Signal of Distress

32 - Empty

~ Empty - Chase Atlantic ~
❤︎❤︎❤︎

We have lot more in common than you think
-River Mitchell

A loud crash jerks me out of my sleep. I immediately look around the room to realize Eli isn't next to me. I stand up as his t-shirt I'm wearing falls to my thighs.

I quickly look through his drawers and grab a pair of shorts before opening the door. The yelling gets louder and louder as I approach the stairs.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now!" I hear Eli's voice.

"River?" I gasp looking over my shoulder at Jane. "Sorry about the loud noise. That's Eli and his dad." She shakes her head as if she's disappointed. "Do you want to calm him down?" She asks.

"Huh?" I utter. She can't be serious, it sounds like they're throwing stuff.

She nods, crossing her arms in her silk nightgown. "Yeah, he seems calm around you. He didn't start fights last night, I could only assume because you're around," she explains. Yeah, but I don't know if I can calm him down.

I run a hand through my hair as I think. I notice her eyes locked on my wrist. I look down realizing I haven't covered up my scars. I quickly snap my hands behind my back. "Uhh sure I could try," I tell her with a smile.

She smiles back. "Thank you dear. And..." her eyes glide back to my hands that are placed behind my back. She looks back up at me with tears in her eyes. "Thank you," she repeats before walking off.

That was... weird.

"Get out of my fucking house if you're going to point fingers!" David screams. I hear another loud crash.

"Shit," I curse. I run down the stairs as fast as possible. I walk into the kitchen where David and Eli are at each other's throats. Broken dishes on the ground. I take caution and be careful not to step on sharp glass.

"NO! She's dead because of you. You're the one pushing your children past their limits. Forcing them to do shit they don't want to do. You can't ask your children if they've had a good day but you can scream at them for bad grades until they cry. It's your fucking fault," Eli shouts right in his dad's face.

I can see the tears building in his eyes. He may be angry but he's hurt more than anything.

David pushes him back. "Watch your fucking mouth boy because I will-" he stops talking when he notices me. His eyes trail up and down my body and I'm immediately uncomfortable.

Then he notices my arms. He scoffs looking at Eli. "Better watch this one too. You're not going to save her," he mutters before walking off.

"You fucki-" I grab Eli's arm before he can walk over to his father. He grabs the closest cup and whips it at the wall. It shatters into pieces, clattering against the cold tiled kitchen floor.

"Eli, stop. Please," I beg. He looks back at me, a tear falling from his eyes. He shakes off my hand and walks away.

I follow him back upstairs to his room. After I walk in he slams the door scaring me. I've never seen Eli so angry. I sit down on his bed as he paces back and forth.

He lets out a yell as he sweeps everything off his desk. It falls onto the ground, possibly breaking some things on the way. "I'm sorry," he croaks out. His hand covers his face as his back faces me.

"Eli it's fine," I assure. He shakes his head. I want to help him. I want to comfort him. "Eli, come here." He shakes his head again. "Please."

He turns around and drops his hand from his face. His eyes are red and puffy as tears fall from them. I hold out my arms to him.