A Helping Hand

Adam, part 2.

                                            A Helping Hand

Adam drove the car with an unsettled feeling in his stomach.  Someone was close in capturing him.  He wasn't sure who they were, and this scared him.  He'd always been aware of them since he was a child.  

It was dark, which was perfect for what he had in mind.  Along the side of the road he parked the vehicle.  The road was quiet and miles from anywhere.  He got out reluctantly looking all around him just to see if any other vehicles were close by.  Adam was in luck.  He opened the boot, staring at him with lifeless eyes was the mean b*****d who'd beaten his wife too many times.  

"Your death will make this world a better place.  As in time scum like you will die at my hands.  And the people that I cherish with all my soul can live again in a world which treats them with the respect which they deserve."  

Near the man's head was an explosive that Adam had made days earlier.  Pressing some buttons and turning the timer on, he shut the boot, then casually walked away.  A fair distance away he saw the explosion light up the sky.  He smiled.  Then the being who'd been following him for so long appeared a few metres away.  Adam knew what he had to do.  Chanting dark magic a circle of light surrounded him.  The angel saw this with alarm.  Adam needed to escape.  All of a sudden the field vanished.  Adam a little disorientated opened his eyes and saw a sign close by which read 'Willow Long.'  Then he heard the screams which sent a shiver through him.  Someone was in trouble.  He entered the town knowing what he needed to do.  And with God on his side he had nothing to fear.

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Gemma was petrified.  Cold sweat covered her brow.  Her horrible step dad was at the door with that smarmy look on his face.  He made his way in sitting on the bed while leering at her, before saying, "You know you're my favourite girl in the whole wide world, don't you."  

A hand touched her inner thigh.  She wanted to cry as this had happened before.  Usually at this moment she'd close her eyes wishing him dead.  In her mind she'd think of school, larking around with her mates.  Anything to get away from this nightmare.  She could feel his hand touch her breasts.  She shivered with fear and loathing.  "Goodnight," he then said kissing her on the forehead.

Gemma opened her eyes relieved.  He'd gone.  She switched the lamp on by her bed.  To take her mind off things she started reading one of her books, realising the bedroom door was still open she quickly got up closing it with haste.  From the hallway she heard a door close knowing Graham was going to bed.  He'd only moved in three month ago.  Her mum would say he was the best thing to happen to her in very long time.  Gemma wanted to puke.  He was a creepy older man which made her uncomfortable every time he was near.  Tomorrow was a Saturday.  Mum would work all day leaving Graham at home to do what he pleased.  She grimaced at the thought.  

For the rest of the night she read her book which was about a girl her age who was strong and independent and knew what she wanted from life.  

When the early morning sun shone softly through the window fear ran through her.  At this point she wished she could just disappear away from this bad dream.  From outside her door a toilet flushed making her jump.  Then with horror she realised Graham was already up as he made his way down the hall.  Tears streamed down her cheeks.  For the next couple of hours she hid under her duvet.  Dead on eight came a familiar voice calling from the bottom of the stairs, "Gemma.  Time for breakfast.  Don't take too long as it'll be ready in about ten minutes."  

"Yes, mummy," was all she muttered.  It was time to face the music.

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Bleary eyed she walked down the stairs.  At the bottom was Graham dressed in his boxer shorts.  He looked her up and down, before making his way to the kitchen.  

Reluctantly she made her way in.  Her mother whose name was Sheila stood at the cooker while she fried some eggs.

Sheila gave her a quick look while smiling.  "Did you have a nice sleep," was all she said.  

Gemma didn't know what to say, but replied the best she could, "Yes.  It was lovely"

At the weekends they'd always have a fry up.  It was something her dad used to do religiously.  But now he wasn't there it didn't seem right somehow.

Her step dad appeared now wearing his purple dressing gown.  He had a silly grin on his face while he patted Sheila's bum.  She burst out laughing, before saying, "You silly fool."

