If Only...

Chapter 11: Wrong

Drew's P.O.V

"What do you mean you ain't seen Daisy anywhere?" I could feel my hand trembling and I began to breathe in quick raspy breaths.

My nana called saying my youngest sister, Daisy Anne is missing. She was out in the yard with our lab Dixie while mama was cooking pie and the next thing they knew Daisy was up and gone.

"Check the shed. Check the basement. Check the attic. Check Aunt Georgia's house, she knows the way there maybe she went," I remember how much Daisy loved adventure. She made something out of everything. She was 12 and still had the imagination of a 4 year old.

My eyes were already wet with tears and I could feel my anxiety rising as my chest rose and fell in hesitant breaths.

Then I remembered Daisy's hideout.

"Nana!" I exclaimed, startling her, "Go up in Mr. Clifford's barn. The top shelving that's overflowing in hay. If my Daisy is anywhere, she's right there."

Suddenly a wave of relief was brought over me. Daisy would always go there when she had a rough day in school or she couldn't find her saddle or when mama yelled at her.

As I hung up the phone, I brought my knees up close to me clutching my phone tightly and wishing with all my might that Daisy was just off being silly and everything was okay.

In the midst of my meditation, the door swung open.

"Where the hell is Lennox?"

I looked up, knowing my eyes were still tinged with pink.

I shrugged.

"Dammit Drew, if you know where she is you bloody damn better tell me right now," he insisted.

I'd never seen Marcus like this. So determined in the darkest way possible. His hardened eyes and clenched jaw too eager for my comfort.

"I don't know, Marcus. And I certainly don't need this interrogation right now so don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, bye bye!"

This angered him and his hot breath suffocated me as he drew himself closer to my already shaking body.

He gripped me by the seam of my brandy melville floral top and crashed his forehead against mine.

I was too shocked to speak so I just widened my eyes in horror and tried to squirm out of his lock.

"Tell me where she is," he roared but i couldn't respond. I had no flipping idea where she was, but I couldn't stand the heat of Marcus's abuse any more so I did what I had to.

I lied.

"She's at the school library, she's picking up," I paused, "An American literature piece for English."

"Good girl," he grinned suddenly changing. His almond eyes friendly again and his smile, welcoming.

He nodded a thanks and walked out the door but I was still stunted in disbelief, my nails digging into the carpet underneath me.

Without any time to recover there was another banging of the door and I could hear my name being called in a frantic scream just as my phone brightened to signal an incoming call.

"Coming!" I called just as I answered the phone.

"Hello?" It was nana again assuring Daisy was okay but had a really bad day, more worse than usual.

I couldn't even react when I felt a raging push shove me back onto the carpet just as I opened the door.

"Ow!" I squealed as my back sprawled on the floor. I could hear my nana shouting some worries asking if I was okay but Lennox was already atop me.