Double Or Nothing // C.T.H

23 ~ Valerie

"The roof." Thomas says, pushing me toward the window across the room. "Valerie, get on the roof."

"Why-"

"Just go!" Calum says, his voice strong, yet body shaking and eyes terrified.

I give them both a confused look before stepping onto the window frame and pulling myself into the roof, my muscles used to this action.

A harsh wind whipped my hair around my face, my arms automatically wrapped around myself.

Calum's fingers curl over the edge of the roof, his arms shaking with the effort of pulling himself up.

I grab his arm, huffing as I pull him next to me, his body leaning against mine.

A second passes and nothing happens, both of us waiting for Thomas's hands to pull himself up, yet it never happened.

Calum curses, his fathers rough voice drifting though the window, I strained my ears to hear what was happening, the wind carried the voices away, making them hard to hear.

Questions swarm my brain, it was hard to focus on the conversation below.

Why are they so afraid? Yeah, no kid what's to get in trouble by their parents, but this is different. The state of panic I just witnessed felt completely different to one you get when you're about to get caught doing something wrong.

What makes it even weirder is that we didn't even do anything wrong. We were helping Calum, he is sick and needs to be home...

I'm brought out of my thoughts by Thomas's voice. It was much louder than before making it easer to hear.

"Now that." He pauses, the silence stretching for what seemed like an hour but was only a second. "Was a big mistake."

I shiver, not only at the cold, but at the atmosphere of this whole experience. It's colder than the weather could ever be.

A hard, almost sarcastic laugh boomed. "And what are you going to do? Hit me back? You do know that you're not actually Calum, right. You're so weak, Thomas. You can't do anything, I'm your father, and it's my house my rules my discipline."

Hit me back?

I glance at Calum, his face was etched with worry. His eyes catch mine and he shifts away from me, his cheeks and ears turning a shade darker, his warmth leaving my side instantly.

The sun was starting to set and I bet would have been such a beautiful sight if I wasn't in this situation.

A few of Thomas' words reached my ears. "...No problem covering up Calum's bruises, he looks the type to get in fights. But how are you going to play this off? What will..."

I stopped listening, turning to look at Calum again, a sudden anger boiling up in my stomach as it clawed its way through my entire body, spreading like wildfire.

How could anyone hit their children? It simply doesn't make any sense whatsoever. There no excuse.

If I ever rule the world, I'm going to make everyone take a mental test if they want to have, or are suddenly expecting a child to make sure they are a fit parent. If they fail the kid will be put into a nice and save foster house, not like the ones today.

"You don't scare me, there's no proof that I did that, it's my word against yours, and you're just a kid. I've got the upper hand." The disgruntled voice of their father made its way to my ears.