He stared at Gemma as he groped Sheila's breasts.  "Do you like that, love?" he cackled.  "Because I bloody do."

Suddenly Gemma felt sick and got up from the chair holding a hand over her mouth as she ran to the downstairs bathroom.  After being sick she noticed her mum at the doorway looking worried.  "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asked putting a hand to her heart.

Gemma didn't want to cause a fuss.  Wiping her mouth with a piece of tissue, she stood up and replied, "I'll be all right, mum.  Is it okay if I skip breakfast and go upstairs?"

"Of course it is."  She gave her daughter a much needed cuddle.  "Go to bed and sleep it off.  You know I love you very much.  If you ever have a problem, you would tell me wouldn't you?"

But you love him.  How can I break your heart, Gemma thought.  "I love you too.  I'll see you later."  Feeling vulnerable Gemma walked through the kitchen and back up the stairs.  Once in her room she peered out of the window at the field in front.  Deep down she wished a miracle would happen, to save her from something that she feared the most, being different.

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Going on the internet she tried to pretend that everything was good.  On Facebook she chatted to a couple of mates from school.  It was fun.  After that she went on You-tube and listened to some music.  The sun shone pleasantly outside.  The problem was she lived a few miles from school so her friends didn't live nearby.  If they did she would go out and meet them, but this village was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields everywhere you looked.  

Her mum had moved here after separating from her dad.  And ever since this, life just didn't seem as fun.  Then the b*****d who she loathed moved in spoiling everything.  Gemma took her earphones off.  A noise from the hallway made her heart beat a little quicker.  What was that?  Peering towards the doorway she saw nothing out of the ordinary.  "Who's there?" she half shouted.

Nothing.

She got up from the bed walking slowly to the entrance.  Her mouth was dry.  She had this horrible feeling the creep was spying on her.  Pushing the door open she proceeded cautiously down the hall.  At the top of the stairs she glanced down.  From the living room she heard aggressive voices.  What the hell was going on?  Gemma needed a closer look.  Making her way down she tried to peer through the entrance to see if anyone was there.  Five steps from the bottom her hands began to shake.  Be a good girl, she kept thinking, and go back to your room where it is safe.  Or was it safe with that man about?  Once she'd placed one foot on the carpet Gemma made her way slowly to the living room to have a closer look.  Taking each step so she didn't make a sound she had this odd feeling that someone was behind her.  She turned scared as can be.  No one was there.

"For God sake," she said under her breath.  Suddenly a hand clasped her shoulder causing her to shriek.

Graham was inches from her with an angry look on his face.  "What are you doing," he said nastily, pinning her against the wall, “what is your problem with me?"

Gemma wanted to cry.  "Please don't," she begged, not knowing what was going to happen next.

He released his hand from her throat, then smacked a nearby wall causing a photo of her dad to fall onto the floor.  "I try so hard with you.  And you creep around this house spying on me.  How do you think that makes me feel."  

A hand rubbing his forehead he stormed into the kitchen leaving her utterly baffled by what had just occurred.  Was it her fault?  Guilt started to set in, am I the one with the problem, am I blaming him for my parents splitting up?  Her mind started to spin.  At the age of thirteen this was too much to bear.  Then his voice called, "I'm so sorry.  Come into the kitchen and I'll make you a nice breakfast."

Maybe he was being genuine, she thought.  Her whole body shook as she walked to the door.  Inside he was seen sitting at the table, his cheeks were moist like he'd been crying.  There was something about this which didn't seem right.  She hated him so much usually but now she felt sorry for him.  He didn't look up once which unnerved her very much.  Why was he acting so strange?  Pulling one of the chairs away from the table she sat down hesitantly.  Gemma stared at him waiting for some kind of response.  Finally she said, "I didn't mean to upset you."  The silence was doing her head in.

Graham glanced up with a sparkle in his eyes, before replying, "I believe you, my sweet girl.  And I appreciate you saying that to me.  It means a lot."  His hand touched hers.  He tickled her fingers.

