[Not my photo: From Peakpx]
(Wattpad keeps making the photos a black screen 😑)

Original story, created by- Dakotahstacy3. ONLY on Wattpad.
Anywhere else, it has been stolen, without permission. Support real artists and writers!
(Written back in April 2024)

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I had this idea for awhile, but it took awhile to write it. This will be a dark chapter, so if you need to skip, feel free too.

⚠️Trigger warning: there will be some dark stuff going on, but I don't wanna give it away.

The next chapter will be happy and light hearted
☁️🌤️

[I was planning to make this longer and ever darker, more emotional. But I really wanted to get this posted.]

/////

"Alright, kid. You can go home now. Do you want or need someone to drive you?" The cop said, putting the paperwork in a file and looking over at me.

"No. I'll walk." I said, slowly getting up and leaving.
It had been a few days since I'd been there. I could've left at anytime, but I just stayed there.
It took a few days, but I did finally tell the cop what he wanted. Now I had no reason to stay there.

The sunlight hurt my eyes as I stepped outside. Walking down the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets. I had no reason to rush home. So why even go back?

Slowly making my way closer, clouds started to move in, darkening the sky. Dark thoughts clouded my mind as well. It isn't worth it to go there. I should just turn around and never look back.

Stopping in my tracks as I stared ahead. I could leave right now. Never look back again.

But I can't. No matter how much I want to.

🌫️⛈️🌧️⛈️🌫️

After battling with those thoughts, I finally managed to get to the front door. Putting my hand by the handle, but I froze up. What's going to happen?

It's better to just get it over with now...

Putting my hand on the door's handle, slowly and quietly walking in. Glancing around quickly to see if he was there. There was no sight of him, yet.

The house was dirty and messy like usual. It even smelled worse than the cell I was in. Cigarette smoke and trash piled up around the house. No matter how many times we cleaned, it just got worse. And he only got angrier.

Making my way through the house, stepping on the quiet spots as I went towards my room. He has to be here somewhere. Why hasn't he noticed or yelled at me yet?

I some how many it to my room, closing the door behind me. Turning on a lamp in the dark room. A storm was brewing outside and my windows were boarded up, so the old, crappy lamp was all I had for light.

My room was a mess. My stuff was thrown everywhere, papers ripped, things broken, some stuff was probably missing too.
He's definitely mad. But maybe he'll be to tired to notice that I'm back. Maybe...

I fixed up my bed a little then laid down. My mind felt so numb and tired. It was always foggy. I forgot what it's like to focus. To be in the moment. I've forgotten a lot of things now.

Strong winds hit the old house, rain so heavy and loud it sounded like hail. Even with all the commotion of the sudden, loud noises, I felt so tired. I've gotten so used to it, I ended up just falling asleep.

☁️🌥️☁️

At some point I started to wake up, no clue how long I was there for.
Laying on a bed made my body so comfortable, my mind finally being able to rest.

Until I heard the bedroom door handle turn, oh no. He knows I'm here.

But to my surprise, it was a sweeter face. My little sister, Chloe. She was surprised to see me too, her eyes wide and her jaw dropping. She quietly closed the door and ran over to me.

I hugged her tightly, while her little arms wrapped around me. This is why I can't leave. She needs me.

"Why where you gone for so long?" She asked me quietly.

"I'm so sorry. Some things happened, but it's okay now. I'm back. Okay? I'm back now." I said quietly, comforting her.

She pulled away slowly, looking at me with a terrified expression. "He's gonna be mad."

I gulped, "It'll be alright. Don't worry about it, Chloe." I said, putting my hand on the side of her face.

"Okay." She said quietly, then grabbed onto me again.

It'll be alright... right? I'll just do what I alway do, I'll be okay. It will pass.

Chloe left the room, I stood up and took some deep breaths. I might as well clean my room up now. So I up things back in there spot, threw out the ripped papers and anything else that was broken.
Then looked in the mirror at myself, my hair was a mess and I've been wearing the same clothes for days. Maybe I'll have time for a shower today.

I heard some muffled talking, it was him in the other room. Chloe barely ever talked, it was to risky to talk to him.

It's early in the morning, maybe if he has food he won't be to mad?

Stalling again, I brushed my hair and threw on some different clothes. Placing my hand on the door knob and trying not to faint or panic, I quickly stepped out of the room.
Let's just get this over with.

"Don't you burn anything!" He yelled tiredly.

Chloe was in the kitchen, trying her best to make him breakfast. She must have gone through a lot while I wasn't here.
No, don't think about it. You just got to get through this day. One day at a time.

Slowly stepping closer to the kitchen, he finally noticed me.
His eyes dark and surprised, then angry.

*

"What are you doing here? Where the fuck have you been!?" He said sternly.

"There were some problems at school. It's all fine now." I said.

"Problems? What kind of problems!? You've been gone for days!? You think you can just leave!" He said, started to get more angry.

"They wouldn't let me leave." I muttered.

"They? Who's they!? What did you do now!? You fucking idiot." He yelled.

"T-t-the cops. I got in a fight with a kid. So they questioned me." I mumbled out.

"Cops!?" He said, standing up, moving closer to me.
"You got involved with cops!? Huh! Fighting a kid?" He said, smacking me across the face before I could even realize it.

