Free Chapter
DUAL KARMA
Crimson Rose
⚠️Trigger Warning ⚠️
Water high
Water low
Water rise
Water flow
Onward and outward
The raging waters preys
To the sailors inward
counting their days
Chapter 1
Cadence Maxwell looked at the ocean, longing for it to take her away. She felt comfort in the waves as they crashed over the diamond-like sand. She liked to come out to the beach right before she picked up her two-year-old son, Caleb, from her mother’s house. Her mother insisted that she took one hour a day, right after work, to do whatever she wanted by herself.
Cadence and Caleb needed all the time they could get before her mother moved with him for six months to Ivoria, which was the next country over from Deadsin. Castle Rock, where the ocean meets the rocks was the only castle by the ocean. She hoped to visit there some time. She heard that all the heirs to the castle died unexplained deaths over the years. The castle has been there for centuries.
Cadence let out a deep sigh and took in the warm summer breeze as it swept across her brow. A piece of wavy brown hair fell in her face. With rings on her fingers, including her white gold wedding band, she swept the piece of hair away from her face.
She snapped out of her ocean trance and looked at her black watch. It was 5:00 P.M. She had to go pick up Caleb and get back before Ray got home. He didn’t like it when he showed up from work and there was nobody home.
Cadence walked barefoot on the beach to a spot where she left her sandals and beach towel. The sand felt warm and soft between her toes. She could feel small shells beneath her feet, but they were too burrowed into the sand to cut or hurt her feet. She gathered her belongings and left her lovely beach get-a-away for yet another day. Her mother only lived around the corner on Sunshine Boulevard, but it was a half hour drive for her and Caleb. Luckily, Ray wouldn’t be getting back home until quarter after seven.
Cadence’s mother’s home was always so lovely and warm with green grass, beautiful roses and lavender flowers throughout the landscape of the property. Her mother took pride in her gardening. She took in the scent of the flowers and rang the doorbell to the two-story home she grew up in.
She was greeted by her mother, Abigail Parks. She still had on the same curlers in her hair from the time she dropped Caleb off. Her mother was a heavyset woman with a very pretty face. Her golden hair curved around her curlers. She was wearing her signature clothing, a black pair of capri pants and a long white t-shirt.
“Hello, Cadence, how are you?”
Abigail outstretched her arms to her daughter. The poor girl looked tired. She really wished she would reconsider moving in with her and Frank. He might be her stepfather, but at least she would have a decent man to look up to other than that dirt bag she married. At least Caleb would be away from the chaos for a little while.
“Thanks, Mom, for taking him.” She gave her mom a hug.
“No problem. He was fine. He ate all his lunch. Then slept for about an hour and has been playing ever since.”
“Good. Good. That’s great. Where is he?”
“Oh, he’s outback with Frank.”
Cadence walked towards the back door with her mother. She looked through the sliding glass door and Frank and Caleb were chasing each other. He was good with kids.
The sliding glass door opened. “Frank, come bring Caleb inside, his mother is here.”
“Mommy,” Caleb shrieked and ran straight to Cadence.
“Hey, buckaroo, did you have a fun day?”
She stroked his dirty blonde hair with her fingers, smiling gently as he told her all about his day. Caleb might be only two, but he was a great talker and full of all kinds of energy. He didn’t really go through the terrible two phase like normal two year old’s do. Caleb was always sort of special and always ahead in his development. He has been speaking clearly since his second birthday hit.
“Well, Caleb, we have to go, Daddy will be home soon.”
“Oh, dear, can’t you stay for a little while longer and maybe we could talk for a bit? I’m sure Ray could figure his way around the kitchen for one night.”
“Mom, you know I can’t.”
“Oh, pish posh, you let that man control your life. I don’t like the way he treats you. I really wish you would move with us to Ivoria, there is plenty of room in our new house. You could even have your own apartment downstairs. You know there are customer service jobs in Ivoria too.”
Cadence let out a heavy sigh. She has been through this with her mother and her best friend, Samantha Braxton, a hundred times before. She wished people would mind their own business and stay out of her life. Whenever people said anything negative about Ray she would slip up and say something she wasn’t supposed to. Ray always said that a woman is not supposed to be thinking about herself at all. The only things she should be thinking about are her husband and children. He’s always reminding her to obey him and nobody else; otherwise he had to be forced to punish her.
“No, Mom, I have to go fix dinner for my family. You and Frank have a nice evening.”
She picked up Caleb and ran out the door. It was almost 6:00 P.M. when she finally got home. She had to think of what to make for dinner fast. Chicken, that cooked fast on high. What else? What else? She could make a salad. Lettuce, tomato, carrots, cucumber, and cheese. Instant potatoes cook fast. Quickly, she got everything ready. When it was just about done, she set the table and dimmed the dining room lights. Ray got some terrible headaches and she didn’t want him to be in a bad mood.
