Letters From A Ninja

Chapter 4

When I woke, I realized that I had to get home. As much as I dreaded it, there was no other way. I got up and took my phone off charge where he'd plugged it up before we slept. He'd been more than nice to me during the time I was there. He let me sleep in the bed and took the couch. I grabbed a small piece of paper from the table next to his bed and a pin. "My name is Carson, by the way. Thanks," I wrote.

After placing the note where he could see it, I quietly unlocked and opened the door, even though thoughts of the coming day's events were almost unfathomable. Everything in me was screaming to turn around and spend the day learning about this mysterious boy. I paused a few feet away from his house, thinking hard about my decisions. Why couldn't I stay? It's not as though there was anyone at home who particularly cared about me.

Finally I had to force myself to turn away from the house and start back towards "home."

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"Carson! Did you enjoy your night?" my dad said with a smirk and slight chuckle as I walked in. This wasn't worth a fight, so I simply looked away from him. Before I knew what was going on, he put his hands roughly on my face, forcing me to look into his malicious eyes.

"Didn't I ask you a question?"

"Yes."

"Then you answer it!" he yelled, spit flying from his mouth onto my face.

"It was great," I said. Bad word choice. He slapped me and letting go of my face, aggressively pushed me away from him, causing me to hit my back on a chair. I flinched as he laughed at my pained expression.

"Get your shit. You're staying with Archer."

While I would rather walk on tacks than stay with him, I didn't feel like putting myself into a possession where I'd basically be asking for physical abuse. I closed my eyes, clenching my teeth and took a deep breath so I could find the strength to remain calm.

"For how long?"

"Until I get back. Go." I conformed to what he asked, and went up the stairs.

I didn't know what was in store for me during my stay at Archer's, even though it most likely involved me doing a lot of things I didn't agree to. All I knew was that I had to find something else, because I couldn't bare staying with him.

Less than twenty minutes later, I'd barely got done packing when my dad called for me to come down. Albeit against my better judgement, I did. At the bottom of the steps awaited a smiling Archer. He must have looked innocent to anybody else, but all I saw when I looked at him was the twisted, unsympathetic asshole that he truly was.

I couldn't even find it in me to fake a smile.

We all ate dinner, and I was quiet the whole time. Surprisingly, neither of them said anything at all. I did catch them exchanging knowing looks. What the hell was this? I could not stand another minute of their ruthless immaturity. I got up and put my plate in the sink.

"Come on, I'm ready," I told him.

After an uncomfortable ten minute drive, we got to Archer's house. Although most would find his three-story, Victorian-style house luxurious, it was my personal hell at the time.

"You'll have to sleep downstairs, my bed is taken."

Ah, here we go. His innocent facade had been removed at last.

"Great, because I'd sleep on the street before I'd share a room with, or sleep anywhere near you for that matter."

He laughed viciously, grabbing them to the ground as he headed inside. Mallory was waiting next to the pool, her bikini barely on her. Have fun, I thought.

I knew that being his girlfriend, I should be mad or jealous. But I couldn't bring myself to either of those emotion. The only thing I felt, shockingly, was relief. Because as long as she dealt with him, I didn't have to.

I approached the pool as they were plenty occupied with each other and grabbed their clothes that they'd almost immediately thrown off. Turning to walk inside, I locked all the entrances.

About a half hour later, I heard them angrily pounding on the door. I was satisfied enough, especially when I heard their conversation.

"Don't worry about that dumb bitch, Mal. Let me just get my keys," Archer said smugly. I smiled ear to ear as Mallory chuckled.

"Babe, what is it?" Mallory asked. I imagined the look on Archer's face.

"Um... I don't have my keys."

Right, he didn't. Because I'd made sure they were in his pants pocket.

Only after I took a shower and stopped laughing about my taste of revenge did reality catch up with me.

I couldn't leave them locked outside naked forever, and what was in store for me when they finally got in would probably be worse than I could imagine.