Between The Gates Of Heaven And Hell

Between the Gates of Heaven & Hell

Trafford Publishing

Chapter One

Burning Bush

It wasn't easy for Terry to watch her dad constantly beat up on her mom. In fact Terry and her brother David lived in constant fear of their dad. Brenda lived a dreaded life also. Her husband had transformed over the years. When Brenda first met Jake, he was such a sweet and loving man. Jake pursued Brenda in high school and eventually won her heart. It seemed like a fairytale romance. Jake was great at sports and Brenda excelled academically. They had their future mapped out. Jake was certain that he was going to get an amazing job as a quarterback in the NFL once he graduated college. Brenda had planned on becoming a doctor and spending the rest of her life with Jake. All-in-all their plan went in that direction. Brenda became a doctor and specialized in pediatrics while Jake played with the Miami Dolphins as a backup quarterback.

After three years of playing for the Dolphins as a backup quarterback Jake began to get miserable. Jake wanted to become a starter so bad, but he consistently suffered injury after injury. However his wife's career soared and she opened up her own practice and even wrote a few award winning books on healthcare. The Miami Dolphins began to grow impatient with Jake and decided that it was best to part ways with him. The news hit Jake hard. Sadly no other teams were throwing offers at the out of work quarterback. Jake sat at home for a year trying to get back in perfect form so that he could maybe impress another team. As Jake was practicing in the backyard one day, Terry and David begged their father to let them play with him. Jake yelled at them to leave him alone and let him practice in peace. Little kids can be annoying, but they never deserved to get punched in the mouth from their father. Once Brenda got home and saw the condition that her kids were in she became enraged. Brenda stormed up the stairs to Jake and confronted him about what had happened. Unfortunately this was when the pot first boiled over. Something snapped inside of Jake and he threw Brenda across the room and kicked her repeatedly in her ribs. Brenda lied on the floor for hours as she was caught between the grip of shock and fear.

The next morning Jake had breakfast prepared for his family and flowers on the table for Brenda. Continuously he told his wife how sorry he was and that he would never again lay a hand on her or the kids again. Brenda had decided to take the kids and move out that night, but gazing into Jake's eyes and seeing the amount of remorse they displayed she decided to forgive him and work through their problems. Months passed by since that incident and Jake seemed perfectly fine. A scout from the Detroit Lions was coming to watch him practice on Saturday and maybe even negotiate a contract if he liked what he saw. Jake was thrilled! This was just what he needed to get his heart pumping. Brenda did everything she could to support him emotionally and physically. As a treat for her husband, Brenda took Jake out to dinner that Friday night. They dined at Café Martinique a very exquisite restaurant over Paradise Island. Dinner was romantic and the meal was fantastic. After a night filled with candles, soft music, and wine it was time to head home. As they walked towards where their car was parked, a mugger grabbed Brenda from behind. Jake's first instinct was to attack the mugger, but the masked man held a knife at Brenda's throat. The mugger forced Jake to hand over his wallet and thirty-thousand dollar Rolex watch. At this moment in his life Jake felt so powerless and demeaned.

Although Jake had complied with the robber's demands, the mugger was still trying to drag his beautiful wife in a dark alley. Jake decided to rush at the robber head on. The masked man was knocked down to the ground from a football tackle. Jake and the masked man scuffled a bit. Unfortunately for the thief Jake was over six-foot and well built, so the mugger got the beating of a lifetime. Once the police arrived on the scene it seemed as if the robber was more excited to see them rather than Jake and his wife. After giving the officers on the scene a brief statement about what had happened Brenda and Jake left to head home. The next morning when the scout watched Jake practice he didn't seem really impressed. Jake was moving around the field stiff and it seemed as if his shoulder pained him. It all happened during the skirmish with the robber. Jake injured his shoulder and sprained his ankle. The scout told Jake that they would be in touch; Jake was no fool though, he knew that he would never see the scout again. Brenda made Jake all his favorite foods for dinner that night in an attempt to cheer him up. As Brenda sat at the other end of the table, Jake couldn't help blaming Brenda for his injuries.

Once the kids were put to bed, Brenda tried to get romantic with her husband. Brenda kissed him on his ears, but Jake nudged away from his wife. At first she thought that he was teasing her and she began caressing him, once his elbow flew into her face she quickly realized that it wasn't a game. Brenda had enough of Jake hitting her and she hit him back, this only infuriated the beast. An angered Jake sat up and started punching his wife repeatedly in her chest. Jake threw Brenda out of the bed and stomped on her. Brenda began pleading with Jake to stop. Fear had completely consumed her at this point. It was too late though. Jake had much envy for his wife's success, this was the only way he could release all of that rage. The beating was horrific. Terry and David woke up and ran into the room and tried to stop their daddy from beating their mom. With her eyes filled with crocodile tears, Terry pulled at her father's leg while David used his body to cover his mommy from the blows. Brenda was unconscious from the brutal beating and lied on the floor in a pool of her own blood.

