Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Nine months later

June

Dahlia

S chool has been out for a few weeks and I can’t believe my first year of high school is over. I’m sixteen today, and it’s surreal to me how quickly time is passing. I did really well for my first year, and Bee and I got great grades.

In fact, we should be celebrating with a fun summer planned filled with pool days and time with friends, but Gareth sent her to her aunt’s house for two weeks right after we finished school.

Blowing out a breath as I fix my hair, I make a face at myself. I don’t want to be throwing myself a pity party right now. I want to have a great day, even without Bee. Jack’s picking me up to help me celebrate, even texting me this morning that he demanded that I get up and have fun today.

I’ve managed to reclaim my love of bright colors after moving everything even slightly pastel-colored to a corner of my closet. If I thought the gesture came from a loving, if misguided, place, I would be more grateful for the clothing, but I know it didn’t.

Mom spent a shit ton of money on hideous things for me.

Gazing at my purple, cloth-overall shorts with a black crop-top underneath, I smile as I pull a deep-green crossbody fanny pack over my head. Hear me out before you judge me, it perfectly matches the flowers on the cloth, and reminds me of Bee’s eyes.

God, I seriously miss her.

Turning away from the mirror, I pull on some cute sandals, deciding my outfit is fine for a day out with Jack. I’ve video chatted once today with Bee, and she seemed really jealous that I was going to a Darkest Nights concert with him.

It’s my first ever concert, one of my favorite bands, and Bee told me to have fun.

After a second of pouting, she shook herself off, stating that she missed me. Her pout was because she hated being away, which I completely understand.

Jack:

Hey, slow poke, I’m on my way. See you soon, birthday girl.

Grinning, I take a cleansing breath as I leave the room. My energy is good, and I refuse to let anything fuck with my day. Jack can’t ask probing questions about how life in this house is with Gareth if he doesn’t think anything is wrong.

Yet, there are things that are really fucked about my life that I’m keeping from him. I’m no longer binding my breasts anymore, because they’re getting too big for it. Bronwyn also figured out during one of our makeout sessions, and that led to a lie that I wasn’t really comfortable with all the changes happening with my body.

Bee smirked at me at the time and showed me how much she loves my body, so I no longer bind them. Unfortunately, I’m now approaching a D-cup which is only slightly smaller than Bee’s breasts.

I know I wished for bigger boobs, but seriously, world?

Jogging down the steps, I force my mind away from the way Gareth’s eyes stare at me whenever no one else is watching. It feels like a dark film is covering my body every time it happens.

I’ve started taking scalding hot showers in an effort to wash out the phantom filth. Now that Bee’s gone, he’s enforcing ‘family’ dinners with Mom and I. Whenever he thinks I’m not giving him enough attention, he lifts the sharpest knife at his plate (there’s always several) and pretends to plunge it into my mother’s back.

The shock value of it always works. Bee’s supposed to be home tomorrow, and it’s been a long fucking two weeks.

“If it isn’t the birthday girl,” Gareth booms out from the bottom of the stairs as I take my last step. I’ve been so in my head, I didn’t even notice. I need to stop doing that, but my brain has been on overdrive lately.

He enjoys scaring me, taunting me, and has the necklace he stole from me, hanging from his home office computer. He called me in once just to show me, reminding me I can’t have anything that’s just for me that he won’t eventually take. Ever.

“You look bright and happy. Where are you going, dressed like that?”

Mom is working today despite it being their anniversary, and I’m surprised Gareth isn’t at the hospital as well on a Wednesday. Jack makes his own schedule when he’s home in Detroit, which means he put a big X mark on his calendar, telling his secretary he was off on my birthday. He’s the only one who generally cares about it.

“I’m going out for the day with Jack, and then we’re going to a concert,” I say, careful not to get too close to him. He has a tendency of hurting me in places lately where no one else will see, since Bee has been gone.

Since she’s going to be back soon, my only hope is that he’ll chill the hell out.

“That’s nice,” he says, reaching out to tug on the strap of my overalls. “I don’t know how appropriate this is, with the way your body has changed, around a man of that age.”

My eyes widen at what he continually implies.

“Jack would never inappropriately touch or think about me,” I hiss, slapping his hand so he’ll let go. “Unlike you, who is a fucking pervert hurting your stepdaughter!”

