Ch.1
June 23, 2000
Eight year old Jove Davis, listened as his mother Janae and her boyfriend Michael bickered back and forth. It was going on five in the morning. Glad I don't have school... he thought as he put his older brother's phone back.
"I don't care Michael! Next time stay with that bitch!!"
Jove had never heard his mother so angry. He thought she was use to him coming in late; it did happen every other night. Hearing a loud smack and what sounded like someone fell. Cries of a baby started to sound off in the apartment.
Hearing a few muffles, his brother hopped down from the top bunk of the bed set that they shared. "If this dude hit my mama ima beat his ass." His seventeen year old brother, Justin said as he grabbed a pair of shorts.
As his brother left to see what happened, Jove got up from the bottom bunk and walked over to his baby sister. Her crib was in their room because they lived in a two bed room apartment. Instead of taking her out, Jove climbed in the crib with her. Looking at her rosy red cheeks, he whipped the tears that stained them.
"Everything will be okay." He mumbled to her ear as they both laid back down in the crib.
"Dumb ass bitch! Hit me like you hit my mama!"
Was what Jove heard that brought him from his not so peaceful slumber. He knew his brother was yelling and ready to attack Michael, but he knew he couldn't stop it. With Justin standing at 6'5 and weighing 180lb's, Jove just knew only the police and god could stop his brother.
"You better get yo ass up out my face!"
Jove heard Michael yell. By now he knew his mother was between them. Sighing to himself, Jove got out of the crib being careful not to wake his sister. He seemed to care about the one year old sleeping unlike everyone else. Grabbing his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shoes. He slid them on. Walking out of his room, he slowly walked down the hallway of their apartment. Reaching the front door, he watched as his mother tried to keep the two men apart.
The yelling and bickering became too much for him. Jove found himself heading down the stairs of their apartment building. He soon was out of the building and was in front of it.
Running across the street, he read the address before banging on the door.
"Daddy open up!" He yelled as his fist pounded on the door. "Daddy! Justin is about to fight Michael!" He yelled as his fist continued to pound endlessly against the door.
The door being swung open made his pounding stop. "Daddy, Michael and Justin are going to fight! Mama can't break that up!" He yelled at his father as his breath became heavy.
"Jo, slow down. Come on." His father said grabbing his hand.
Even though it was early in the morning, he knew his father would come to his rescue. As they headed back up to the apartment, you could hear the tussling through the door. Alex, Jove and Justin's dad walked in first. Jove wasn't too far behind him.
In the middle of the living area, Michael and Justin threw blows at one another. Each person was landing a good amount of hits but of course Michael over powered Justin because he was simply stronger.
Jove stood stiffly, watching everything happen. His father broke it up and looked over his sons face. Justin had a swollen lip and a huge scratch under his eye. Alex knew his oldest son's eye was going to swell by morning.
"Fuck is wrong with you my guy?" Alex said making his way over to Michael.
Janae quickly got in front of him because she knew Michael couldn't hang with Alex in a fight. "Alex please. Don't okay."
"What the fuck you mean don't!" Alex yelled in Janaes face.
"He wanted to attack me like a man, he got his ass beat like one!" Michael yelled over at Alex.
That only fumed Alex more. Alex stood fully woke and ready to fight. "Dad lets go." Justin said.
Jove looked over at his brother who was holding his eye, Alex just nodded his head. He stepped back with his eyes never leaving Michael. Finally facing both of his sons, he looked at Justin. He hated that he couldn't do anything to prevent his face from looking the way it was.
"Jo, go get in bed. Justin you're coming with me." Nodding his head, Jove ran to the back.
Getting in his bed, he watched as his brother came in and grabbed his things. "I'm not coming back." Justin said now looking at Jove.
Jove didn't know what that meant so he just nodded his head. "I love you Justin." Jove said as his brother headed towards the door.
"I love you too Jove." And just like that his brother was gone.
💱
Six year old Zari sat in the living room watching Between the Lions. She grown to love the show after getting over her fear of lions.
Hearing a door being closed, Zari looked up to see her thirteen year old sister, Danielle, come from the back. Zari noticed her sister crying. Standing from the floor, Zari ran over to her sister.
"He did it again?" Zari asked her sister.
Before she could get a answer, their father, Eric, came out the room Danielle was just in. "Go in the room Zari!" Her father yelled.
Zari felt her sisters grip tighten on her making her scared more then what she was. "I not tired though." Zari said wrapping her arms around her sister.
Eric looked between the two before snatching Zari's small frame up. All Danielle could do was scream and yell. Both girls knew they couldn't beat their father, even with both of their strengths. Getting in the room, Eric threw Zari on the sheet-less mattress that laid on the floor.
"Daddy please." Zari began to cry.
Feeling her body being yanked towards him, he hovered over her.
"I promise this is not me baby girl."
He spoke in her ear before beginning to have his way with her.
After hours of that, Zari was sitting with her back against the wall. He had went out and brought the girls pizza and snacks.
"Princess you're not going to eat?" Eric asked looking over at Zari.
Shaking her head, she turned her body a little. "I'm full."
"You've hardly even touched a topping, but if you're not hungry, you're not hungry."
Danielle was in the room with their mother. She came in high out of her mind and snapped on Zari. Zari was confused on why her mother always treated her like she was nothing. At only six she knew that the love she got from her parents wasn't the love a child was supposed to receive.
The only one she knew truly cared for her was her older sister. Danielle always tried to protect Zari. And to get that was enough. Zari knew that Danielle couldn't beat their mother or father, but her even trying was good enough for Zari to know that somebody loved her.
