Everything Ripples

20

Chapter 20
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{music for the chapter:// Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac}
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"So what now?"

"Hmm?" I mumble, turning my head to face Hunter. We lie under the covers, Hunter rubbing circles with his thumb on my hand as I begin to fall asleep.

"Are you still leaving?" he asks, propping his head up. I sigh and sit up, my hair hanging down.

"I need to," I say, glancing down at him. "You don't know half the story."

"Then tell me, Sydney." His hand grips mine, reassuring me. "I'm here for you."

"I don't know," I begin before Hunter sits up and grasps my face, staring right into my eyes.

"I will always be here for you, remember that. You can tell me anything."

I smile and brush the hair away from his face. "Maybe later. It's too soon after what I just told you."

He nods solemnly and lies back down, grabbing my waist and pulling me down on him. I giggle and snuggle into his chest, feeling more safe and comfortable than I have ever. It's just a shame it won't last that way.

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A loud bang startles me awake as well as Hunter. I turn to look at him, his eyes like oceans, full of mystery yet so calm.

"Family's home," I whisper, mostly to myself. Hunter nods and jumps out of the covers, pulling on his shirt he flung off last night. I stand and walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding him tight. His strong arms envelop me, and I feel so much more at home than I have ever felt.

"I think you're gonna have to escape," I mumble against his shirt.

"I'll hop off the balcony," he says casually, chuckling at my reaction. "I've done it many times before, trust me."

I raise and eyebrow and step back, my hand on my hips. "Just how many times have you snuck into my room and leapt off the balcony? Have you been watching me in my sleep?"

"Always," Hunter jokes, kissing me on the mouth gently so it feels like liquid gold surrounding me and filling me from head to toe.

"Bye," I whisper, touching my lips as Hunter moves outside, waving as he leaps off the balcony.

Still feeling giddy, I make my way downstairs, my heart elevated. Even though my situation sucks right now, at least I have Hunter. I have something in my life worth living for.

"Well, well young lady. Nice to see you." my father drawls from beside me as soon as I step down from the stairs. I grimace internally, but try to keep a straight face as I turn to him.

"Hi. How was your trip? Where is Mother?"

He clicks his tongue, a smirk forming on his face. "I came back early. Had some business to attend to."

I swallow, trying to quench my fear of being around him alone.

"Okay. I'll leave you to it then," I gulp. I start walking away, but he yanks me back, digging his fingernails into my arm.

"Not so fast. We're not finishing with our little problem. I don't like you hanging out with that guy next door. In fact, I don't like you hanging out with any boy." He grips my arm tighter, the anger in his voice increasing. I whimper, struggling to get free, but his grip is like steel. He suddenly spins me around and pushes me onto the floor. Crying, I try to scramble away, but he grabs my ankles and pulls me closer to him.
"I never liked you, Sydney. Always trying to take your sister's spotlight. And then you took her away from us."

He grabs a fistful of hair and yanks my head up to meet his. "Last year I wanted to ruin you. I did, until now. Now, you're happy. I don't like you happy."

He licks his lips and I cry out, so afraid of him. He covers my mouth quickly, shushing me like a kid.

"I should have killed you a long time ago. I wanted to torture you though, to ruin your life. But now, I want you dead."

With that, he smashes his fist into my head. It connects with the knuckles, bone connecting with bone, and for a moment I can't see anymore. Everything is black, then white, but I can still feel the pounding. I scream, a bloodcurdling scream I hoped would break glass. My father just laughs, and punches me again. I scream, each time getting louder.

"Help me!" I screech, hoping someone can hear me. But I know no one can. No one could the first time, nor the second or third, so why should they now?

"No one is here, Sydney. We can finish what we started." My father chuckles. My head is pounding, and I can feel my blood seeping into the crevices in the floor. Tears stream down my face, but I can't feel them anymore. I've given up fighting, because it isn't worth it anymore. Fighting the pain. Fighting my family. Nothing ever happens. It never goes away. I will always have to live with this.

"This is the end," I whisper, the air around me become more and more difficult to inhale.

"Don't you remember when you were 10 or 11, and we came up here for vacation? Just you and me," my father begins. "Grandma wasn't here either. It was the best time I've ever had."

I do remember it. That's where I had seen this place before. My father took me here, and basically tried to murder me. I can still taste the blood in my mouth when he almost made me bite off my tongue.

"Too bad you didn't die then. You were the black sheep to our family, you know. Your mother almost died because you were born. And then we had your lovely sister, and it was a miracle. She was the daughter we had always wanted. I wanted to punish you, for all the pain you had caused our family. But you never did die. Such a shame."

I cry silently, the horrors of my childhood being brought forth again.

"Help me! Please! Somebody!" I scream, thrashing around. But as I do that, I feel myself slipping away, the pain too much for me to beat.

"Sydney?" I hear a voice yell, but my mind is fading into a blurry scene, one with faint flowers and blue skies. The ghost of a smile passes over my face as I slip deeper into my imagination. I feel a weight lift off me, and yelling, but by that time I'm out cold.