The In-between

Chapter One

ONE

July 8, 2015

Katie tried to block out the sound of the near-constant blood-curdling, desperate screams of a man in agony. She watched the wind pull at the tree branches as the harsh sound of a whip meeting flesh once again vibrated through her skull. She watched the rain drizzle down and the sound of her father yelling profanities and curses echoed through the thin walls of the house. Katie attempted to silence her rapid thoughts like the pane of glass in front of her silenced the ongoing storm. To keep her mind blank, she focused on the record player which was humming its haunted melody. When the song ended, the needle was pulled violently across the album, the background music came to a halt and all was silent but for the last grunt from the room next door.

Katie sat expectantly, watching as the door with the peeling white paint was thrown open. There stood her father, looking as if he just got home from a business meeting. His suit jacket was thrown over his shoulder, his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his tie was loose. He would have looked normal but for the single splatter of blood on his right stubbly cheek. He whipped it off after Katie tapped her own cheek to tell him.

"How did the meeting go? Did he agree to your terms?"

"Yes, though it did take longer than expected," He mused.

"Are we leaving soon?"

"When the sun sets,"

"Shall I call Rodger?"

"No need, I can drive."

Katie nodded her head and turned back to the window. She watched her refection being joined by her fathers.

He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Just remember this Katie, when you want something, you have to do everything in your power to get it. Nothing can stop a determined man. Nothing."

z

Once darkness consumed the world, Katie's father had tied up and dragged the previously abused man down the short dirt driveway of the humble cottage. It wasn't the first time, most likely not the last, but Katie still felt horrible just watching. She tried to guard her emotions as well as her father did, but she found in the past that it was difficult. Her father pushed the man into the already blood stained trunk. The man's eyes went wide with panic just before the trunk closed. Now, the thumping and banging coming from inside the trunk did little to ease Katie's nerves.

"Is this ever going to stop? Is it ever going to be enough?" Katie asked softly after they had driven nearly an hour into the trip.

Her father said nothing.

"I mean, you already have everything and more, what else do you need to accomplish?" Katie ran her fingers through her hair feeling frustrated.

"There is always more."

Katie rolled her eyes and stared out the window. The thumping stopped shortly.

When they finally reached home, Katie climbed out of the car and stood by the trunk as her father opened it. The man laid there glaring holes into her father.

"We need to discuss our business deal," the man said.

"We already finished it, you signed the forms," her father said smugly.

"Not with my name," the man laughed.

Katie glanced at her father to see his reaction; he was fuming. Her father pulled out the documents tucked under his arm. Katie didn't understand any of it but her father seemed to.

Her father started shaking, "How dare you!"

"How dare I? You locked me up for four days!"

"What did you want to discuss about the deal?" Her father asked between his teeth.