In the Beginning

Chapter 4

Addie was jumpy the entire walk home, catching glimpses of dark shadows behind her that disappeared whenever she would look. She had stopped by the library to pass time, but now she was forced to go back home once it closed. The clouds overhead were bruised a dark purple, making her feel uneasy. Addie knew it was dangerous to be walking in her neighborhood this late. She walked quicker, under the flickering street lights.

 It started to sprinkle, light  drops of rain splashing her Converse as she walked along the chain-link fence. Up ahead, the tea shop's faded sign was just visible, and so was her step-father's crappy black car in the parking lot. Addie's breath caught in her throat.

It was almost 9. That meant he should be out in bar somewhere with his God-awful friends, drinking till he couldn't even stand. If he was back this early it meant something was wrong. And if something was wrong, Addie was always blamed. But she had nowhere else to go. Hopefully her mother was home - if she was, Rob wouldn't touch her.

If she wasn't, there would be hell to pay.

Addie gritted her teeth as the rain started to fall faster. Lone cars drove past, splashing through puddles and spraying dirty water on her legs. She shivered, and shook her head, dashing through the alleyway. She climbed up the rickety fire escape and through her unlocked window. Once in her room, she tiptoed the short distance to her door and locked it - in the heavy silence, the click sounded like a gun shot.

Rain was leaking through her window. She shut it, and then stripped off her jacket, changing into a pair of grey pajama shorts and a tank top. In the corner of her room on a tiny wooden desk was her sewing machine, an unfinished shirt laying with open seams on top of it. She sat down quietly on her daybed, crossing her legs underneath her and waiting. If Rob was home, he would attempt to come in any minute.

There was a crashing noise from the kitchen, followed by a string of cuss words. It sounded like Rob had knocked something over. Goosebumps raised on Addie's arms, but she lifted her head high and waited. 

The sound of heavy, squelching boots was unmistakable as Rob walked down the hallway. He pounded on the door, rattling the doorknob a couple of times.

"Your mother left!" He shouted hoarsely.

Addie hesitated before answering, her voice shaky. "She always does that. She'll be back tonight."

"No, I mean your mother left. She packed her things and headed to Bellevue late this morning. Said she was sorry." He snorted, and took a swig of his beer. "I doubt that. Bet she wanted to get rid of a nuisance like you for ages."

Addie shivered, wrapping her arms around herself and backing up against the wall. It couldn't be true that her mom left - Rob had to be making that up to scare her. He kicked the door, and dust flew from the old thing.

"Let me in, we need to talk!"

I'm sure that's exactly what you want to do, thought Addie nastily.

"If you don't open this door, I'm kicking it down - "

Rob kicked the door again, and then threw his beer bottle against it. The shattering echoed off the walls, and Addie jumped. Outside, thunder cracked, muffled by the closed window. Rain spattered down hard against the glass.

Addie heard Rob walk back down the hallway, and with a jolt of pure fear down her spine, realized he was grabbing his lock pick. She dashed towards her closet, pulling on her sneakers again and searching for her phone. Digging through her bag, she found it, a practically ancient flip-style with a cracked screen. 

The lock clicked on her door, and it opened creakily. Addie froze, her heart pounding in her ears. She could taste metal in her throat, like pennies, a sign she was about to throw up - from fear or cold, she didn't know. Rob roughly grabbed her by the arm and swung her around. His breath stank like alcohol, mousy brown hair slicked back against his head with grease and stubble on his chin from days of not shaving. His eyes were small, beady and bright, livid with anger and an awful sort of excitement.