Chapter Three:

Angel’s Life

Ambrose had the young girl, Angel on his back. Her head rested on his, her eyes half shut.

Peter and Assumpta hurried beside them up to Ambrose’s house.

Niamh was standing in the doorway waiting for them. She shifted anxiously as they made their way up the driveway.

“I’ve called Doc Ryan; he’s on his way along with Brendan and Siobhan.”

Niamh smiled at the young girl on her husband’s back.

“Hello, I’m Niamh, Ambrose’s wife. It’s a pleasure to meet you…”

“Angel,” said the young girl, smiling shyly. “The pleasure is all mine, Miz Niamh. If it hadn’t been for your husband… I might’ve been dead at this moment, then here meeting you, Miz Niamh.”

Niamh beamed, and gave Ambrose a quick kiss as he made his way into the door. She smiled as Peter and Assumpta made their way in after Ambrose.

Before shutting the door, Niamh looked neverously down each way of the road.

Ambrose sat Angel down on the couch, and looked into her hazel eyes.

“Angel, you must tell me what is going on at your home. Whatever it is it isn’t your fault, I promise. But what your father was doing to you wasn’t right.”

A knock at the door brought in Doc Ryan, Brendan, Siobhan, and Podraiq into the house.

“Hello there, little one, I’m Doctor Michael Ryan.”

Angel smiled, shyly but said nothing.

Brendan smiled, “Hey there…”

“Angel.”

“Hey there, Angel. My name is Brendan, and this is my friend Siobhan.”

Siobhan smiled at the abused girl, she took Angel’s hand in her own.

Angel grinned back and clung to her hand.

Ambrose smiled as Peter sat down on the couch next to Angel, who still clutching Siobhan’s hand, cuddle closer.

Angel looked at Ambrose and took in a deep breath, “I really don’t know what to tell you… For as long as I can remember my dad has been an extreme alcoholic… an abusive one at that.”

Brendan took a seat next to Angel, and placed a hand on Angel’s shoulder.

“You know none of this was ever any of your fault right?”

A shadow flashed across the honey colored eyes, which caused tears welled up in Angel eyes.

Peter pulled Angel’s bruised body into a gentle hug, “It’s not right the way he treats you, Angel.”

Angel went to say something but a gunshot from outside stopped her.

All the life went from Angel’s eyes and was immediately replaced by fear.

“He’s here…”