The Ember in the Snow

Abducted

"STOP!" I bellowed, fighting to pull away.

"Never! You asked for it" He laughed, his ice blue eyes locked onto mine.

"You're... the... worst" I said through gritted teeth in between laughter, trying desperately to push his hands away. "I swear I'm going to kill you".

"Okay, okay. Fine" he said as he let out a chuckle. His full, rich voice bounced off of the walls, making my heart skip a beat.

" I hate you! I told you I hate being tickled" I said, pouting.

He flashed that perfect smile, the one he knows I can't resist, my way. "You can't stay mad at me"

I crossed my arms. "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed". I tried like hell to keep from smiling but I could feel the corners of my mouth starting to turn upwards.

"Sure you are!" He said as he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into a bear hug. He kissed my forehead and then smiled down at me. "I'm sorry"

"Okay, Eli" I said, still pouting a bit.

"Okay, Freya" He replied, mockingly.

All of a sudden it hit me, CURFEW.

"What time is it?!" I blurted as I started frantically looking for my phone.

Eli glanced at his phone, "Ummm... 8:16".

"Shit! I have to go!" I started pulling away.

"Hey! Come back here!" He pulled me back in and kissed me softly for a moment. "I love you"

"I love you too. I'm sorry but I have to go!" I pulled away and started walking briskly out the door.

I walked as fast as I could to the bus stop. You know those middle aged ladies who speed walk like they drank 10 cups of coffee at the crack of dawn? I was faster than them, I swear. It was difficult to think of anything other than how screwed I was going to be when I got back to the house.

I paced as I waited for the bus. I was too anxious to sit down, plus bus benches gross me out a little.

After what felt like an eternity, the bus finally pulled to a stop next to me. The bus ride was uneventful. I stared out the window imagining the situation that was about to ensue. I glanced down at my phone. 8:56 and I had a text from Eli, "You ok?". I didn't bother answering for now. The bus finally pulled to the stop a couple streets from the house. I once again took off speed walking.

As I stood in front of the house, I took a deep breath. I went to open the door and the doorknob was ripped out from my hand as someone whipped the door open. I was face to face with Dave. His plump face was beet red which contrasted against the yellow of what hair he had left around his bald spot.

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled, looking at the floor.

"SORRY?! YOU'RE OVER AN HOUR LATE!" The tone of his voice made me flinch. "We give you a place to stay, food, everything you could need and you can't even follow our rules?!"

I could see Daphne, his daughter looking at me smugly over his shoulder. We were the same age but definitely didn't get along.

"I said that I'm sorry"

"Daddy?" Daphne pipped in.

"Not now!" He snapped back at her then focused in on me.

"But daddy!" She whined.

"God damn it, Daph. What do you want?" He whirled around towards her.

" I was just going to say that I think what Freya did was so disrespectful, especially on MY BIRTHDAY. I think she should have to apologize to me" She smirked then pressed her already thin lips into a line as she kept steady eye contact with me. She pushed her blonde hair out of her face, "Don't you think?".