Web of Lies

2

Danielle's POV:

THE front door slammed to a close, the force of it rocking the wall I was leaning against. I quickly scrambled up from my sitting position and made my way towards the kitchen to retrieve their tea I had made.

Questions were forming in my head not even 5 seconds after I'd seen the message. Who were they? Were my parents hiding from them? Why were they hiding from them? What did they do? I had quickly left and cleared the app, placing the phone back in the original position it was in.

Instead of dwelling on it and giving my-self away, I returned to cleaning the kitchen. Dad was going to be coming back to the house soon, after a 2-week business trip. I had to make sure the tea was cooked and the house was clean and tidy. All especially for him.

During the time I spent dusting the window sills in the living room, my mother emerged, dressed in a short, tight dress and face caked in makeup. I already knew where she was going. There wasn't a point in asking. Without even acknowledging me, she walked straight past, retrieving her phone, opening the front door and slamming it behind her.

I grabbed the plate, walking towards where he was sitting on the sofa, bottle of bear in hand and staring at the show blasting out of the TV. Not even realising I was there, I walked around him and placed the plate of pasta down on the coffee table. I knew better than to interrupt him. Just as I thought I was safe, that nothing was going to happen, a voice made me stop my walk to the door leading to the hallway.

"When did your mother say she was getting home?" He questioned, eyes still fixed on the TV.

"I- well she... she didn't," I responded, slowly edging nearer to the doorway of the room, making it easier for me to run out if needed. "She just left."

"And what, you didn't think to ask her?"

"Well n-no she-"

"Can't you do anything right?" He interrupted, "Can't you maybe succeed in a single thing for once in your life. You would think your mind is messed up with how often you fail at doing simple tasks."

I kept my gaze fixed downwards, it's better that way. Even if he isn't looking at me, if I ever dared to look up and consider making eye contact, I would be in store for a cigarette getting put out on my arm.

"Honestly, I don't even know why we go to so much trouble with you. You're not worth it and never will be."

I always try to zone out what he's speaking to me, try to not listen to it. But even then the words break through the walls I make, flowing into my brain and filling it to the top with these thoughts so much that they're drowning me, making me struggle to breathe. 

A plate flying past me, smashing into the wall behind me makes my eyes snap to my father who was now up on his feet, staggering towards me. If it was inches to the right, the shards would have pierced into my arm.

His hand wraps around my hair, pulling me towards him only for him to quickly push me back into the wall, the impact making me fall to my knees, right on the broken pieces of plate. I wince in pain and try to lift myself up, merely to be yanked up once again and kicked in the stomach repeatedly.

I doubled over in pain, clutching my abdomen as he allowed himself to catch some breath, stopping for a couple of minutes. Apparently beating up kids is tiring work.

I consider getting up and making a run towards my bedroom, but that won't work, it won't stop him from getting inside and trying a different tactic to torture me. Besides, I can barely see straight, I doubt I would manage to leg it to my room.