Tangled

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"Wake up you idiot!" Tess shouted from the doorway of her baby sister's bedroom. She was already dressed for the day whereas Tatum was still sound asleep on her queen sized bed. "We have to go out with Mum!"

Tatum rolled over and hid her face in her fluffy white pillow. She was most definitely not a morning person and she hated it whenever someone screamed at her so early. It hit the worst parts of her eardrums and made her quite a bit moody for the rest of the day. But this had become Tess' usual routine since she had taken up morning walks. She knew it annoyed every fibre in her sister's body, so she made it her job to keep track with it. It was one of the ways she was earning her revenge.

"I don't want to go…" Tatum groaned, her head deep in a comfortable heaven. Her mother really knew how to pick the best pillows. "Tell Mum I'm too tired."

Tess snickered. "Oh stop being such a diva, Tatum. You know perfectly well what Mum wants us to do with her today. Get up and get dressed. We're leaving in fifteen."

Dejectedly, the younger girl forcefully pulled herself out of bed and in the direction of the bathroom where she took a warm shower and clothed herself in a suitable outfit. She chose a lace skirt, a white plaid button down collar shirt, and a simple black blazer that she recalled having been gifted by her mother a year ago along with a new iPod and a pair of heels Tatum had never bothered to even touch. She was more of a boots and dress type girl. Heels had never been her thing. Although they had been Tess' and it startled Tatum every time she saw her sister place them on her feet and hold herself so gracefully. In all honesty, it made Tatum's feet hurt just staring at her sister.

Heading down for the kitchen, Tatum heard the familiar voices of both her mother and her sister. They were discussing the day's plans in a restricted tone that meant that something was bottled up in both of them. Tess wanted to say one thing and their mother another. Neither was willing to accept the other's words, and thus, they did not utter anything at all.

"Good morning, Mum," Tatum greeted, walking past the forty something woman towards the fridge, pecking her lightly on the cheek. She grabbed a carton of milk and her favourite cereal from the furnished cabinets. "How did you sleep?"

"Quite well, thank you, dear," her mother answered plain fully, her voice missing the tint of happiness it usually carried in the morning. "Are you dressed for our outing?"

Tatum bit her lip, vehemently pushing down all the commentary she wanted to emit in relation to her mother's inquisition. "Yes, Mum."

"Good."

Following their breakfast, the family of three buckled their seatbelts and drove out onto the main road, heading for the place they visited only once a year. It was located in the darker part of Sydney, where most people generally did not fancy venturing out to. It was a place most were meant to fear, and for the Ryder family, it was a place where their hope went to die. A place that was never mentioned for 364 days of the year.

"Welcome to hell." Tess announced, receiving a well deserved head shake from her mother.

Stepping out of the old car, Tatum breathed in and out slowly, making sure to keep her pulse rate in check. She never did well in this place. It always made her heart ache and her stomach curl. Essentially, she hated it. But force brought her here anyways. The family gathered by the front office, taking their visitor passes and a typical sympathetic glance from the day's head worker. It was such a customary thing for them, yet the reality was still painful each and every time. Their mother led them down a long and narrow hallway till they reached the door awaiting the next few hours that were going to be spent here.