“Watch your tongue or I’ll cut it out,” he growls, making me gasp and start walking away quickly. “You sound so brave now, Dahlia, we’ll see how you’ll fare when you get back. I have something special planned tonight.”

My breaths pant with fear as I think about how for the last year, he’s used his fingers on me, strangled me until I passed out, and masturbated while using my breasts for friction. Gareth also wanted to punish me for falling asleep in Bee’s bed once, and not allowing him ‘access’ to me, so he used a glass bottle to insert into my ass, to train me to be better mannered and more reasonable to his needs.

I had bowel issues for days afterwards. While all awful, I know there’s even more evil inside of him, even more depraved things that he could do.

Just get away for now. Hold onto the good things.

Lifting my head up high, I force myself to walk away from him. Hearing Gareth’s heavy steps behind me, I barely stifle a scream as I duck and run. The air displaces where my head was, and the asshole rips a curl from my scalp.

That’s honestly the least painful thing that’s been happening to me though.

A knock at the door has me rushing to answer it, throwing it open with wild eyes to find Jack outside waiting for me.

“Dolly, what?” he asks as he moves around me to find Gareth’s red and angry face. “The fuck are you doing to her, you sick fuck?”

The roar settles me as much as it shakes me.

“I’m fine,” I gasp. “Get me out of here. Now.”

Jack places his hand on the small of my back, the way he has a million other times, escorting me the hell out of the house.

“She’s sixteen, dicksicle,” he growls. “Go wave your cock at anyone other than Dolly.”

Gareth simply smirks as Jack slams the door behind me.

“I’m fine, I’m out,” I whisper as I walk, talking to myself as much as Jack. My ankle rolls, almost wiping me out, and Jack lifts me as if I weigh nothing, continuing to walk with me at his side.

“I do not like this,” Jack rumbles. This close, his voice rolls through my body, making me twitch. “You’ve been keeping secrets, and I’ve been letting it go for too fucking long. Talk to me, Dolly.”

“I can’t,” I say, breathing hard. “He said he’d hurt Mom and Bee, and I can’t?—”

I’m having trouble getting air into my lungs, and Jack deposits me into the SUV. Running around the front, he jumps in and speeds away, shoving my head between my legs.

“I don’t have a paper bag, but this sometimes helps. Breathe for me,” he grunts as he drives. “You have some explaining to do.”

“I can’t,” I rasp, begging my airways to open. “Jack, it’s so bad.”

“Move in with me,” he says. “I have a house, there are two other bedrooms, and while I’m not home all the time, it’ll be safer.”

My chest is still heaving to pull in as much oxygen as possible, and I lean back into my chair.

“He’s been threatening Bee and Mom,” I whisper. “If I told you everything, you’d kill him. It sounds dramatic, but you and Bee are the only ones keeping me sane. You can’t go to jail.”

“Dahlia,” he says, his voice breaking as I flinch. It always sounds like I’m in trouble when he uses my full name. “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at that fucker for manipulating you. What is he saying?”

Swallowing hard, I tell him about the threats, though I hold back the word vomit that wants to tell him everything. I can’t. He’d fucking lose it if he knew.

“You shouldn’t be in that house anymore, but I don’t have a legal leg to stand on,” he grumbles. “I’m your deceased dad’s friend, which doesn’t mean shit to a judge. I’m not a blood relation.”

“I know,” I agree, taking a shuddering breath. “I can deal. It’s just a couple more years of school and then I can go to college. I can get a scholarship with my grades.”

“Two years, Dolly, is a lot,” Jack says, shaking his head. “This all feels as if it’s escalating. What does Bee know?”

“Nothing,” I whisper. “She adores her father, Jack. She does whatever he wants, which is why she’s been out of town for two weeks. Dinners with Gareth and Mom are fucking creepy, but I can deal.”

“You’re the most stubborn human I’ve ever met,” he mutters. “That’s saying a lot, you know.”

“Since you’re so old and all,” I say with a giggle.

“God, I can only say that,” he complains. “I just turned forty-three this year, okay?”

I know that, because I sent cupcakes to his hotel to surprise him, since he was traveling. Jack does so much for me, there’s no way I’d forget his birthday.

“Look, it’s a shitty situation, but there’s not much I can do about it,” I remind him. “What I can do though, is focus on what I can control.”

“Which would be to have an incredible birthday,” Jack rumbles.

