Lost

I sat on the edge of my bathtub, running the razor along my legs, getting rid of the coarse, black hair. I was in deep concentration, when suddenly, a violent knocking-make that pounding- made me slip and cut my knee.

"Shit" I muttered, watching the thick red liquid ooze down my leg.

"Haley!!! Haley!!" My younger sister screamed.

"Go away, I'm busy." I shouted at the muffled voice.

"But Haley, mommy wants you. You know how mommy gets mad when we don't listen." Addy said.

I sighed, lifting my leg out of the tub, I grabbed a paper towel, soaking up the blood. I dried my legs, then stared at myself in the mirror. my thick brunette hair, my bright green eyes, my tan, italian skin. Satisfied, I unlockedthe door, where my younger sister Addy stood waiting. With her angelic face, blonde pigtails, creamy skin, and the sweetest personality, she was the definition of an angel.

"Come on Haley, come on, mommy's gonna be mad." Addy whimpered, pulling my hand as hard as she could, down the hallway.

The harsh smell of liquor hit my nose before I even stepped into the kitchen, I shooed Addy away, not wanting her exposed to the exotic, yet terrifying, scent.

I walked into the kitchen, feeling the cold tiles beneath my bare feet. My mother sat at the table, a bottle of beer in her hand, a dazed look on her face. She turned to look who had disturbed her, seeing me, her face twisted into anger and hatred.

"What the hell do you want?!" She screamed

"Addy said you wanted me." I replied calmly. I was not going to let her anger force me to start screaming.

"That little bitch. Where the hell is that brat anyways?" My mother interrogated me.

"I don't know ma'am." I said.

"Don't you lie to me." She hissed, reaching for the long leather belt she used to whip us.

"That's the truth, honest." I cried.

She must've seen the look in my eyes, since she spared me the whipping.

"Call your sister in here, tell her mommy wants to have a friendly little chat with her." My mother sang, putting on a fake smile.

I slowly walked out of the room, reaching Addy's pink room on the far end of the hallway.

"Hey, Addy." I smiled, peeking into my sisters room.

She set down her Barbie dolls.

"What is it Haley? Did mommy get mad at you? I could hear her screaming at you.

"No Addy, mommy was just a little bit upset, that's all. Mom wants to see you." I cringed, hoping I was making the right decision.

She looked at my face for a long time, before she finally said, "Alright." She hopped off her bed and trotted off to the kitchen, where the devil, I mean my mother, was waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~

I was doing my math homework, deep in the hunt for the value of X, when I heard the slap of leather on skin, and a piercing scream.

I froze, if we walked in when we weren't supposed to, we were beat up.

I waited, until I heard the quick patter of footsteps down the hall, I peeked out my door, and Addy stood there, dry tears stained her cheeks, with a fresh purple, blue, and red whip mark streaked across her face.

"Look Haley, I look tough now, like daddy." She grinned and flexed her arms.

I smiled. How could I not smile around her?

"HALEY. ADDY." I heard my mother screech from the kitchen.

"Coming!" I called from my room. I took Addy's hand, and we walked into the kitchen, observing my drunken mother.

"Come here you little sluts." My mother slurred. "I'm taking you out of school. Permanently. I need you to help me." My mother laughed.

Silently. I screamed at her.

Silently. I formed a plan to leave.

To leave and never come back.

I made a plan to find my father.

Addy and I escaped back into our rooms. Later, I snuck into Addy's room, waking her up, gently shaking her shoulders.

"What is it Haley?" Addy asked, rubbing her eyes.

"We're going to find daddy." I whispered.

I quickly shoved her clothes and other vital necessitates, such as Barbie and Ken, into a little backpack. I let her sleep some more as I rushed into my room, throwing everything I had into a backpack. I lay on my bed, hardly sleeping.

~~~~~~~

Early the next morning, I woke Addy up. Quickly bathing her, then bathing myself. We got dressed and said goodbye to everything we had known. Everything except my mother.

We walked through the door.

It was a gorgeous summer day.

The birds singing, trees swaying, flowers blooming. It was a good day to run away.

Hang in hand, Addy and I walked down the old beaten path together.

We were off to find our father

And nothing could stop us

Nothing.