The Dreams of an Abused Child

By Alfie Hughes

Adam, Mark, and Abi suffer from relentless physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of those meant to protect and love them. Their only respite is by the river, a temporary haven where they can play and forget their troubles, if only for a moment. One day, while walking home from school along the riverbank, they heroically save an otter and her pups. However, their noble act leaves them dirty and wet, and they dread the inevitable punishment awaiting them at home.

In a twist of fate, just as Adam faces another punishment for fleeing school bullies, the family and friends of the otters they rescued intervene. The children’s abusers are subjected to a unique trial and fitting punishment by an indignant Mr. Otter.

The children are then whisked away to a magical realm, embraced by a loving animal family. In this new world, they find the happiness they’ve longed for, but the scars of their past abuse remain. These animals reveal the children’s hidden potential, training them to become Mighty Warriors endowed with extraordinary powers.

Armed with their new abilities and driven by a sense of justice, the trio returns to their grim world to rescue other abused children. Their mission is fraught with challenges, unexpected twists, and encounters with malevolent adults. This tale is a journey of transformation, courage, and the power of kindness in the face of darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035824427

Alfie Hughes

Alfie was born in London and was raised in a large household on a large council estate. His first memory of violent physical abuse was between his parents when he was about four years old. He was subjected to all types of abuse until his teens, then he learned to fight back. He continued to witness abuse well into his adult years and is saddened that children are still suffering and dying at the hands of those who are supposed to love them. After many years of internal struggle due to his abuse, he’s finally a very happy and contented person.

Book preview

About the Author

Alfie was born in London and was raised in a large household on a large council estate. His first memory of violent physical abuse was between his parents when he was about four years old.

He was subjected to all types of abuse until his teens, then he learned to fight back. He continued to witness abuse well into his adult years and is saddened that children are still suffering and dying at the hands of those who are supposed to love them.

After many years of internal struggle due to his abuse, he’s finally a very happy and contented person.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all those beautiful babies and children who have been, are being, and sadly will be sold, stolen, beaten, abused and often murdered by evil people just for lust or profit.

You are always in my thoughts.

Copyright Information ©

Alfie Hughes 2024

The right of Alfie Hughes to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035824410 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035824427 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Chapter 1

Saving the Otters

At last, Adam and Mark could see their younger sister Abi coming out of her classroom. Hurry up, Abi, shouted Adam who, at the age of twelve, is the eldest of the three siblings and attends the high school which is a short distance from his siblings’ junior school. Mark, the middle sibling and the youngest Abi attend the same local junior school which has a far greater remit than just education. The school tries to maintain some structure for many of the children as well as emotional welfare, appropriate clothing and some nutritional intake. Often, just keeping some of the children awake is a challenge.

Unusually for one so young, Adam cares for his siblings, is very protective of them and looks after their domestic and personal care daily as best as a twelve-year-old schoolboy can, and under very difficult circumstances.

Adam is of average height, slim built and has bright ginger hair which makes him a target for bullies. Adam hates being different with his ginger mop and is often mocked in school, at home and in the street.

Abi, the third of four children and aged nine years, ran up to Adam and Mark and gave each of them a hug in turn and showed them both the picture she had drawn in class. Adam and Mark looked at it and said it was lovely, carefully rolled it up and put into Mark’s backpack which never contained any art or other work completed at school. Adam wondered how he could tell Abi not to tell their parents about the picture she had painted as they would get very annoyed. With bright yellow sand, a blue sea and smiling faces, it showed Adam, Mark and Abi all holding hands on the beach, not they had ever been to a beach. Their parents, as usual were nowhere to be seen.

Mark is eleven years old and also has a slim build, too slim, say his teachers when they can get him to engage with them. Mark doesn’t like this world very much and does his best to remain detached and isolated, except when he’s with Adam and Abi. Then he comes alive and his loving and cheeky nature is revealed. Although he’s small for his age, Mark can be very physically aggressive and fixes people with a stare which makes them wary. As a result of this, both children and adults tend to keep away from him. This ploy suits Mark very well.

Those Davis kids are strange, thought Abi’s class teacher as she gazed out of the staffroom window holding a much-needed mug of tea in both hands to feel some warmth.

Adam looks after them like he’s their parent, comforting them when they’re sad, bringing them to and from school each day, even when he should stay at home because he’s ill, it’s always been the same, she thought.

She recalled the time when Abi was very tearful for no apparent reason, yet no amount of comforting would help her. Someone suggested that the school should contact the parents, so a call was made to Mum. The phone went straight to voicemail, so a message was left briefly outlining the problem. The teacher then waited in the hope that Mum would call back after hearing the urgent message, but none came.

