The Bird That Couldn't Sing (GBFF)

Chapter 1 - Sang

"I want this house spotless by the time I wake up," my stepmother sneers, not even giving me a chance to respond before she's trudging back up the stairs for her ritualistic nap. It's not like I really could respond, though. At best, I could let out a hoarse croak, unrecognizable as actual words. She took away my voice by making me drink a horrible concoction of vinegar and lemon juice every night, claiming that it was too annoying and it hurt her ears. It hurt like hell, feeling like I was drinking liquid fire, but I was no longer forced to drink the burning substance once my voice had finally been ruined. But I guess that's just my sad reality.

I don't bother dwelling on that fact. Instead, I focus my attention on getting the house cleaned. Though, for the most part, it's already spotless. You see, we just moved here, Sunnyvale Court, South Carolina, from Illinois. And I'd already been forced to unpack all of the boxes, so all that was left to do was straighten up a couple of loose ends and I'd be done, giving me ample time to explore the woods by my house.

I figured it it wouldn't be a problem as my stepmother will be sleeping, Marie is at her new friend Danielle's house, and Father is at work--as per usual. After finishing with the dishes, I bound up the stairs quietly, careful not to wake up my stepmother.

Entering my tiny room containing only a twin sized bed, a small dresser, and a shelf full of books, I walk over to the dresser holding all my clothes. I reach into the bottom drawer to pull out a soft gray skirt and a hunter green t-shirt. After tucking the shirt into the skirt, I grab the clip I keep on the dresser and twist my hair into it so isn't in my face.

I open my bedroom door and softly trek over to the bathroom I share with Marie to use the restroom before I leave. When I've flushed and stepped up to the sink to wash my hands, I get a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Dirty blonde hair twisted back into a clip. A small, button nose. Full pink lips and pale cheeks. Haunted green eyes framed by thick, black lashes.

Average.

Nothing about the girl that is reflected in the mirror is exceptional. Especially not when she opens her mouth in a faulty attempt to speak.

With a heavy sigh, I dry my hands on my shorts and turn to trudge down the stairs and out the front door. My house is a two-story gray home. It's the newest on the half-circle street, tucked away behind a forest near a new highway. In front of it is an empty lot with room for another house, but the space is still undeveloped. It has a side door that opens up to the large double-sided garage. There's a wide concrete porch out front, a two-car garage on the outside, a screened-in porch in the back, and a separate shed toward the end of the driveway. The yard is at least an acre, and it's a little bigger than the rest of the homes in the neighborhood, but not overly so.

A perfect-looking house for a perfect-looking family. But we're anything but the sort. Stepping off of the driveway and onto the dark pavement, I make my way over to the woods by my new house. But suddenly, it starts to pour. Great. Just my luck.

I sigh heavily, deciding there was no use and I should just turn back now. But just as I turn around to return to the hell that is my home, I hear a faint barking in the distance, only getting louder as it approaches quickly. The sound of a slippery thudding follows the barking, and I'm unable to comprehend just how close the sound is from me due to the heavy falling of the rain. But before I'm able to take another step towards my house, my body is abruptly hit with a force, roughly shoving me to the ground as a mass hovers above me.

I groan out in pain, having crashed onto my left arm and my butt. A slobbering tongue licks at my arm and then a soft, cold nose nuzzles it.

"Hey!" a shout calls from the distance. "Are you all right?"

My whole body goes rigid, the sound of a man's voice reminding me all the things my stepmother has engraved into my brain my whole life.

"Don't go outside, Sang. The world is full of evil, power-hungry men. They'll kidnap you, they'll rape you, and then they'll kill you. They're all the same. Especially for whores who spread their legs like you."

My breath comes out in pants. Not only because of the pain that is radiating from my arm and my butt, but also because of the fear that is starting to consume me. The sound of footsteps come nearer and I try to angle myself out from underneath the dog, but it won't budge. Instead it continues to sit on my legs, barking and then licking my arm again.

"I'm sorry," the voice sympathizes, having arrived at my side. "Max, get off of her." The voice is masculine and smooth. And while having a gentle tone, there still rests and underlying strength beneath it. I tried cooling the rapid beating of my heart; he's a stranger. For all I know, he hasn't come to murder or rape me.

The stranger kneels by my side, lifting me up slightly with his arm around my shoulder as the dog climbs off of me. "Are you hurt?" The kind voice asks, his touch on my shoulder sending a shock of electricity traveling throughout my whole entire body. What was that? By the sudden jerk in his movements, I can tell he felt it too.

I find myself opening my mouth to answer, but soon realize I'm incapable of doing such. I shake my head, hoping that even in the sudden darkness due to the setting sun and the storm clouds, he can see. I don't need help. I never do.

The rain continues to fall, making my cold, wet body start to shiver. And even through my shivering, I can feel the ache of where I'd fallen start to pulse at my hip, pain searing through the scrapes on my arm. I try to lessen the pain by coddling it to my chest.

He seems to have seen my soundless dilemma as he slowly nods his head. I guess if I can see him, he can see me, right? Well, at least slightly.

"No, you're not all right," he declares, the strength and authority in his voice more noticeable now. "You scraped your arm." He puts another arm around my waist and preps his knees. "You can stand, right?"

His kind voice and reassuring hands on me make my cheeks flush. I nod, knowing that he can see me now.

"Don't talk much, do you?" he chuckles, making my blush deepen. I shake my head with a small smile, though I'm not actually sure he can see that much in this drab lighting. He gently pulls me up until I can stand with him, heavy drops of rain still falling from the clouds as if the sky itself is crying. He's wearing a poncho, and he tries blocking me from the strong gusts of wind that are whizzing by, cupping my face with my hands. "I'm going to take you to my house."

There's a lamp down the street, and its glow reflects onto his face, making it clear to me that he wears glasses. And though I can hardly see, I can feel he is easily a head taller than me and there are some definition to his muscles.

Just thinking about touching his chest makes my cheeks flush once more. "Come on," he says, beckoning me follow him by guiding me in his grip with one of his arms wrapped around my shoulder. "Let's get out of this rain. We'll assess the damage inside."

My gaze drifts over to the dog some distance behind us, and his eyes follow my line of sight. He nods in understanding, gesturing to the canine. "Don't worry; he'll follow. He always does."

I nod and follow along with him silently as he leads me to the house that's just to the right of the empty lot across my house, my stepmother's voice ringing through my ears with each step I take.

I can only hope I'm not on my way to my death.
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Thanks for reading this chapter, and as always, until next time...

Sincerely,

The Annoying Author Lady