Please, Not Again

Chapter One: Please, Not Again

Lyla

“Lyla!”

His voice boomed through the thin walls.

I closed my eyes and curled tighter on the cold floor. My arms wrapped around my knees. The rain hit the roof in slow, heavy drops. Drip. Drip. Drip.

“Lyla, I said get out here! Now!”

I stayed still. Maybe if I waited… maybe he’d fall asleep.

“Don’t make me come in there, girl!”

My heart started racing. I stood up slowly and opened the door just enough to peek out.

There he was — Ron.

Half-drunk. Shirtless. Beer in hand.

“You think you’re better than me now?” he slurred.

I shook my head.

“Then answer me when I speak!”

“I—I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He sat up straighter on the couch and squinted at me. “Come here.”

I didn’t move.

He slammed the beer bottle on the table. “I said, come here!”

I forced myself to take a step forward. Then another. My palms were sweaty. My throat was tight.

His eyes dropped to my chest.

“You’re starting to look just like your mom.”

My stomach turned.

“Don’t say that,” I muttered.

He stood and moved closer. “Why? She was a beauty.”

“I said stop.”

“You walk around this house like you don’t know what you’re doing,” he said, voice darker now. “You tease me.”

“No, I don’t!” My voice cracked. “I just want to be left alone!”

“You owe me,” he snapped. “You think I don’t see how ungrateful you are? After I took care of you?”

“You didn’t take care of me. You drank. You stared. You made me wish I didn’t exist.”

He reached for me.

I backed up. “Don’t touch me.”

He grabbed my wrist hard. “You don’t talk back to me—”

BANG!

The front door flew open.

We both turned, stunned.

A man stood there in the rain. Dressed in black. Soaked. Silent.

He stepped inside, not saying a word. His eyes — gold. Bright, piercing, not human.

He held out a black envelope.

“Take it,” he said.

I stared at it. My name was written in gold ink.

I reached out and grabbed it.

The man turned and walked back into the storm.

“Who the hell was that?” Ron shouted.

I didn’t answer.

My hands trembled as I tore the envelope open.

My eyes scanned the page.

To Lyla Stone,

You have been accepted into Hawthorn Academy.

A full scholarship has been granted in your late mother’s name.

A car will arrive at midnight.

Be ready.

I read it again.

Then again.

My lips parted. “They knew my mom…”

Ron yanked the paper from my hands. “What is this crap?”

I snatched it back. “It’s my way out.”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“Yes, I am.”

“You think I’ll let you leave me? After everything I’ve done?”

“You’ve done nothing but break me.”

I ran. Straight to my room. Pulled my old bag from under the bed. I stuffed everything I owned into it — a few clothes, my toothbrush, my notebook. And Mom’s necklace. The only thing I had left of her.

“Lyla!” he shouted again.

I zipped the bag fast. My hands were shaking.

But I was done.

I wasn’t staying another night.

⸻

Midnight

The car was waiting.

Black. Clean. No license plate.

The windows were so dark I couldn’t see who was inside.

I walked to it, drenched in rain, barefoot.

I didn’t look back.

Not once.

The back door opened.

I slid in.

A soft voice spoke. “Welcome, Lyla.”

The door closed.

The car pulled away.

And for the first time in years…

I breathed.