The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

Chapter 10

She fell asleep on the scratchy sheets of the motel bed, her eyes closed tight, sleeping on her side. She didn't always feel comfortable falling asleep until her mother did, but exhaustion had taken over.

Her mother was on the other double bed, sniffing on a book she took from Penelope, her groans of pleasure at the high she got annoying the teenager trying to sleep. While in the motel, Penelope slept with clothes and shoes on. She needed to be prepared for anything.

Penelope's mom finally laid on the bed, her upper body leaning on the headboard, her eyes rolling around in a daze.

She had to admit, she missed Ash just a little bit more than usual today.

Her eyes finally closed again, her mind drifting to a place where Ash and her lived happily.

All of a sudden, her heart thumped at the sound of the banging at the door. She immediately sat up from her bed, inching closer to the door, her head tilted to hear any clues about who it was.

"Who is it?" She spoke loudly enough to be heard through the door.

"It's Henry." Her heart stopped. It was her father. She hadn't seen him in 9 years. She doesn't even know how he knew they were there.

She opened the door, seeing him drenched and looking thinner and gauzy than he had looked previously. His eyes were hollowed in, and his skin was pale and gray with spots of clear meth abuse on his cheeks.

"What do you want," she asked tiredly. He pushed past her, searching the motel room.

"Why are you here?" She asked, standing behind him as he searched the place.

"I need money." He said bluntly. She frowned, crossing her arms.

"Well we don't have any," she noted softly. He turned around, facing her with eyes full of rage.

"Don't fucking lie to me. Where is your money?" He asked again. She began to grow anxious,

"I-I told you I don't have any." She stuttered. He whipped his body around to face hers, taking strides towards her, looking feral and desperate.

"You'll have to fucking do, then." He grabbed her, trying to pull her towards the door. Penelope cried out from the pain of his force, clawing at him as he dragged her.

"Under my bed." Her mother slurred. Her father stopped, going under her mother's bed, letting Penelope fall to the ground.

She was frozen in place, her breathing becoming shallow. All he could do was watch her father rummage through her mother's things, before she passed out on the bed.

He looked at her once he had the money, leaving after he spewed out, "you haven't seen the last of me, you little ungrateful bitch. I'll come back for you."

She stood up as soon as he left, not bothering to close the door. A duffel bag laid flat under her bed, grabbing it swiftly and plopping it on the bed. She stuffed clothes, underwear, and money she had hidden in her shoe in the bag.

She froze as she remembered her mother, walking over to her, putting her finger on her pulse point at her neck, feeling the pulsation of her heart beat. Penelope let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Good, she was still alive.

Tears began to fall on the bag, making her realize that she was crying. She disconnected her charger from the outlet, placing it in the bag as well with her toothbrush and deodorant.

Once she was packed, she sat in the corner of the room, building up the courage to call the one person she knows would drop everything to help her.

Ash is dozing off on his bed, his eyelids heavy while he lays in bed.