Shelter from the Past
Chapter 8
What are you doing here?
Disclaimer: Nope.
Author's Note: I have no idea where I'm going with this story after this chapter and I have no idea when I will update again, but I promise I will finish this story before I go to college!
Still silent, she slipped her clothes back on and walked to the door. Avoiding her husband's ever confused and concerned stare, she took a deep breath and turned the handle; this was not Johann's situation to explain…it was hers.
"For the last time, and you will answer me NOW," Richard was now only inches away from Johann, "who is that?" Johann stayed silent. Richard took a step back and began to circle him; taunting him. "Come now Johann, why all this secrecy? Hmm? Is she a love child of yours? I wouldn't be surprised." He stopped circling and focused his attention back to Marta who sunk even further into herself. "Why don't I just ask the bastard herself?" Johann fumed.
"Shut up."
Richard whirled around; his eyes ablaze with fury at the command.
"What did you just say?" His voice was controlled, but only just, and Johann could hear the threatening undertone. Nevertheless, he continued.
"I said shut up!" He looked at Marta. "She's a child; an innocent child," he turned disgustedly back to Richard, "and I'm telling you to step away from her…now." Johann was shocked at his own words, but he didn't have very much time to hide it as he felt a familiar fist slam into his head. Marta gasped. Johann stumbled back and reached up to touch his face. His hand was red when he brought it back down. Richard raised his hand once more, prepared to knock his nephew out, but Johann dodged him and pushed the traumatized Marta into the hallway.
"Run now!" She didn't need telling twice; Marta was gone in second.
After hearing his niece's footsteps disappear, Johann focused his attention back to Richard, who threw several more punches in an attempt to take advantage of Johann's brief distraction. Johann was now not only angry, but alert, and was easily able to avoid the blows of an exhausted, hung over man more than twice his age. Growing more furious with each of Johann's evasions, Richard finally grabbed a chair from behind him and swung it back; Johann had forgotten how strong his uncle could be. The crushingly heavy weapon was merely inches away from him. Johann shut his eyes and yelled, only to discover that Richard had turned around at the last minute and missed him completely.
He tentatively opened his eyes, and looked across the room; Richard was now staring at his disheveled niece, who looked more terrified of what she was doing than Johann had ever seen her look before.
He hadn't been the only one to cry out when Richard had hurled the chair towards him. Maria had opened the barn door, seen what her uncle was about to do, and, against her better judgment, screamed at him to stop.
"Richard, no!"
Silence filled the room as Richard stared blankly at Maria, still holding the chair above him - prepared to swing. Much to the siblings' surprise, however, Richard simply began to smile at his niece's appearance and gently lowered his weapon back onto the ground. He didn't even notice as Johann cautiously stood up behind him and moved to position himself to protect his sister should the need arise. Out of the corner of his eye, could see the rest of the von Trapps peaking out from behind their respective doors: the children from the hall, and Georg from the barn behind Maria, out of sight still to her uncle.
Maria and Richard had stiffened their stances, though Maria was still shaking on the inside. She hadn't thought to think past what she would do after stopping him from murdering Johann in front of her family, and now she almost wished she hadn't revealed herself. She knew that her uncle's smile was not one of happy welcome. It held a sense of foreboding within its creases and she felt it send a shiver down her spine; just as it had the day she'd run away. Unconsciously, she began to back towards the door where she knew the safety of her husband awaited.
"You're not leaving already are you?" Richard taunted.
Maria stopped and looked at him in disgust. Even after all these years, she could still feel his hands on her; she could feel his gaze pouring through her clothes. It was all she could do to not run and will the filth out of her skin from his thoughts.
Richard could easily sense her discomfort.
"I've missed you, Maria." He crooned. "Don't I at least deserve a proper hello?"
Reeking of the alcohol he had clearly thrown back endlessly the previous night, Richard stepped towards a paralyzed Maria. She couldn't bare herself – years of independence and she was seconds away from being as helpless to her uncle as she had been when she was a teenager. Her mind was screaming at her to move, but her legs would not obey, even as Richard kept inching closer, and closer, and closer. His hand was inches from her waist. Maria watched his hand reach out to touch her, but suddenly felt herself being pulled back violently.
"Get away from my wife!" Georg yelled viciously into Richard's face. He had been restraining himself knowing that Maria did not want her new family involved, but he simply couldn't bring himself to watch his wife relive the horrors she'd confessed to him the night before. Fire blazing in his eyes, Georg had slammed the door open and pulled Maria away before Richard had had his opportunity; this time Richard was not smiling – no one was.
Sorry it took so long! I hope all of you are still interested in what happens next! Please R&R, maybe it will give me inspiration.