End of an Era

Fahmeen's POV:

The fireworks have just gone off and I couldn't help but jump. I wasn't expecting it.
"Wow."
I look towards the sky, in awe of the selection of colours electrifying the night.
"We haven't danced yet."
I was sat with Rolf and close family and friends. The table was huge, and it was shaded by the willow tree. There was low lightning around, it was intimate and glowing. The guests were having fun as well as helping themselves to the fantastic selection of food and drinks. Rolf really went all out.

"Let's dance, baby."

We sway to the soothing voice and mellow beat. I was glad we didn't do a first dance or anything, it was more comfortable in a busy dance floor. My head rests on his shoulder and his hand holds my back.
"I don't think you get just how much you understand me. It's more than I ever knew about myself."
We face each other now. Rolf just watches and listens to me.
"The style of our wedding, the mood, the people, everything. I couldn't say what I wanted because it was meant to be from you. You know me better than I know myself."
"I just did what I thought would make you happy." He says simply.
I stroke his cheek.
"I know."

"Can I interrupt?"
My heart jumps as my dad stands between us, already taking me for a dance. I've hardly seen him today.
"Sure. I'll be just over there, baby." Rolf kisses me on the cheek and looks my dad straight in the eye before walking off.
Dad seems not to notice or care and we start our dance.

"Have you enjoyed yourself?" I ask. I wander what he thought of it all.
"The food was delicious. Apparently your sister made the cake."
"Oh was it good?"
"Haven't tried it yet."
He twirls me around.
"Listen sweetheart. It's nice to see you happy. And I can't quite believe what's on the way either." He touches my stomach briefly.
"So, I need to talk to you about something."
He looks serious. And we've stopped dancing.

"Okay, shoot."
"No not here. Come with me."
He takes my hand and leads us away from the dance floor. Instinctively, I look around for Rolf. I couldn't see him anywhere and I feel a little deflated. Mostly because I couldn't shake an odd feeling. Instead I meet River's eyes. He puts down his drink and looks a little concerned. I try to reassure him with a smile and gesture it's my father but that doesn't make him any less uncomfortable.

I ignore that feeling and go with my father. We end up further out of the clearing where the party is happening, and towards the house.
"What's up, Dad?" I stop walking and wait till he faces me.
I feel a little cold, my arms have goosebumps as the wind brushes over them.
Dad doesn't look back yet. He puts his hands in his pockets and looks up to the sky and sighs.
"Why did you marry him?"

I gulp. I recognise that tone of voice. Accusing and manipulative. Like how he used to be with mum.
"What?" My voice is a whisper because I feel so small right now. Like he's the big bad man who scares our mother and hits her.
Dad finally looks at me but he doesn't move forward.
"Why? Was it to anger me? Make a point? I thought we were doing good. Getting somewhere. I always believed you were the good daughter. The one who had her head screwed on and didn't hate me like her sister."

"You hurt Sam too." I can't help but say, unable to look at his face. I can feel his eyes burn into mine.
"Don't mention that again." His voice gets louder and he walks towards me. I keep still, wanting not to aggravate him further. Practice.
"I see that I was wrong. Your head is lost up in the clouds like your mother."
My heart breaks from this betrayal. Was it all a lie? An act to get back inside the walls of our home just so he can break it down?
He grabs my hand tightly. Fingers dig into my skin.
"We're going to go for a drive. Clear our heads. And when we come back, you can tell everyone it was a mistake."
"What? No!" I try to move away but he holds on tighter like a snake. Finally he picks me up by the waist and covers my mouth.

...

He's locked all the doors so that I can't open any. I'm sat at the back of his hired blacked out car. No one can see me. I'm too scared to make a sound as he drives us in silence.

He said we're going for a drive but it's been a while now. I feel as if we're getting further and further.

The car stops.
I can barely make out what it looks like out there as it's fully night now. Soundlessly, my father gets out of the car and opens my door. He offers me his hand. I realise that my hand is trembling whilst he looks expectantly at me. He's choosing to ignore the state that I am. I take his hand and follow him. It's hard feeling so vulnerable because I have my baby to think about. I couldn't risk it to run. I honestly have no idea where I am.

"I thought we were going back."
We stop outside this little shack. We're on the side of a highway, unfortunately an empty one with no cars passing by.
"Get inside." He signals towards the desolate building. I have to force the door a little bit and when it wouldn't budge dad shouts at me to try harder. I swallow hard, sweat accumulating at the top of my forehead. My wedding dress was a little dirty now.

