In Despair (Major editing)

Chapter 1

I gasped before opening my eyes, surprised to find it dark outside. My rapid breathing was constant and it took me a while to realize I was no longer dreaming. Perhaps waking up saved me. I felt sweaty and in need of cold air and I didn't want to know how many hours were left until school would start. The thought of going back to sleep and going through all that pain and horror again got me trembling. I wasn't ready for school, but was I ever? Having to face everyone felt like the most difficult task at that time and I was sure that I would be feeling quite shaken up throughout the whole day.

I had a choice between staying in bed and opening the window which meant waking Katherine. I knew my choice was selfish. I got up and pushed the blanket to the side, revealing my body to the warm air. Before I knew it, I was standing, already finding my way to the window. I was so desperate to open the window that I didn't notice the table standing right in front of me. I walked into it. The noise seemed so loud that I could hear the squeak vibrate in my bones.

"Dammit." I muttered to myself repetitively.

I really didn't want to know in how much trouble I would get in, but as soon as I got to the window I found somebody stare at me a few meters away from my house. Nothing was visible, but I could tell it was a man. The muscular, shaped body gave it away.

I jumped at the sound of Katherine's voice after focusing so much on figuring out who the person was. "An I?" I turned around to see Katherine getting up.

I simply apologized for waking her up and immediately looked back outside. He was gone.

"It's the third time this week," she stated.

"I'm sorry,' I apologized again, this time with a softer tone.

"Was it worse than the ones before?" I could sense her worry for me.

"What the hell happened?" I turned towards the doorway, looking at my foster dad who seemed irritated. I didn't' hear him when he walked in and I was as unhappy as he was whenever I woke him up.

"Abbi had a nightmare," Katherine felt the urge to tell the truth, and it always got me in trouble but that didn't mean she didn't care about me, it was just like a disorder of not keeping things to herself. It was why I never trusted to tell her all of my secrets.

"Abigail, you are moving out tomorrow if you don't stop waking my little girl," he threatened.

"Dad!" Katherine yelled, "It is fine."

Nothing was fine, I knew her dad would do anything to keep me out of their lives, but I was only seventeen and finding my way in that dangerous city felt like going to war without training.

"You have given me no choice, I'll do what I have to do," and with that he left handing me a number of questions that nobody could answer.

"What do you think he'll do?" Katherine asked confused as always.

"He'll probably give me away to a family," I shrugged, not really surprised with everything going on.

"Don't say that!"

I opened the window, taking in a deep cold breath, "I'll be fine, I can handle another family."

She either ignored my statement or chose not to open a subject that would lead to something dangerous and so she tucked herself in bed without saying anything else. I had upset her but I had to get her ready for what was about to come. I knew she was strong and maybe without me, her dad would be in a better state unlike now.

"Ani, would you mind closing the window and getting back to sleep?" Callie, Katherine's step mother, walked in.

"I, uh, can't go back to sleep," I told her truthfully.

"I'm sure you can, unless staying outside sounds more ideal," she faked a smile and walked over to me, closing the window before I had the chance to do so.

"Okay, I'm sorry," I walked fast back to my bed and got in. I curled up in a ball and expected Callie to say something before I closed my eyes but this time she didn't and that scared me even more than all of her threats put together.