The afternoon of the next day Brenda awoke to find her head wrapped in bandages along with her ribs. Brenda tried to get up out of the bed but found her body in such severe pain. Jake came into the room and Brenda's heart began to beat extremely fast. Goosebumps covered her exposed skin and sweat started draining down her pours. Jake walked into the room with a cold, blank stare on his face; he sat on the bed next to her and rubbed the top of her head methodically. Jake told her that he had sent the kids away to his mom's house for a while so that they could work on improving their marriage. Once again Jake told Brenda how sorry he was and that it would never happen again. This time Brenda wasn't ready to accept the bull-crap that came out of his mouth. Nonetheless she played along for the safety of herself and her kids. It took four long months for Brenda to recover fully. During that time she had to pretend to be such a loving and understanding wife. Brenda did her best not to infuriate her husband. However she was infuriated with him.

Once the kids finally came home Brenda felt as if she could breathe again. Brenda decided to file an abuse report against Jake and go somewhere far away with the kids. Normally Brenda would have to run errands during the day and check in on her medical practice. Today though was dedicated to her plan. Brenda filed a police report and went to see her lawyer for divorce papers. An escape was all mapped out and she arranged to use cash to get away so that she could not be traced by credit card. Brenda was so serious about her kids protection she even hired a bodyguard for safety. Jake was at the gym when Brenda got back home; she got the kids quickly and placed already packed items in the backseat of her Lexus Jeep. Jake was working out at the gym and feeling as if he was in the best shape of his life. Officer Cunningham was at the same gym today and he was a big fan of Jake. They spoke for a while and the officer got Jake's autograph, and even let it slip about the police report that was filed. Instantly Jake left the gym and headed home to his wife and kids.

Jake arrived home to an empty house. He had nothing left in this world except for the family that he mistreated. Brenda's cell phone rang non-stop. The caller I.D. showed Jake's number on the screen. At the motel in the middle of nowhere Brenda felt safe for the first time in years with her kids. The bodyguard slept in the other room making sure that no one came in through the front door. Brenda tossed and turned in her sleep; she kept seeing Jake in her dreams. The room door swung open and Brenda pitched up! David had opened the door. Her son wanted a drink of water. After David got his water Brenda tried to relax and go back to sleep. It wasn't easy for her to do. Brenda's mind kept telling her that Jake was coming to get her. Jake's heavy footsteps walked around to the back of the motel; he stood at the window eyeing his wife and children trying to sleep peacefully without him. With thunderous force Jake smashed open the bedroom window. Terry and David shot up out of their sleep screaming! Jake crawled into the window while his wife and kids scattered out of the room. The enormous bodyguard sprung into the bedroom eager to meet Jake fist to face.

As Jake crawled into the window his face got introduced to the bottom of the bodyguards boot. Brenda took the kids and sped off in her luxury jeep. Five minutes later she called the bodyguards cell phone. Jake answered and told her to come home and that he forgave her. Brenda hung up the call and dialed the number for the police. Speeding down the dark road with her children crying in the backseat, Brenda saw a pair of lights in her rearview mirror that looked eerily familiar. The Dodge Ram was coming up on her fast and it brought a terrifying presence with it. Jake rammed the back of the jeep just to let Brenda know he was there. Brenda sank the gas pedal down to the floor, but in regards to power her vehicle was outmatched. Jake swung the monstrous truck into the passenger side of his wife's vehicle sending the jeep flying through the bushes. The air bag had deployed, leaving Brenda trapped inside her own vehicle.

Jake's steps could be heard crinkling the grass as he walked closer to the jeep. Without hesitation Jake smashed through Brenda's driver side glass and unlocked her door. Jake began dragging his wife through the cold, damp bushes. Terry and David followed. The kids were beating on their dad trying to get him to release their mommy. Jake threw the seven year old twins on the ground, but they kept coming back trying to protect their mommy. Brenda begged the kids to stay back and run away but the twins were not leaving their mom behind. As tears ran down her cheeks, Brenda begged Jake to forgive her; she pleaded that she would do anything he wanted if he spared the kids. Jake whistled as he just kept dragging her deeper into the bushes. In the midst of a clearing Jake stopped. Jake's demeanor changed and his face showed emotion once again. Fury became the makeup on Jake's face as he pounded on his wife. David took a stick he found and smashed it over his daddy's head. Jake tumbled back, and Brenda took the kids and started running back to the main road.

