It's a Nightmare

Chapter Four

Lucas

"Lucas Friar, you should be up by now." Fathers cruel voice sounded from the doorway of the room that I...used to...share with my brother. "You have ten minutes to be up, dressed and downstairs. Don't be late."

Leaping off of my mattress, I began racing around my room, while trying to keep my bandages in place. My movements were awkward and jerky. The bandages were very stiff.

I threw on a white undershirt, jeans, a black sweater and cowboy boots. I had to hide all of the damage, so the bullies at school wouldn't have any more reasons to hurt me.

Scooping up my backpack, I headed downstairs.

Father was waiting for me at the base of the stairs, arms crossed.

"You were a half second over." A slap nearly knocked me off my feet. "Go to school. I'll deal with your tardiness later."

"Yes Father," I kept my head down. "I'm sorry for being late." I turned to go. Then, I remembered something.

"Oh wait." I turned back, meeting Fathers steady glare. "Um... Who did you gave my brother to?"

Another slap against my cheek.

"I keep telling you not to ask questions! Why do you disobey me? You ungrateful spawn of mine." He paused a moment, "the little girl next door has it. What's her name...Ronda McDonald? I don't remember. Her father is the... I don't care enough to remember. He's a teacher at your school. The history one, I think."

Rhonda McDonald? With a history teacher as a father? Who was tha... oh, Riley Matthews.

"Oh...okay. Thank you." I turned to leave. "I'll leave now."

I closed the door behind me, just as something slammed into it.

I swung my leg over my crappy, seven year old bicycle, pedalling quickly to school.

The bell rang just as I got into the school. Luckily, I had all my books in my backpack.

My first class of the day was History; the only class I had with Riley.

I ran as fast as I could to the class, ignoring the jeers and shouts of "Emo boy" and "Suicidal Freak" from my classmates. I jumped over outstretched legs, stumbling over only one. Stupid Trisha Emilie.

Then I saw her. Spotting her springy brown curls, I sprinted to her and placed my hand on her shoulder.

She twisted around, exposing a baby carriage. One that held my brother! I was so excited at seeing him, but I held back.

"Lucas?"