ACT ONE ━━ CHAPTER THREE
Hellfire

     WHEN ADALINE SAID GOODBYE TO ELI THAT NEXT DAY, it was safe to say that she never would've thought his charming smile and wave towards her father (who did somehow manage to be able to pick her up just this once, most likely because he didn't want to deal with Betty's bitching and moaning when she got home) would wipe off his face as soon as Desmond's Continental left the parking lot in an instant, only for him to turn around with his gang towards the poor girl just trying to leave school.

But then again, Adaline was oblivious about a lot of things regarding Eli. Instead, her mind was occupied about where Eli was going to take her in his new red Mustang that his parents had bought him. She didn't know he was a bully, or that while he did genuinely like her and wanted to stay with her, he still had one main goal in mind and it wasn't exactly going to church.

"Now that's the right sort of boy you oughta marry," Desmond told his daughter as they began driving home. "Nice fella, nice family, nice money..." He glanced over at Adaline, who was staring out her window with blushed cheeks (yet again...) Desmond shortly chuckled once, "What? Already plannin' in your head for somethin' after y'all graduate?"

"No," she answered. She looked back at her father, "What about college? You and Momma always told me I could go."

"Yeah, well, sweetheart," Desmond lightly chuckled, "not only do we got no funds for it no more, but," he laughed again, "I know you're smart and all, Adaline—maybe here you are at this school, but out there in the real world," he shook his head, "your mind isn't gonna be worth a Goddamn dime.

"Especially not to be a...what did you wanna do again?"

Adaline didn't respond at first, still in slight shock her father just essentially told her she was too stupid to be anything but a housewife. Well, and that they were too poor to pay for her to go but Adaline didn't hold onto that part.

"Hmm?" Desmond asked again, as if Addy had spoken but both passengers in the car knew damn well she didn't make a peep.

She did speak matter-of-factly, though, since she's had the same dream since she was a little girl, "A psychologist." Maybe then she could figure out what the hell made her parents' personalities become complete opposites of their past selves.

Desmond barked a laugh, "Oh, sweetheart—ha!—what's goin' on in that brain of yours? Everyone knows damn well you're not smart enough for that."

She narrowed her eyes in disbelief, "You've always told me I could become one, what changed all of a sudden?"

"Oh, sweetheart..." Desmond began "...you were a youngin'. Couldn't exactly break your heart then, now could I?" Well you didn't have any problem breakin' it a few years later. "But I'd expect you to gain some sense now, Adaline. I tell you what—don't even worry about college. You're not goin'. You'll marry someone nice for ya like that Elijah boy, and you'll be a damn good housewife. I mean, look at our floors! Never'd be able to tell you came in trackin' poor folks' filth all in it."

Adaline didn't speak for the rest of the duration of the drive, too busy impatiently bouncing her knee while she waited for them to finally arrive home. Only after what felt like a year did Desmond pull into their driveway and tell her, "I'm goin' back to work, so you be good now. Go on and do your homework."

She dryly laughed as she got out of the car, "What's the point? If I'm not goin' to college anyhow."

Desmond sighed, knowing his daughter would do it anyway, "Yeah, yeah...goodbye now, sweetheart." Adaline half-heartedly waved before unlocking the front door then walking inside.

She did do her homework nonetheless, not because of her father but because she didn't agree with her parents' close-mindedness and had been planning on finding a way to be admitted into firstly college, and then secondly medical school for years. Adaline had told both sets of grandparents when she lived near them her dreams, and all four encouraged the young girl's ambition. Her own parents had done the same up until the numbers in their bank accounts began plummeting, Momma's mama and daddy passed away, Daddy's parents (getting older and older every year and honestly fed up with having to still take care of their child) finally told their babied son and daughter-in-law that they needed to become grown-ups at some point, and then the Berkeleys moved to Coal Creek and Desmond's and Betty's personalities both shifted in complete one-eighties.

Desmond took on a second job, Betty began visiting her sister and her family that Adaline had only met a handful of times every weekend, as well as getting her own first job too, and the entire family dynamic changed once they moved into their one-story rancher. At least Adaline had adjusted well and became friends with (her mother's pre-approved friends) some of her classmates and a kind, popular boy even liked her! The family was getting by without any of the respectable families in the town finding out about their little...issue(s)...and God was doing them good.