“Ding ding ding. Who’s the smart one now?” I tease.

Giggling as he rolls his eyes at me, I find the tension I’ve been holding inside slowly dissipating. A lot of parts in my life are shitty, but this part isn’t.

“Alright,” he says. “How comfortable are those sandals?”

“I can walk,” I say. “I know my ankle rolled earlier, but it’s not from the shoes.”

“I’m going to park downtown and we’ll try a new burger place that’s supposed to be amazing,” he begins. “I got some recommendations, since there’s a satellite office that just opened up now that I’m living here. It’ll ensure I can be in town more often.”

Jack and I don’t talk a lot about his job, but I know he’s a bigger deal than he lets on.

“Okay, big shot,” I say with a giggle. “Lay it on me.”

Rolling his eyes, he nods. “After lunch, there’s a dessert trolley that’ll take us through the city while it feeds us. We can jump off and on as needed, and play tourists,” he explains.

“Ahh, that sounds incredible,” I squeal. Gareth and Mom haven’t allowed me to have anything sweet since Bee left. They said I’m gaining weight. Yeah, in my chest maybe.

I can’t really do anything about that.

“The trolley will drop us off in front of the concert hall for tonight, and then because you’ll be starving on the way back,” he says sagely, “there will be dessert.”

“Best birthday ever!” I yell.

Jack grins as he finds the parking garage he wants to park in, riding up to almost the top floor.

“It’s busy because it's typically a commuter garage,” he explains. “But, since I work nearby, it’s the perfect place for us today.”

“Are we going to pass by your building?” I ask curiously as I hop out of the vehicle.

“Actually, we are,” he says, locking the doors once they’re closed. “I am only tabling our previous conversation because we agree we’re at a standstill.”

Walking toward the elevator beside him, I nod, knowing this won’t be the end of it, though.

“The second you need me, pick up the phone,” Jack insists. “I don’t care where I am, what time it is, or anything else. I’ll figure out a way to help.”

“Understood,” I say, knowing I can’t promise a damned thing.

“Alright,” he mutters, pushing the call button to bring the elevator up to us. “Now, I’m done.”

Grinning, I already feel lighter as we get into the elevator. “I’ve been looking forward to this,” I tell him. “I can’t believe you got tickets!”

“I bought them ages ago,” he confesses. “I saw they were coming to Detroit, and immediately bought three tickets.”

“Three?” I ask, smiling because he included Bee.

“It felt wrong not to,” Jack explains with a shrug and we get off the elevator as the doors open. “Bee is a big part of your life. I can share.”

“Well, Bee is going to be insanely sad that she’s not here,” I tell him. Jack glances at me, appearing guilty, and I gasp. “She knew, didn’t she?!”

“Oh yeah,” he says with a nod. “Bee kept pestering me, asking me what we were doing for your birthday. That’s not weird, right?”

“Nope,” I say firmly. Gareth can’t twist the two healthiest friendships and relationships that I have. Chad, Natalie, and Riley are really nice, but it doesn’t feel right to hang out with them without Bee. Knowing what a twisted fuck Gareth is, Jack is normal and sweet. “If it is, screw it.”

“My cursing is definitely rubbing off on you,” he mutters. “Look, this is where my office is when I’m in Detroit.”

Turning my head to the left, my lips part as I take in the shiny chrome building. “Woah, it’s huge,” I say, looking up.

“The company has four offices in the building, nothing fancy,” he warns.

“You’re kind of the ‘closer’ for deals for the company, right?” I ask, crossing the street with him.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I do. I pitch what we can do for a company that’s interested in our security company, and then go through their weak points and how we can strengthen them,” Jack says.

“From cyber security, to video cameras, or hiring guards. We have people who can be anywhere. We started mostly as a mobile company.”

I know he’s only here because of me, he’s said as much, and I wonder if I’m fucking up his life. As he said, he’s in his forties.

I get lost in my head as we order burgers, fries, and bottles of water before finding a place to sit. It’s not too busy, thankfully. It looks as if most of the lunch rush is over.

The concert begins at eight-thirty with the opening band starting, so we’re not in a hurry…

“You’re thinking really hard,” Jack says, amused as the food arrives.

“Ummm, kind of?” I look down at my cheddar cheese, bacon burger with barbecue sauce on it, and my stomach grumbles with hunger.

