Shattered

Chapter 2

Sabrina analyzed the small house before her. Overall, it was a nice looking place. It functioned well. She looked teasingly at her father and mother. 

"You're good at picking places to stay. Consider being a real-estate agent, maybe?" 

Her mother rolled her eyes and muttered something nasty under her breath. Her father chuckled, amused. 

"Gee, kid. That's one heck of an offer, but I'll stick with the thrill I've got." He threw his hands up. 

"YAY, DEAD BODIES!" he rejoiced in complete sarcasm. Sabrina giggled. Kirsten swallowed a groan and replaced it with a smile. 

No, not a smile....a smirk. "Well, Sean, are you going to unlock the door or are we going to sit here and drool over a house?" she said, a fake positivity hanging from her words. Sabrina's father nodded and did as requested. Sabrina felt obliged to be the last one in the house, so she waited for her mother to enter before she did. 

Polished wooden floors slightly creaked below their feet in welcome. Sabrina could tell that they had just entered what was going to be the living room. She flicked on the light and a slight whirr sound imitated from the now-spinning ceiling fan. The walls appeared to be crimson with maroon and white stripes occasionally showing. A fireplace hid in the corner about 5 feet from the white, sliding backdoor. Sabrina glanced up at her father, who seemed to be proud of this find for he was smiling. Although it pained Sabrina to switch schools so suddenly, it made her happy to see her father in a good mood. She slid up her sleeve curiously and glanced at the white leather watch located on her pale wrist. 

I have to be there by nine, her father had said. 

"Dad," Sabrina said, tugging on her father's sleeve. His blue eyes focused on Sabrina's face. "It's 8:25..." 

Her father looked at her watch in disbelief and collected the set of keys he had just sat down in a rush. He hurriedly hugged his daughter in farewell. He kissed his wife's cheek and dashed out into the morning, closing the white door behind him. As soon as the door shut, Sabrina put down her sleeve and casually spun on the heels of her sneakers and strode to her room, managing to not drop the boxes that the mover people left. She didn't want to show that she REALLY didn't wish to be in the same room as her mother, for that gave Kirsten satisfaction. 

Sabrina's room's walls were a plain white and the room was hauntingly empty. Not for long, Sabrina thought and began to unpack. Sabrina heard footsteps grow closer to her room and stop by the doorway. She tried not to grimace and continued unpacking. She could feel the burn of her mother's hateful stare on her back. 

"Yes, beloved Mother?" she called. The footsteps drew closer to her and she felt a sharp slap on the back of her slightly exposed neck. Sabrina didn't say anything, nor did she move. Kirsten grabbed a fistful of Sabrina's dark green hair and yanked her daughter to a stand. Sabrina avoided eye contact and crossed her trembling arms. Brave she may be, but she was still human. 

"Listen, you sultry brat." her mother spat in a low voice. Sabrina remained still, daring to roll her eyes while her mother couldn't see her face. 

"Whenever you leave for school, you had better not talk to anyone, got it?" her mother growled. Sabrina sort of smiled. 

"Bet." she quipped quietly. Kirsten gripped her daughter's hair tighter and rammed Sabrina's head into the wall harshly. 

"GOT IT?!" she repeated. Sabrina's ears rang loudly and a throbbing headache formed where her mother were holding her hair and where she'd been slammed into the wall. Sabrina felt a sense of rebellion boil in her veins and scald her bones. She pushed her mother away hard enough to stun her, but gentle enough to not leave a mark.  

"GO TO HELL YOU DISRESPECTFUL (not-so-nice word)" her mother roared in fury at her daughter's sudden defiance. 

"Rather be there than with you, Kirsten." Sabrina shot back icily. 

Sabrina felt oddly light-headed and stumbled away from the wall. The actual damage was sinking in, along with guilt. She'd shoved her own mother. 

She deserved it, her brain argued. She'd provoked you first. 

From behind her, Sabrina could hear her mother scream in absolute fury. The scream drew nearer and nearer to Sabrina. Then, Sabrina felt a burning, sharp pain in her shoulder. It felt warm and liquid-like. The air smelt of rust. 

"How dare you stab yourself, Sabrina." Kirsten accused. Through blurry vision, Sabrina could see her mother kick a bloodied knife in her direction. She slid to a seated position on the ground. 

"Why would you do that?" Sabrina asked her mother. Although Sabrina knew her mother was an evil, emotionless freak, it shocked her that Kirsten would stab her. She'd never gone this far. Sabrina felt cold fingers on her chin. She opened her eyes and was able to make out her smiling mother. 

"You were such a bad child. A mother has to do what she's gotta do. Now," Kirsten dug her nails into her daughter's chin and face. "You are not going to tell anyone about this, are you Sabrina?" 

Sabrina shook her head. "No Mother.....I won't tell anyone." 

I'll tell everyone who will listen.