Knight and Day

Chapter 3- Dreams vs Nightmares

'I need you to listen very carefully Kiera, he'll be home very soon and I...we can't afford to make any mistakes do you understand me?'

I looked up at my mother her once thick brown hair now looked frail and lifeless. Her eyes looked so tired, so broken and I could see my reflection in her eyes. I saw a child that had experienced too much, a child who was forced to grow up.

'I understand mummy, when he comes home, I have to pretend I'm asleep, like in those games we play. I have to breathe slowly and not heavy or else he'll catch me and the game will be over. If the game is over then bad things happen.'

She nodded still examining me she knew if he even suspected something was wrong then there would be no stopping the havoc he would wreak.

'What is the number one rule Kiera?' She asked me for the billionth time and ten-year-old me had to remember not to roll her eyes.

'Never come out when he's at home I can't  give him a reason to look for me.'

'Perfect Kiera, come on let's get you to bed and maybe we'll even have time for a story before bed.'

That night he came home early, I always tried to listen closely to what was the reason for his anger. Last night he had a bad day at work and the day before dinner wasn't put on the table on time. I buried my head in the pillow and ignored the screams, I ignored the beatings and I ignored the pleas.

That night I buried myself in the smell of my mothers' sweet perfume that was infused in my pillow.

I was jolted awake and Alyssa was right in front of me.

'He's not here he's gone and he's never coming back for you.' She hugged me tightly and whispered reassurances into my ear.

'He's gone for now but you and I both know he'll be back Alyssa.' 

I looked at the clock in Alyssa's room it was getting very late and my mother would be worried sick. I didn't tell her I was coming to Alyssa's after school and knowing her she would be in a full blown panic.

'Alyssa I need to get home before my mum has a heart attack I didn't tell her I was coming here and I'm pretty sure she'll shave all my hair off as punishment' 

My mother was a real force to be reckoned with especially when it came to getting home on time.

'Don't worry she called while you were asleep, she's extremely mad that you didn't tell her you were coming but I think all your hair will be intact.'

'You didn't tell her about the nightmares did you?' If my mother found out my nightmares were back she would get me to speak to someone about it again.

'Listen Kiera I know it's none of my business, well actually it is my business because we are family and your business is my business, but I think you should talk to someone about it you know, that's the only way you can move on from the past.'

I looked at Alyssa and I knew she was trying to help but this wasn't the past I'm still living in constant in fear everyday.

'Kiera he's still out there and he made a promise he would come back for us one day and I can't move forward until he's behind bars and away from my mum and I, that's the only way I'll get to sleep well.'

I needed to get home to my mother, knowing she was in the house alone was making me anxious.

Where the hell did I leave my shoes?

I was about to pick up my shoes and jacket when Alyssa snatched it from hand.

'Nope, you're not going home tonight you're sleeping over for the rest of the week your mum said she'd be home Sunday night and that she needed to go and visit your gran.'