Tainted Blood

Prologue

Nerve racking excitement spreads through me as I finish packing up the last box. I take a satisfying look around the bare room, standing up to brush off my knees. A knock sounds at the door as my dad pushes it open.

He looks down at me standing around 6'4" with tan skin from spending time outside. His black hair is starting to thin out at the top and white hairs invade his beard. He has a naturally bigger build from spending his life doing manual labor.

"Hey I got you something." He says handing my a small black box. "Congrats graduate."

I take the light box in my hands. "What is it."

"Just something I picked up so you don't forget about me when you leave." He says trying to hide his concern.

He's been doing that a lot lately, convincing him to let me go on my summer adventure took every card I had. I know he cares and I feel bad for leaving him so soon but I'm ready for some change.

For an adventure.

I open the box and peek inside confused.

"It's a necklace?" I say out loud.

My dad shifts uncomfortably. "You don't like it?" He asks.

"No no, I love it. I just wouldn't have expected that from you."

My dad likes to keep up a manly image. Receiving something this let's say girly from him just seems odd.

I pull it out even more confused to find it's just a silver chain. That makes a little more sense. I think to myself.

"I just wanted you to have something that you'd like, something for you to remember where you came from." He says defensively.

I smile genuinely. I know he really tried for me. "Thank you dad, I love it."

"Yeah." He says awkwardly. "You sure you want to heading out in the morning?"

I sigh internally. We've been doing this since I decided to move. I love that he cares so much but I'm not a kid anymore I'm eighteen. I'm ready to start my own story.

"Yup, just me Rosy and the road." I say with a smile.

Just then the little ball of fur runs in and jumps up scratching my leg. Happily panting making it look like she's smiling. I lean down and pick her up rubbing her head.

My dad shakes his head at the dog. "Well at least there's that."

"When are you leaving for work?" I ask.

"Early, before your up I'm sure." He says giving me a look.

It's not my fault I don't wake up at the crack of dawn like him. I'm more of an night owl and from what my dads said my mom was the same way.

"Alright then I'll text you tomorrow when I head out." I say trying to avoid any mushyness. My dad and I aren't the feely type.

"Give me a hug." He says pulling me in making me uncomfortable but I hug back.

"I love you, call anytime." He says letting me go.

"Love you to, sleep good."

He nods and heads out.

I climb up on my bed with Rosy in tow as my little sister comes in.

"That was weird." She says voicing my thoughts.

Only a year younger then me most people think she's older but I blame that on the makeup and the way she dresses.

Right now she's toned down, living out in the middle of nowhere you don't really have to worry about being seen.

Her hairs been bleached a lot and currently is platinum, getting close to white. She throws it up in a messy bun she won't take down for a day or two and is in pj's.

She's 5'1" only two inches shorter then me. We're really different people and butt heads a lot but family is family.

I have two sisters one two years older then me  and Zoe, both of them have the same dad who obviously isn't that great.

My dad is taking care of me and Zoe. He treats all of us like his own. My older sister Juno moved out with her boyfriend a while back, so it's just been the three of us.

"I know it weirds me out but I get it, he's sad I'm leaving him here with you." I say with a smile.

"Jerk." She says smiling back. "At least now I'll have all this extra space and the bathrooms all mine."

"Practically always was with all of your garbage spread around in it." I shoot back.

"Everything has its place." She says crossing her arms.

"Sure it does now get out I need to get some sleep for tomorrow."

"Night loser." She says heading out and shutting the door behind her.

I turn to Rosy who's curled up on the pillows. "You ready for this?" I ask.

She gets up and nuzzles her way under the blanket.

"I'll take that as a yes." I say shutting off the lights.

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