“Twenty dollars for those thoughts, Dolly,” he says, making me laugh as he takes a large bite of his burger. Deciding to do the same, I chew slowly. If I ask him any of the questions rattling around in my head, he may choke.

“Eating isn’t going to save you from me,” he reminds me, scrunching his face at me in impatience.

Swallowing before I laugh, I roll my eyes as I wipe my mouth. “Let the record stand that you asked for this,” I say, raising my brow.

“Jesus, kiddo,” he says. “Okay, out with it.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I ask, taking a sip of my water.

“Well, I wasn’t expecting that,” Jack admits. “What if I had a boyfriend?”

“I wouldn’t care if you’re dating a koala, as long as it was consensual,” I say, trying and failing to keep a straight face. A few people glance over in horror, but Jack keeps his eyes on me, even as he grins.

“I have a girlfriend, and you’re the one who told me that ‘love is love,’” I remind him. “It would be hypocritical if I didn’t return that open mindedness.”

“You’re wise beyond your years, Dolly,” he says. “I am not dating: male, female, or koala.”

The end makes me giggle as I eat, popping a French fry into my mouth.

“So why not?” I ask him, making sure I’m not flashing food at him.

“Ugh, why are we talking about me? I should be embarrassing you by asking if you’re practicing safe sex or something,” he says, groaning.

We are definitely going to be what our eavesdropping neighboring tables talk about later. Thankfully, they’re clearing out, and we’re the last ones here.

“Not having sex,” I say with a shrug. “Hope you can sleep better now. Though, it’s not like Bee can get me pregnant if we were.”

“You’re unbelievable,” Jack says, though he’s laughing, just on the inside. “To answer that, I travel a lot, and I spend my down time with you or other friends. It’s unfair to start something when I know my priorities are focused on other things.”

Taking that at face value, I move onto other things as we eat. We chat about his hockey player friends, talk about going to a game when the season starts up again, and laugh a lot.

The entire day is perfect, and the dessert trolley I find out is run by a chef who has a travel kitchen in the middle of it as we move throughout the city. The driver points out different things as we drive, and I find myself having a blast. The desserts are incredible, but the company is top tier.

Jack motions to the driver that we’re getting off the trolley, and he pulls over, so we can walk to where The Darkest Nights is playing. I need to move my body anyway, I am so full.

“The dessert trolley was a nice touch,” I tease Jack as we walk. The sun is going down, but I’m not worried. I’m pretty sure I’m fairly well protected with Jack.

“It was, wasn’t it?” he says with a smirk, pointing to where The Darkest Nights ’ sign is up announcing them. I’ve never heard of the band opening for them, but I love discovering new music.

Jack shows our tickets at the entrance, and then we follow the directors to our seats. The show is in an open air amphitheater, the weather is beautiful, and I cannot keep the permanent smile off my face.

Sitting at our seats, I take my phone out to check for messages, since I haven’t all day.

Bee:

I miss you so much, you have no idea how hard it was to keep Jack’s secret!

Me:

I wish you were here! This is amazing!

Bee:

You’re alive! Send me a photo and then put your phone away. Soak it all up, baby girl.

Her words make me sigh happily. It’s too soon to tell her I love her, right? We’ve been dating for almost a year, and my heart swells anytime I’m near her. My head is telling me to fuck the rules, because she’s my stepsister anyway. Clearly we don’t give a shit.

“Your thoughts are so loud, Dolly,” Jack says, leaning in to speak to me. “Is that Bee?”

“Yeah,” I tell him, still looking down at my phone. “I think I love her.”

Jack is quiet, and when I glance over in alarm, he has a bemused look on his face.

“Does she know that?”

“Not yet,” I say. “I think I just realized it.”

“You two are cotton candy sweet,” he says. “Life is too short. Say it when you feel it, and don’t apologize for it.”

“You’re full of life advice,” I tell him. “Smile with me for Bee. It’s impolite to leave you out of the photo.”

“I didn’t know that was a thing,” Jack says, barking out a laugh, but he smiles just the same as we take a selfie.

“Totes a thing,” I say sagely. Jack continues to laugh, and I realize it’s difficult to take anyone seriously who uses the word ‘totes’.

Oh well.

Me:

I love you! Here’s the photo of proof of life, Bee.

“See, I can take advice,” I snark, showing him the text.