An hour or so later, Adaline had made her father dinner with the best of her limited abilities, not rivaling her mother's in the slightest but it was her best effort nonetheless. She left it out so when Desmond'd come home he'd have to turn the stove burner back on to warm up the stew once again, which she hoped he wouldn't have a fit over, but Adaline wasn't planning on crossing paths with her father until she returned later that night so that was the least of her concerns. Instead what was on her mind was what she was going to wear for her date with Eli, who would be picking her up in the next half-hour.

Although Betty wasn't physically in the Berkeley house, her presence was still everywhere, including in Adaline's subconscious as she chose an outfit that would abide by her mother's specific guidelines when going out in public. Respectable, beautiful, enviable... Ever since that cheapo crucifix necklace stained her neck after, what? Eight hours? Adaline trashed it and left her neck bare for the first time ever since she had received her initial necklace that was now sitting pretty in the consignment shop's jewelry display case.

Adaline was combing through her hair one final time, smoothing down the frizzy curls as best as she could, when the doorbell rang and she set her comb down with a small smile on her face. She went to open the door and smiled at Eli standing on her porch, his typical varsity jacket replaced with a neat sweater and a bouquet of flowers in hand.

The ever-so-charming smile graced his face per usual as he greeted her, "Hi." His smile broadened, "You look real nice."

The usual flush crept up her neck and onto her face, "Oh, thank you. You don't look too bad yourself."

Eli held the bouquet out towards her, "These are for you—and your folks, I reckon, but...mostly for you."

"Oh, I...thank you." Adaline contemplated on inviting him inside while she vased the flowers, thinking about what her mother would do, and then chose to be polite. "I'm gonna go put these in a vase and then we can leave, you can come inside if you'd like."

From the gas station parking lot down the road, Arvin watched the two small figures from the inside of his old blue Chevy Bel Air, sunken down in the driver's seat and looking up from under the brim of his tattered navy baseball cap. A tire iron sat in the passenger seat next to him, and he debated on whether or not to use it on Elijah Taylor.

He deserved it, obviously, but Arvin didn't necessarily want Adaline to get a front-seat ticket to the bloodbath. Arvin slightly straightened up in his seat when he saw the two exit her house and walk towards the red Mustang parked in the gravel driveway.

Eli opened the passenger door for Adaline, "Sure smaller than what you're used to in Virginia, ain't it?" He was referencing the Berekeleys' rancher that she mentioned they moved into because her parents wanted to downsize.

"Oh, yeah, way smaller. But it's quaint. Homey." Adaline smiled through the lies as Eli ate them up, nodding in semi-understanding since his family had never felt the desire to purposefully move onto a smaller property, but that was yet another thing that made the Berkeleys different. He walked around the front of the car to get into the driver's seat, then pressing down on the clutch and turning the ignition on.

"So, where're we goin'?"

Eli smiled over at her, "Wherever you wanna go." He glanced down at the gas gauge as he began to reverse the car, "Do gotta get gas real quick, though. Thought I had a full tank but I reckon my daddy took her for a spin." They both chuckled. "You don't mind, do you?" He asked her.

Adaline shook her head, "Oh, no, not at all." She pointed west of her house, "There's a station just down the road."

Eli drove the minute or so it took to reach the gas station and park beside a pump, turning off the ignition and turning to Adaline, "I'll be right back."

She nodded, "Alright." He smiled once more before exiting the car and walking into the small building to get an attendant to pump his gas and so he could pay for it.

In one of the two other cars in the parking lot, Arvin had to think of what he was supposed to do. He couldn't beat Eli with a gas station attendant nearby and watching, who would be the only witness since there were no other cars and would also probably call the police. The street the gas station was on hardly got any traffic, so Arvin wasn't concerned about passersby, but he didn't know if he should wait a little longer for the auspicious moment. However, he knew his window of opportunity was limited since he understood very well what was on Eli's agenda, and made it a top priority to make sure that the number one thing on his to-do list wouldn't be ticked off.

