Hidden (Book 1 of the Hidden Wolf series)

Chapter 1

It was dark, and dank.

It also smelled awful down here. Down here would mean the basement, it's the only place low enough that my father doesn't come crashing through. Plus, the lock won't let him through either. It was huge and made of silver. I don't know why, but my father has always been careful around silver. Especially around the silverware. I don't know why. The only reason I could think of, was that he was allergic to it. Which, by the way was strange. I've never met anyone who was allergic to silver, must be some new thing going around.

If you're wondering why, I'm exactly hiding from my father. It's because he's a bit abusive towards me. My mother, you ask. Well, she's dead. To be more precise, I killed her. Not that I actually did, but my mother killed herself. Because of me, at least that's what my father says. I think it's because my father. I'm pretty sure anyway. What kind of damage does he do to me? Well, to be exact. All he does is beat me, that's all. Other than that, he pretty much leaves me alone. Except when he's in one of his moods. Then, he beats me until I'm unable to get up. Which is when I pass out, then I wake up in bed. Which I figure he carries me to bed after his mood, which is really kind of him. And not leave me on the floor to get a cold. He knows how much school means to me. How I don't want to miss a single day of it, am I crazy? I'd say yes.

Because there's the reason I haven't told anyone, about what's happening to me. I just can't, no matter what. I love my father too much to tell, I know that's stupid. But, that's how I honestly feel. Is that wrong?

"Jessica! Jessica! Where are you?!" my father yells nearby.

He must be in the living room, and not in one of his fits. Thank god! I stood up, and dusted off my pants. Then I walked up the stairs, and unlocked the door. I opened it, and closed it softly. I walked through the kitchen into the living room next door.

"Yes dad? You called for me?" I replied.

"Aren't you supposed to be making dinner right around now?" he asked.

"Huh?" I muttered.

I walked over to where I could see the clock, which read 5:45 p.m.

"Crap!" I exclaimed.

"Watch your language Jessica." he said.

"Sorry dad, I didn't realize that. I'll get straight to it. It will be done before 6:30, I promise." I said, turning swiftly on my heels towards the kitchen.

"Hey, take it slow. I don't mind. I was just wondering, since you do usually start around this time for dinner. That's all. Want me to help darling?" he asked.

"Nah, I got it. You know how pushy I am when it comes towards the kitchen. Since it's my place to make stuff. You know." I replied happily.

"Okay. I'll be watching some football then. Call when it's ready." he said, as he went and sat down in the armchair.

See, he seems like an okay father; right? Well, that's where you're wrong. This is my father when he's not drunk or in one of his moods. When he's actually a father figure. Let's just hope he doesn't want something to drink tonight, or else I'll have to wear a sweater tomorrow. Which is not out of my usual wear either.

I walked into the kitchen and started getting some food out of the fridge. Which was some vegetables and the meat that I had put in yesterday to thaw. From the texture of the meat, it looked like it was just perfect to start cooking with it. I put the meat, which was beef; by the oven. I brought the vegetables over to the counter. The vegetables that I had picked were carrots and corn, the corn was in a can. The carrots were in a plastic bag, like the ones they have in the stores. I pulled a few carrots out of the bag, and put them onto the cutting board. Then I closed the bag, and then put the bag of carrots back into the fridge on the bottom shelf. I went over to the sink, and pulled open a drawer. I quickly grabbed a sharp knife, and then closed the drawer. I shuffled back to the cutting board and started cutting the carrots, after a couple minutes of cutting. I was finished with the carrots. Then I moved toward some bigger drawers underneath the counter near the sink, and pulled out a pot for the corn. I turned on the oven toward the temperature of medium, and then I put the corn into the pot after opening it with the can opener.