"It's okay. They let me go. Everything is fine now." I said calmly.

"I hope you won that fight, coward." He said, turning back to the table.

Okay, so far so good. I made it through that.

Chloe glanced over at me then back at the food. I walked over to help her, she had a hard time cooking and doing some of the other chores. So I usually tried to do most of them.

We worked together in the cramped, filthy kitchen. Making bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast. It was never good food, but it was decent enough to eat.
Besides, he eats most of the food anyways. We just get some scraps.

This stove and oven we have is so old that it barely works, put it on low and you get high, put it on high and you get low. It's a guessing game, so our food is either under or over done, every time. That's why I try to eat other things, prepackaged and easy.
Chloe is always so hungry, I try my best to get her food. Sometimes I'll find some fresh food, but I've done things I regret. Stealing, going through the trash, lying, eta. What ever I have to, for Chloe.

I'm older than her, so I'm supposed to take care of her. But eventually I won't be around to help her, unless... unless we run away together.

I've tried to run away before, but I never could. I'd make it down the street then come right back. Thinking about what'd he'd do to her if they were alone... That kept me here.

We cooked the food and piled it high onto his plate. I brought the plate over to him, keeping my head down. He huffed, grabbing the plate and scarfing it down.

Is it even worth it to try to eat? Maybe I should just wait.
Chloe snuck some food when he wasn't looking, taking small bites.

While he's eating, I'll clean up the kitchen. Go ahead and try to keep him in a good mood.

"I hope you won that fucking fight, you pathetic coward. I bet you got your ass kicked." He said abruptly.
"Huh?" He said, throwing a piece of food at me.

It didn't hurt, but made me flinch. Tensing up as he stared at me. But at least I was facing away and it was only a piece of food.
I've had worse.

—

Me and Chloe spent most of the day cleaning up around the house. No matter how much we tried it would never be clean. There was junk piles everywhere, trash thrown about, cigarette smoke that coated everything in the house, and he always complained, even though he was the one making the house so filthy.

"Where are my cigarettes!?" He yelled, sitting in his chair in front of the tv.
Hurriedly trying to find them, finding a box with two lonely cigarettes on the floor.

"Here." I said quietly, handing them to him.

"Where's my lighter!?" He yelled.

"Here it is!" Chloe said, running over to light his cigarette.

Then he relaxed, laying back and smoking while he watched something in tv.

Slowly sneaking away to my room, I wanted to take a shower but haven't been able to yet. If I'm quick he shouldn't notice. Besides he'll probably fall asleep anyways.

Grabbing some clothes and then going into the bathroom, locking the door and grabbing a towel.
I hate this small, disgusting bathroom, but I just what to take a shower right now.

Getting into the shower, it takes forever to warm up, so I fought through the cold water until I could finally feel some warmth.

Closing my eyes and letting the warm water hit my body. Why can't I escape this place?

—

Staying in my room, cleaning up yet again. The sound of the tv lightly playing in the background. How could this place turn so peaceful all of a sudden?

Maybe I could get away from it, at least for awhile.
But that thought didn't last long.
The sound of familiar yelling interrupted my thoughts.
These walls are so thin, yet no one ever heard my screams.

He was awake again, stumbling through the house, incoherent yelling. As usual.
His steps getting louder as he got closer.

The sounds of Chloe's little footsteps running towards her room. While his went right up to my door.

My heart dropped, my breathing fasten. He was right there. It was bound to happen. It was stupid of me to think I could get away from it.

He opened up the door quickly, a loud bang as it hit the wall.
"What'd I say about closing doors?" He said, a beer in hand.

"I was just cleaning up." I said quietly, ducking my head down while standing in the middle of my room.

He stepped closer, making my heart race. I just stared at the floor, I couldn't do anything else.

"You never told me what the fight was about. Huh? Didn't want to tell me? Did you?" He said.

"Huh!?" He repeated, pushing me with his hand then taking a swig of beer.

"It was nothing." I mumbled.

"Speak up!" He yelled.

"It was n-nothing. It doesn't matter now." I said.

"N-n-nothing. Oh." He mocked.
"You got involved with cops. You think that's funny?" He asked.

"No, sir." I said, trying not to stutter.

"You better tell me what happened." He said in a deep, rough voice. Standing over me.

"A kid was bugging me...and we s-started fighting." I said slowly, not sure what to say.

"Hmm. You let a kid push you around? You really are a coward. And a dumbass." He said right in my ear.

"Your a weak little boy. Always have been. Isn't that right?" He said, smiling to himself.

"Yes, sir." I said, fear and dread starting to build up. I tried my hardest to not cry. If I did he would beat me until I laid bleeding on the floor. There was already enough blood marks around the house.

*******

He took another swig of his beer, then started to unbuckle his belt.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment. It'll be okay, just make him happy. Then it'll be over.
At least it's me and not Chloe.

I can't think about what he'd do to her. It would drive me insane.

He held his belt in one hand, the beer bottle in the other.
He brought the belt up, rubbing it against my face.

He chuckled to himself.
"You think you can leave me? Hmm, you pathetic little boy." He whispered into my ear.

"Who do you belong to?" He said in a deep, rough voice.

"You." I said sadly, gulping in fear.

His mouth curved into an evil smile. "Good boy."

"On your knees."

• • •