The Unhidden

Chapter 1

This is my life. My name is Caroliena and I'm seventeen years old, I live with my older sister Laurie and her boyfriend. My parents died ten years ago in a house fire.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

(I was in my room on my computer and my iPod listening to music. I was supposed to go to sleep at 10:30. But I didn't and I stayed up. When I got on my computer I had gotten a pop-up so I just exited out of it. A few minutes later I smelled smoke, I went to my door to find out what it was. But before I could go to the door my phone rang I got up and answered it. Mom came on the line "Caroliena get out of the house now we can't get to your room. Go out through the window..." And the line went dead. I followed her orders and went to my window, I unlocked it and climbed out.

I got down and walked to my parents room. I didn't see anything but fire through the window. I heard sirens getting louder and louder...)

I wake up instantly. Just a dream, just a dream I repeat to myself. I realize that I have to get ready for school. See I go to this high school and I don't like it. After the fire I had went to the hospital to get checked out. I only had cuts and bruises from climbing out of the window. I also learnt that my parents died the next day when Laurie had come to pick me up.

I go to school in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm in the eleventh grade going into the tweleth grade. I finish getting ready and sit on bed. I also have lots of secrets; two in particular is that I'm anorexic and I cut. I sleep only about two hours a night. That's only because I think I'm in my house and I smell fire I never get past it. Laurie doesn't know though I don't stay home for long. Like today after school I'm going to hang out with my friends.

"Caroliena come on down here your going to be late!" My sister yells upstairs for me.

"I'll be down in a minute." I yell back.

I cut my thigh and put a bandage on it. I clean up and go downstairs.

Laurie is at the table in the kitchen.

I walk in and out but before I can get out the door "Caroliena you have to eat something."

I don't turn around "I'm going to get something at school."

"I'm not going to let you leave this house without eating again."

I walk back into the kitchen and face my sister "Laurie, I'll eat at school."

"Caroliena please?" She gives me the face.

"You know I hate that?"

"What?"

"Laurie I'm not going there." I get a granola bar and walk out of the house.

I walk to school because its not far but before I go any further I go into the bushes and puke. I clean up and continue walking.

I get to school and walk into English. I get to my seat and get out my things. I go through the rest of my classes and I wait for my friend. He doesn't show so I just walk back home.

When I get home my sister or her boyfriend aren't there so I get a snack and go to my room. I do my homework. When I finish I hear the door slam so I go and check downstairs.

Laurie's boyfriend Justin comes in. I don't like him, not at all. He scares me. Laurie has been with him since I moved with them ten years ago. He beats me when he's sober and drunk. Laurie never listens to me when I tell her. Justin tells her that he doesn't. I have the bruises to prove it but she keeps telling me to stop being clumsy. I just want to scream at her sometimes, but I don't.

I wish my parents were here every time. I miss them so much.

Justin walks towards me "Caroliena how was school?"

"Fine." Like he would want to know. I take a step back.

"What did you do?"

"Since when did you ever become interested in me?"

"Since you're going to be my sister in law."

I don't say anything, I just look at him "y-your getting married?"

"Yes in fact I'm getting married to your sister" he pauses "I already asked her and she sad yes. The day is next year though."

I remember its Monday and that Laurie doesn't get home until about 7 and its just three. Damn it.

OMG my sister is getting married to him "w-why?"

"Because I love her and we can be a family."

"Does she know that you beat on me?" I don't think I've shouldn't have said that. One minute he's a few steps away from me and the next he's in my face.

"You shouldn't have said that" he tackles me; punches me, kicks my head, and pulls my head. I scream even though no one will hear me. He keeps hitting me for like five more minutes, then he gets up and leaves me on the floor crying.

I lay on the floor for what feels like days but in reality I lay on the floor for about thirty minutes. I get up and go to my room and bathroom and lock the door. I get my only true friend out and cut myself about fifteen times on my wrist and my thighs each. I cut deep until I can't feel anything and until I pass out.

I wake up and I see that I have lost a lot of blood. I'm so tired I can barely get to my feet. I manage to get up. I clean up and sew up my cut. I really cut deep this time. When I finish I put gauze around my thigh and my wrist. When I finish that I go to my bed and lie down.

I just think about today and everything. I hear Laurie's car drive up and the door slam minutes later. I hear a scream and crying. I don't check on her I know she's hugging Justin.

I hear voices by my door and a knock. I don't answer because I don't want to and I'm weak from the blood lost. Eventually they leave and I go to sleep.