Straight away she felt sick.  There was something about him which didn't add up.  He wasn't right in the head.  One minute he's pathetic and the next he's a dirty old man.  Not meaning to say it, she said, "Your a wierdo aren't you?"

His eyes changed.  His grip became tighter so now her hand hurt.  "What the hell did you just say?"

She had nothing to lose.  His vibe was disgusting.  She'd had enough of it.  "You're a moron who deserves to be in a silly school full of morons."

He got up, his arms all over the place smashing pots and pans while they flew to the floor making a racket.  "You've hurt my feelings, you b***h.  Now you must pay."

"How come you're with my mum when all along you want to get with me you sad individual," she screamed at the top of her voice.  He tried grabbing her but she bit the top of his head before running for her life back to the bedroom.  At the entrance he grabbed her pulling her back.  With all her strength she kicked him in the face.  He cried out in pain.  His grip lessened and she made a run for it towards the hallway.  Running up the stairs she looked back.  Thankfully he was nowhere to be seen.  Then he yelled while it echoed through the house, "When I get hold of you I'm going to teach you a lesson you spiteful cow."

Panic set in, as quick as she could she flew into her bedroom searching for some kind of weapon.  Peering into every drawer she found nothing which would help her.  Footsteps coming up the stairs caused her to trip on something, tumbling to the floor she now realised she was in serious trouble.  He was just outside, his breathing was heavy.  She hid her face in her hands hoping this nightmare would end.  Why was this happening?

As he made his way in holding a tissue to the top of his head, he said angrily, “All I ever wanted to do was get on with you, Gemma.  Why did you have to spoil everything?  After today your mum would've lost a daughter and a lover.  You're so unbelievably selfish that you would do something like this to your mother.”  Using his fist he punched the top of the bed causing a teddy bear to fly off the quilt landing only inches from her.

She'd had enough, and being the bravest she'd ever been she stood up to face him.  He looked angry as hell.  “Please don't hurt me, Graham,” she pleaded putting both hands together like she was praying.  “I wouldn't do anything to hurt my mum because I love her very much.”  Tears streamed down her cheeks.

He smacked the bed again, then shouted, “Now after all this time you're nice to me.  Well, if you want to show me now how much you appreciate me then come closer.”  A leer came across his face which worried her a lot.  What did he have in mind?

She did what she was told and walking slowly around the bed she now faced him while trembling with fear.  Gemma felt his hand touch her bottom while he had a disgusting smile on his face.  Then she realised she needed to do something fast.  She picked up the closest object from her and with as much strength as she could muster she swung it at his head.

…............................................................................................................................................................

Adam knew something was wrong.  Running up the stairs he had this terrible feeling.  When he entered the room a chill ran through him.  

“Oh my God,” he muttered under his breath.  On the bed was a young female no older than fourteen.  Her face was covered in purple bruises.  Around her throat was a thick rope.  Her pyjama bottoms had been pulled down and around her inner thighs was bleeding. Her eyes were blank.  The poor innocent girl was dead.  He was too late.  Adam put a hand to his forehead, feeling the pain this girl had experienced only a few seconds before her brutal death at the hands of her step dad.  “I'm so sorry, child.  This is the first time I've failed in saving a life.”  He didn't know what to do.  Tears ran down his cheeks.  Using his hands he closed her eyes.  “I should have come earlier, because of me you're now gone from this world.  I'm so sorry.”  

He couldn't understand what went wrong.  He put his hands together and began to pray.  Then a voice was heard behind him.  “It's all my fault you couldn't save the child,” was all the stranger said.

Adam peered round angry as hell.  “Explain yourself?” he demanded.  Only a short distance away stood one of them.  Then he realised he was having a very bad day, could it get any worse. 

The angel covered in intense light came forward.  “I've missed you Caroline.  How are you?”

