Can't Say No

Chapter One

My stupid abusive father was glaring at me, holding a beer bottle in his right hand. "What'd you say to me?" He growled. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms across my chest. "I said you're an idiot and to never touch me. Now fuck off!" His eyes narrowed, and before I knew it he was on top of me. I just closed my eyes and let his fists fall. In the back round I could hear the ticking of my wristwatch, which to some would sound impossible. But to me, it wasn't. I had extraordinary hearing, I could hear a mouse's heartbeat if I tried. I thought back to today's events as I listened to the ticking. I had basically barricaded myself in my room all day to avoid my psychotic adoptive parents. Though it hadn't done much. I had to eat eventually. But now here I was, getting the shit beaten out of me by a drunk maniac. Each blow hurt, but I was barely conscious anyway. Soon I could black out and wake up somewhere random outside. But my father had different ideas. "Stay awake! I want you to witness this." He said, forcing my drooping eyelids open again. I moaned slightly, which only resulted in me getting socked in the stomach. "Shut up and stay still." He growled. "Maybe I'll die today." I thought. "Maybe I'll be set free from this living version of hell." But, I was apparently wrong. One last punch to the face and I was out cold. Left alone to the endless ticking of my watch.
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I awoke actually in my room, for once. I felt a presence near me, but looking around, I saw no one was there. I looked over my arms and legs. I was covered in cuts and bruises, and the pain bit. But I didn't care. The dick had left me in my clothes, so I at least I had hope he didn't rape me. I stood up, and slowly made my way to the closet. My clothes were shredded and so, so bloody. I would never be able to repair them. Sighing, I changed into a blue t-shirt and grey jeans. I pulled on a green hoodie and my black high top boots. After changing from my clothes, I threw the shredded ones in the trash. Quietly, I tiptoed downstairs and into the living room. My adoptive father was passed out on the couch, a beer bottle in his hand. My adoptive mother was also passed out, though on the counter and she had pill bottles by her head. Rolling my eyes, I snuck some cash from each of them and decided to go buy myself breakfast. When I stepped outside, it was so early the sun wasn't even up. Perfect, I could get home before anyone notices I had gone. Though I wouldn't call this place a home. It's more of a... I don't know. Insane asylum? There wasn't a word that could describe where I lived now, but one thing's for sure, it wasn't a home. I grabbed my bike out of the woods and peddled away from the small little house. As I biked down the street, I still felt that weird feeling. Like I was being watched. I kept turning around, but nothing was behind me. Shaking my head, I peddled faster and turned a corner. It was an odd feeling, but I did my best to ignore it. My whole town was basically just stores, cafes, and restaurants spread around a forest. We did have a beach, and an arcade, but there really wasn't much else to do. I rounded some more corners, then pulled up to a small cafe. A sign in front read "Breakfast Bakery". I often came here when I needed something to eat. My friend Ellen and her mom worked here, so it was much nicer when I stopped by. I locked my bike to a bike rack, then pushed open the door. A little bell sounded, and Ellen came from the back. "Good morning Kayla." She said cheerfully. I smiled. "Mornin' Ell. Can I have an espresso and a baguette?" Ellen smiled and heads over to the coffee machine. "You're up early." She remarks as she makes my coffee. I chuckle and shrug my shoulders. "Just...wanted a head start on the day I guess." Ellen smiles and tops my espresso off with whipped cream, just the way I liked it. After handing my the cup, she grabbed a baguette and handed it to me in a paper bag. "Have a good day." She said to me as I walked out. "Thanks, you too!" We had an odd friendship. I rarely went out of the house, so when we did see each other it was very brief. I put the coffee and bag in my bike basket, then took off down the road. The feeling still hasn't gone away. I had goosebumps down my arms, and I just had to keep turning around. I nearly scared myself to death when I was turned around and I car nearly hit me. The honk of its horn made me turn around and swerve out of the way just in time. "That was stupid of me." I mutter, moving to the side of the rode. "Who was that anyway? Why were they up at this hour?" It didn't make any sense, but I didn't really care. It was only an idiot driver, but I was being an idiot too. I decided that instead of going home I'd go to the beach, when I saw Amanda Highwell's car going the same way. Amanda was probably the snobbiest girl at school, and she like making everyone feel below her. I really hated her and would have liked to punch the crap out of her, but really didn't want to be arrested. So I just went back home, stashed my bike in the trees again, and quietly opened the door. Neither of my adoptive parents were up, which was expected. They normally didn't wake up until about nine or ten. So I had almost four hours, if my watch was correct. Five thirty six. I liked my watch. It was antique, and the orphanage people said my real parents had left it with me in my basket. Yes, I was left on the doorstep of an orphanage in a basket with a note. Just like the movies. It wasn't much fun, being an orphan. I sometimes thought about my birth family, what they would have looked like and what my life would have been like with them. A lot nicer, that's a definite. I quietly took my breakfast upstairs to my room and locked the door behind me. Just for good measure, I pushed my dresser in front of the door. I didn't need my 'dad' busting in anytime soon. My tiny room was feeling so cramped, so I cracked my window open and hopped out onto the roof. It was nice, watching the sun finish rising in the morning with a coffee. I liked it being Monday, as I could go to school and escape my parents. I was just waiting for seven o'clock, when the bus would come barreling down the street and I could run down the drive. It was senior year, almost over. When the last day bell rang, I was moving in with Ellen. We had already discussed the plans, and her mom was totally cool with it. Her dad was out of town most of the time, so that factor didn't matter. I was actually feeling quite happy. For once in almost a year, I smiled without anyone trying to make me. But the feeling didn't last long. I heard a thumping of feet up stairs, and the pounding of fists against my door. "Bitch, open this door now!" I heard my adoptive father yelling. "Make me!" I shouted back. In the blink of an eye, my dresser had been moved and I was being grabbed by the neck. "Harold, go easy on her." I heard my adoptive mother saying. "No." Harold growled. "This kid has been stealing money from me for far too long. Time to pay." He inched his face closer to mine, and I could smell his alcoholic breath. "Pedophile!" I screeched. "Get away from me!" Too late. Tick tock. Tick tock. I was gone already.