Veronica was surprised at her ability to give Chan directions to her house. Despite knowing that every turn was bringing her closer to the place that held the worst memories of her life. Deep in her heart, she knew that if she ever lost her memories, she would still wake up and remember this house. There was no escaping for her. No matter how hard she tried. As the house got closer and closer, Veronica felt the air slipping from right under her nose.
Chan turned into the alley, and Veronica was met with the familiar sight of the chipped lemon paint. The house had dilapidated further into ruin. Chunks of cement were missing from the outer wall. Veronica hadn't been back to this place ever since she had run away. Her throat closed up as memories surged. Her running away from Eddie. Sitting on the steps as she waited for her drunk mother to come back home.
Distantly, she was aware that Chan was talking to her. But somehow, the words weren't making it into her ears. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she rushed out of the car, the call from her mother resurfacing over the onslaught of old memories.
She rushed up the steps, afraid for her mother. Afraid of what awaited her beyond that wooden door. Veronica blamed it on her fading muscle memory, the lack of caution on her part since she hadn't lived here in years when she pushed the door open and a plate shattered on the wall next to her. Close enough that a flying piece made a cut on her forehead. But she didn't feel the pain. Not when the scene before her made her root on the spot.
Spattered glass decorated the floor, and the furniture was strewn around as if someone was pushing it around. The smell that hit her made her sway. The stench of beer and whiskey. Of him. Veronica had to suppress the bile rising in her throat. It was too much.
On cue, he materialized into her line of sight. And for a moment, Veronica was a kid again. Too afraid to do anything but watch. Too weak to defend herself. He looked the same. If not worse. Red eyed, with a manic expression on his face. He was carrying a bottle of beer in his hand. His eyes locked in on her standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling in aggression. He looked like one of those angry bulls she had seen in videos. Crushing everything in their path.
This time, when Eddie aimed the beer bottle at the wall, Veronica was quick to respond. She ducked as glass and liquid exploded behind her. Then there were hands grabbing her and pushing her back. Her view was blocked as Chan came and stood before her. He had followed her inside.
"Chan," she said, her voice shaky. "You..shouldn't-" But she couldn't finish her sentence, not when she saw her mother limbing into the living room.
She looked bad. Worse than the last time she had seen her. There were large dark circles sitting under her eyes, her cheeks gaunt. A piece of cloth was wrapped around her arm stained red with blood. There was a large gash on her forehead.
Veronica let out a choked sound, and her mother looked up at her. Helena's eyes widened.
"What is this bitch doing here?" Eddie roared, and looked around frantically to grab something and hurl it at Veronica. "Did you call her?" He raged and stalked to Helena, who cowered in response.
Veronica's feet were moving of their own accord. Glass crushed under her boots as she pushed past Chan and stood before her mother, ready to confront Eddie's wrath. His steps halted as they realized her presence, but the rage bubbling in his chest didn't think twice as he raised his fist.
Someone pushed Eddie back, strong enough that he stumbled and fell to the ground. Chan was breathing hard, his whole body taut. His fingers were clenched into tight fists as he looked down to where he Eddie had fallen.
The push shocked Eddie, who hadn't given two thoughts to Chan. Stumbling upright, Eddie took measure of him. The retaliation only seemed to anger him further. He moved again, and a renewed fear blossomed in Veronica's chest that Eddie could hurt Chan. Despite the drugs and alcohol, Veronica had firsthand witnessed the blows of his strength. She couldn't let him hurt Channie.
She stepped out and stood in front of Chan and raised her mobile phone. As if on cue, the police sirens could be heard in the distance. The sound somehow managed to make it through Eddie's drug addled brain, and he stopped, falling on the ground.
Veronica was breathing hard, the adrenaline cursing through her body. "You hear those sirens? I called the police and this time, I am making sure you never get out of that shithole."
Eddie raised his eyes to look at her. Veronica had a faint feeling of dejà -vu. Only that their positions were reveresed. It had always been Eddie towering over her. Threatening her. Manipulating her into not calling the cops or else he would take it out on her mom later.
He let out a snarl, getting up with his arms raised as if he was going to choke her. Chan was there before Veronica could even register what was happening. Twisting Eddie's arm around, he pinned him to the wall. Eddie let out a strangled cry as his face slammed into it.
Chan's jaw was locked, his expression hostile as he watched Eddie squirm in pain. Veronica's mother had been watching everything in silence, too stunned to respond.