Eli walked out of the gas station with his hands shoved into his pockets, opening the driver's side door to lean on the car's frame, "Well, there ain't anybody in there at the moment, but I know somebody must be here because of that car over there." He nodded towards the busted-up Ford parked on the side of the building. Eli sighed, "Probably gettin' high or somethin'. Wouldn't surprise me about the folks in this area." He immediately recovered himself, "Not meanin' y'all, you and your folks, but y'know...them others." Adaline nodded as if she agreed but then she thought back to the Russells down the road and thought the complete opposite about them.

Arvin thought this was his best shot. He knew there was a chance that the gas station attendant would be taking his afternoon smoke and nap, and it looked like for once, God was on Arvin's side. He originally grabbed the tire iron and went to exit his car, but then he hesitated while remembering Adaline would most likely be watching. He threw the iron in the back seat before grabbing the brown paper bag on the floor of the passenger's side instead and quickly walking over to Eli's car.

Eli was still leaning over the frame of the vehicle with the open door beside him, momentarily stopping talking when he saw someone walking over, "Oh, here we are." When Arvin came closer, Eli recognized him and laughed, "Oh, Russell! Didn't know you worked here." Arvin's pace increased at Eli's mock-kindness. Adaline watched worriedly as Arvin made a beeline towards Eli and seemed to have no intent on stopping.

Eli patted the roof of his car, "Hey, fill me up, would ya—?"

Arvin abruptly stopped a few feet away from the red Mustang, "You gonna hurt my Lenora again?"

Eli straightened his posture and furrowed his eyebrows, feigning confusion, "What d'you say?"

"You know damn well what I said. You gonna hurt her again?"

Adaline got out of the car as well and asked, "Arvin?" He kept his eyes trained on Eli's face, thinking of where he'd strike with his fist first.

Eli held a hand out towards Adaline, "Addy, get back in the car. Russell's not right in the head right now—"

"You gonna keep talkin' shit 'bout her too?" Arvin asked, nodding over towards Adaline and making her glance over at Eli confused. "Talk to your candy-ass buddies about gettin' it in with her?" Eli laughed out of disbelief before looking over at Adaline whose facial expression conveyed belief in Arvin.

Eli scoffed, "Oh, Addy, you're actually believin' this guy? Do you hear what nonsense he's spillin'?"

"Lemme tell you what your perfect boy's been doin', Adaline," Arvin began. "Him and his little friends go on and bully Lenora all the time after school, puttin' a bag on her head and such. Callin' her not so nice names. And..." he sighed, "...I'm sorry...but they do the same thing 'bout you too."

Adaline's eyes glossed over as she looked at Eli, "Eli, is that true?"

He widened his eyes in shock, "Addy, are you hearin' yourself? Are you really gonna believe him over me?" He lightly laughed, "Now why would I lie to you? I love you! (under other circumstances, Adaline would've swooned) I'd never lie to you, and sure as hell wouldn't be speakin' that way 'bout you, or that other girl, or any other girl!"

Adaline glanced over towards Arvin to see his nostrils flared with anger as he continued glaring at Eli, then asked the latter, "But why would he lie?" Why would he? Compared to Eli—or even, arguably, Adaline—he had nothing to lose. What did he have to gain by lying?

Eli scoffed, "Addy! Are you serious right now? He has every right to lie! He's not right in the head like we are—none of them kind are! They don't got what you and I have, and they're desperate for anything—" Eli didn't have a chance to finish his thought since he was overtaken by the car door slamming against his body and knocking it onto the ground, closely followed by Arvin kneeling on the asphalt next to him and delivering a hearty punch to the nose.

Adaline yelped and ran around the back of the car, covering her mouth at the sight of Arvin beating Eli bloody. The boy on the ground's nose was undoubtedly broken and splattering blood all over his face, he grunting in pain while Arvin didn't let up one bit.

"Arvin! Arvin, stop! You're gonna kill him!" Arvin was dissociated from the outside world at the moment, blood rushing in his ears and not able to hear Adaline's voice besides from the faint echo of her words. He did let up for a second, only to pull the brown paper bag out from his denim jacket pocket and pull it over Eli's head, holding it tight so there was no air to breathe.