“I still stand by the fact that you’re the bravest person I know,” he says, and then I’m putting away my phone as the lights dim.

I lose myself to the music, the sound of the drums, and the lyrics for the next few hours, my heart racing with excitement.

“I really hate leaving you here,” Jack mutters as he pulls in front of Gareth’s mansion.

“I know,” I mumble instead of what I usually say. Nothing is okay or fine about this house. Gareth is going to find a way to fuck me over for leaving earlier.

The fact that he doesn’t know if I told Jack anything or not will simply make him more pissed off.

“Call me,” he says, his fist slamming down on the steering wheel and startling me. “For anything.”

“Yes,” I whisper. I don’t know if I will though. “Today was exactly what I needed. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he says as I open the door and slip out. As I slam it closed behind me and walk, I realize that I didn’t check my phone to see if Bee messaged me back.

Pulling it out, I begin to walk toward the front door and check it.

Bee:

You… what! Really? Dolly! Holy shit, you really put your phone away, didn’t you. God, you brat, but also, I’m glad. I hope it’s amazing. I love you so much. See you tomorrow.

I can’t stop the grin as I text her back quickly, and then practically skip toward the front door, despite knowing that it’ll probably be a shit show. Turning back before I walk in, I see Jack is still in the driveway, waiting for me to go inside.

Rolling down the window, he leans forward.

“I’m a gentleman, Dolly,” he reminds me. “Since you’re with Bee, I don’t need to remind you that gentlemen wait until you go inside and are safe, because she’d do the same without a single thought.”

Grinning because he’s right, I wave and yell goodnight to him as I unlock the door and walk inside. Carefully, I glance around, looking for Gareth to come out and yell at me, but that’s not his usual style. Closing the door behind me, I lock it and cross the foyer quickly.

I hate how huge this house is.

It should be easy to hide in this place, but it’s not. A part of me wonders if I should just sleep in Bee’s room. The unfortunate thing is that I doubt that would be enough to keep him from breaking down the door, and then I’ll never be able to go into her room again.

Bee helped me repaint my room at the beginning of the school year, thinking that was why I didn’t like being in there, but it’s not. There are too many tearstained moments that have happened in that space.

Surprisingly, I make it up the stairs and to my room without incident, but I’m still tense. I’m coiled inside for something to happen, and that’s how I remain as I lock my door, change into my pajamas, and brush my teeth.

Doing these routine things should help, yet they don’t. Climbing into bed, I stare at the door with all the lights blazing, trying to stay awake. My eyes feel heavier due to the long day, and I twitch awake over and over again. My body hurts from startling awake, but I’m terrified to fall asleep.

I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt for bed. I know it’ll piss Gareth off, but any chance I can have to get away, I’m willing to take. My fingers curl around a makeshift weapon, a nail file that may help me fight him off. I know I’m supposed to accept my fate, just take it to be able to protect Bee and Mom.

I know…

My eyes fly open, and the lights are turned off. No…

“You really fought to stay awake, didn’t you?” Gareth says, standing naked next to me. Tears prick my eyes as I try to move, but my arms are tied over my head, and my legs are restrained as well.

I try to scream, but there’s a gag in my mouth, shoved so deep inside, it threatens to choke me.

“Your little rebellion is going to mean I can’t take my time,” he growls. “Dahlia, you’re a stupid fucking girl…”

Punching my side, Gareth snarls as my eyes roll in pain. His hands roam my body, pinching, smacking, and hurting me. Every move is designed to torture and humiliate me, and his words highlight every moment.

“You deserve all of this, you stupid cow,” he says. “What did you tell Jack, hmm? Did he fuck you to make it all better?”

Shaking my head does nothing as Gareth makes up depraved stories about what he believes happened. I don’t even understand half of what he says, except for the part where he asks if I enjoy golden showers now after fucking Jack.

I wouldn’t ever want any of the things Gareth screams at me as he hurts me. I wonder if anyone else can hear him, if there’s any staff that stays at the house, or if it’s really just us here.

Doesn’t my mom wonder where her husband goes at night when he’s not with her? Does she care?

Gareth unties my legs, pushing them up over my head, and I fight him hard. His cock lays heavy between his legs, ready for whatever fantasy his mind is creating. He’s never gone this far, ever, which is part of the reason I’ve been able to lock it away in my mind.

