A Long Way From Home

Part 6 ( rough draft ending)

In the darkness the young girl pulled the filthy sock out of her mouth while staring at where the plate should be. She was contemplating on the food the young man had sat before her long after he left. She thought it could be a means to her end but the way he looked at her, he seemed different. Although how different could he be to allow the rape, the beatings and the torture? Then again, the older man seemed to control him and he has never done anything to harm her himself. The discussion in her head was over. She slid the plate to her, grabbed the sandwich with her eyes closed and bit down fast and hard. The sandwich was thick as it stuck to the roof of her mouth. Every chew made her mouth muscles hurt but she knew she needed it. She went to reach for the glass of water somewhere in front of her and accidentally knocked it over. Not even a swallow was left in the glass. She pressed her hand down where the water had spilled to lick the small amounts of water that formed on her hand. It was water and grime but she was desperate. She didn't want to die. As she was about to press her hand down for some more water the basement door creaked open. With the small amount of light that entered into the basement the girl stared at the top of the stairs, terrified about who she would see. Whoever it was walked heavy and with each slow step they took it matched her heartbeat. She had no protection and she was weak.

She stared blankly at the young girl before her mind was able to focus that she wasn't a threat. At least she didn't seem like a threat. She just stood there and stared at her before smiling and humming as she walked back slowly through the door. Frozen in a state of confusion, it took the girl a while to slowly follow the young girl. She didn't know what awaited her inside the house, or better yet, who was waiting for her. As she walked to the stairs she saw a glimpse of hope in the corner of her eye. The glass was lying a few feet from the last stair step, wedged between the wall and a column. She grabbed it frantically and put it back in her panty string but this time on the other side. Her side wasn't bleeding from it anymore but it was still extremely sore, especially when in motion. As she reached the top of the stairs she looked into every corner before fully leaving the basement. No one was there. Just the same pristine kitchen. She stepped farther into the kitchen and she could see some blood drops on the floor almost the size of quarters. She was too busy staring at the blood when the young girl walked into the kitchen from the living room. Watching the girl not notice when the young girl came in made her look to see what she was staring at. The young girl gasped loudly when she saw the blood, scaring the girl into putting her back against the counter. Paying the scared girl attention, the young girl focused on the blood and retrieved paper towels from under the sink. It must've been the young man's blood from the older man's attack that she heard many hours earlier. She watched the young girl (she's dirty blonde) clean up the blood and the area around it.

The young girl's pajamas were dirty and too small with a dried blood stain pooled from her private area down the right side of her inner thigh. She has been here for years. As the young girl over cleaned where the blood was the girl decided to tiptoe around her and enter the living room. The living room still looked disgusting: trash, filthy clothes and bugs everywhere. The box television was on the news channel but it was on mute so she was able to focus more. The door was a few feet in front of her and all the bolts looked unlocked but she still felt uneasy. She creeped towards the door and stared into every room she passed. She saw nothing and heard nothing. Everything was eerily still. As she twisted the front door knob open she pushed her weight onto the door as she slowly pulled it open to limit the noise it would make.

The sun shined bright into the living room as the breeze switched out the air in the house. She stood in the doorway, breathless. Her moment has come, all she wants is to go home. She looked behind her for hopefully the last time in this Godforsaken house. Seeing no one ensured that she was alone so she took a step onto the front porch and let the smell of greenery surround her.