Change

Prologue •

My legs burn from the running. I'm breathing heavy now, lucky that I didn't pass out. I slow down, not wanting to, just enough time to catch my breath and jog up a few feet before collapsing. The leaves and twigs forming to be a comfy bed for me.

"Cassie, you have to make it" they spoke faintly so fragile it broke in the murderous air.
"Mom?" I matched the fragile voice. I kneeled looking everywhere for her presence.
"Keep going, don't give up my dear. Don't meet me to soon" her voice boomed, then fell. I followed there advice not sure if it was my mother or not, but I jogged up a few.

The smoke rose in the air in a line and dispersed into the air. The little wooden house was lopsided and looked unsafe with the wood poking out, sharp enough for someone to be I palled. I didn't think twice about finding a shelter, away from that 'thing' I shuddered at the sight of the beast.

"Cassie?!" I rolled my eyes at yet another voice that seemed familiar but still never came into sight. Annoyed and agitated of everyone hid from me I spoke in the ugliest tone.
"What is going on?! I'm losing my mind!" I gripped my hair roughly tugging at it. It hurt but I didn't care. I bowed my head and spiraled from the new voices that entered my head.

When did I become so vulnerable to the craziness. Everyone was crazy but I was worst. I spun around and around until the voices decided to leave. I prompted myself up cautiously that one wrong move and they would come running back.

"Cassie. Wake up now. Cassie" I was pulled back into reality. The swinging light hung steady in the classroom. I checked in the back for the dingy beat up desks the goth kids sit up and terrorize. My high school teacher stood in front of me shaking me gently but roughly enough to wake me from my nightmare.

"Where am I " asking the first question that pops into my head.
"School and you slept" I slapped my forehead with the palm of my head.

I reach for my bag but he swipes it away, I look at him in disbelief, whenever has a teacher took a students things, I'm suing.

"What?" I asked, getting up from the ratchet desks and leaning on it.
"Don't make this happen again" he says sternly, I reach for my bag again but he pulls back.
"Damn dad alright" everything happened rather quickly.

He drew back his hand and let it go, my head turned in the direction of hell. He grabbed me by my hair, my legs going limb, he threw towards the bookshelves. I couldn't run because at home things would get worse. I stumbled getting up, he charged after me, his head colliding with my stomach, pushing me deeper into my hell hole.

The lock jiggled, it jiggled for a few more seconds. Dad was still in position to give me a few more throws before eh door broke off its hinges.

"What the hell is happening?!" The gym teacher busted in, in fumes. With my bruise on my cheek in eye sight and no makeup to cover it, the gym teacher rushed to my side. "He hit you?" I looked at my dad. His shoulders were slumped his back hunched and his face converted into the ugliest grin a man could muster.

"Yeah" I stood up, even though my legs burned and hurtled me like hell, I stood up anyway. I wiped the blood from my mouth, grabbed my bag and turned towards the door.

"Go outside , I'll be there waiting for you?" What the hell, I'm not waiting on anybody anymore. He's just so crummy gym teacher, what is he going to do? I disobeyed him and ran home. The burn spreading through my body. I fumbled with my key, shoved it in the lock, turned it, and pushed it open rather harshly.

"He hit you!" My mom rushed from the floral chair she bought a couple of months ago. I tried to tell her it was a waste of money but she is stubborn, and bought it anyway.
"Mom he always does it, let's leave why are you sticking around anyway?" I couldn't help the tears rolling down my cheek, she sticks around for no reason, she has money of her own, she could manage. I even promised her I would get a job when things got rough.

"I-" she teared up too. She broke down in sobs, gasping for air, I wrapped my wimpy arms around her. " I don't know" I hugged her harder. I helped her up the stairs, to my bedroom to pack my things.

"Don't leave me please" she whispered, she's lucky I heard her though, I bit my lip to not answer her but I broke the silence.
"Damn mom, what the hell do you want me to do then?! Just come with me!" I threw down my peach tank top into the messy suitcase.
"It's not that easy. I love him!" The room started spinning.

"Fine you could stay, and let him beat the crap out of you. I'm helping you mom. But you want to be stupid and stay here" I bit my lip, hard. Blood draining into my mouth. I packed my things in peace and quiet.

I zipped it up, dragging it off the old bed.

"Don't go Cassie" she slipped off the edge of the bed, almost drunk. But I now she was cutting down on the drinking. I rolled my eyes at her, and being the stubborn person I am, I trudged down the creaky wooden staircase.

"We find a teacher also known as the father, in the classroom beating his daughter." My eyes scanned the living room and they found there way on hotness tv. The reporter was in the entrance of my school. "He is now in jail, his hearing will be held in two weeks. Stay tuned for the stray kitten in the tree" she closed off, the news cutting off to commercial.

I turned to mom, new tears rolled down her cheek. Not sure for happiness or her being dumb and sad. I hugged her one last time, before rushing out with my things.

It's time for a new adventure, a new life where I could just start over. The past is in the past, and now the future starts with me.