I have the me that has a life in the light, and the one who is trapped in my room at night.

The darkness is so deep, I feel as if I’m drowning in it.

“Remember,” he grunts as he moves my ankles with one hand and shoves them up tightly toward my chest, “this is all your fucking fault. You made me do this.”

Gareth fists his cock, pressing down on my body in such a way that I can’t move. I’m trapped, gasping for breath, but unable to because I’m having a full blown panic attack. This is how I die.

“Every time my daughter looks at you, you’ll know who fucked you,” he growls, lining his cock up with my asshole and shoving it inside of me.

There’s no finesse, no easing me in, just unyielding pain. My vision goes white as I scream, the sound finally escaping my body, even through the gag. I feel as if I’m being torn inside out, I can feel every thrust, yet pray to feel numb.

Gareth laughs as he rapes me, because that’s what this is. My mind screams the word into the abyss, begging to pass out. But, he won’t let me.

Backhanding me, he refuses to allow me to disassociate from my body. I can’t find a quiet place in my mind to hide since none exists, and the unending pain continues.

“Let’s see how much tighter you’ll get for me when you can’t breathe,” he muses, pinching my nostrils closed. I’m gagging on the cloth in my mouth, unable to breathe, and my body convulses as it screams that I need oxygen.

“Oh yeah, fuck, that’s nice.”

Gareth experiments with my body over and over until I feel broken beyond repair, and he’s come inside my ass three times. Breathing hard, he pulls out of me, letting my legs flop down on either side of me.

I have no strength to fight, move, or make a sound, and he smirks as he watches as his release rushes out of me.

“If I hadn’t been so pissed off, I would have brought my presents,” he muses. “Instead, I left the butt plug and the lubricant. Fuck, even the ties holding you down are some of my best fucking ties, you whore.”

Working himself up, he slaps my face over and over, and I can tell that I’m swelling up from the blows.

“I’m going to have to delay Bronwyn’s flight now,” he sighs, looking down at me. “Or maybe, you can just kill yourself and clean this mess up for me.”

Untying me, he takes his ties back, dropping a pocket knife on the side table.

“Do the right thing, Dahlia,” he growls, stalking away naked. The door shuts hard behind him, and I stare unseeingly after him.

God, he must have come in here already naked. Did he?

I’m not making sense…

Whimpering as I force my arms to move, untying the thick strap ties behind my head, and pulling out the gag. He used a huge sock and another tie he didn’t bother to take with him, I drop my hands at my side. The knife next to me catches my attention, my mind beginning to race.

Gareth is giving me an out, but do I want to take it?

He as much as said Bee would be fine if I did, and at this point I don’t care about my mom anymore. She made her bed when she married Gareth.

She didn’t protect me from a predator, but I tried to protect her.

My lungs burn for air, and I gasp in a breath, realizing I had been holding it. My body seems to only be continuing to live because of the fact that it hurts not to breathe or do the basic things required for survival.

Every muscle in my body screams as I force myself to sit up. Bodily fluids I can’t even begin to think about are leaking from me, and I sob. Gareth took the rest of my innocence, even if my virginity is still intact. I don’t think anyone would believe me if I told them otherwise.

Would Bee and Jack?

My legs threaten to collapse on me as I stand, grabbing the knife for good measure. My thoughts are foggy, and I can’t seem to hold on to anything for long. One thing I do know is that I need a shower desperately.

Maybe once I can’t feel the phantom pain left behind from Gareth’s filthy hands and cock, my brain will come back on line.

It feels as if I blink and find myself underneath the steaming hot water, wondering how I got here. The disassociation I so desperately wanted is happening now, when I need to keep a clear head.

Sitting on the ground, the cool tile helps with pushing away the fog. Opening the knife, I vaguely ask myself if I want to end everything.

What kind of life will I have now? I can’t stay here. I don’t know what my face looks like, but Gareth was very clear about his stance. My chest hurts as I pant with fear and uncertainty.

I need to go. Glaring at the blade, I shake my head, closing it back up. I’m not strong enough to fight him, but I’m damn sure not going to give up. Gareth can fuck all the way off. It’s going to kill me in so many more ways to leave, but I need to find some way to tell Bronwyn about her father.

I can feel myself pulling away from her as I stand, already calling her by her proper name in my head. Washing my body and hair helps me to form my thoughts, somehow knowing Gareth won’t come back tonight.

