“What do you mean by that? You’re amazing at school.”
I shrugged.
“Well, I’m going to go start prepping dinner before Alan gets back home. I’ll check on you, okay?”
“Kay.”
I must have fallen asleep, for when I woke up, the sun had long since set and my room felt like a freezer. I slowly pushed myself up to sit, and a wave of dizziness made me groan out loud.
“About fucking time, Scar. I’ve been waiting for hours for your lazy ass to wake up.”
My entire body stiffened at that voice. I swallowed around the rising bile.
“Lisa says you’re sick, but you’re perfectly fine. I have no clue why she worries so much about you.”
Glancing around the room, I noticed my window wide open. I knew Lisa had kept it closed because I was sick. So why did he open it?
“Your sitter was nice enough to make dinner, but the kitchen is a mess. It’s time for you to come clean it up.”
He stood from the small corner chair I used at the desk when I did my homework. It creaked under his weight.
“Lisa says I need to rest,” I said before coughing.
“I don't give a rat’s ass about what she says,” he huffed. “You have two minutes to get downstairs and get to work, or you’ll be punished.”
“But—”
“I’m not going to go easy on you just because you have a little cough,” he said, spitting the words out. “Two minutes.”
He stomped out of my room, making sure I could hear him as he descended the stairs.
Pushing the covers off of me completely, my teeth began to chatter. As quickly as I dared, I ran to the window and slammed it shut. Then, I made my way down the stairs.
I wanted to cry. The kitchen was a complete disaster. The sink was filled with dishes, most of them likely clean. Broken glass bottles littered the floor. And food was splattered along the countertop.
“Get a move on, Scar,” my father barked behind me, causing me to jump.
No thirteen-year-old should be required to clean a mess like this. I was sick, and if Lisa hadn’t snuck me to the doctor’s like she did, it was a huge possibility that I would be dead in a week.
Maybe I should have hidden my cough better from her.
Letting one lone tear slip free, I got to work. Some of the glass cut into my socked feet as I tried to step as carefully as I could to get the broom.
Normally, I’d move faster, but my body wouldn’t let me. I couldn’t. Everything hurt. My chest was sore from all my coughing, my throat burned, and I was just so tired.
“Why aren't you moving?”
“I’m tired.” My voice came out in a whine.
“I don’t care!”
Without warning, I was shoved forward, my front lying flat on the counter that was covered with spoiled food. My face was smashed into what felt like mashed potatoes.
The sound of his belt coming from the loops made me stiffen even more. I held my breath, waiting for the first blow.
He remained where he stood until I let a breath out before he hit the belt against my back. I yelped at the force, already feeling welts appear.
“You will do as I say, when I say. Got it?”
