Saving Belle

Chapter 1

Kyla's POV

          Walking out of the school building I get slightly shoved by the other students rushing to get on the bus or to their cars. Christmas break has officially started once that final bell rang five minutes ago. Most people cannot wait for these long breaks, I hate them. This time off school means more time home with him. 

          Eric is my foster brother. I have been living with Eric and his parents, Margo and Thomas, for three years now. It has been my living hell since my fourteenth birthday, the first time he tried to touch me. I will never forget that night. He came to my room and tried to kiss me but I pushed him away and he tripped and hurt his leg. He went and told his parents that I got mad for not getting a birthday gift and that I pushed him. That was the first time Thomas hit me. It was only one hit but that was only the beginning. 

          As I walk down the street a loud honk blares to the left of me. Looking over toward the old beat up car I see Eric's bright blonde hair. I sigh and head over to the car. Everyday I try to avoid his rides but he always finds me on the walk to the house. 

          Climbing into the passenger seat, Eric turns the music down and lays his hand on my thigh. "How was school beautiful?" His voice sends a bad chill down my back.

          I respond softly, "It was fine."

          "Fine? Just fine?" his hand raises his hand higher and gives it a rough squeeze, "Don't worry beautiful, I'll make your day better tonight." My blood runs cold.

          "B-but I have homework. My teacher gave me so m-much work for break." My voice breaks at the end. I don't want this, I can't handle this disgusting boy.

          A sharp slap lands across my face. My lip is tingling from the impact and I taste a bit of medal. I think he split my lip again, god I hope not. Last time I had to handle it on my own without any medical supplies. If I were to actually go to a hospital Margo and Thomas may finish the job this time.

          "Don't talk back to my like that Kyla. I am making such a generous offer and you want to disrespect me like this? Do you want me to punish you again? You know how much I hate when you act like a brat." The anger in his voice rises with every word. I am shaking slightly now. His punishments are worse than dealing with Thomas' drunk angry beatings.

          I look down and whisper, "I'm sorry Eric. I didn't mean to be rude. I-i'm grateful for the offer...I'm just worried about my homework."

          "There's plenty of time for your to do your homework. I get two whole weeks with you before you have to go back to that dumbass place. I don't know why you still there. Ain't no point of it." Eric has been trying to get me to drop out since i started high school. I refuse to leave, that just means more time alone with him and I will be damned if I willingly let myself be more trapped than i already am.

          The drive to the house is long but finally after twenty minutes. The house is a simple three bedroom with a tiny yard that Margo grows her flowers. From the outside the house looks like a sweet home of four, but the inside holds a drunk father, lying mother, abusive son, and a scared foster daughter.

          I wish Nani was still alive, she was the best thing to ever happen to me. Nani was a kind old woman who took me in as her foster daughter when I was six. At the time I was sick in the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia, the doctors didn't think my little body could handle it. She heard about me and instantly drove to the hospital and took me in as her own. She was going to adopt me but got cancer. I was eleven when she passed and was placed in multiple foster homes until I was placed with Margo and Thomas. 

          Eric parked and walked to the door unlocking it. I am not allowed to have a key, Margo swears I would find a way of robbing the house, pawning everything, and runaway. She made Thomas beat that into me so I knew better than to ask for a key. they also like to leave me outside in the cold as a punishment when Thomas is too drunk to hit me.

          Once we get inside I head to the kitchen to start their dinner. Its Friday so they like to have tacos and nachos. I start by checking the ground beef to see if it thawed all the way. Thankfully it was so I could pop it into the frying pan and get right to cooking. 

          About an hour goes by and dinner is ready. Now I just need to keep it warmed until Margo and Thomas come down stairs. If I yelled up to them that dinner was done than I would get hit and sent to my room without dinner. I only ever get dinner so I do everything I can to make sure nothing goes wrong with prepping and setting the table.

           Everyone comes down the steps and sits at the table. I bring the big plates of meat and sides to the circle table and everyone immediately digs in. I proceed to carry the drinks to the table and stand waiting to be allowed to sit. Thomas nods and I sit. Grabbing a taco shell I fill it with the meat and chopped tomatoes. I eat slowly, enjoying the taste of a home cooked meal. It's been a day or two since I was able to eat dinner and my stomach is finally content. 

            After dinner I clean the dishes and put away the left overs into containers so the three have lunch for tomorrow. When everything is cleaned up I slowly walk up to my room and snuggle under the blanket. The faster I fall asleep the better. I know in only a few hours a certain foster brother will come in and wake me up for another night of hell.