With the kids tiny legs only allowing them to go so fast they didn't get very far. Jake flew at Brenda and placed his gigantic hands around her throat choking the life out of his wife's body. Everything was fading away as Brenda watched the voiceless motion of her kid's lips seemingly speaking to her. Terry and David were trying to do all that their tiny bodies would allow to stop the murder of their mom. It wasn't easy for Terry and David to constantly watch their dad beat up on their mom. Brenda felt Jake's grip loosen as a dazed look overran his face. Jake flopped onto the floor next to his wife as the blood oozed out of his back. Now that her senses were returning to her, Brenda could smell the burning scent of gunpowder fill the cold night air. Terry and David both had their tiny hand on their dad's 9mm gun; Brenda took the gun out of her kid's hands and hugged them tightly. The downpour of rain fell hard on the bushes and on Jake's deceased body as the sounds of sirens came closer to where blood filled the bushes.

Standing within His Shadow

So I finally finished practicing my dance steps in the mirror; I had to be prepared to be a killer on the dance floor. Simone was going to be at the dance and my heart was crying out for some much needed affection from her. My wave curls were now sweated out from the nonstop Michael Jackson routine that I was rehearsing. I found it astonishing that everyone whether they were young or old seemed to be an enormous fan of Michael. Taking note of how much his "Beat It" video played on the air, I was pretty sure that every single person in the world could do the moonwalk. Often I heard my father tell his friends that the moonwalk was the best thing to come around since peanut butter and bread. My plans for the dance involved making my cousin Drew look insignificant and second best on the dance floor. Honestly speaking I was so envious of Drew; he seemed to be better than me at everything. Drew was better looking, he was taller and more muscular; furthermore, whatever he placed his hand upon seemed to be instant gold. It was like my cousin possessed some sort of Midas touch. It irked me so much that I was always looked down upon as his second string little cousin, Chase; moreover I hated being in his shadow.

That Friday at the dance, red, black, and silver could be seen all around the gymnasium. All the guys were wearing a rendition of a M.J. outfit and the girls were creative with their rocker looks. She was standing across the floor talking with a bunch of her girlfriends; Simone was definitely the most attractive girl in the entire school. Every guy wanted to date her and every girl wanted to be her. The music was mesmerizing, and it felt so sweet and enchanting. The 80's medleys belted out in blazing fashion against the walls in the school gymnasium by grandmaster-funky-fresh the disc jockey. Finally, ''Beat It" came on and the roof erupted. This was my chance; I sped to the middle of the floor and began a M.J. rendition flurry. Glorious and amazing I looked as I slid across the floor with attitude and ease; this made the crowd go bonkers. The feeling of the moment was orgasmic, I was being cheered on intensely by my peers and I kept sneaking a peek at Simone to see how impressed she was by my performance. Some of the guys came on the floor and displayed what they had, unfortunately for them I was pouring my heart into this performance for the love of Simone. I created mesmerizing ruckus when I began moon-walking as if I was floating on air. The crowd was in my sweaty palms, but the main event hadn't started yet. Out of nowhere came Drew; this was the big moment that I had waited on.

Somehow his outfit seemed to glitter more than mine, and to top it off he came with a glove and hat ensemble to really complete the M.J. look. The war started, what he thought was friendly rivalry on the dance floor was actually an attempt by me to slay the king. We danced and danced, and it seemed to be a back and forth contest; still, it was only a joke to him. Inside his head I knew he believed that I was no match for him; this dance off was mere child's play for the boy wonder. He began to get real fancy on the floor. He was toying with me the entire time, he started to freestyle twist and flips into his interpretation and I couldn't keep up with that. The crowd erupted in excitement and darted towards him, pushing me aside in the chaos. As Simone and the crowd praised Drew I slid off to the back hurt, ashamed, and pissed off. Drew had stolen my moment, he was so selfish, and I hated him for not letting me impress Simone. I went back home to my drear empty house and found my father's stash of marijuana and Johnnie walker black hidden next to his playboy collection in the closet. I knew my father wouldn't be home until midnight so I wanted to experiment with the narcotics. Hours later I found myself near death on the floor in some sort of hallucinogenic state.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Between the Gates of Heaven & Hell by LAMONT Z. BROWN Copyright © 2011 by Lamont Z. Brown. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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