Then, as a last resort and more out of desperation than anything else, the head teacher called Adam’s school. It was arranged that Adam would come over and try and help Abi as he had done on a number of occasions when he was a pupil at the junior school.

As soon as Adam entered the room, Abi ran to him and grasped him tightly around the neck, so tightly in fact that Adam had to say with a rasping voice, Get off me, Abi, I can’t breathe!

The teachers were amazed as to how quickly Adam calmed down Abi using kind, almost whispered words. It was the talk of the staff room for the rest of the day. It was clear to all present that Adam had great experience of comforting Abi when she was very upset. Some of the teachers even commented that perhaps someone should talk to Adam and see if everything was alright at home.

However, the bell rang, children needed teaching, books had to be marked and meetings attended. Then it was off home to cater for their own family’s needs and problems. The difficulties of these schoolchildren would have to wait until tomorrow, but, as we all know, tomorrow never comes.

The three children walked away from their school and headed home. At last, the children were alone and could, at least for a short while play and have fun like ‘normal’ kids. It had rained for much of the day but the sky had now cleared and the sun was shining warmly onto the children. As they walked along the river bank, the fragrance of the wild flowers swirled around mixing with the smell of damp steaming grass and earth. The river babbled and bounced around over the stones almost as if saying to the children, Come and play with me, let’s have some fun.

Don’t go too close to the edge Mark, said Adam, because… Too late, what Mark thought was the edge of the bank was in fact loose earth covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, buttercups and long ago animal excavated tree roots.

Whoa, exclaimed Mark as he slid down the bank, twisting himself in an effort to grab hold of something, anything, but it was too late. As Mark slid into the flowing water, he could feel it seeping into his trainers, through his socks, onto his feet and quickly up to his knees.

Adam and Abi rushed to Mark with horror as they knew that there would be ‘consequences’ because Mark had probably muddied his clothes, or even worse, torn them. However, as they peered down on him, holding onto a branch with his face covered in mud they had to laugh.

Mark also laughed and tried to scramble back up the bank, but due to everyone’s merriment it was impossible.

Hang on, shouted Adam and I’ll get something to pull you up with. Adam and Abi looked around and found the remains of an old rope swing with which they could hopefully rescue Mark. They returned to the spot where Mark had fallen down the bank and looked around, Where is he? Abi asked.

Mark, shouted Adam as he looked up and down the riverbank absolutely sure they were in the right spot. Abi took hold of Adam’s hand as an anchor and peered over the edge of the bank looking up and down with increasing concern.

Down here, trumpeted Mark’s familiar voice near them. Adam and Abi carefully looked over the edge, but the undergrowth was so thick that all they could see was the singing river continuing its journey to a far distant place, but never arriving anywhere.

I can’t see you, Mark, are you all right, are you stuck? Adam said, raising his voice as his nervousness began to increase.

Shhh, replied Mark in a muted voice, there’s an animal here that needs help.

What animal is it? Abi asked excitedly and relieved that Mark was ok.

Don’t know, said Mark through the undergrowth, we need to clear a space so it can climb up the bank.

Where exactly are you, raise your hand so we can see, suggested Adam.

Immediately, a muddy hand and arm appeared through the leaves of a bush which had grown over the side of the bank concealing everything underneath it.

Oh no, thought Adam, Mum and Dad are going to go mad when they see the state of Mark.

Come on, Adam, he’s here! exclaimed Abi as she bent down and started tugging and pulling at the earth, grass and the base of the bush to try and make a clear space so they could see the animal and help Mark.

Adam started to tell Abi not to get dirty as Mum and Dad will ‘go really, really mad’, but there was no point now, it was too late. Abi, being just nine years old and also small had to lie on her front and lean right over in order to see Mark. She was completely oblivious to the mud and grass which had attached itself to her clothing, but she was so excited to see the animal that always keeping her uniform clean disappeared from her mind. Adam ran forward to help but Abi had already broken through, and with a beaming smile said to Mark, Nice day for a swim, Mark.

Mark was still in the water, his jumper which he had pulled off in a vain attempt to keep it dry, was lying across a branch with both arms dangling into the river as if doing a handstand. Abi was still lying on the grass and leaning even further over the bank, What will she’ll look like when she stands up, thought Adam with much trepidation.

Mark laughed, but Adam didn’t, he stood up and surveyed what was before him. Mark was now up over his knees in water, his shirt was muddy from holding the animal and his jumper wet. Abi was dirty all down her front and her shoes covered in mud. Even though what he saw was a very funny sight, Adam was fearful of what would happen when they all got home.

