He Comes at Night

Burn

Just as fast as the week had came, it went. Leaving Nina with a feeling of regret after she had told Trish she would not be attending her bonfire. It was the beginning of football season and the weather was starting to turn into cool crisp nights as the breeze carried the fragrance of freshly burned wood. 

She remembered all the nights she had spent in her backyard, gazing out into the forest behind her home as the smell filled her nose. The memories were somber as they were filled with isolation. 

Trish was right, this year was supposed to be different. 

And so with that thought in her mind, she pushed herself into her fathers office with the hope that he would allow her this free pass tonight. 

"There's no way in hell," Gavin spit, looking away from her as he continued to focus on his never ending work. Stacks of papers and a variety of drawings sat on the modern desk before him as he stressed to create blueprints for some project downtown.

Nina huffed, frustrated that he was treating her like a child, "Dad please, Dr. Larson told us that this new mixture of medication should help and it has! I haven't had an episode in a week."

Gavin stopped his work, settling is large hands on the glass table as he rose from his chair, startling Nina slightly, "You weren't supposed to be having them at all Nina. Whatever you did last Friday was clearly a trigger and until we know for sure what those are, I can't risk you going out there and being alone if it happens again. You're not going anywhere this weekend or the next until I can monitor the patterns. End of discussion."

She hated when he did this. Acted as if he was a medical professional qualified enough to make any decisions regarding her health. Yes he was her father, but he couldn't hold her hostage forever, she needed to live her life after 2 years of it was stolen from her.

She just wanted him to understand.

Before she could use a more gentle tactic, Abbey walked into the study, wiping her fingers with a rag as she prepared dinner just as she always did, "Everything okay?"

"Everything's great," Nina added sarcastically, "We can make this into a family fight, why not get Ben in here too," she hated nothing more than when Abbey tried to involve herself in her and her fathers disagreements, she had no business inserting herself into something that didn't concern her, "Are you here to tell me I'm a prisoner in my own house too?"

Abbey's mouth fell slightly as she looked between the pair, her brows furrowed in a convincing state of confusion, as if she had no idea what Nina was referring to. But she was sure she knew everything and would agree in anything her father had to say.

Something her mother would never do without the knowing the facts. 

"First of all, It's my house," Gavin stabbed his finger into his chest and began to raise his voice, "Secondly, I don't like your attitude right now young lady."

Nina put her hands up and chuckled, amazed at his one sided view, "I'm sorry, am I not allowed to have an opinion on my confinement? Oh, I forgot, it's not my house. Clearly I don't have any say in what happens in this shit hole, because if I did, Betty Crocker over here wouldn't be interrupting every single conversation that she's not involved in."

She admitted, after the words fell from her mouth, they were a bit harsh. The energy in the room shifted and she could sense Abbey fall into a quiet shell. For a second, she wanted to let out a breathless apology but her anger towards her father and his overbearing nature wouldn't allow her to.

"Hey!" He barked, putting a firm finger at her, "You better watch what you say before I throw you out of this shit hole. Get your ungrateful ass upstairs, I don't want to see you from the rest of the night."