The Grabber's Daughter (A TBP Fanfic)

Chapter Five: A Glimpse of the Real Melinda

It was a few hours later, and her father was still not home. This was unusual, but she couldn't bring herself to complain. Time without him was better than time with him around. It was getting close to the evening though, and he was not home. She did worry, as much as he didn't deserve it.

She stood up, her back thankfully feeling much better. She exited her room and headed to the living room. She peered out the window, her father's van still not in the driveway. She frowned. She didn't know if she should just wait and see or actually do something. It seemed the universe heard her thoughts however, and she saw her father's van pull into their driveway. She backed away from the window, moving to sit on a chair in the living room.

She watched the door open, her father walking in. He was holding a bunch of grocery bags. She couldn't see the majority of what was in the bags, but she could see a roll of duct tape, rope, and a few pieces of cloth. She furrowed her brow, confused; why did her father need those things? And what else was in the bag?

"Hello sweetheart, sorry I'm late. I had a few errands to run,' he says as a greeting to her.

"Hi daddy, it's okay," she dutifully replied, knowing not to say anything else. He walks back to his bedroom, seemingly setting the bags down in there as he returns empty handed. He sat down on the couch across from her, and asked her the question he always asked her in the evening.

"Were you a good girl today Melinda?"

"Yes daddy," she immediately responded. She hoped and prayed that he believed her; she didn't not want to have another night like last night. He gives her a look before responding.

"Good. You're daddy's good girl, right? He asks her, his tone almost daring her to disagree.

"Yes daddy," she repeated. He gave her a nod and got up, getting an apple from the kitchen and giving it to her.

"Here. Nothing else, this is all you deserve. Now go to your room," he says to her. As she got up and turned to leave, he quickly grabbed her arm in a tight, bruising grip. She flinched, looking up at him.

"Don't you even think about stealing anything more Melinda. I will know, and you will be punished," he warns her, his grip on her arm somehow tightening even more. She nods quickly at what he says to her, and he finally lets go. She made her way to her room quickly after that. She closed the door behind her, looking at her arm. She could see the fingertip shaped bruises already developing and she cringed. That was more stuff for her to cover up in the morning.

There was nothing she could do about it now though; this was something for tomorrow her to deal with. She eagerly looked down to the apple in her hand as she lifted it to her mouth to take a bite. She was very hungry, and the apple was gone quickly. She threw the core in her mini trash can and checked the time; it read 7:30 PM.

She frowned, it was a bit early for her to go to bed but she was exhausted after dealing with the pain in her back all day. She figured if anything she would just wake up extra early, which wasn't a bad thing. Maybe she could get out of the house before her father even woke up. With that in mind she pulled back the covers and laid down in her bed, her eyes falling shut as soon as her head hit the pillow.

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When she blinked her eyes open blearily the next morning the clock read 5:00 AM. A bit early for her, especially for a Friday, but that was okay. She went through her daily morning routine, spending a little extra time covering up the bruises today. The outfit chosen was a long purple dress with quarter length sleeves; it cinched around the waist before flowing down her legs. Her back was feeling a bit better that morning but she still wanted something a little loose around her lower back.