Chapter Three "What have I done”

I am tossed out of my bed when the sun is not even on the horizon. "Get to work you useless maggot." My almost passed out father managed to say before stumbling out of my room.

Today would be the last day I would have to deal with that. Today started a new chapter in my life. A chapter that would be a new beginning for me and my brothers. I get out of bed or what's left of my bed.

Going to the well outside grabbing the small dull metal bucket. I filled it with the dirty brown water from the well. Nothing like washing my face with dirty water first thing in the morning. I take the bucket by the handle and walk back into the falling apart building that I would no longer call home after today.

Sitting the bucket on the table I walk into the kitchen to grab a cloth. I hear footsteps coming from the hall. "Leo? Are you already up?" It was Thomas with his mop of hair all over the place from the night before. He rubs his eyes as he walks into the kitchen with his one pair of pj's on.

"Good morning I am sorry if I woke you up." I said going back to the table and soaking the cloth. "No, Dad woke me up." I could feel my insides boil. "Well you will not have to deal with it after today!" I smiled at my younger brother.

"Yeah it would be nice to get some quality sleep for once." He said sarcastically. I'm so proud of him. I take the drenched cloth and wipe any dirt off of his face. After I wiped my own face. The tiny clock we still miraculously owned read 7:30, thirty minutes left.

Back to my room. I wake Jack and then throw my few things into a bag. That was when my father walked in. "Where are you going?" He stumbled but it seemed to be a genuine question.

"Somewhere. Somewhere that they will actually care about me." I looked my father in the eyes for the first time since mother died. "Unlike you." He grabbed me and started squeezing his hands around my neck. "You ungrateful bitch, no wonder your mother died! Even god thought you didn't deserve her!"

I could feel my lungs tightening as the corners of my vision started fading black. "Dad, what are you doing!" I heard Jack yell behind him. Even though Jack did not like me he was not just gonna let our father choke me. Jack pyried our father's hands off from around my neck, Something I couldn't do on my own.

I was small and frail compared to Jack. My face was flushed red as I attempted to catch my lost breath. "Son, why did you stop me?" My father turned his head towards Jack. From the look on Jack's face I could tell dad was giving his signature crazy eyes.

Though I had never seen his crazy eyes due to the fact I dared not to look him in the eye. My brothers knew the look all too well. "You were choking Leo, What was I supposed to do, sit here and watch you kill him!" Jack raised his voice.

"He is not your brother and he is not my son. My true sons are by blood. Not by law." I stood up from the ground and with as much force as my small fist would let me I punched my father. He held his nose for a minute while thick red blood ran down from it.

It took me a second to realize what I had done. Jack and I shared the same shocked look. I grabbed my bag from the corner, Jack seeing my lead picks his and Thomas's bag and slings them over his shoulder.

"RUN!" I scream. I bolted out of the bedroom door as my father reached out to try and grab me again. I ran past the kitchen to see Thomas still at the table. "Come on we have to go!" I say looking at Thomas as our father comes sprinting out the room.

He gets up and runs towards the front door taking the hint that our dad was now chasing us. I quickly open the door and Jack, Thomas, and I run out the door and up the road.

Dad was still chasing after us and probably would not stop. We had to get away another way. Lucky for me I loved playing in the alleys as a child. I knew every single one of them like I know how to sing my abc's "Follow me." I whisper just loud enough for Jack and Thomas to hear me.

I quickly turn right into a narrow alley between two dark buildings. I run along the wall until we take a left into a wider alley. I could still hear my father behind us. My heart raced as I took the next right. The output was a busy road. Wagons and people on foot littered the street.

There's no way he would find us here, there's way too many people. I dragged my brothers behind one the of the many stalls that lined the sides of the street. I sat down and finally had a second think about what we had really just done.

We had run away from home, never thought I would see the day that happened. I smothered my wind ruffled hair. "Wow, So now we are runaways." Jack says with a load of sarcasm. "Well at least I have a job and we will live somewhere where we don't have to sell things to pay for rent."

Jack sighs "Yes, but now we will have to hide our identity otherwise we will be forced to go back with dad." "Well let's create some fake names and go ahead and get used to them. Thomas raises his hand "I'll go first my new name will be tommy!"

Me and Jack nod. "Okay then I'll be Jake." Jack declares "Your turn Leo." "My new name shall be Leon." Jack nods in approval. " We will also have to change our appearances, especially you Leo." He uses his chin to point at my golden hair.

"You would be spotted from a mile away due to your hair." I nod. Using my hand to scope some mud that was lying on the ground due to the heavy rains last night. The mud was mushy and soggy in my hands. I squished the mud around in my hand, mustering up the courage to run the brown clay in my hair.

My head gained what felt like ten pounds from the new added weight to my hair. "Okay well that's dealt with." I could feel the mud drying in my hair. It would be hell to get out but that's a price I am willing to pay.

"Now genius, what is your plan to get us to the Palace while we have father hot on our asses?" I frowned "First off, Language mister! Second off, I know a back way to the Palace. I used to take it all the time when I was younger."

"Here we go again with one of your- Jack throws up air quotes - shortcuts." I turned my back towards Jack. "Just shut up and follow me." I heard him quietly mumble "fine whatever."