I Was Never Yours

Chapter 3

Callie P.O.V

I sit stunned for several minutes. I actually got away with that! The tears and apologies were all genuine but I'm still shook that there was no punishment at all, other than my Dad's. But if I've learnt anything it's that the majority of the time no one else follows through on my father's punishments. And since he's never home they don't usually mean much.

I get up and look at myself in the mirror, feeling very nervous at the prospect of starting school tomorrow.

I'm pretty, atleast I think I am, but the other girls will have makeup, stylish clothes, and maybe even have their hair done. I don't want to stand out, but I definitely want to look like a girl.
I need help.
I run out the door and down the hall to Auntie Nat's room, administering about 100 little knocks.

The door swings open to reveal Bruce in a towel, "what?" He says, and then quickly shifting, "oh Callie. Sorry, hi."

I can feel myself starting to blush. "Gross," I say motioning to his towelled figure, "I need my one and only Auntie please."

He puts a hand over his heart, "hey, that's rude, I'm not gross."

"Yes, this? This is gross." I state again pointing between him and the bed as I barge past and into the room.

"Callie she is in the shower, can you wait?" He says, clearly just as uncomfortable as me with the situation.

"Sure," I say plopping myself onto the sofa by Natasha's fire place. I fully realize I'm making things worse, I just can't help it.

"No, honey, not in here. Like, go eat something?" He says pleading.

I narrow my eyes at him, and growl in frustration, "fine!" I spit, dramatically pulling myself off the couch and stomping out the door. But just for good measure I turn around and point a finger in his chest, with my best impression of David Rose, "but this? This is disgusting."

He puts a hand over his face and sighs. "Okay, bye Callie." Shutting the door behind me.

I don't actually think they're gross, but the thought of them together I find embarrassing. However, there's no point in pretending it isn't happening either, so my childish side usually emerges.

I don't want to risk hearing anything so I rush away from the room aimlessly. About halfway down the hall I decide to take my Uncle's advice and head for the kitchen.

I open the fridge, still trying to force the image of Bruce in a towel out of my mind. Grab the cheddar and the mayonnaise, deciding on a grilled cheese sandwich.

I'm nearly done cooking when I hear soft footsteps behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see my Aunt, loosely towelling her short red hair. I flip my sandwich onto my plate and perch on the barstool at the counter top.

"So Callie, you wanted to see me?" Natasha asks, sitting next to me.

"Yeah, I want your help." I pause awkwardly, "tomorrow is my first day of school, like ever, and I want you to do my makeup."

"Oh!" She says, an obvious edge of surprise in her voice. "Okay, I can definitely help you with that."

"Really?" A wave of relief rushing over me.

"Yes, just be in my room by 7 tomorrow morning okay?" She grabs my shoulder encouragingly. "You're pretty nervous hey?"

"Not really?" I shrug and I'm met with raised eyebrows. "Okay, yes. I'm super nervous."

"You'll be alright. I mean, I never went to high school, but you're an awesome girl. You'll be fine!"

I shrug, biting into my sandwich. I don't know much about my Aunt's childhood, just that it was full of horrors not all that different from mine; yet, I'm glad for it. If she hadn't lived the life she did, she wouldn't be here, with me.

We make casual chitchat while I finish my dinner and then standing I tell her that I better get to bed.

"Okay sweetheart, I'll see you bright and early." She says, wrapping me in a hug.

"See you tomorrow," I reply. "And thank you." I add, pulling away from the hug.

Natasha smiles, and turns back to her room and I head back to mine. But when I reach it I pause, and back track to the door next to mine, my hand hovering above the doorknob, hesitant to turn it. After a moment, I breathe in sharply, before turning the handle.

"Dad?" But there is no answer. The room is dark. I sigh, he's out again, maybe working, most likely out with another woman.

I sigh, sitting on the bed in his dark room. It seems like the only way I can get his attention is when I've misbehaved. Luckily I have a good handful of doting uncles and a loving aunt or else I'd be lonely. I lay back on the bed and a wave of exhaustion hits me, and I decide to just close my eyes for a minute while I wait for my dad.
•
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A cold, creeping sensation washes over me. I open my eyes but all I see is blackness. I turn my head, desperate to find a light, and as I do so the soft clinking echoes through the cold dark room.
"Hello?" I whisper, my voice bouncing off the walls.
"Callie?" A deep voice replies, a chill goes down my spine, I feel a foreboding sense of dread in the pit of my stomach.
But curiosity over comes my fear, and I try to step forward, to find the owner of that ominous voice, but am halted abruptly, a sharp pain in my throat. I bring my hand up to it to discover a thick, heavy chain fastened around my neck.
This is all so familiar, I've been here before, I'm certain of it—a deeply suppressed memory from a past life.
"I knew you would find me." The voice says again, and now it seems to be coming from behind me.

I begin to turn, squinting, my eyes searching for something, anything to see in this darkness.

Suddenly there is a strong jerk on the chain around my neck, my balance compromised by my turning I am knocked backwards, landing heavily on my side! I find myself being dragged, faster and faster, the chain around my neck strangling me, I struggle for breath but there is no relief!

"No!" I gasp, kicking my legs.

"No!"
•
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I bolt upright, eyes popping open. This room is dark but I can see I'm in my dad's room, I must've fallen asleep and had a nightmare.

I hear hushed voices on the other side of the door and the knob starts to turn. I spring off his bed, and run to the wall. Hoist myself up with my hands and feet clinging to the wall like a spider. I ascend until I've reached the ceiling and crawl to the farthest corner of the room, making as much distance as possible between myself and the door.

The door opens to reveal the lit hallway and my Dad and a woman, kissing their way into the room. His arm reaching backwards, fumbling for the light switch. I have to get out of here before he finds it.

Spinning my head around I notice the window is slightly cracked and I make a break for it. Just as I'm pushing the window open and pulling myself through, the lights switch on and the woman shrieks.

"Shit!" I whisper, pulling myself up the outer wall and out of site before my Dad can turn around.

"What?" I hear him say.

"I-I thought I saw something crawling out the window." She laughs, her voice shaking.

"Oh, that's just the cat." He lies.

"That's a fucking huge, and fast, cat!" She says, I can't help but smile.

"Yeah, those cats... real speedy." He sighs, clearly irritated. "Come on." I hear the bed shift, that's my cue to get out of here.

I race across the few feet to my own room and heave myself through the open window. Dive into bed, stifling my laughter. The terrifying dream now just a vague memory. I curl under my duvet and fall asleep.