Since You Started...

“Daddy, can I have another smore?” asked my only child: Qadira after devouring her third smore of the night. Even her face was smeared with chocolate. Typical child behavior.

My wife: Simone and I chuckled at first but I responded: “I think you had enough, sweetie. Now, come here so we can wipe the chocolate off your face. Pretty please and thank you”

Qadira didn’t complain about not having her fourth smore but instead came to me with her face ready to be wiped. Simone handed me one of the baby wipes and I wiped all of the chocolate off my daughter’s precious face.

After I was done, I responded: “There we go. All better.”

“Thanks daddy. You’re the best. Hug?” asked Qadira as she reached for me to give her hug.

“How can I say no to that beautiful face? Come here, my child!” I got up from my camping chair and picked up my child, giving her a big bear hug; I even did a little spin to extra measure and Qadira loved it, demanding more. Simone, my gorgeous wife, remained sitting on her camping chair as she laughed at Qadira’s command for more spins.

“Okay, you asked for it. WHEEEE!” I shouted as my child was laughing while I spun her around a couple of times. Then I changed it up and spun the other way. Eventually, it got to the point where I got dizzy and needed to take a break. As I placed my daughter down and went back to my seat, Qadira, of course, wanted more spins.

“Spin me again! Spin me again!”

“Sorry love,” I replied there while trying to keep my head from spinning. “But daddy needs to take a break. Got too dizzy doing all of that.”

“Awwww,” she started to whine but didn’t pay her any thought about it.

“How about the three of us cuddle for a bit by the campfire,” mentioned my wife.

“I call daddy’s lap!” Qadira claimed.

I just took my head while smiling. Qadira is definitely my girl, alright.

As the three of us cuddled by our campfire while enjoying each other’s company, suddenly we heard a noise; like a twig getting snapped. Our campsite was at least a mile away from anyone else so it was somewhat isolated. It must have been a deer or something.

A few minutes later, we heard the noise again but somewhere else on the opposite side of the woods.

When we heard the second noise, my daughter asked: “Who’s there?”

“There must be deer amongst us tonight,” mentioned Simone while brushing our child’s hair with her fingers.

But deep down, I knew Simone was concerned. Just as much as I was. We couldn't tell what was out there. And even I was growing suspicious about the whole thing. I got up from my chair and replied: “I’ll go check it out. You ladies, stay here.”

“Okay, Rick,” my wife said calmly. “See you in a bit.”

As my two girls remained stationary from where they sat, I proceeded into the woods towards the direction of the second noise. All armed with a marshmallow stick I just used for a couple of smores. I know it won't do much but it's at least something in case I needed it. I do in fact have my swiss army knife in my pocket so I wasn't completely gullible.

I went down aways and happened to find nothing when I confronted the peculiar noise. Just an owl hooting up in its den within one of the numerous trees. We stared at each other for a bit until I heard a yell from my wife.

Without a second thought, I splint out of the woods. Once I got a good look, my wife and kid were kneeled down by the campfire by a few black clothed men, armed with guns. I was completely enraged and wanted to tear them apart from where they stand. However, just when I was about to get out of the tree lines, somebody kicked me in my chest. This kick kept me falling the opposite way of my destination.

With such an impact, I felt so much pain that I could barely stand up or roll over. However, the thought of my wife and child got to me. I needed to save them. They were both in danger. I eventually withstand the pain by lifting my head but the second I did that, a foot stepped on the same place that I felt the kick landed on me. I looked up to find that an old foe I knew was the owner of the same foot and kick. And his name was Kick Starter…

He smiled there while still having his foot on top of me, eventually saying: “Well, well, well…look what's underneath my foot? It's Rick Fortress out of all people. Fancy seeing you here!”

One of his goons came out around him, confiscating both the knife and marshmallow stick in case I had any ideas.

I grind my teeth, still feeling the pain as I responded: “Kick-Starter, you damn bastard! Leave my family out of this!”

“Oh, Ricky, Ricky, Ricky…you know that I can't do that.”

“And why not?”

“Orders of the boss of you know who…”

“Don't tell me-”

“Hahaha, yes Mister Walstrom sends his regards after all the services you have done for him.”

“That was years ago. I'm no longer a hitman for anyone. Plus, from what I can recall, you aren't supposed to use his name willy nilly.”

“Well unfortunate for you, Mister Walstrom is still salty about you leaving us like that. And who cares? We are a mile away from civilization.”

“Keith, just leave them be. If it's me that Walstrom wants, then he can have me.”

“I hate to break it to you but he told me and my goons to get rid of any distractions.”

“No! Please don't!”

“Sorry but I don't make the rules. Any last words?”

I lifted my head only for me to see my family. Both of my wife and child were crying their faces off as much as I have at the moment. Kick-Starter won’t hold up and I was completely powerless, all thanks to his leg strength.

I choked up while tearing up: “I’m so sorry, my loves.”

Simone buried Qadira’s face into her as she knew there was nothing I could have done. Even if I wanted to. As our one and only child was crying in misery, my wife replies: “It’s okay, darling. It’s okay.”

Kick-Started taps his other foot, signaling the massacre of my two loved ones. My eyes were blurry as tears continued to fall down my face. After Keith’s goon killed my wife and daughter, I was let go and crawled towards my family, wishing it was me instead. My poor Simone and Qadira never deserved any of this.

As I held my lifeless loved ones in my hands, Kick-Starter goes: “Let this be a lesson to you when you double cross a crime lord. Gentlemen, let’s get out of here.”

And like that, I was left alone as Keith and his lackeys went away. I couldn’t help but cry in agony for this all to happen. As I continued holding onto my child and wife, something inside stirred me. Something that I buried long ago when I started this family. And it’s all because Keith has started this…