Was this some kind of joke.  Adam was furious and shouted, “Explain yourself now, creature, or there'll be trouble.”

“I'm not your enemy, Caroline.  I'm here as a friend,” was all the angel answered, a look of concern covering its face.  The being took a couple of steps closer.  “Do you remember me?” it asked.

What?  Adam had had enough of this bullshit.  “If you haven't noticed a dead girl who I should have saved is only a metre from me.  I think we have bigger things to think about.  Wouldn't you agree.”  And why the hell was this creature calling him Caroline.  Who the hell is Caroline?

The being had a smile on its face, before saying, “I'm sorry that I played you, but I needed to see you, my darling sister.  The only reason this girl died was because I sent you mixed signals.  This is why you arrived here to late.”

“And this is suppose to make me like you,” Adam yelled.  “If that is the case you can rot in hell.”

The angel smiled wryly, then replied, “I saved you from that terrible place, don't you remember?”  

Adam sat on the bed exhausted.  Ever since he was a child he'd had special abilities, never really knowing why?  So many unanswered questions.  But at this moment in time he was more interested in catching the brute who had caused this poor child to die.  “Can you help me?” was all he asked, peering at the tall being in front.  “Because you owe me.”

“I can do more than that, dear sister.  Do you trust me?” said the angel.  

Adam didn't truly know, as these things had been following him all his life trying to stop him.  “Who was I before this life?”  He needed an answer.

The angel rested a hand on Adam's shoulder.  “You were the same as me, but you decided to do things differently which angered many of our kind.  I helped you, as a brother would, to escape from the worst place possible.  Now you've been given this life as a blessing.”

Adam couldn't believe it.  “So why am I being punished if I used to be like you?”

“Because the others fear you as you aren't scared to change things for the better,” was all it answered.  “Would you like me to help you, Caroline?”

“Help me?” Adam replied.

“I can bring this girl back to life.  Also I can take you to the person who caused this atrocity in the first place so you can exact whatever punishment you see fit.  Would you like me to help you?” the angel said softly.

Adam glanced up at the great being while it shimmered in light, and replied.  “Yes please.”

“Then it shall be done.”

An immense flash of light and Adam found himself in the back of a moving car.  A moment later the man driving the vehicle at high speed noticed him in the front mirror.  “What the hell,” the brute shouted slamming his foot down on the brake causing the car to fly off the road into a nearby cornfield.  The man had luckily hit his head on the dashboard and seemed not quite with it.

Adam looked at him with utter disgust, before saying sarcastically, “I bet you wished you'd worn your seatbelt now.”

Once the man seemed more alert he tried to open the door with no luck.  “Why won't this thing open,” he kept screaming, fear in his eyes.

Adam watched him knowing he didn't have a hope in hell of escaping.  Using his fist he punched the man in the back of the head several times.  Finally the man fell back into his seat muttering something under his breath.  “So you enjoy raping and murdering young defenceless girls.  Because there's something about that I don't like.  Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm naive?”

The man was miles away unable to say a single word.  Blood spilt from the back of his head.

Adam needed his full attention.  He had the perfect idea.  “Do you ever watch Doctor Who?” he asked innocently enough.  Still the man didn't answer.  Then he yelled in the man's ear, “Do you watch Doctor Who you pathetic paedophile?”

The b*****d had lost all consciousness.

Time to wake him up, Adam thought.  “Do you like the screwdriver that Doctor Who carries about with him, well, you pathetic individual, I have a plan which hopefully will hurt you very much, and at the same time end your pathetic life.  Are you with me.”  

“Who are you?” quietly said the man, seeming distressed.

Adam loved saying this to most of the pricks he met before killing them, “I'm your worst nightmare.  So enjoy.”

He imagined a screwdriver floating like magic near to where the brute sat.  “Enter slowly into the side of his head until it comes out of the other side.  Please, God.  Forgive me.”

Blood splashed across the window as the man screamed in pain unable to do anything.

