Washed Away

Chapter 4 - Another World

"Where the hell have you been young lady?" Dad fumed when I walked into the living room. He was sitting in his favourite armchair with the TV on, even though his gaze was fixed on me. 

"Out." I answered, placing my torch on the table. 

"Where?" 

"In the forest." 

"It's not your Mother's anniversary though. Why were you there?" 

I shrugged awkwardly. "I just felt like going there. Is that a crime?" 

Dad's eyes darkened and I wished I hadn't said that last sentence out loud. 

"I told you to make me dinner when I got back, and what did I get? And empty house with no idea where my only daughter is." He shot back. I know he didn't care where I was but he said that to try and make me feel guilty. It usually worked but this time, I shook it off like a pesky fly. 

"I'm sorry I didn't leave a note to tell you where I was, but you can't order me to make your dinner like I'm your slave!" I snapped, my newly found fierceness flooding through my body. Dad leapt up from his seat and there was a icy silence between us, broken by the occasional chatter from the TV. 

"You have no right to talk to your Father that way." He growled. My confidence failed me and I cowered away from him. Frost whined from behind me and nudged my legs to try and comfort me. Suddenly, Dad strode towards me and I shrank back in fright, expecting a blow from the back of his hand. But nothing came. 

"You are grounded for the rest of the school holiday. Now go to your room!" 

I scurried away as fast as I could up to my bedroom before slamming the door behind me and falling onto my bed. Why did I have to go and say that? Now I couldn't go and see Ky tomorrow! Or for the rest of the week! I felt like crying as I have probably just lost my new and only friend. Something cold touched my foot and I looked over to see Frost nudging it with his nose. I beckoned him with my hand and he trotted over, allowing me to stroke his head. 

"At least I still have you." I mumbled, letting Frost lick my hand.

*_*_*

I might as well have been invisible the next day. Dad completely ignored me whenever I was in the same room as him and stayed out of the house most of the day. I didn't mind, in fact, it gave me a small sense of freedom as I wasn't getting frowned upon for what I did. I managed to read a whole book without getting distracted by him yelling at a horse race on TV, and I even drew a picture using coloured pens without Dad moaning about me getting pen marks on the furniture. However, his attitude completely when I went outside to play catch with Frost as he watched me like a hawk. Every time I threw the ball, I would catch his gaze through the kitchen window. I tried to keep my back to him and look out to the distant forest, but I couldn't spot any tell-tale signs of bright lights emitting from it. 

When 2pm rolled on, I became incredibly twitchy and often caught myself catching glances out of the window towards the forest. I knew that Ky would be out there waiting for me, not knowing that I wasn't going to turn up. I expected him to totally hate me and think that I ditched him to do something else, and never talk to me again. This thought brought tears to my eyes but I quickly blinked them away before Dad could notice. He would just scorn me for being a cry-baby and give me another punish to try and toughen me up. When night time fell, I retreated to the sanctity of my bedroom and sat on my bed, staring into space. Frost laid at the foot of my bed, softly whimpering as he dreamed of probably chasing cats. I tapped out a random tune with my fingers on my thighs and gazed at the photo of Mum. My heart ached with longing to be in her arms once more, hear her laugh and listen to her stories of damsels in distress being saved by a knight in shinning armour.