However, for the benefit of his siblings, Adam, as he had done so many times before, fought back his feeling of fear and joined in the laughter and banter with Mark and Abi as he didn’t want to spoil the fun they were having. Sadly no matter how hard he tried he began to feel anxious and sick.

Adam couldn’t wait to grow up and give his parents a taste of their own medicine. In his mind, he started to go through what he was going to do them individually, and they would regret every kick, slap, punch and punishment they had ever handed out to him, Mark and Abi. Adam was becoming very angry and could feel his body becoming tense with the stress, anger and frustration at feeling so helpless and useless against the mental and physical strength of adults.

Adam, although just twelve years old recognised what was happening to him and as he had been taught at school, went into ‘coping mode’. He thought back to the time when they all used to stay with a lovely aunt who, in this situation, would have joined in the fun and probably jumped into the river herself. When she saw all the muddy clothes, she would have just laughed and said, Oh well, the washing machine will be working overtime tonight.

She never got annoyed and never, ever were the children afraid of her. She was lovely, warm and caring. Adam wondered why they never saw her anymore as he really missed her.

Come and help Adam, called Abi, take the animal from me, quickly before it falls back into the river.

Adam reluctantly broke away from his ‘nice place’ and moved towards Abi who was struggling with an animal and trying to pull it up onto the bank. The animal was huge, fearsome and wriggling, Adam shouted, Careful, Abi, it might bite you!

Abi gave a loud scream and let the animal go. Immediately, it ran up the bank by itself and stared at Adam. Crap thought Adam as fear engulfed his whole body. He wanted to run, but he couldn’t leave Mark and Abi. If he was going to die then…He closed his eyes and waited for the searing pain of huge teeth biting into his throat. He waited for what seemed like an age but suddenly he heard Abi’s voice.

Oh, look a baby! exclaimed Abi, as she moved towards the animal.

Keep away, shouted Adam fearing for Abi, but as she moved forward, all the animal did was to start licking and caring for its pup.

That’s why we didn’t get bitten, thought Adam, she had a baby in her mouth, ahhh, that’s really cute.

I’m still down here! came a desperate shout from the river. Adam went to move forward to help Mark, but the animal suddenly shot forward and disappeared back down the bank almost into Mark’s arms.

The animal twisted and disappeared into a hole in the bank which Mark hadn’t even noticed. With caution, and a little fear, Mark moved forward and peered into the dark, murky recess and then froze as the animal stared back at him. The beast seemed to be smiling at Mark but those huge shiny teeth were very, very fearsome and worrying. Mark swallowed hard.

What are you doing? Adam said from above.

Mark remained glued to the spot, unable to move even though he was now very cold from being wet and muddy. He could hardly feel his feet.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the animal moved forward still smiling and seemed ready to attack Mark. Through fear, Mark couldn’t even raise a whimper.

Then the animal suddenly moved its head up and down as if in approval, winked and disappeared into the hole. Almost immediately, it returned with another baby in its mouth and offered it to Mark. Now more confident, Mark responded by cupping his hands to receive the small, furry and very cute pup.

I’ve got a baby animal here, take it from me, said Mark cheerfully.

Adam, now not caring about what punishment lay ahead leaned down, took the pup and placed it tenderly alongside the other. The noise of both pups was very loud and Abi was working hard to comfort them. She had tears in her eyes as she didn’t know what to do except cuddle them and try and keep them warm.

This process happened once more and then the animal tried to scramble up the bank itself as it had tried to do earlier. As before the animal struggled, so Mark, still in the water pushed the animal up onto the bank. It raced over to her pups, nuzzled them and then instinctively carried them one by one into the hollow of a tree. The children were mesmerised and all moved forward to peer into the dark hole. The entrance was quite large but was so dark inside that the children couldn’t see anything.

Wow, said Abi, isn’t that wonderful?

Amazing, said Adam.

Wow I’m flipping cold! exclaimed Mark, who had by now climbed out onto the bank, fed up with waiting for assistance.

You look a real mess, said Adam as he turned and looked at Mark now with fear in his voice,

Oh, Mark, they’re going to hit you really hard, said Abi and she began to cry.

Mark went over to her and gave her a long cuddle but it didn’t pacify her. They all knew that Abi was right.

We’re all going to get badly punished, said Adam, we’re all dirty.

The children inspected one another with despair and realised that they were so muddy that it would be impossible to clean themselves sufficiently to please their mum and her latest boyfriend. They knew what lay ahead of them, especially if their mum and ‘Dad’ as they had been told to call him, had been drinking and had an argument, which was most days.

I don’t care, said Mark, "I’m used to it anyway, and it doesn’t hurt any more. I just laugh at them because it