Sang's Freedom - The Song Of Ghosts

10:

Chapter 10

Sang Sorenson's POV-

   When I woke up, I couldn't move. My body was stiff and likely broken in places.

   It hurt to breath and the Advil I had taken yesterday night had worn off. The bottle of pills was all the way over on my dresser.

   I couldn't rise.

   Marie pounded on my door. "Sang, the bus is going to leave without you!"

   I tried to answer, but my chest ached to deeply from the effort. A few moments later, Marie's footsteps pounded down the stairs and then came back up.

   I was surprised to see my father standing in my door.

   He let out an annoyed sigh seeing my face. I tried to draw my blankets up higher. It had hurt too badly to dress last night so all I had on was my bra and panties. "Sang?"

   "I can't go to school," I managed. "Hand me those pills?"

   He did and snagged the bottle of water of my nightstand. "Your mother was just confused, Sang. She didn't mean to do this... You can't tell anyone."

   "I know."

   "We need to stay here through the year. I've been given a really great opportunity, and if everything goes well, money will never be a problem again. You understand?"

   "Yes, sir." I tried to sit up to take my medicine. It hurt terribly going down. "Do you think I should go to a hospital?"

   "We can't risk that. You know how doctors are. We can't afford it and if we can't pay, they'll take you away. There are worse people out there than your mother."

   "I don't think mom is a bad person. She's...she's just confused. She'll get better when she's not sick anymore." My words were rough and I lowered myself back to the bed. "Do we have anything that will help me sleep?"

   My father rose to his feet. I noticed shadows beneath his eyes. He had been working a lot doing...whatever it was he did. He found me some sleeping pills. "Take a day or two off school, Sang. I'll call in and tell them you have the flu."

   "Don't forget to let mom know."

   "I won't. Sang, I'm not going to be back for a couple days. Stay out of trouble."

   "I always do."

   "I heard about the fight with the boys and Marie said something about you kissing someone at school."

   "That's a lie..." I groaned. "She's the one bringing boys in the house."

   Father shook his head. "Just don't do anything that would justify getting rid of you, understood?"

   What? Those sleeping pills must kick in pretty fast. I blinked away my confusion, and then my eyes were closing.

   "I'll see you in a few days, Sang."

   When I woke again, my dad was gone and the only pain I had was a dull soreness just under my skin that intensified as I tried to move. It hurt like hell to sit up, but I managed it.

   For a moment my room spun. I sat on the edge of the bed before trying to rise again. I needed...a shirt. I didn't like feeling so exposed. The nausea intensified as I made it to my dresser, pulling out a loose cotton t-shirt.

   I caught sight of my pale yellow skin in the mirror and staggered. Most of my body was covered in dark ugly bruises.

   All because of that freaking kitten.