Everlong

| Eleven: Ellie |

"Pleeeeease, daddy!" I begged, tugging on his sleeve as I hopped up and down. His expression with me was patient.

"You'll have to ask your brother, honey," he explained, stroking my cheek with his thumb. "Little girls can't go out on their own, even if they are big five-year-olds."

I pouted, turning to where Jack appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a black leather jacket, and he towered over me. The nineteen-year-old grinned endearingly at his sister.

"Alright," he relented, picking up a brown leather jacket and shrugging it on over his white shirt. I squealed, running and leaping into his arms. His grease-smeared hands caught me, leaving no stains on my dress.

"Thanks, Jacky!" I cried, jumping away from him. We were in the park, and Charlie was on the swings. Her hands were on her lap and her hair stayed still despite the great height she was reaching. The sun was hot on my face.

I ran over to join her, jumping onto the second swing. I was immediately thrown in the air, nearly completely circling the swing set. I turned back to see Miles grinning at me, standing beside Older Me. I waved, laughing hysterically as they waved back.

The swing abruptly stopped, and I tumbled off. I sat up, squinting in the pale moonlight as a car pulled up beside the park. Jared got out, a dark red suit and black gloves hiding his skin. I found myself beside him, and he grabbed me, shoving me into the car.

I looked back, but I didn't see my friends or Jacky. The park was gone, and a big grey house was there. Arms picked me up, and I started thrashing as Jared walked through the house. I ripped, his suit shredding beneath my dull nails, and the skin beneath shining with metal. His stride didn't break as I squirmed and cried out until we reached a door.

It opened, and he threw me in, the door slamming me in. The walls were blank, there was no window.

"You are mine now." Jared's voice came from everywhere. "I am your only parent. You have nowhere, and no one."

I screamed. I threw myself against the door, my eighteen-year-old body protesting. The door caved in and bent, but didn't give. I screamed. The paint on the walls melted, changing colours and building up. A bed was formed, and a desk after that. More furniture was created until it looked like my room. The window was the last thing to be painted.

It wasn't real.

I screamed.

My heart slammed against my sternum, waking me. I let out a shuddering breath as I peeled open my wet eyes. My eyes found the gently blowing curtains either side of my window. It was the only source of light in my room. It was real.

I scrambled out of bed, shoving my phone into the waistband of my pyjama pants and rushing outside. I didn't pay attention to how much noise I was making. I nearly tripped at the end of the staircase in my haste to reach the front door.

I slammed it open, gasping in the cold night air. I stumbled further out, my knees buckling till I hit the grass. I squeezed my eyes shut. My body shivered gently, my thin shirt offering little protection. After shivering on the front lawn for a minute, I remembered my phone. It'd fallen down my pant leg. I fished it out and dialled Charlie's number, breathing deeply.

"Elle?"

A sob broke out before I could speak. I heard blankets shifting on her end.

"Are you out the front?" She asked, her voice clearing as she woke up.

"Y... yes, I am." My throat felt far too tight.

"Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes, Ellie, just wait there. Don't move. I'll be there soon, okay?"