She heard Ray’s car pull up and swiftly fixed his dinner and placed it on the table. She lit two blue candles and set them on the table in the hope that it will soothe his stressful day at the garage. Even though he liked working on cars enough was enough and too much was too much.
The door opened. Cadence’s stomach felt like it hit the floor, her heart felt like it was in her throat. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Hello, darling, how was your day?” She smiled at her husband hoping she spoke to him polite enough.
“’Sup, what’s for dinner?”
“Chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad.”
“Salad? I ain’t no rabbit. Come on, Cadence, you know better than that.”
“Sorry.”
Great, strike one already. Ray sat down at the table. Cadence quickly ran to the fridge and got him a cold beer.
“Here you go, sweetie.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Ray took a bite of chicken. “This chicken tastes like a horse’s ass. Did you fast cook this shit? You know I only like my chicken slow cooked. All meals are to be slow cooked.”
“Umm. I… my mother and I got talking. I was only running a little late.”
“Oh, so you were being selfish again. You thought that if you had everything ready I wouldn’t notice.”
“Baby, please.”
“Oh, now I’m baby. Too late, bitch, get in your cage. No dinner for you.”
Caleb became confused. He didn’t know what to think of his father’s words. Why was he treating Mommy like a puppy? Since when did she have a cage to go to?
“But honey.”
“Do as I say, bitch, and I’ll let you out when you have to piss. Now, strip your clothes off and get in the damn cage, pronto.”
The cage was stationed in the living room. It was meant for a large dog. Sometimes he would make her stay in there for a few hours and sometimes overnight depending how bad she disobeyed him. He always said he only did this because she wasn’t being a good wife to him, and he would always apologize for having to be so harsh. It was all her fault for disappointing him.
“But in front of Caleb?”
“What? What did you say?” He took off his belt. “Caleb can see how real men treat their women.”
He hit her across her bare legs. She screamed out in pain. Tears fiercely ran down her face.
This was the first time Caleb saw his mommy get hit or be put in a cage. He heard them yelling, but usually he was sent to his room. He heard his mommy cry all night sometimes, but he didn’t dare come out of his room.
“Mommy, are you okay? Daddy, stop.” Caleb ran to defend his mother pulling on his father’s leg.
“Get off me, you little brat.” He lifted his belt to Caleb.
“No, wait. I’ll do it. Ray, please don’t. I’ll do it. I’ll do it. I’ll do it.”
Ray lowered the belt. “Damn right you’ll do it.”
Cadence took off her shorts, then her top, bra, and underwear, showing her tattoo that was located along the backside of her back. It was a skull with outstretched, white angel wings. Her short but slender body barely fit into her cage. She was cramped the whole time she sat in there. Ray closed it and locked the cage with a padlock and started walking away.
“Can I have a glass of water?”
“Oh, now the selfish bitch wants a glass of water. Caleb, go get Daddy the hose from out back.”
“No, Daddy, no.”
“No. How dare you say no to me, you little, ungrateful brat. I’ll teach you some respect.” Ray got his belt again and grabbed Caleb by back of the neck, pulling at his hair.
“Leave him alone, Ray,” Cadence yelled.
“Shut up, bitch, or you’ll get it too.” He hit him once with his belt across his legs. Caleb’s cries echoed in Cadence’s ears. Cadence couldn’t believe the horror she saw before her. He never let Caleb see him get violent, let alone hit him. She had to think of something and fast. She didn’t want him to suffer like she has for so long.
“Ray, stop!” She yelled.”
“Shut up or I’m gonna…..”
“I don’t care, leave him alone, he’s just a baby.”
“Oh, you care so much, huh, well fuck you.” He raised the belt at Caleb.
“Stop! Stop! Stop!”
A loud whistling sound came from the kitchen. It was so loud it alerted Ray. He pushed Caleb to the side and walked towards the kitchen. It got louder and louder as he approached it.
“No, it couldn’t be.”
Then he felt it. Wetness. He turned on the kitchen light.
“Damn it!”
This was the second time this week the pipes broke. Ray threw the pots and pans all over the kitchen, making them splash water on his legs.
“Awww shit, not again.” He slammed the belt inches from Caleb’s face. The kitchen was flooding and getting higher. He looked underneath the sink and was greeted by a face full of water. He really needed to get these pipes fixed.
“Klank. Klank,” went the pots and pans as they met the pipes to catch the water from flooding any higher.
“Klank, Klank.”
Music to Cadence and Caleb’s ears. The noise grew dimmer and dimmer as Ray became more distracted by the lake that was slowly growing in the kitchen. Caleb ran over to his naked, caged mother and cried silently. Cadence ran her fingers through his hair trying her best to comfort him. Ray took it too far this time. He can do what he will to her but hurt her baby, and he will pay. Her mother was right she had to find a way out, but how? The water saved her before it will do it again. She will see to it.
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