Angel is a sixteen-year-old girl trying to escape her chaotic life in the foster care system. When she steps into a local bar one fateful night, she's looking for adventure but finds herself drawn into a dangerous world filled with bikers and dark s...
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angel
I stood at the edge of the woods surrounding the cabin, my heart pounding in my chest. The tranquility of nature felt surreal, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me. Every day spent hiding from the world only deepened the shadows of my past, and it was becoming clear that I needed to confront the demons that haunted me.
Glancing back at Alexander, I watched him chop wood for the fire. The way his strong, capable hands moved with purpose was comforting, yet I could sense the tension radiating off him. Being on the run had brought us closer, but the constant threat of danger loomed over us, keeping both of us on edge.
"Alex," I finally said, summoning my courage. "I think I need to talk to my mom."
He paused, turning to look at me, concern etched across his handsome face. "Are you sure that's a good idea? After everything..."
"I know," I replied, determination bubbling inside me despite the fear that tinged my words. "But I need to understand why my childhood was the way it was. I can't keep running from it."
After a moment of hesitation, he nodded, his expression softening. "Alright. Just be careful. If she's involved in anything-"
"She's my mother," I interjected, feeling a surge of defensiveness rise within me. "I need to hear her side of the story. I need to know the truth."
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the ground, I found a quiet spot inside the cabin. My heart raced as I rummaged through my belongings until I unearthed an old, crumpled piece of paper with my mother's number scrawled across it. This was a connection to a past I thought long buried, and now it felt like a lifeline.
With shaking hands, I dialed the number, my heart thundering as it rang. On the third ring, I heard a hesitant voice answer. "Hello?"
"Mom?" I whispered, the word feeling foreign yet longed for.
"Angel?" Her voice was filled with disbelief and emotion. "Is it really you?"
"Yeah, it's me. I... I have some questions."
Silence stretched on the line, heavy and fraught with tension before she finally spoke. "I don't know if I can talk about this, sweetheart."
"Please, Mom. I need to know why you stayed with him. Why you let him hurt us." My voice cracked under the weight of the years of pain and confusion.
A shaky breath escaped her. "You don't understand, Angel. There's so much more to the story than you know."
"Then tell me! I deserve to know!" I felt anger flare within me, pushing me to demand the truth.
"Your father wasn't just abusive; he was involved in things that could have put you and your siblings in danger. I was scared of what he might do if he found out we were trying to escape," she confessed, her voice trembling with the weight of secrets I had long buried.
The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. "So you thought staying was better?"
"It wasn't about what was better for me. It was about keeping you safe," she explained. "That's why I never told you the full story. We were living under threats, and leaving wasn't an option."
"Mom, what do you mean?" I felt a mix of anger and confusion welling within me.
"Your father... he's deeply in debt to dangerous people. They've been looking for him, and they know about you," she said, her voice shaking. "That's why we had to go into hiding. That's why we lost everything."
A sickening feeling washed over me, realization crashing over me like a tidal wave. Everything I thought I understood about my childhood was suddenly shattered. As I absorbed the weight of my mother's words, my heart raced with fear and rage.
"Mom, I don't know what to do with this information. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" My tears blurred my vision as years of hurt flooded back.
"I thought I was protecting you," she replied softly, regret lacing her tone. "But now, I see that you deserve to know the truth. Just... promise me you'll be careful."
As the call ended, I felt reeling. Turning around, I found Alexander leaning against the cabin door, his expression unreadable.
"Angel, are you okay?" he asked, concern etched in his features.
I swallowed hard, unable to articulate the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. "I thought I understood my family. But... it's so much worse than I imagined."
Alexander stepped closer, his presence a steadying force. "What did she say?"
Taking a deep breath, I let the weight of my secrets spill out. "My father wasn't just abusive. He's in debt to dangerous people, and they know about me. We were never safe, and apperently i have siblings"
The tension between us thickened, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "We need to figure this out, Angel. We can't let your past endanger us, or our baby."
"I know," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. "But I feel so lost."
In that moment, I realized that facing the past was just the beginning. Together, we would have to navigate the dangerous waters of my family's history while building a future for ourselves. As long as we had each other, that was a start.
As the night deepened, Alexander and I sat side by side, sharing our fears and hopes. The shadows of my past loomed large, but together, we were determined to confront whatever lay ahead.
