The Pastor's Daughter

Four: Darkness, Pain & Lies

Kennedy's home was a short distance from the school so she often walked to and from. The autumn air was warm and fallen leaves crunched under her heels. The day replayed in her head however most of her thoughts were centered around the new girl. Her mind told her to stay away, that nothing good would come from befriending her, but she was curious. Some feelings could not be controlled.

One of the largest homes in town, located directly across from the Meadowbrook Community Church, belonged to the Adams'. Its dark brick and timber framing stood out amongst the smaller vinyl-sided homes nearby. Kennedy's parents had the house custom designed when she was just a baby. They had no need for such a large space as Dee was an only child therefore the house was purely a status symbol. The large oak door creaked as it was opened, alerting anyone within the walls that the Princess was home.

Dee slipped off her white heels, her feet aching from wearing them all day. She lifted the shoes and placed them gently on the closet shelf. The house was silent other than the soft hum of a vacuum in the distance. Kennedy knew it was just one of than many people her parents hired to clean for them. Susan and Joseph were likely across the street at the church and wouldn't be home till late, giving her lots of much needed time to herself.

Upstairs in one of the house's three bathrooms, Dee ran herself a hot bath. She liked the water warm enough that it was just barely burning her skin. In order to trick her mind and body into relaxing she sprinkled a handful of lavender bath salts over the water, watching them dissolve into nothing and wishing she could do the same. Once the tub was as full as it could get without spilling over she began to undo her blouse.

Bruises covered Kennedy's hips and wrists. She tried her hardest to block out the memories of how they got there but as she stared at her naked body in the mirror it was hard not to focus on them. Hands had gripped the small girl so hard that the tiny blood vessels beneath her skin had burst causing the ugly purple markings. The happiest families always held the darkest secrets and the Adams were no exception. Susan turned a blind eye to the abuse that took place beneath the very roof that they hosted church meetings under.

"I did nothing wrong." Kennedy whispered at her reflection, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. Everyone saw her father as a saint so there was no way to reach out for help. He hurt her but she could never hurt him back.

~><~

Meadowbrook was known to have awful thunderstorms in the spring. Rain would pour for days, wind reached record speeds and skies were filled with lightning. It was September but there was a storm taking place in Katalaine's mind. Her thoughts were cloudy and dark as she sat sobbing behind her closed bedroom door.

Memories of previous homes, hands wrapped around her throat, names being taunted in her direction, watching cop lights out of a window and the other traumatic experiences of her past rushed into her head. The flashbacks were unbearable and there was nothing she could do to make them stop. Kat's delicate hands tore at her hair, painfully pulling multiple strands out at a time. Breathing became difficult and she soon found herself gasping for air. These panic-attacks were not rare, they were starting to happen regularly and she had no idea how to make them stop. No one, not even her parents, knew about the horrors that unfolded in her bedroom.

After a few minutes, Katalaine was able to stand. Her long auburn hair was a mess and mascara stained her cheeks. The emotional pain she felt was now gone, replaced with a hollow and empty feeling. A desperate desire for an ounce of control grew within her. Very few parts of her life were controllable and in moments like this she saw only one option. Kat reached underneath her pillow and pulled out a small ring box, carrying it with her to the bathroom across the hall.

A soft knock on the bathroom door roused Kat from the trance she was in. Her eyes drifted in the direction of the noise and she quickly composed herself.

"Yes?" She asked quietly, her voice mimicking happiness well.

"I need to pee." A little boy responded, her younger brother. Jamie was six with curly brown hair and dark hazel eyes. He kept Katalaine going in the worst of times.

"I'll be right out baby." Her response was quick and she turned on the taps. The water was clear until it met her skin where it became stained by blood, turning red before it went down the drain. Within a minute she had washed away all evidence of what she had done, pulling her sleeve down to conceal it. The small silver blade, taken from one of the pencil sharpeners her parents purchased for school, was placed back in the ring box.

"Alright darling," she said, opening the door with the best smile she could fake, "the bathroom is all yours."

~><~

Kennedy sat at her vanity, brushing through her blonde hair. A soft black robe was all that touched her delicate skin. The bath had done its job as she was now much more relaxed. It was easier for her to think clearly in this state. She quickly braided her hair to avoid it tangling while drying and moved over to her bed where her laptop lay open. With a few short clicks she was on the internet, plopping 'Katalaine Friesen' into the search engine.

Multiple social media profiles came up and she clicked on each one, trying to find any information on the girl. There was nothing. It was as if her past had been wiped clean. This sparked a greater curiosity in Dee and after careful thought she sent a friend request via Facebook. Right after pressing the button that sent it she slammed her laptop shut and stared. Kennedy's heart was racing and she was.. Nervous? No, that couldn't be. Why would the new girl make her nervous?

Minutes passed before she opened it back up. Her request had been accepted. She stared at the screen, unsure of what to do next. Dee clicked on Katalaine's profile, examining it again before coming to the decision to message her.

"Hey." It was a simple message and she knew it wouldn't be taken as anything more than a friendly gesture.

"Hey :)" Kat's response came back quicker than Dee had expected it to and she closed her laptop once again. Nerves had taken over and butterflies danced in her stomach. Kennedy moved her laptop off the bed and laid back, staring at the ceiling. She had only two questions now: what was it that she was feeling and how could she make it stop?