Saving Grace | ✓

Chapter One

{ Chapter One }

"Alexis! Grace!" A door slams, signaling my parents' arrival. My bruises pulse at the sound of my father's voice. "Get in here now!"

I take my sister Alexis' hand and nod at her before we enter the living room.

Our dad is pacing the floor, our mom fuming on the couch. She stands when we come in, immediately slapping me across the face. My head whips to the side and I gasp, my hand flying to my cheek. Alexis screams. I push her behind me, shielding her with my body. "Don't touch her."

"And what makes you think you can tell us what to do?" My father yells, his hands clenched in rage. "You have no power!"

He grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back. I let out a yelp, squirming in his grasp. "Hope," he tells my mother, "get the girl."

She nods, grabbing Alexis by both of her arms. Alexis is crying; I didn't notice until now. She looks at me with a pleading look in her eyes: Do something.

I shake my head: I'm sorry.

Dad - if I can even call him that - drags me to the bathroom, and Hope forces Alexis into the closet. I scream her name, fighting him to get free. He slaps my face like Hope did, making me fall silent. "Shut up!" He bellows, the veins in his neck throbbing.

The door is slammed in my face and I'm alone, but I can hear Alexis wailing. "No!" I screech through the door, pounding on it. "Leave her alone!"

"Be quiet!" Hope yells at me from the hallway. I hear David, my father, smack Alexis again. She screams and I hear a door slam. The hallway is quiet. I can't hear Alexis anymore.

I cuss under my breath, tears streaming down my cheeks. They'll never let me out of here.

Laying down on the cold hard tile, I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, trying to stop the tears. I have to be strong for Alexis now. I have to be her rock.

I start crawling around the floor, searching for a pin or something that could pick a lock. I find an old wire bracelet behind the toilet with a small plastic heart charm. Breaking the wire in half, I shove it into the window lock and twist it around. I hear a soft click and shove it open.

Pressing my feet against the toilet seat, I hoist myself up onto the sill and take a deep breath. With one swift kick, I push myself out of the window and into the dead bushes. Branches scrape my back where my shirt came up. I scramble out of the bushes and run to the car, hoping that neither of my abusive parents will see me escaping.

I stop at the potted plant on our doorstep and grab the extra car key from under it. Forcing it into the lock of the car, I climb in the front seat and start the car. The engine roars loudly as I crank it. Please do not let Hope or David hear it. I put the car into drive and speed down the road.

It is not until I am on the interstate that I think, I'm free. "I escaped." I say out loud, running a hand through my hair. "I got out. I'm free." I laugh crazily, swerving in between cars to get farther away from my parents as fast as I can.

Some people honk at me as I pass them. I flick a few drivers off, occasionally yelling cuss words. I don't know how to drive that well. I only had my license because my neighbor took me. I had never driven by myself before.

I slow down once there are no cars around me. I don't know where I'm going or where I'll end up, but I don't care; I'm finally free.

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A soft song plays on the radio as it starts to rain. I hum along quietly, pulling off the main road to an exit. There is no sign that states what city it is. The only blue sign in sight just says Exit 129.

I am the only car on the road. I drive easily, taking random roads, going along with my gut. Hmm, this street looks cool. Wonder what's over here. Whoa, there's a park over there! Yes!

Too soon, the engine sputters to a stop. I pull over on the side of the road as best as I can before the car shuts completely off. Leaning my head on the steering wheel, I take deep, long breaths to calm my raging nerves. It's okay, I think. You're in some town where they won't find you. You're safe here. You're okay. I open the door and stand on the sidewalk, pulling the key from the ignition. The car has no use to me unless I can find some gas. I shove my hand in my back pocket, pulling my lunch money out. It only consists of a few bills and some change. When I count it, it totals up to $7.28. Not enough to even last me a week.

Forcing the money back into my pocket, I slam the car door shut and start walking. A few strangers strolling along the sidewalk glance at me, some whispering to the people with them. I tug my hood over my head and ignore them. All that matters right now is gas.

I arrive at a gas station called The One-Stop Shop. Maybe they'll give me some gas. As I am entering the building, a bell on the door rings loudly. Barely anyone glances up. I walk up to the counter. The Indian woman with dark hair standing there doesn't look at me.

I clear my throat and say, "Um, can I get some gas?"

She groans, tossing the nail file onto the counter, and moves to the cash register. "What pump?"

"What?"

"What pump are you parked at?" She asks sharply, motioning out the window.

"Oh. I don't have a car. I mean, I have one, but it ran out a little ways back. I need a container or something so I can get moving." I explain.

"Show me the cash."

I pull the money out and place it on the counter. She rushes through it, shaking her head. "Do you have a gas can?"

"What?"

She lets out a growl. "A gas can. Are you stupid? The thing you carry gas in."

"No, I-"

"Then get out." The woman cuts me off, shoving the money towards me.

I narrow my eyes, throwing the money back in my pocket, and mutter, "I didn't want gas from you anyway."

Exiting the gas station, I walk back in the direction of my car. The change jingles with every step. A sign on the side of the road I didn't notice before reads: Calvary Baptist - this way. I glance in the direction it is pointing and shrug, starting down the street. Not many cars are on this road either.

A huge church appears in the distance. It's not a long walk; I could probably walk to it in about forty-five seconds. But I'm not religious. I never have been. My parents never had a set god, and neither did their parents.

I find myself on the front steps before I know it. The stairs are lined with green plants and the doors have pink flowers on them. I squint up at them before making my way towards the doors.

The church is unlocked when I pull on the handle. The door swings open, the sound echoing throughout the sanctuary. I slowly walk up the aisle, touching the oak pews as I pass them.

I sit in a pew near the middle of the room. The whole sanctuary is empty. I look up at the cross hanging on the wall with a purple satin scarf draped across it. It is big and looming, casting shadows over the seats and my face.

I think about Hope and David. They're terrible parents; they always have been. And I hate them more than I've ever hated anything ever before.