He’s too busy congratulating himself for breaking his little toy.

Yanking the lever to turn off the water, I dry myself with the clean towel so helpfully placed outside of the shower, and step out. I’m not going to miss anything about this house. The heated floors, the maids, all of this luxury is a trap.

I’d much rather sleep on a fucking bench than stay here another moment.

Wrapping the towel around me, I avoid looking at my face or body as I pack a backpack that I brought with me from New England. It’s well loved, not bougie, and is less likely to be taken from me.

Comfortable clothing is packed, along with twelve hundred dollars that I’ve hoarded away from tutoring, when I could get away with it while at Tyler Prep, and a coat. Everything is tightly rolled up in the bag, the money is going into a pouch that I can wear under my clothes.

Getting dressed, I wear light layers, and put on socks and a pair of combat boots. They’re brand new, but all I can do is hope that my jeans hide them well enough. The pouch with my money is well hidden on my body now, and all that’s left is to say goodbye to Bronwyn and Jack.

Hot tears sting my skin, making me realize I can’t go out like this. Rushing to my bathroom, I wonder if I should apply makeup the best I can, wincing as I allow myself to gaze at my face for one full minute, at the mess Gareth made, before I decide against it.

My eye is almost swollen shut, I have a fat lip, and I’m a mess. A light hooded-sweater is all I’ll be able to use to hide my face.

Twelve hundred dollars won’t take me far, and I’ll have to decide if I’m going to leave Detroit or not after I leave here. Packing deodorant as well, I grimace as I lift my bag. It isn’t as heavy as it could be, which is the best I’m going to get.

Picking up a white piece of paper, I fumble through my pens until I find one that has disappearing ink that only appears under a black light. Bronwyn and I found a packet of these and thought they were fun.

There was an entire two weeks that we used it to write each other little notes.

I can only hope she’ll remember it when she realizes I’m not here anymore.

Dear Bee,

I’m so sorry I have to go. I tried to stay, but he broke me. I’m no good for you anymore. Gareth has taken everything from me, and it all started a year ago.

I know he’s different when he speaks to you, but he’s terrifying. Ask Jack. He saw a bit of how he treats me today before the concert.

I’m sure he’ll tell you I was crazy, or that I tried to kill myself, but that’s a lie. I have the knife he told me to use. I just don’t have it in me to give up my life.

I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger, that I couldn’t fight him off…

Sobbing, I turn my head so the ink won’t run with my tears. A part of me wants to tear up the note. It’s too raw, because that’s how I feel. The best parts of me have been ripped away, and now I feel empty.

Shuddering, I wipe my tears away. They won’t change anything. Not now, not ever.

No matter what you believe, please know that I meant it when I said I loved you.

Dolly

Sniffling, I watch as the words disappear, and I fold the note up, hoping I’ll be able to put it in her room before I have to leave. Shoving it in my pocket just in case, my eyes catch on my phone.

It’s four in the morning, which means Jack is probably asleep. God, I hope he doesn’t wake up when I text him.

“You deserve so much better than this,” I whisper.

Me:

Jack, I’m not as brave as you think I am. I wish I was. I can’t stay in this house of horrors anymore. Bronwyn isn’t safe here either. I don’t know how or if it’s possible, but please get her out. I’m leaving a note for her on her bed. Make sure she finds it. Together, my messages to you will make the most sense. All I can say is that I’m alive, and that’s what matters.

Hovering over the send button, I find one more iota of courage and press it. Deleting the text message for good measure, I whisper goodbye. Leaving the phone on the vanity, I turn away from it completely.

If I hear him respond, I won’t be able to leave. If he calls me, I’ll stay.

My backpack feels heavier than it did earlier as I walk out of the room, my gaze darting furtively as I look around. Somehow, I get to Bronwyn’s room and leave the note under her pillow before beginning to hoof it out of this fucking house.

Gareth’s knife is in my back pocket, something I’m sure I’ll need once I leave.

The house is a ghost town, no one notices as I open the front door for the last time, and walk out. The neighborhood is beginning to wake up, my hood is firmly in place, and I have no doubts that the next few nights are going to be difficult.

I’ve made my choice though, now I have to live with it.

Goodbye Bronwyn and Jack. Please take care of each other.