Lorelei and Cora

Chapter 7

Cora's POV

It's been three months since Jaylen hurt us, and since then, he hasn't come to our room. We've been following his rules, trying to stay out of his way. Life has been different without Leslie and David around. We've had to cook and clean the entire house, and sometimes, we're forced to spend time with our parents. Jaylen's warning still echoes in my mind: "I've heard you've been telling people about me, Cora! If you tell anyone again, your punishment will be worse. The pain will be unbearable, even more than what I did to you both last night! And if you get in my way, you'll be punished however I see fit!" So, we've kept our distance from Jaylen and Ella, not wanting to face any more of their cruel punishments—whether physical, emotional, or mental. But as the days went by, I found comfort in spending time with Lorelei. She was my only friend now, and we made the best of it. One day, while cleaning the kitchen, I found a note from Leslie and couldn't wait to show it to Lorelei. "Look, Lorelei, Leslie left us a note! I found it while cleaning. She wrote, 'I've left a few things for you: a heating pad since you're both teenagers and might need it, and I would be grateful if you could keep the Nintendo Switch we bought for you. If Ella ever asks, tell her I brought it for you, and the same goes for the heating pad. If you're reading this, it means David and I have been fired. I've been emotional while writing this, so I'm sorry if it doesn't make much sense, but I'm sure you and Lorelei will figure it out. Love, Leslie, David, and our unborn child, who is the reason for my emotional state. Love Les." She read to me. "Let's go find the Nintendo Switch and things, Lorelei!" I said, and we both ran to the bedroom Leslie and David had shared. We looked everywhere, and then finally, we thought to check under the bed. That's where we found the Switch. For almost three months, Lorelei and I played games together. We spent hours trying to beat each other's high scores or racing each other in Super Mario. But one day, on the 90th day of us being stuck at home, my mom caught us playing. I could see she was angry. "Where the hell did that gaming console come from? I didn't let you get one," Ella snapped. For once, I didn't feel afraid to speak up. "Leslie and David got it for Lorelei and me. She left a note in the kitchen saying, 'I've left a few things for you: a heating pad, and I would be grateful if you could keep the Nintendo Switch we bought for you.' So, if it's okay with you, can we keep it?" I was scared Ella or Jaylen would take it away, but to my surprise, my mom just nodded. "Okay, as long as you get the cleaning and cooking done on time. Otherwise, it won't be here anymore for either of you to play with." I was shocked she let us keep it. It felt like a small victory in a place where victories were rare.

After a long session of playing video games, we sat down for a meal with our parents, but it turned into a nightmare. "God, girls, can't you cook any better? A kid younger than you could whip up a meal! Cora and Lorelei, I mean seriously—cooking is a woman's job, especially for her husband and kids. Why aren't you trying harder?" Ella snapped, and I could hardly believe her words. It was as if she thought it was all so simple. "Ella, we've been stuck cooking and cleaning the house for the past three months, like we're living in a fairy tale. How are we supposed to learn to cook when we barely have time to breathe, let alone read recipes, with all this cleaning to do?" I shot back, knowing I had riled her up. Lorelei stayed quiet, and I could sense Ella's anger escalating as she suddenly stood up and hurled a plate against the wall. "HOW DARE YOU TALK BACK TO ME, YOUNG LADY! EXPECT ANYTHING BUT PEACE TONIGHT, CORA! GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!" she bellowed, making me dart toward our bedroom with Lorelei quickly trailing behind. "You didn't have to follow me; she wasn't shouting at you, Lorelei!" I exclaimed, shaking with fear. "Of course I did! If you run, I will too, just in case Ella or Jaylen decides to go after me as well," she replied honestly, just as our bedroom door swung open, giving us both a fright. "Lorelei, do the dishes, NOW! Cora, get on the bed, NOW!" Jaylen demanded, so I complied fearfully while Lorelei rushed to the kitchen, leaving me alone with him. For a moment, I braced myself for the worst, thinking he would do something horrific, but instead, he started punching me square in the stomach. "Stop it, Jaylen, please?!" I begged, but my plea only fueled his rage, and he hit harder until I felt the sharp taste of blood in my throat. That seemed to shock him into stopping. "OH, SHIT, Cora! Are you okay? Stay with me, please! Ella is going to have her way with you tonight, and she's going to make sure Lorelei learns her kind of punishment too," Jaylen said as the blood trickled from my mouth. At that moment, fear gripped me tightly as thoughts swirled in my head about my impending fate. "Cora..." I heard Lorelei call, and although I didn't know the time, I felt relieved when I realized Jaylen had vanished. "I... I'm fine... really. Don't... worry," I managed to whisper. "I'll get you some water, Cora." Lorelei stepped out and returned shortly with a glass. "Thanks, Lorelei. It... hurts... to breathe," I confessed through gritted teeth, fighting through the pain. "What did my father do to you while I was cleaning up after dinner?" Lorelei asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "He... punched me in the stomach as hard as he could until I coughed up blood. I just need to sleep; I'll see you in the morning," I told her, my eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion and pain. That night, dread seeped into my bones as the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth. I sneaked into the bathroom to spit out blood, the reality sinking in that I might be bleeding internally. As I lay on the edge of death's door, I gazed at Lorelei sleeping peacefully, wishing that her face would be the last thing I saw. She was the only one who cared, alongside Renee. Our parents, along with Jaylen and Ella, and even our former friends Marinette and Roxy, all seemed to despise us despite our innocence. After hours of restless waiting, the door creaked open, startling me awake. My heart raced, fearing that Jaylen was back to torment me or Lorelei. Instead, it was my mom, rifling through our wardrobe for some socks. A sense of dread washed over me as I braced myself for what was to come.