"Shoot it!", Dad said.

My father had a way of making you feel smaller than an ant and that day he was at his worse. Influenced by several cases of beer, he  hated the world once again. While my mother was living, she kept him in check most days and he beat her merciless on others. Mom couldn't save me and dad would be obeyed.

"That damn mutt @%$@ on the porch.", he said admonishing my dog.
Taking a second to emit an ear rattling belch, Ronnie continued. "I warned you last time  and now he has to pay."

Skip wasn't a mutt he was  my best friend and the last thing my mom every gave me. Two years old with brown coarse fur and big webbed feet he was a  bundle of joy. Ronnie had him still attached to his leash pulling  and yanking him all around. Pulling the leash up high over his head Dad began hanging skip in front of me. I was twelve and scared *$%$less. The  twenty-two pistol  that he made me hold shook violently in my trembling hands.

"Are you going to do it?", he said pausing a second to take another sip of the cold brew.  "Or do I keep torturing the mutt? " . He lifted Skip higher and tied the leash to the ceiling fan.

My best friend twisted, turned, and  yelped seeking freedom. Mom's voice came to me then it blocked out his cruel voice and told me  that everything would be ok.

"Skip is hurting, Denny.", her voice echoed inside my head.  "Take aim and release him, baby."
"He will be with me and away from evil Ronnie."
"You can do it. Take a breath and squeeze the trigger." With her voice guiding me I took several deep breaths, raised the pistol and leveled the sight  on Skip's head.

"I love you Skip.", I said with solemn tears racing down my cheeks.

With a steady hand I closed my eyes and squeezed the trigger. The gun emitted a  pop followed by silence. No more yelping or twisting, Skip was dead. Face covered with Skip's blood, a jagged smile formed. He was wearing the face of a proud father. Skip was with mom but I was still living with the devil. Dropping  the pistol I ran to my room  screaming. Dad got crazier as I got older and losing Skip was just one of the many breaking points for me. It was there that I decided something needed to change but I was just a kid. What could I do?

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Author guidance for This story

UPDATE Revising the chapters now. If you spot any errors or sections that are confusing please let me know so I can work on fixing it.

This is a new horror story I'm hoping to keep working without getting writers block. :) I will try to add chapters as fast as I can. Please any constructive criticism, tips or help you can give is greatly appreciated. I want to learn and progress. Thanks!

updated May 24 '11 by Horror_Nerd