Dark Before Dawn

B r a v e

Lauren's POV

" H e l l o ? "

"I KNEW YOU HAD A HARD HEAD BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE THAT DENSE!!!"

Confused, I pulled my phone away from my ear to check the caller ID. When I realized that it was Sonia, I sat up and listened in.

"DIDNT YOU THINK WHAT THIS WOULD DO FOR MY IMAGE?!! MY ENTIRE PRACTICE IS RUINED BECAUSE MY LITTLE BITCH OF A DAUGHTER CANT BE BOTHERED TO THINK OF ANYONE BUT HERSELF."

There was an ear-piercing screech and then the line went dead. I shook Taylor awake and pointed to her hoodie on the end of my bed.

"Babe, can you put your on sweater and start my car. I'll explain later." I instructed, desperately trying to hide the worry in my voice.

Without question, Taylor threw on her sweater made her way downstairs with me directly behind her, calling the police.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

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Sonia's POV

When I got home, my parents seemed worried...

They apologized to me, hugged and kissed me. They told me that they loved me and that they were happy that I was safe. And despite everything, I actually believed them. They seemed remorseful and this gave me hope that maybe things would be different now.

Then, the police left.

We went into the kitchen and I was about to apologize to them.

"Mom... Dad I'm really so..."

"SAVE IT!!!!" My father interrupted.

He pointed to me and picked up the bottle of Sicilian Moscato that was sitting on the island.

"TAKING A GUESS AS TO WHAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE NEWS TOMORROW!!!"

Terrified of his gaze, I looked down and didn't respond.

"TAKE A GUESS!!!!!" He screamed, throwing the bottle in my direction.

My heart was going 300 MPH and accelerating as I felt my father's glare burning through me.

He stepped towards me and a heavy back hand collided with my face. Next thing I knew, my father's cross glare was inches away from my tear-stained one.

"ANSWER ME!!!"

"Dad..." I sobbed, "Please... Stop."

"Stop?" He questioned in a hushed voice, "STOP??!!!"

He picked me up by the neck and threw me onto the hard, marble floor. I could feel my phone in my back pocket, but I couldn't reach for it; I was frozen.

"I KNEW YOU HAD A HARD HEAD. BUT I DIDNT THINK YOU WERE THIS DENSE!!!" He yelled, kicking my left rib in the process.

"DIDNT YOU THINK WHAT THIS WOULD DO FOR MY IMAGE?!! MY ENTIRE PRACTICE IS RUINED BECAUSE MY LITTLE BITCH OF A DAUGHTER CANT BE BOTHERED TO THINK OF ANYONE BUT HERSELF."

He picked me up by my neck and threw me into the island. I screamed as I felt my legs hit the shattered glass of the former bottle of wine. I lay motionless on the cold glass knowing that moving could be a fatal mistake for me.

I closed my eyes and played dead.

Be brave, I whispered to myself. It's always darkest before the dawn.