It seems life is on the verge of perfection for Lola before a threatening figure from her past shows up. Lola realises danger is near, and flees. But she can't run forever, especially not with her precious and vulnerable little sister Lindsey by her...
"Hello, h-hello Father?" I stammer. It's stupid but I do tend to stammer when I'm nervous. "Sneaking around in the night, are we?" The very sound of his icy voice makes my stomach curl up in fear. I'm at a loss for words. He stands there, smoking a cigar and staring me out with his knife eyes. I finally work up the courage to talk. "Why are you here?" It's straight to the point, that's for sure and certain! Waiting for a reaction to register on his face. Waiting for a response. "Lola..." He begins. My skin creeps at him calling me by my name. "Lola... I'm sorry I left. It wasn't right of me to abandon you and Lindsey at such a young age, and I hope you can forgive me." His body language doesn't match his words, and I don't trust it. He's staring like a dog staring at a piece of meat, while he talks of love and forgiveness. "I can't forgive you. Mama told me about all the bad things you've done and I hate you. You're a bad man." He tenses up at this. His fingers fold inwards into fists and his grey eyes become as much like daggers as ever. "I am not a bad man." I'm alarmed because he's growling now. "Everything your Mother has told you is a lie! I'm here to stay, girl! Your Mother had taken me back and there's nothing in the damn world you can do about it!" He's coming closer. I hold my arms up in front of my face. Defence is the only thing on my mind right now, that and Lindsey's safety. "NOW OFF TO BED WITH YOU!" I'm just about to scramble to my feet and make a quick escape when it happens. The pain doesn't kick in for a few seconds, at first I'm just paralysed. Stock still. Then it begins, the grinding ache in my jaw. Papa has punched me in the face. I might of screamed and cried but I didn't give him that pleasure. I ran out of the room. --------------------------- I'm grabbing my satchel from the wardrobe and stuffing things inside. I can't stay here, not any longer. A spare dress and corset, some stockings, a comb, two books, two apples, a blanket and a bottle of lemonade. That's all I have space for in my satchel. I'm sitting on my bed and hugging the satchel between my knees and my chin. Next move? Wake Lindsey. There's no way on earth I'm leaving my dear sister alone here, with that lunatic. I feel a brief pang of guilt for leaving my Mother behind, but she wasn't safe to be around as long as she was associating with that man. The pain in my jaw pulses and causes me to well up. Time to end this. I gently shake the arm of my sleeping sister, and she awakes with a small sigh. "Lindsey!" It's vital I talk in a hushed voice. "We're going! Papa is a bad man and he hurt Lola! We're going!" Her sweet face crumples into a look of confusion and annoyance. "I'm tired!" Lindsey manages to say this a bit loudly and I instinctively shush her, which only aggravates her further. "Please, L-Pops! He punched Lola in the jaw!" This remark brings her to her senses. Her head jerks up to look me in the eye. The room may be dark but I can see the horror in her innocent blue eyes. For a six year old, she really has a good sense of sympathy. She co-operates after this. I drag her out of bed. She's still wearing her dress from yesterday, a pink striped affair with a powder blue sash. I hastily show her the contents of my satchel. She insists on squeezing in her miniature wooden horse.
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"You ready?" I whisper, clenching her hand in mine. She nods. --------------------------- It isn't long before we come across our first problem. "Papa was awake last time I was downstairs." However will we get past him and out the front door? "I wonder if-" "Shhh!" Lindsey cuts me off and I scowl at her. "I was thinking of a plan and if-" "Oh do be quiet!" She snaps. And we're quiet. The radio has been switched off. I hear silence for a couple of seconds and then- "Oh L-Pops, you're a genius!" I say under my breath as we hear what sounds like a pig being slaughtered. It's not though, and Papa is not a secret butcher. No, Papa is snoring! I beam at Lindsey. "This is our chance Lola!" She waves at the door.
