A Young Boy's Hell by Agent Midnight
Standard disclaimers apply

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"Puppy!"

Four-year-old Heero Yuy toddled across the front lawn of their house as the familiar, scraggly-looking dog appeared by the mailbox that had definitely seen better days in its lifetime. The black and brown puppy instantly tensed up as the kid flounced across the driveway to settle about fifteen feet away from him, the young boy's small sneaker-covered feet halting quickly as if sensing the dog's fear.

"Hi, puppy."

The puppy's little stub of a tail wagged ever-so-slightly, encouragement enough for Heero to continue.

"I seen you 'round."

Heero took a step foward; the puppy took a step back.

"Mama said.." A pudgy fist lifted to swipe across a tiny nose, leaving a streak of dirt on the kid's face. ".. if da puppy ever came back, she'd feed ya."

The puppy tensed as Heero spun quickly and started pattering down towards the front door, then perked its ears up as he observed the kid going into the house. A moment later, he was back and wobbling back down the driveway, something held firmly in one fist.

"Here."

Heero tossed the slice of bacon in the dog's direction, laughing as the animal stepped foward and sniffed.

"'d not pois'ned!"

As Heero watched the puppy rip and tear through the bacon, he didn't notice the car pulling into the driveway behind him, parking in its normal spot and allowing a man to leave out the driver's side door. He did recognize the deep voice, however, that screamed his name in worry.

"Heero! Get away from that mutt!"

A hand clamped on Heero's arm and spun him around, the child coming face to face with his father. His father's clear, worried expression quickly flitted away to be replaced by one of anger as he stared past Heero's shoulder at the happily content dog with its food.

Before Heero had any time to explain, his father shoved him down and moved to the puppy, snatching one of its paws before it could slip away from the new appearance of danger. Lifting the animal by its front paw alone, the man did the exact same to his son, grabbing his arm and tugging him along for the ride.

Heero cried out at the brief pain, finally biting his lip to stop himself from crying.

The man shoved Heero roughly in the direction of the porch steps, firmly telling him to sit and stay still or he'd be punished. Heero did as he was told, like always, and sat on the porch with his tiny hands clasped into fists. He watched with fear as his father grabbed some rope out of the back of his work truck and tied one end tightly around the puppy's neck. His father finished it off by tying the other end to the old basketball goal set up to the side of the driveway.

His father turned blazing eyes to look at him.

"You like this dog?"

Silence.

His father was by him in an instant, the back of his hand slamming against Heero's cheek.

"You like this dog?"

A small nod.

"You like this dog enough to go against my word?"

A small nod.

"Didn't I tell you not to feed that filthy mutt our hard-earned food?"

Hesitation.

The boy received another hard slap and then finally nodded.

"Is that so?"

His father straightened and stalked off towards the side of the house, disappearing around the corner with long strides. Before Heero had a chance to consider standing and letting the puppy lose, his father was back all too soon. He pointed an accusing finger at the kid now frozen on the porch.

"This is your fault. Remember that."

Wide blue eyes watched as his father lifted the shovel above his head, and then swung down in an slow arch to connect dead-on with the puppy's back. Cries filled the boy's ears as he watched his father repeat the action, a little spray of blood flying out to decorate the concrete. His father spun back and pointed at him.

"Your fault, you brat!"

And swung again.

"Why don't you listen?"

And again.

"You disgust me, you fucking brat!"

And again.

"Do you see what you make me do?"

And again.

"I hate you!"

And again.

"I hate you!"

And again.

And again.

And again until the cries suddenly stopped.

His father sneered at the blood soaked pavement, tossing the shovel down in the grass before turning to face his sobbing child. He moved over to his son and ran a finger lightly down the puffy cheek, smearing a little blood as he showed the small act of affection. The child's sobs grew louder, his fists held tight against his eyes.

"Clean this fucking mess up."

The man stayed paused halfway into the house as he noticed his child hadn't moved.

"I said, clean it up! Do you want to disobey me again, Heero?"

The door slammed shut behind him.

And Heero made his way over to the puppy, putting his hands in the mess just to pick the mangled body up to cradle it in his arms. Turning, he wobbled back down the driveway to place the body next to the two garbage bags by their broken mailbox. As he moved towards the hose, blood and little tiny pieces of matted fur on his clothes, he started crying for another reason.

No matter how hard he tried to push the thought away, he couldn't help but wish it was him in the puppy's place.

If he was the puppy, he wouldn't have to take that one step into his house.

He wouldn't have to take that one step back into his own personal Hell.

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The End

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