Alive

Buried

Everyone was sleeping, it was really early on the Wednesday, around 4am. I needed to steal a key from Mick for his safe, I had to do it while he was still here because those keys went wherever he did. I made my way into his bedroom where him and my mom were sleeping. I got to his side of the bed and slowly and very quietly opened his draw next to the bed. I felt so sick doing it but I made a promise. I carefully picked up the keys without making too much noise. I looked at his numb body he made me feel so much rage but I had to keep calm. I went back to my room and removed the right key and placed it under my mattress. The final part was to out the keys back without waking him.

All of a sudden I heard a door open, it sounded like his bedroom door so I quickly threw my sheets over myself and looked at the wall opposite my door. It must of been Mick with his heavy footsteps, he made his way downstairs and the bathroom door opened and closed again. I knew this was my one window of opportunity to be quick and unnoticeable. I picked up the keys and rushed to his room. I opened the draw again being steady enough to not wake my mom who was still soundly asleep. I closed the draw and went to leave but I heard the footsteps again. He was coming back upstairs. The problem was his bedroom was right next to the stairs so I couldn't leave without him seeing me. I panicked and looked around for somewhere to hide. The door opened and I dropped and rolled under the bed, luckily for me it was dark so he didn't see my final movements. He climbed back into bed, I heard him slowly fall back to sleep. My heart was racing and my breathing was was too loud. I tried to call myself down so he wouldn't hear me.

Eventually he fell back to sleep and I rolled back out and crawled extremely slowly out of the room and went straight back to sleep in my room. It felt like I had just completed a dangerous mission and needed time to recharge and relax.

Morning came and I was woken with Mick entering my room, as usual and shouting "Breakfast!" At me. He was such a prick. And so I got up and made his breakfast before he left for work. My mom decided to take my brother to school which gave me the opportunity to get the money. I went to his safe in his office room and opened it with the key I retrieved. Inside was money, presumably drug money but i didn't care. I grabbed just enough to buy what I needed to and I closed it and hid the key again ready to put back tonight. I got changed and ready to leave to buy the items and my mom walked through the door. "Where are you going?" She asked but she looked like she didn't really care.
"I'm just going for a walk." I stated. She just glared at me for a few seconds and then walked off and so I left.

I headed to the nearest town which was about a 40 minute walk but I didn't mind as it was a nice day.
I got in and went to the cheapest shop to buy a ball. I then went to an electronics store and brought two cheap phones and sims. One for me and one for Leo. I wanted to be able to communicate with him easily and quietly.

Once I got what I needed I walked back to the house. I got in and mom was already asleep on the sofa. I grabbed a blanket and covered her. And went upstairs to set up the phones. I hid Leo's phone under his mattress and my phone under mine. I decided to hide the ball at the back of a cupboard in the kitchen, Mick never made his own meals so it was a safe bet.

Leo got home and I showed him the ball and he had a brightening smile appear on his face which made me so happy. I then showed him the phone.
"I put my number in the phone and it's on silent so message me if you need anything or just want to talk privately, just don't show Mick." I told him.
"Thank you Cas. I love you."
I smiled and left him to it.

A few hours later Mick got home, I was in my room messaging Leo, it was nice having a phone, I had to get rid of mine when I moved in. It was nice having something that was mine again. And it was nice knowing I could talk to Leo without Mick hearing us.

"LEO, CASSANDRA, KITCHEN, NOW!" Mick yelled upstairs making me jump. I hid my phone and came out of my room, Leo was standing there, he looked frightened, micks voice wasn't pleasant and we both knew what was coming. We headed downstairs and I held his hand. We went into the kitchen and Mick was there standing with the ball, I was shocked he found it.
"What the hell is this?" He said, he aimed it at Leo considering he liked football. Leo didn't reply and he tightened his grip on my hand. I knew he was scared.
"Its a football." I stated, trying to shift his anger towards me.
"You think this is funny?" He asked pulling a face which made him look even uglier than he was.
"I'm not the one who doesn't know what a football is." I said and Leo quietly sniggered.
"Don't get smart with me Cassandra, because it doesn't end well for you." He stepped forward and leaned up higher to show he was bigger than me and he could easily break me if he wanted to. I didn't back away though, I stayed there to keep him from Leo. But then Leo stepped forward as well, I tried to pull him back but he wouldn't move.
"It's mine." He said,
"No it's not." I quickly butted in.
"Shut up." Mick said looking at me, he made eye contact with Leo, "where did you get It?"
"I found It," I could feel Leo's hand shaking in mine.
"We don't hide things in this house." Mick pushed past us both and headed upstairs, we looked at each other confused, "I wonder what else you're hiding," Mick called downstairs. I quickly looked at Leo and thought about the phone.
"Shit." I let go of Leo's hand and ran upstairs to try and stop him but he was already in Leo's room. Leo followed me in and the mattress was thrown up against the wall and underneath lying on the floor was the phone. Mick looked at it in disgust. Mom must have heard us as she had now entered the room and she saw the phone and looked worried as well. Mick gave Leo a horrible look and picked up the phone. "You little bastard." He said "Do you not respect me?" He walked up to Leo but I stood in front. He then grabbed my arm and pushed me down to the floor removing me from his path. I knew I wasn't going to be able to beat him as his physical strength beat mine. He grabbed Leo and threw him across the room. I screamed and stood up ready to fight him but he was too fast and hit me back down again. My mom stood there in shock and tried to call him down but he didn't care.

He went over to Leo and started kicking him, Leo was crying and screaming so I ran out the room grabbed the key from my room and ran to the safe, my mind was racing and my heart was bearing so fast. I opened it and grabbed the gun from the back. I rushed back to the room where Mick was still hovering over Leo and mom was kneeling by him to try and stop it but it had no effect. I raised the gun and pointed it at my target, Mick.
"Get the fuck away from him!" I shouted and he turned around and looked at me. But he didn't look intimidated by my threat, he just smiled.
"I'd watch out Laura, she might hit you instead." He said to my Mom, mocking my shooting skill.
"I'll do it." I said not changing my expression.
"Go on then," he slowly walked forward towards me, and I went to pull the trigger until he lunged at my grabbing the end of the gun, he pushed it up and it went off. A bullet went flying towards the ceiling and my mom screamed. Leo was lying on the floor looking broken. I got so angry and tried to pull the gun back but Mick was strong. He pushed me to the floor again and we both still held onto the gun. He fell on top of me and we both struggled.

BANG!

The gun went off again, my mom looked shocked not seeing the bullet fly somewhere in the room. Leo sat up and looked scared again.

I felt this pain in my stomach and all of a sudden the gun went off again and I felt it this time. Another bullet into my stomach. The blood quickly rushed to my mouth and Mick stood up holding the gun. I lay on the floor in pain I wish I had caused Mick but it was me. Two bullets in my abdomen and I was dying. Leo came over to me and so did my Mom, they were both crying and Mick left the room. I could barely speak and I could feel myself fading fast. I looked at Leo and he was shaking his head. I lifted my hand and stroked his face and smiled.
"I Love you." He said before he fell back into tears.
"I..love...you." I coughed out before I blacked out. The last thing I heard was his plea.

I was dead.