“We’ll see about that.” His eyes narrowed for a second before he stood up and warned me again, “Don’t fucking move.”
The bang of the door closing wasn’t anywhere near as loud as the lock clicking into place. That soft sound rang through my ears like the chimes of a doomsday clock. I shrank back in the seat and watched Mason stalk around the hood of the car.
I’d never seen him look so determined. Every time he questioned me when we were kids, I managed to blow him off. The pit growing in my stomach told me that wasn’t going to happen this time. Mason wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.
I could feel the walls closing in as he opened the door, tossed the bag he packed for me in the back, and climbed in the car.
“Buckle up, Freckles.” He shot me a smirk and started the ignition. “It’s going to be a wild ride.”
I hugged my knees into my chest and watched the trees behind us get smaller. There was only one person in this town that scared me more than Mason Kessler. When he found out who I was with, he’d come and finish the job he threatened to do…
“The cops will be hereany minute, Honey Bug.” My father swept my hair back and pressed his lips to my forehead. “You know what to tell them.”
I turned away from his stern glare and watched the machine I was hooked up to beep away my pulse. “Yes Daddy.”
“Good girl,” he said, and stood up to walk across the room. “Remember what happens if you don’t do what I say.”
The pain wracking through my broken body was enough to remind me of that. And if it wasn’t, what I’d seen him do to Momma last night sure was. He told me not to go in his office.
I should’ve listened. Now, I’d never get that empty look in Momma’s eyes out of my head. She told me to run, but there was so much blood, I couldn’t move.
Daddy hit me when I threatened to tell Mason.
After we put Momma under her flowers, he hit me again, and again, and again. I begged him to stop. Told him I loved him and asked him not to hurt me. But he didn’t stop. He said I needed to learn to listen to him.
“Hello Harper.” The deputy sheriff walked in and smiled at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” I whispered and continued to watch the machine pulse.
I couldn’t look away from the bright green lines bumping up and down. Every time they reappeared, they’d sparkle just a little. Like his eyes sparkled in the sun.
Deputy Adams sat down in the chair beside my bed and sighed. “You’re a very strong little girl.”
His words brought tears to my eyes. I wasn’t strong. Strong people didn’t listen to the monster in their closet. But I had to, or those beautiful green eyes would never sparkle again.
“Can you tell me who did this to you?”
A tear slid down my cheek as I whispered, “Mason did it.”
Goodbye my beautiful green eyed boy. I’ll always love you…
I sweptthe tear off my cheek and stared out the window. Seven years ago I made a choice, and now I’d have to make another. Did I try to escape before my father came home? Or did I let Mason break me?
Back then it was an easy choice, but now…
I glanced over at Mason, searching for something I hadn’t seen in years. Was there any of that green eyed little boy left to save?
Harper’s bodytrembled so violently that the vibrations of her quaking slithered across the center console and up my seat into my balls. Was I proud of myself? Fuck yeah I was proud of myself.
I’d never seen Harper look so scared, which was saying a lot considering my day didn’t start off right until I pulled at least one tear down her face.
Sometimes I sent her a good morning text, just in case I didn’t run into her in the morning. Couldn’t have her showing up to school all smiles and giggles, after all. That shit would fuck my good mood right up.
Was it wrong that I got off on her fear? Probably. Too bad for her I didn’t give a shit. In fact, I preferred wrong. It was so much more fun to play in the dark.
Lou and Micha were constantly preaching about the benefits of a diplomatic approach. Kind of condescending, considering how my brother got his girl. I’d like to see him explain where the diplomacy was in that shit show. But that was Micha, the hypocritical prick. Telling me to stop playing victim.
Who’s playing victim now, asshole.