Adam watched with a big grin on his face.  He loved it when the bad guys were losing.  After a few seconds the screwdriver had dropped to the floor.  Satisfaction.  Then something happened which surprised him, the angel who had helped him earlier appeared on the road in front.  “Why?” was all it said, disgust on its face.  The moment their eyes met something different happened.  The being vanished in a flood of light leaving Adam to ponder.  Adam started crying, the guilt of what he'd done was now tormenting him.  He hit the chair many times until the tears stopped.  “God, I didn't mean to kill him in such an awful way, but to save these people sometimes drastic actions is the only way.  It's the only way the human race will learn.”

He chanted some words and within seconds he was somewhere different.  But it didn't change the way he felt.  Why the hell did he feel like this, what had changed?  He stood in a dark forest away from everything.  He could hear animals scurrying around the many trees.  The world was a beautiful place really, it just seemed a shame that some spoilt it for the rest.  The guilt hadn't disappeared while he dropped to the ground.  Through the trees a little mouse ran up to him sniffing his trousers.  He peered at the animal, “If I was so evil then why would you feel comfortable around me.  I'm not a bad guy.  Or am I?”  All of a sudden animals from everywhere came to him, he cuddled them with his loving arms.  “I used to be an angel, or that is what someone told me today.  My God, I can't believe it.”  

For the next few days he stayed in the forest. The guilt slowly lessened to his relief.

One day when the sun shone warmly he decided to go back.  Ever since he'd been on Earth he knew what had to be done.  And yes, Adam had always felt different, as his special abilities had made him different ever since he was a child.  

Moments later he found himself in a congested street.  Screaming echoed in his mind.  With as much speed as he could gather he headed down a nearby alley, knowing only a short distance away someone needed his assistance.  A new game was afoot.

…............................................................................................................................................................

Ever since that day when the angel had helped him he didn't know what to think.  Had it all been a trick to gain his trust.  He washed the dried blood off his hands as he stared at himself in the mirror.  At the age of 28 he wasn't looking too good.  The years of travelling all over the place wasn't doing him any favours.  “Did the being really save her?” he asked, needing an answer.  Then he came to a decision.  He knew it would be dangerous, but if there was someone out there willing to help him, Adam needed to know the truth.  Once his hands were clean he proceeded to the bedroom for some much needed sleep.

…............................................................................................................................................................

He stood in an alley opposite the girl's house waiting patiently.  He needed to know if the angel was genuine.  

The front door opened and a woman walked to a car which was parked only a few metres from the place.  With baited breath he watched.  The female who was quite attractive got into the vehicle a faraway look on her face.  The engine started up and within seconds the vehicle had disappeared.  Adam felt let down.  Using his fist he punched a nearby wall causing half a brick to fall to the path below.  Then he noticed something from one of the top windows of the building.  Peering out smiling was a teenage girl.  She seemed to be talking on the phone while she played with her hair.  Adam with utter surprise realised it was her.  The heavenly being had told the truth all along.  

He could see her face in his mind covered in bruises.  Her genitals mutilated beyond belief.   A tear ran down his cheek.  “Bless you, my brother,” was all he said, knowing there was now a reason to carry on.  He closed his eyes.  In an instance he found himself in a new place.  From somewhere nearby another soul was calling out to him.  With a smile on his face he knew what he needed to do.  For the first time in ages he whistled a tune which he'd heard from some old film, and with this came the rain as it washed away everything that was bad.  A new chapter was beginning and he couldn't wait.

                       The End

Reviews

[Marie]

This is a good story, Steve; I found just a few things:

Reluctantly she made her way in seeing her mother whose name was Sheila busy at the oven while she cooked a fry up.(This is an awkward sentence; you can write it better than that.)
He put his hands together and began to prey.(You mean "pray", not "prey".)

[steve]

Thank you, Marie. Very kind, and as always your suggestions are spot on. Soon I'll read your stuff, which I am looking forward to very much. Bless you xxx