The Dark Hour

--------Ridge--------

*a week later*

Everything seemed to calm down after Astrid left. I mean I was sad that she had to go but what else could we do? We were just kids. I was at home just finishing up my homework when I heard the door downstairs slam shut. Fuck.

"Ridge! Are you here?" My uncle shouted. I closed my math book and quietly walked over to my door and locked it. "Ridge! I know you're here! You left your keys!" I sighed and sat back down on my bed. A minute later my doorknob jiggled then my uncle banged on the door.

"Ridge what did I say about locking this door! Open it this instant!" I sighed and stayed put. "Damn it Ridge!" I heard him walk away, no doubt to get the keys to the lock, and I quickly grabbed my bag and searched for my phone. I found it just as I heard him coming back. I jumped off my bed and rolled under it as he started testing the different keys. I quickly dialed Axel's number and shakily held the phone to my ear.

"Please pick up," I mumbled. "Please pick up."

"Hello?" He said in a groggy voice.

"Axel, can you pick me up from my house?" I asked shakily.

"Yes. Ridge are you alright?! Did you get into a fight with your Uncle again?" He asked more alert.

"No, but he's trying to get in my room," I said quietly.

"Yeah I'll be right there," He said fiddling with something. "Do you want me to stay on the line with you?"

"No, I don't want him to know I called you. He might freak out again."

"Okay I'll be right over." He said hanging up. I stuck my phone in my pocket just as my uncle got the right key. I held my breath as he walked in.

"I really need to label those damn keys," He muttered. He walked over to my closet and I quietly shuffled closer to the door. He opened it and looked inside. I waited a minute then I quickly rolled out and ran downstairs. I was just about to the door when someone grabbed the hood of my jacket. I was flung back and I winced.

"Where did you think you were going?" My uncle snapped. I stayed quiet and he crossed his arms. "Off to see your little boyfriend again?"

"No," I said lowly.

"Then where are you going?" He shouted.

"Out," I said standing up.

"Where!?"

"Away from you!" I snapped. I didn't see it coming but the next thing I knew I was on the ground and my face stung. I blinked and my uncle glared at me.

"I raised you. I took you in when your father just dropped you off and this is the kind of thanks I get? You live in my house and eat my food! If I ask you a question you fucking answer me and you do not talk back to me!" I tried getting back up and he shoved me back on the ground. "Don't you fucking get up! I am talking to you!" I bit my lip as he just continued.

"I tried to raise you right and what do you do? Go off and get a boyfriend. Boys should not like boys, it's been boys with girls. That's how the world works here, nothing is going to change that!" I looked outside and I saw headlights. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" I looked up just as he grabbed the front of my jacket and yanked me to my feet.

"Let go!" I shouted. He slapped me and my vision went blurry.

"You do not tell me what to do. I tell you what to do." I heard the door open and I shut my eyes.

"Hey asshole!" Axel yelled. My uncle dropped me and I backed away from him.

"The fuck are you doing in my house!" He shouted.

"I came for Ridge now back away from him or you're going to be tasting my fist in your mouth." I managed to get up and run around my uncle and to the door.

"Ridge you get the fuck back here!"

"Leave him alone!" Axel said punching him then running out the door dragging me with him. We got in the car and Axel quickly drove us out of there. I sighed shakily and shrunk down in my seat.

"Damn Ridge why didn't you call me when you got home or just come over to my place after school?"

"He usually doesn't come home until it's really late," I said softly. Axel sighed.

"Did you at least get your homework done?" I nodded.

"Yeah, I just had three more math questions but I can get them done in study hall." Axel nodded and parked the car.

"You can stay at my place for as long as you need, you know that right?" I nodded.

"I know," I said softly.

"Do you ever miss her?" He asked out of the blue.

"Astrid?" He nodded.

"Yeah I feel like a dick. I didn't even say goodbye." I looked at my lap.

"I didn't know her as well as you but I do miss her. She was fun."

"The first night she was here she was just a confused demon how could we not tell that she was different."

"Cause we're all different. We just kind of got used to it and accepted it." He nodded.

"Yeah I guess, we should get ice on that before it swells too much." He said getting out. I was a bit confused then I saw myself in the mirror. There was a bruise forming on the left side of my face. I groaned slightly then got out and followed Axel inside.

"Here put this to your face should help. You can sleep in the guest bedroom." I nodded and held the ice pack to my face. I was quiet. How was I going to explain this to the others? Skyla wasn't going to shut up about it and I had no idea how Lalna going to react. "Hey don't worry so much get some sleep you have school in the morning." I nodded and got up.

"Ok, um can you not tell them? I really don't want them to worry."

"Yeah sure I won't tell them. There's a bag of old clothes in there in a trash sack I'm pretty sure they will fit you." I nodded and put the icepack down and went to the guest room. I sat down on the bed and sighed. I thought I could outrun him, I guess I couldn't. My phone went off and I looked at it. I smiled, Lalna text me.

Lalna- hey my mom came home early tonight!! I'm so happy!!

I chuckled softly and texted him back.

Ridge- that's great! :)

I went to set my phone down when Lalna texted me back.

Lalna- umm so how was your day?

I sighed.

Ridge- not that great, I um am kinda staying with Axel for a while

Lalna- why!? What happened?

Ridge- nothing to worry about, I'm fine I just needed to get out of my place for a while

Lalna- ok, well if you need to talk I'm here. I'm a good listener

I smiled softly and sighed.

Ridge- thanks, but I'll be ok I'll see you at school tomorrow

Lalna- ok, night Ridge

Ridge- night Lalna

I put my phone down and laid down on the bed. I touched my face and winced. He must have hit me really hard. How was I going to hide this? Maybe I could use makeup but I didn't know where to get any. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I could figure it out tomorrow. Hopefully.