the wall, she hit her fist against the wall several times.

“Stop what you are doing, Athena. You will injure yourself and it is not good for the baby,” That came out authoritatively.

She laughed. Mockery filled the laughter. “Ava is all you give a shit about, then take care of her yourself. You only need me for your child, then? Just like they need me to be their perfect heiress.” She paused. “To hell with you all.” She raised her voice again.

Ava started crying again, I ignored Athena and started patting Ava’s back again. I did that for a minute but she did stop crying.

“Give her to me.” Athena took her from me. She sat down on the bed and raised her hospital gown to breastfeed Ava. She brought her left plump and full breast, then she put it in Ava’s mouth.

Our eyes met and turned her back from me. My eyes almost popped out of their socket when I saw her bare back.