Frustrated, he pushes the door from behind me and I tumble inside as he stays close by.
"What are you planning to do?"
I'm feeling really cold, I can't help the way my teeth are chattering. I clamp my jaw shut, both to stop that and speaking unnecessarily.
Even though it's dark I can still make out his eyes. They've changed dramatically from how he's looked at me the last few weeks. That softness has hardened, his pupils somehow look darker. The truth is coming out now.

He brings out his phone and starts typing really fast.
"Your mother could never resist me. I was her weakness." He says it proudly. I feel like such a fool for not heeding Rolf's warnings. For not learning from my past.

"Please for the baby, don't hurt me."
He stops typing and actually looks a little hurt. I keep still as he crouches down and looks me in the eye.
"I will never hurt you. Or my grandchild."
He cradles my face with his hand and I almost believed him. That was until his phone buzzed and his face twisted to anger.
"That stupid bitch. She could never do what she was told."
"Damn it!" He walks to the other side of the wall and punches it. I stay still, keeping my eyes on the floor. It's always best not to look them in the eye.

"Well, sweetheart. It looks like we're going a little further out. How'd you fancy a midnight paddle in a lake?"
Forcefully he tugs me by my arm and we return to the car. The highway is still ghostly quiet.

...

Rolf's POV:

"I won't spare him, Susan. I can't."
She gives me a defeated look, both pain and fear in her eyes. My hands are shaking as they grip the steering wheel. River was by my side, having been the first to notice something was wrong once I couldn't find my wife at our wedding party.
"Please bring them back safe."
God, the image of her pregnant and taken away by the psycho dad has left me raging. Never again will he come close to them. Even if it meant losing both his legs. Or head.

"Let's go, Rolf."

...

Fahmeen's POV:

My phone's missing. I tried looking for it earlier when we were still in the car but he must've swiped it. We were at this mysterious lake. God knows where.
"The moon is exceptionally beautiful today, don't you think?"
He was so manipulative. He'd say one thing but mean something else. This usually meant to keep quiet.

"Apparently your husband is on the way. Good luck to him to find out where. I couldn't say myself!"
He actually starts laughing. I have to stop walking and I just watch as he does so, the lake not too far with the car behind us.
"If this is all an elaborate plan to get us back, you're having a laugh." It was gutsy but he's pissing me off.
He stops laughing and just stands there, as still as the water.
"What did you just say?"

"Fuck you."
I'm tired of feeling defenceless against him. Of being scared of him. Yeah, fuck you.
His eyes widen in disbelief. Then he says something that scares me.
"They'll never find you."

I'm forced to think about my next words carefully.
"What is it you plan to do with me."

He scratches his stubble.
"It's different now."

He starts walking towards me. A wild look in his emotionless eyes.
"Dad, stop it."
"The water would make it look like you drowned."
"Wha-
Dad begins to run.
I turn in the opposite direction. It was towards the lake. I had no other choice.

As I got close to the lake, I trip on the trail of my dress. I heard that he has caught up with me and he's quick to push my face into the water.
Startled, I gasp and feel the painful rush as my father began to drown me at the lake. My arms were flaying, trying to reach behind and push him away but that was useless. I felt incredibly weak. His hands were tight on my scalp, fingers twisted around my hair.

Seconds were precious. Time was going too slow however. Drowning hurt a lot. Oxygen was almost gone when I suddenly no longer felt the force of his hand on my head. My body sprang back up and I felt as if I swallowed the skies as the air returned to my lungs. Amidst my coughing, I hear the shouts and the grunts of pain behind me.

"Hey it's me. You're safe."
River helps me sit up and relieve my lungs of any water. I try to look around for Rolf and I see him beating down my father.
Clutching at my throat, struggling to speak I choke out,
"S-Stop Rolf. It... it isn't worth it." I was scared he'd do something terrible. And it'd ruin his life, all because of my father.

River puts his arms around me and we watch helplessly as Rolf doesn't let up. I can't stop him. River isn't trying to.
Suddenly, my father gains the upper hand and stands up. River tenses and he almost joins Rolf but I hold him down.
"You're finished. Done. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
I almost didn't recognise his voice. Rolf sounds beastly. Furious. White hot fury courses his veins.

Bloods drips down my father's nose, forehead, eyes. He's walking backwards, smirking.

But he doesn't see the one single car speeding down the highway.