Beautiful Chaos

Lost In The Mind

The rain fell gently down on New York city. A hazy look was upon the city, that it always got when it rained. When the late night rain would pitter-patter on the streets, and wash down the alleyways. Leaving the city, cleaner and renewed for a short while. On the other hand. Everything got wet. The umbrellas, the banners, and gutters overflowed. Puddles gathered on the street in huddlings. The young, chocolate haired girl usually wouldn't mind in the situation. She rather liked the rain. How it would fall in such a graceful manner. How it seemed to make any day dreary, to even brighter. But this taxi happened to drive straight through the puddle. Splashing it up on her, soaking completely through the black jacket hoodie, jeans, and converse. Dakota let out a small sigh and looked up at the sky.

"Really? Like why today?" She scowled, stuffing her hands further into her pockets and she started to pick up her walk. Back to her room. Back to the only place that was somewhat dry, and a little warm. So she climbed up the rickety stairs, and turned her key into the lock of the room. Wincing as she heard a vase smash against the wall as she entered the room.

"You're late, Volpe." He shouted, his words slurring. A low grumble coming from his throat. "Bring me another beer." Dakota sighed, and went into the kitchen and snuck a tube of Pringles up in her jacket. Then grabbing a beer out of the small fridge that consisted of literally only beer. She went into the living room, where her step-father sat, watching a football (soccer) game on the screen. All of his friends cheering loudly as they slurred their words. They went in and out of their Italian home language. "I see that, Volpe." He sneered, and pulled her aside, ripping her coat off, and letting the tube fall to the floor. He slapped her across the face and wrapped his hands around her neck, as Dakota gasped for air.

"Please-" She choked out.

"I let you live under my roof, even after your mother died. I thought you'd be useful." He sneered, as she pulled to get out of the grasp. Tears starting to fall down her face. "She was a whore, and so are you. So desperate for attention. How many times have I told you? You don't eat unless I say you can." He dropped her, as she began to choke for air. Hands, flying straight up to her neck. Breathing raggedly, she slides to the floor and looks up at him. "If I catch you again, you'll be on the street. Or I'll start cutting fingers off." His thick Italian accent started to seep through.

"I won't, I promise. I was just hungry." She whimpered out.

"You won't be worrying about being hungry if you steal food from me again. I'-"

"Valentino." His brother Alexi, her Uncle In-Law spoke up. "Let her alone, she's not worth it. She'd be more useful dead."

"I'm starting to think that's a good idea." Valentino kicked her in the stomach before he sat back down in his chair. Dakota gathered her backpack, and the can of Pringles, and scurried into her small closet room. It was about the size of a small walk in closet, and it didn't have a window. Just, a hole in the wall that Valentino had pushed a guy onto the street a few years ago, and didn't patch it up well. So, it let the cold winter air, breach the gap of the room.

Dakota, coughed into her hand as she felt a warm liquid rise from her throat and land onto her hand. Blood. She wiped it on her jeans, and curled up in the corner of the closet. Shivering in the cold as she sat wet. Soon enough she opened the can of Pringles, and savored the first one. She hadn't remembered the last time she had something to eat. Maybe it was the day before last? Two before that? She only ate a few, before she closed the lid. Then let the tears on her cheeks start to dry up, before she let them start again. And for the fourth night that week. She cried herself to sleep.

~*~ 

"Wake up, Volpe!" His voice penetrated the only peace she got, sleep. "If you're late to school, I'll take you out." He yelled, as Dakota grabbed all of her stuff, it fit into a small backpack and she scrambled out the door. She flinched as he threw a bag of trash at her, that she carried to the street corner. And she then ran a few blocks, letting herself feel free for a few moments. Before she came up to the block of her high school. Midtown High. It was nice, and the science program was pretty amazing. Which she indulged herself in. She watched everyone walk in around her. Girls in those legging things, and those Ugly boots? They all had phones and were constantly snapping picture of literally everything. It was more than annoying, as she dodged into the school.