When the cops came through the door, Chan let Eddie go. Veronica spotted Officer Jennings amongst them and was relieved that she wouldn't have to explain what had happened. The police took one look around the apartment and did the math. Cuffing Eddie, they rounded him up. Veronica watched as he tried to talk to the officer, cuffing him. Babbling through the Miranda Rights.
Helena must have finally regained her bearings because she stumbled through the mess trying to reach Eddie. Veronica could only watch as her mom smacked right into the couch in her hurry.
"Don't take him," she began begging Officer Jennings. "Nothing happened. This was just a spat." Her mother said with a bloody forearm and a visible gash on her forehead.
Veronica knew she shouldn't be surprised. She had seen the same scene repeated before her eyes so many times. Yet, she could feel her eyes watering.
"I don't want to make any complaints against him," Helena continued as they hauled Eddie out of the house. He was still mumbling something about her being a little bitch.
"But I do," Veronica croaked out. Chan stood beside her, and Veronica tried to absorb some strength from his presence. "I will charge a complaint against him."
Officer Jennings nodded. "We are taking him to the station. You can come there."
Veronica nodded. Helena waited till all the cops had left the house before rushing up to Veronica and slamming her. Chan moved to step between them, but Veronica stopped him.
"What, mom?" She said, eyeing her mother. "You don't want to complain against Eddie? Fine. But I will."
"No," Helena spit out. "You will not. He did nothing. It was a little fight. We were drunk."
Veronica let out a bitter laugh. "I am guessing you tripped, and your arm landed right into a shard of glass." She pointed to the blood running down her mother's arm. They needed to take her to the hospital to make sure she didn't cut anything.
"YES," her mother screamed, her whole face turning red. "You will go and get him out. RIGHT NOW."
Veronica took an involuntary step back. Her mother's episodes of hysteria were no better than Eddie's.
"Then why did you call me?" She pleaded. "Why make me come here?"
Her mother didn't respond. Just continued to stare at Veronica. She knew Helena had called her because her mother knew Veronica would come rushing. Because deep inside, her mothet was scared of Eddie too.
"Mom," she said tentatively. "Let's go to the hospital. Your arm is bleeding."
Helena uncovered the wound, and Veronica hissed in pain. There was a large gash running down her skin, bleeding openly. "This?" Helena said, raising her arm so that droplets of blood spilled on the floor. "You can't prove he did this to me. They can't keep him, you know."
Veronica looked at her mom properly. The look in her eyes as she defended the man who had hurt her. And felt her heart break all over again. She was stuck in a loop. No matter how much she tried to explain to Helena, her voice would never reach her. In the end, her mother would always pick Eddie.
"Yeah, well," she said, her voice tired. "He did hurt me, Mom. Not that it matters to you." She gestured to the wound on her forehead. It had stopped bleeding and the blood had dried on her skin. "Like I said, I will complain. You cannot stop me."
Her mother let out a cry and slammed her hand on the wall. Veronica heard Chan take in a sharp breath. The wound was bleeding harder now. "Why do you want to take away the one good thing in my life?"
Veronica knew she shouldn't respond. That this conversation would bring her no joy. But she couldn't stop the words from leaving her mouth.
"You have no idea how many times I fantasized about killing Eddie, Mom."
For a second, Helena didn't respond, and then there was a loud crack as she struck Veronica. Chan was pulling her back, getting them out of the house. Helpless against an opponent he couldn't protect her from. Veronica's cheek stung, and she dug her heels in. Not moving.
"The truth hurts, Mother," Veronica said, smiling. "That man used to beat me, and you didn't do shit. You were too high to even notice the marks on my face."
Chan's arms were still around her like a protective cage. She knew it was hurting him to listen to this. But Veronica's mouth was on a roll. "Did you know that he used to bring his other friends around the house just because they made me uncomfortable? Or that he would threaten me that if I ever reported him to the cops he would kill you?"
Her mother's face had gone slack. Helena had spent all of Veronica's childhood either high or drunk. She was always too out of it to pay attention to anything happening around the house.
"You didn't, right?" Veronica's voice was vicious. She pushed past Chan and walked to where her mom was standing. "I hate Eddie, mom. But I hate you more." The last part came out in a choked voice. Veronica turned on her steps and walked out of the house.
Tears were streaming down her face. She heard footsteps behind her that she knew didn't belong to her mother. Once she reached the end of the alley, Veronica stopped, took a deep breath, and then threw up.