"You gonna touch Lenora again? Huh, are ya?"

Adaline would've stepped in but she didn't want to accidentally get in the way of Arvin's wrath, "Arvin! Please stop! He can't breathe!"

Again, he was immune to her pleas, "You gonna talk bad 'bout Adaline again? Gonna take her on 'nice long drives,' huh? Gonna take advantage of her you sick fuck!" Adaline stopped begging Arvin for mercy but instead inhaled sharply at his accusations.

Did Eli really say those things? He wouldn't, right? He'd never...

Arvin leaned down close to Eli's bagged face, "You touch my sister again, or if I hear you even mutter Adaline's name, I'll kill ya. Understand me?" Eli didn't respond but Arvin knew he was still alive from his arms thrashing around, although they were pinned down by Arvin's knees. Arvin roughly grabbed onto the side of Eli's face and shook it, "You understand me?!"

"Yes! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Adaline shakily exhaled at Eli's inexplicit confession, not able to believe he'd say and do those God-awful things.

Arvin released his grip on the bag as he stood up, breathing heavily himself as he watched Eli rip the bag off his face and wheeze, turning on his side to spit out the blood in his mouth.

Arvin looked up at Adaline and shook his head, "I'm sorry." Not sorry about what he just did, but sorry that she had to one, witness it and two, had been spoken about like some naive prude behind her back. Arvin glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one had saw, then looked back to see Adaline had already turned around and began to walk home.

The short heels of her Mary Janes kept getting stuck in the small holes along the grass framing either side of the country road, she biting her tongue to keep from screaming out in anguish. She had wiped her tears away from her face as they came, but only after a minute did she give up that notion and let them run down her rouged cheeks and blot down onto her blouse.

Adaline didn't spare a glance at the blue Chevy Bel Air driving past, slower while next to her as the driver debated on asking if she was okay before deciding against it and speeding up to drive down the road. She kept her chin up high as her lips twitched from trying to keep them still from trembling, her fingers cramping up from being clenched into tight fists, and her vision blurry from the tears pooling in her eyes.

When she finally returned to her house she had slammed the front door closed upon entry and leaned against it, staring across the room to see the crucifix hanging above the kitchen sink. She immediately went to instinctively grab at the matching cross around her neck, except it was no longer there.

Adaline tightly closed her eyes shut and dug her fingernails into her palms as she counted inside her head, one, two...three, four...five, six...seven, eight...nine, ten. One, two...three, four...five, six...seven, eight...nine, ten...and repeated until her heart rate somewhat steadied and her tears had dried onto her skin, leaving stains. When she opened her eyes, the rage in her belly crept into her chest and forced her to stabilize her breathing again. Adaline faced the mirror beside the front door and stared at herself, soon her anger increasing so much so that she became scarily calm.

She had bathed and was dressed in her night clothes by the time Desmond came home later, standing in the kitchen while heating up the food in the pot on the stove burner. After he hung his jacket and hat on the coat rack, he asked her how her date had gone with that Elijah fellow while situating himself at the dining table.

Adaline plastered on her fake smile as she fixed her father a plate of the food before setting the ceramic plate down in front of him, "It was perfect."

If finding out the boy you liked actually tormented another classmate of yours was considered perfect, or finding out the boy you liked only "liked" you back because he only desired one, certain thing was considered perfect, or if finding out the boy you liked would laugh about you with his gang about how much of a prude you were and that he'd be the one to get you to spread your legs while singing his praises was considered perfect, or if watching said boy you liked be beaten to a bloody pulp and nearly suffocated by another boy you previously thought wouldn't hurt a fly was considered perfect,

then yes. It was nothing other than unequivocally perfect.

ajsdjksk eli got destroyed 🤣🤣🤣 insert that saying abt when messing with the bull you get the horns or something bc i think it's fitting 🤠🤠 also i think we all know this by now but arvin is the loml & that's that. he may have some violent tendencies 😳 but nobody's perfect ...

this is also the start of addy's kinda "awakening" if you will. fun times ahead!!!! k bye ily all 🥰🥰