The Darkest Corners by Barry Hutchison Read Free Book Online

I like to see.’
    I tried to swing at him again, but he leaned back and the palm of his hand cracked against the side of my face, whipping my head to the right. Had he not been holding on to me I would have fallen, but he had me pinned in place with his left hand, as his right hand drew back again.
    KER-ACK!
    Pain burned like fire across the side of my face, bringing hot tears to my eyes. ‘You can stop me, you know?’ he said, before another slap exploded across my jaw. ‘You can stop me doing this with just a thought. That’s what makes you so special, son. That’s what makes you unique.’
    I brought my hands up over my head to stop him hitting me again. He cackled, then let me slide to the floor. He crouched down next to me. I flinched and pulled back, but the wall stopped me going anywhere.
    â€˜You’re one of a kind, kiddo. You know that, right? One parent who’s imaginary, another who’s a real live human being.’ He chuckled. ‘Well, not exactly live any more, but you know what I mean. You’re the best of both. You have the ability to imagine anything in the world , and the power to make it all come true. You could have been a god.’
    He stood up and peered down at me. His nostrils flared in disgust. ‘But look at you. Some god.’
    The corner of my mouth was sticky with blood. I dabbed it away and glared up at my dad. ‘I h-hate you,’ I told him.
    â€˜I know. I’ve gone to a lot of effort to make sure of that,’ he said darkly. ‘The question is, what are you going to do about it?’ He held his arms out wide and looked up at the ceiling. ‘You want me? I’m right here. Now’s your chance to get me back for all those things I’ve done. Make me suffer. Make me pay. Use that special gift of yours one last time. Take your revenge, kiddo.’
    The sparks whirled like a tornado inside me. I stood, feeling taller and stronger than I’d ever felt in my life. Ameena took a wary step backwards, taking cover behind my dad.
    â€˜What are you waiting for?’ he demanded, raising his voice. ‘Do it. Show me what you’ve got.’
    I shook my head. ‘No.’
    He kept his arms raised, but lowered his head to look at me. ‘ No? ’ he spat. ‘What do you mean no ?’
    â€˜I’m not going to do what you want. I’m not going to let you manipulate me any more.’
    His arms dropped. ‘Is that a fact?’
    â€˜It is,’ I said. ‘I don’t care what you do to me. I won’t do what you want. Even if you end up killing me.’
    He raised his eyebrows. ‘Now then,’ he nodded. ‘Killing you. That is an idea.’
    His hands caught me by the hair and yanked me towards the stairs. I hissed in pain and twisted in his grip, but then the top step fell away and the wallpaper began to whizz past me. My chin hit the banister. My chest hit the carpet. My legs flipped over me and I rolled and tumbled and thudded all the way down to the bottom step.
    He was on me before I could get up, dragging me into the hallway, shouting so loudly I couldn’t make out a word of it. I caught a glimpse of Ameena peeking round the corner at the bottom of the stairs, and then he was in my face again, his fist like an iron bar across my cheek.
    The world whirled wildly, and all colour drained out of it. My mouth moved and something that may have been words came out, but even I couldn’t understand what they said.
    I fell to the floor and rolled, with no real idea where I was rolling to. There was a creak as the door of the cupboard under the stairs was pulled open.
    â€˜Aha. Now this should do the trick,’ I heard my dad say. I managed to turn and look up just as he stepped out of the cupboard. He was holding a cricket bat, both hands gripping the handle. The bat looked battered and well used. I had a feeling it was about to become even more so.
    â€˜N-no,’ I