"Yvonne! Please, let me out!" Ginger cried, banging on the basement door.
"Hm, no."
"Please! What did I do?!"
"You were born. Now shut up, you stupid brat."
"P-Please, Yvonne! I'm sorry!" The little girl choked out, sobbing profusely now.
"Nope~! Have fun with your demon friends!" The girl heard her older step sister laugh and walk away.
"Yvonne! Please! Don't leave me in here! Yvonne!"
Ginger put her back to the door and sat down, shaking in terror. She jumped at every noise she heard.
"Ready, Yvonne?" She heard her older half brother ask.
"Yeah," Yvonne answered.
Ginger's eyes widened as she got back up and pounded on the door again. "Jeremy! Jeremy, please, help me!"
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Ginger." There was a pause. "I'm gonna look for her."
"No! Jeremy, we're gonna be late for school! I'm sure Carys is fine."
Jeremy sighed. "Alright, fine. Avery, c'mon!"
"I'm comin'! Criminy!"
"Jeremy! Avery! Please! Help me!" Ginger practically screamed.
"Yvonne are you sure she's-"
"I'm sure, Jeremy. Let's go."
"Alright, fine. Ginger, we'll be back after school! 'Kay?"
"Jeremy!"
Ginger went quiet as she heard the front door open and shut, then silence. She covered her mouth, then continued crying harder.
"Guys! Come back! Please!"
~
The door opened. Heavy footsteps came in, and a strong sigh was heard.
Ginger jumped up and rattled the doorknob. "Daddy! Daddy! Please, get me out of here!"
There was a small pause, then the heavy footsteps were heard running to the basement door. Suddenly the door flew open and Ginger winced at the bright light. She saw the shape of her father standing there.
"Carys! Why the hell were you-"
Ginger hugged her father tightly, sobbing into his stomach. She bawled too hard to say anything.
Her father picked her up and shut the basement door, hugging her close. "Carys, what happened?"
"Yvonne" was all Ginger could say, repeatedly.
"Yvonne? Did she-?" Her father cut himself off with a sigh, stroking his daughter's hair. "I'll have a word with her, okay, Care-bear?"
Ginger sniffled and nodded.
"I'm so sorry, Carys. How long were you down there?"
"This morning" again was all she could say.
"Goddammit . . ."
The front door opened again. Yvonne, Jeremy, and Avery all came in, laughing and talking, until they noticed their father, clearly angry. They all stopped.
"Yvonne? Would you care to explain why I found Carys locked in the basement?" Her step father raised an eyebrow.
The teenage girl squeaked. "Um!"
The man waited.
"I-It wasn't my fault!"
"Oh really? Then why did Carys say otherwise?"
"I don't know! She hates me!"
"Go to your room."
"But Arthur-!"
"Go. To your room. Now."
Yvonne growled at Ginger, then stormed up to her room. They all heard her slam her door behind her.
"Jeremy, Avery."
Both boys looked at their father.
"Do either of you know what happened?"
Avery answered. "No, sir. We were getting ready for school when whatever happened, happened."
Their father's expression softened. "Alright. Do your best to make sure this doesn't happen again, understand me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Jeremy, take Carys to her room, calm her down. I have work to do."
Jeremy took Ginger from their father and ran upstairs. He went into Ginger's room and sat her on her bed, closing the door. He sat next to her. "Damn, Ging, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Ginger sniffled, still in tears.
Jeremy sighed and hugged her. "I would've gotten you out of there if I'd known. I'm sorry."
Ginger choked on her words.
"Yvonne . . . She's mean . . . She deserves . . . what's coming to . . . her."
