The Fairy's Curse #WATTYS2015

Chapter 2

After I got home, all hell broke loose. Apparently Judy grabbed the wrong cigarettes and whiskey instead of beer. But of course I did it. It was my fault. And then I made a huge mistake.
"Well, if you had just got off your damn couch and did it yourself it wouldn't be wrong. Now would it?" I got slapped. And I got a new addition to cigarette burns on my left arm. I screamed when she did it, as I always do. She always made sure to get my upper arm which why I stopped believing her a long time ago when she said it was an accident. She didn't mean too.
I ran down to my room and started sobbing. I ran over and slammed the door. I leaned against it and began to cry even harder. As I started to hiccup, I whipped my face and stood up. I needed to get out. This wasn't going to be my life. I wasn't going to live like this. I went to my purse and counted my money, I had a little over five thousand dollars. Yeah, that's a lot. I've been saving since I was fifteen.
I was ready to run when I realized my birthday wasn't for another two weeks. Damn it! I sat on my bed, which is nothing but a twin mattress laying on the floor of the basement, and I pulled my knees to my face and bawled. I felt hopeless.
Wait.
My birthday is only two weeks away.
I'll runaway.
Take everything.
Stay with Judy.
Then in two weeks. On my birthday. Get a place to live. That's it.
That was all I needed and I felt the weight lift off my shoulders as I packed my bag. I put the money in my purse just in time because Ethan came down the stairs.
" Mom said go to the store. I need food." He said. Mom had him treated me the same way she does. He was raised to see me as a lesser creature. Someone not worthy of his stature. Trash.
"Do you have the money?" I asked as nice as I could. He made an ugly "yeah-right-like-moms-paying-for-it" face and stumbled up the stairs. Yes, stumbled up the stairs. It's possible.
You see, Ethan is basically the prince of this house and of course mother gives him everything and I'm his server. I drive him places, make him dinner, do his laundry. I even do his homework if mom is feeling especially vicious that day. Ethan was goofy looking with short brown hair and blue eyes. He was on the heavier side because when he gave mommy those puppy-dog eyes, she gives in.
"Winter! Hurry. Ethan is hungry. Take the car and get dinner." Dinner! It was almost eleven and he hasn't eaten?
"Yes, I will." I grabbed my things and stuffed them in the closet and hid my money in my purse as I went to get Ethan food. I brought it back and to my surprise, he actually seemed to appreciate it. He smiled at me. Then mom yelled at me.
"Why are you still here? You're no longer needed. Go to your room, I'm tired of seeing your face." She sneered. I just did what I was told and went downstairs.
I finished packing what I would need and waited. I had to wait until they both fell asleep so I could actually get passed the door. They last thing I needed was for Ethan to see me and tell mom.
It was about twelve-thirty when I heard mom finally yell for Ethan to go to bed. He was allowed to stay up as late as she did. I heard the familiar squeak the stairs made as they went up and then the doors close. I continued to wait just to be one hundred percent sure they were sleeping.
Finally, about ten after one, I decided it was safe and I slowly went up the basement stairs. I quietly opened the door and looked around. The lights were off and all that was heard was the filtration system for Ethan's turtle tank. I slowly tiptoed to the back door and opened it. I quickly stepped outside and shut the door behind me. I looked around and saw nothing.
I ran for it.
I knew this was it. The only shot I had and I had to take it and make sure it worked. I will never look back. Ever. I will never again live in fear of my mother and I will never live in Ethan's shadow. I was free. Or at least I thought I was.