Chapter 5
Thought about moving out, like, a hundred times–but Dad watches me like a damn hawk. He’s terrified I run off and marry some guy the second
nude it imper clear: if 1 dare try to move mot and he catches me? 111 he begging for death. ||
just thinking about that study of his makes my skin crawl. Literal shivers |
1 looped my arm through Mom’s, poning on my best daughter voire ||
Mam? Would you definerally anything I ask? Tor real? ||
Maran her hand through my hair in that gentle way that’s just hers–like she could heal every wound with Whatever you need. I’m there.”
I looked straight into her eyes, dead serious ||
Then promise me–swear to me–y
-you wont ever go inin Bar’s study. Can you do that for me?“]]
“Is your father hiding something in there? ||
don’t know just… please don’t go in there! Promise me?” ||
“Hey, hey, calm down, sweetie. If that’s what you want, then I won’t go in. I promise.“||
“Mom, you’re the only one who still cares about me.”
“And I always will, haby: Always”
Mam looked so serious w
when she said it. I really believed her.||
I’m gone
h just a touch. “Of course, Fions. You’re my baby girl.
If she stayed away from Dad’s study, she wouldn’t get brainwashed like everyone else. She’d keep loving me the way she always had
She even said Dad was just stubborn and antisocial, told me not to take it personally. Then the dropped the bomb that she’d already set me up with this amazing guy on a dating site. “What parent doesn’t want their daughter to get married?” she sneered “Its ridiculoust
I felt this huge ware of relief hit me and agreed to meet the guy that weekend.
But the next day? Mom canceled the whole thing no explanation, just poot, it was gone
together early, but she never woke me up. I slept till moon]
We were supposed to eat breakfast tog
1 thought she’d just gotten busy at the shop. But the instant I opened my bedroom door? WHAMI She hurled a bowl from the dining table straight at my head
My forehead exploded with pain, blood dripping onto the floor
was right there, veins bulging on his forehead like they might burst |
“All you do is sleep all day, you lazy plece of shit Why don’t you just sleep forever so I can finally bury y
your
Terror and hurt crashed over me like a tidal wave. Tears streamed down my face like I couldn’t turn off the faucet.
And Mom? She just sat at the table, manching on her steaks like nothing was happening. Like I didn’t even exist anymore |
Dad had this gross, smug look as he snatched his leather whip and started lashing me. The pain? Felt like fire eating my skin alive
I cobbed uncontrollably ||
Dad, what the hell did I do wrong? You’ve spent YEARS destroying every relationship I’ve ever had, and now what–you actually want to beat me to death?!” Every time he breathed, his nose flared–like he was practically rating his own anger ||
Better if you were dead!” he spat||
“Every time 1e your face, I want to tear you apart, limb by time!“).
Ypa want to get married so bad? Ho
married so bad? How about after you’re dead–11 arrange a ghost marriage for you!”
The whip cut through the air, ripping my skin wide open. Blood sprayed everywhere–hell, it even hit the ceiling
The pain was in bad it hillunded me I could stop screaming till my voice gave out. My body thrashed like I had no control, every thought drowned out by the
The pr
sting through Tik Tok, I marking up every now and then. She couldn’t care less if I lived or died.
Led strength, I dragred myself over to Mom:
Mom, please make hum stop! He’s going so kill wer
† thought she’d finally snap out of in–like, push Dad away and wrap me in her arms to protect ine
But she didn’t make a muscle
Just gave me this annoyed side eye, like I was bothering her during her TikTolt break]
och puu a lesson.“]
You’re always getting on your dad’s nerves. What do you expect? He has every right in teach
My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, my arms were shaking like to just run a marathon
That’s when it hit me–Mom had been in Dad’s study too
100
I cried so hard could barely breathe
tell me the truth! You went into Dad’s study, didn’t you?! ||
