Masked love

Chapter 14

After eating dinner, Joseph drove Nikita home. The ride was quiet and ominous. She couldn't bear to think about what was awaiting her when she would arrive home. The only thing she could hope for is that her warden would be asleep when she got there. The car stopped at her driveway. She looked up at the house that no longer held happiness, but sent her into despair. Lights shined through the first floor windows. Was he awake, or did he simply pass out? She was hesitant to leave.
She looked back at Joseph with a fake happy smile. "Thanks, for inviting me. I had a great time."
Joseph had a bad feeling and looked at her with worry. "No problem, hopefully we can hangout like this again. Umm how's your arm? I'll wait until you're ready to tell me what happened, but I am worried." He said trying to stall their time together.
She pulled up the jacket sleeve to show her clean bandages. "I changed the bandages before I left my house. It looks like it hasn't bled since, and it doesn't hurt." She said, showing him her wrist.
Joseph delicately touched the bandages. "That's good. I'll walk you to the door." He said nervously. He quickly got out of the car, and ran to open her door, before she could respond. He held her hand, as she got out of the car and walked up to the front door.
"You don't have to do this. I could've walked by myself." She said nervously. Her father could come out at any moment. She looked up at Joseph's face with worried eyes.
"I wanted to.. Um Nikita I was wondering-" he began as his heart started racing. He looked at her thinking about what Zeak said. They stopped at the door, facing each other. He could feel his tongue tying up. "Wou-you-ju." She looked at him questionably, but quickly shrugged it off. He tried to speak again, when he realized something was missing. "Wh-where's the cat bag I won for you?"
Nikita turned to look at her back by instinct. "I must have left it in your room by accident. Could you bring it to school tomorrow?" She said, but in reality she meant to. She didn't want to take the chance of her father seeing it. Then Joseph suddenly let go of her hand. She turned to look at him. For that one instant, she was worried that something had gone wrong. Then his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her in close. She didn't tense up. Surrounded by his warmth and his familiar scent, she knew she was safe. His soft lips touched her forehead, leaving a feeling she would never forget. She held on to him, hoping this moment would never end, hoping for him to never leave.

However this moment did end, as all moments do. They said their goodbyes, and Joseph departed taking her heart with him. Once his car was out of sight, Nikita stepped into to her quiet house of nightmares. The door shut behind her, much louder than she anticipated. Did it wake him? Was he even asleep? She hanged Joseph's jacked in the closet by the door. She tried to be quiet, but her footsteps seem to echo as she walked down the hall. She hesitated at the opening to the living room. The Burning stench from earlier was almost gone completely. "Ahh, honey you're home. How was your day?" He spoke with an eerily voice. Nikita walked into the living room, looking down at the floor. "You left without even saying goodbye. You shouldn't leave like that. It makes me worry." He said. Her father rose from the couch and towered over her. He grabbed her shoulder tightly.
"I'm sorry. I was worried that you wouldn't let me leave... I-I didn't mean for you to worry." She said carefully. Her body tensed up. The heavy tension made her shake with fear.
"Are you that afraid of me?" He asked as his voice changed, it now held sadness. Nikita nodded, looking up at him. "Heh, you should be!" He pushed her up against the wall. "You're really going to get it now you ungrateful wench." Her eyes lingered behind him and she saw a familiar letter on the coffee table in front of the couch. She thought to herself, so that's why he's so upset. He pushed her to the side and she fell on the floor, feeling weak. "Go! Into the basement! Unless you want to make this worst for yourself." She tried to get up, but her legs went weak. She tried to crawl away, she didn't want to get beaten anymore.
"I hate you! Why are you doing this? Why are you so cruel? I'm tired of getting beat when I don't deserve it!" She shouted, finally letting her anger out. She thought about Joseph and the happiness she had with him. She wanted to fight to feel that happiness again and forever. Then her father kicked her hard in the stomach. She rolled over coughing, trying to catch her breath.
"Do you really believe that you don't deserve this? Your mother is dead! She killed herself because of you!" He yelled angrily. He pulled out his knife. "If you were never born then your mother would still be alive today! You're a murder and should be punished like one!"
Nikita stood up weakly and looked her father in the eyes. "I couldn't control getting sick. I didn't want any of it to happen. I couldn't control what my mom did to save me. You can't blame me for what hap-." Her father punched her hard in the face, and she heard her nose crack. She fell backwards and hit her head against the floor. Scarlet warmth leaked from her nose. She was barely able to keep her eyes open, before she finally invited the darkness.