The Fears That Bind Us {Completed}

Chapter 6

Alyssa POV

My worst fears became a reality when I heard the front door slam shut.

My mouth went dry and bile rose in my throat. I carefully picked up my fully packed backpack from the floor and hefted it onto my shoulder.

It's now or never. As I walked to the living room I heard his voice behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?" I froze and turned around to see my dad towering over me, another beer in his hand. I almost dropped my backpack. I swallowed roughly as my trembling worsened.

Are you going to back down and settle for this? Or do you want to be brave like Amber and Austin, get out of here, and live your life?

It took all the strength I had in me to respond.

"I'm leaving." I didn't breathe as I waited for his reaction. He raised an eyebrow with an amused look.

"Really?" I nodded slowly, bracing for the inevitable blow I was about to receive.

"You think you can make it in the real world on your own?" I blinked.

Not the reaction I was expecting.

He chuckled and took a swig of his drink before continuing.

"You need me. Where else will you get your food from? Or your transportation? Do you think anyone else would let you stay with them rent free? You have no one else to turn to-"

"I have Amber," I interrupted, staring at the floor to avoid eye contact as I spoke.

"You mean the little coward that abandoned you? You'd rather stay with her than me?"

He can't talk about her like that.

"She may have abandoned me, but she did it to escape you! You almost killed her, and she was just brave enough to get out of here! And I should've done the same a long time ago!" I blurted.

My eyes widened as I realized what I'd done. I watched his eyes flash and his grip on the beer bottle tightened.

"You're not going anywhere, so empty that bag and go to your room," he gritted out, fire blazing in his eyes. For the first time in my life, I fought all of my instincts telling me to run and back down.

I stood my ground.

I stared him dead in the eyes, without flinching and growled.

"No." his eyes narrowed into slits and his fists clenched.

Before I had time to move, he smashed his almost empty beer bottle over my head.

I screamed in pain as the bottle exploded into shards. They dug into my scalp and stuck in my hair. When I raised my hand to pick out the shards, they came back red with blood. My body trembled with a combination of horror and rage.

"Stay away from me!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs. A small stream of blood trickled down the side of my head. His eyes narrowed and I took a trembling breath, backing away in terror.

"Watch your mouth!" he barked, inching towards me. In a panic, I looked around, thinking of a way out.

There has to be a way out. I glanced at the door before looking back at my dad.

If I get out the door fast enough, I can scream for help.

It wasn't ideal, but it was my best option, and I still clung to the hope that I could escape. I ran for the door, but he grabbed my waist and spun, throwing me to the ground behind him.

He stood over me fiercely, blocking my exit.

My hopes plummeted and I almost screamed as they plunged further and further from my reach. I needed that hope, it was the only thing that had kept me going.

There's no way out.

He gripped my hair and I yelped as he yanked me to my feet. He slammed me into the wall and the air left my lungs, leaving me gasping. My head cracked against it painfully and stars filled my vision.

"Do I need to remind you what your place is in this house you little bitch?!" he yelled in my face. He was too close for comfort, and the stench of alcohol overpowered my nose. I cowered and kept my tear filled eyes everywhere except his eyes.

He struck me across the face, and I felt a pulsing throb grow in my cheek.

"Answer me!" he growled, yanking me off the wall before shoving me against it again.

"No sir," I choked out.

He sneered at me before letting me go. I let myself sink down against the wall, my head in my trembling hands, as he walked away.

Why did I ever think I could get out of here?

Why did I let myself get my hopes up? My heart physically hurt at the empty feeling that replaced the hope I had of escaping.

My life will never change.

........................................

After what felt like an eternity, I removed my hands from my swollen eyes and looked at my packed bag on the ground. I remembered the hope and determination I'd felt as I had packed it.

I wished I didn't have to let it go.

I sniffled and rubbed my nose on my sleeve. Are you going to give up?

I could give up and suffer here forever.

Or, I could keep trying.

It's worth it. Isn't it?

I imagined how excited Amber would've been for me when I told her; how her face would've lit up the room and how she'd hug me. I'd be so free.

He can't stop you forever. I wiped my eyes, and I felt the determination growing inside of me.

Remember Austin? Remember what he had to do to make his life better? And your sister. She found a way out too. Now it's your turn. Be strong like your sister. Be brave like Austin. I gritted my teeth.

You can do this. I stood to my feet shakily, taking a deep breath.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself. My body fought me as I took a step toward my bag.

You have nowhere to go.

You know he will hurt you for this.

He might even kill you for this.

Worries and doubts tried to flood my mind, but I forced them away, focusing solely on my backpack.

It's worth the risk. A single tear fell down my face, and my lip trembled.

Be strong like Amber. Be brave like Austin.

I took another step.

What do I have to lose?

Before I knew it, the bag was on my shoulder.

I glanced back towards my dad's room where he was watching tv. We made eye contact through the doorway and I dug my nails into the palms of my hands anxiously.

His eyebrows scrunched as he observed me standing near the front door with the backpack slung over my shoulder.

I held his gaze, refusing to let him dominate me any longer. I strode towards the door and I heard him get up from his place on the worn sofa. As he approached me where I stood, I saw the fury in his eyes.

Before he could reach me, I walked out into the night and slammed the door in his face. I almost laughed at the shocked expression he wore before the door shut.

Hi guys! This chapter gave me so many emotions while writing it! It was scary, and intense, and the end made me so proud of Alyssa! How did you guys feel about it? Please vote and feel free to comment! I love hearing feedback. The next update will be on Friday. Until then, happy reading!