Chapter 4 Home Is Where The Pervert Is

ELLA

“You freak!”

Those were the first words I heard from my mother after she’d hit me with the beer bottle.

A sharp pain radiated from my forehead, and I could feel the warmth of blood trickling down my face.

Great. Just fucking great.

"How do you feel now that you’ve gone and caused trouble again?” She was speaking again. “How do you feel knowing I can’t get any respect in this new town?” She finished and spat on my face.

I flinched.

“Mom! What are you talking about, I didn't even do—”

“Will you just shut up! We haven’t even been here for a week and you’re already bringing disgrace to our name! You know this is a small town and news spreads easily yet you and your friends connived to beat up Mr Sanders.”

Mr Sanders. Jack’s friend. The man that’d grabbed my ass and almost molested me today.

My jaw nearly fell off its hinges.

What sort of incredulous lie did that old twat tell them?

My cheeks burned in anger, and I grit my jaw. Aside from the ringing pain in my head, I felt my chest twisting in agony.

This was too much. Just too much.

“Mom, I swear that was not the way it happened. Mr Sanders was the one who—”

“Liar!” she screamed, hurling something else at me—I couldn't see what it was, but I was swift enough to dodge it.

“Easy, Marilyn. Throwing things won't stop anything.” Jack said, resting his hand on my mother’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t shout at Ella that way. Give her some space.”

My jaw dropped even further.

If this wasn’t the joke of the hour.

As if his faux words weren’t enough he came downstairs to where I stood, and reached over to touch me.

I wanted to flinch. I wanted to yell at him not to place his filthy hands on me. I wanted to even spit on him.

But I knew if I did that mother would get more angry, and call me a brat for disrespecting her husband.

So I remained as Jack lazily threw his hand around my shoulder and asked in a tone that made my skin crawl. “Do you need any help sweetie?"

My eyes narrowed and I glared at him.

I was familiar with his game. He enjoyed playing the redeemer, stepping in to offer assistance and ‘kindness’ to me, just so mother would like me less and love him more.

It was all part of his twisted plan to push and make me dependent on his so-called kindness.

I said nothing, biting back the retort that was on the tip of my tongue.

Instead, I turned away and out of his embrace.

“Goodnight.” I said and headed to my bedroom.

I heard my mother mutter some curses before walking away but I didn’t let it bother me.

I just wanted to be alone, get cleaned up and maybe catch up on the sleep they made me miss yesterday.

In the bathroom, I shut the door behind me and locked it.

For a moment, I leaned against the door, closing my eyes briefly before letting out a sigh and walking to the faucet.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

The cut on my forehead was deep, and blood was still seeping from it.

I grabbed a washcloth, dampening it with cold water, and pressed it against the wound.

It hurt so badly, and I hissed in pain.

When I finished washing away the blood, I figured I needed to shower as well. So, I pulled off my jeans and threw my hair into a messy bun before I stood under the showerhead.

Turning on the faucet, I let the warm water pour over me, washing away the grime and remnants of the day.

The bruises on my forehead protested with stings against the pressure of the hot water, but I tried to ignore the pain and instead I began to think about how hideous I’d look tomorrow at school with a bruised forehead.

‘Don’t worry about it, Ella. I don't think anyone would notice.’

If Ava was right in front of me, I would have given her a side-stare.

‘The hell? They will notice. And I already have enough attention as it is. I don't want more.’

‘It’ll heal in a matter of days. Try to take your head off it.’

‘Well, the damage would have already been done by then. Worse still, when it heals it might leave behind a nasty scar. And—’

I trailed off when I overheard a creak from the stairs and I stilled, snapping out of my thoughts.

My brows furrowing, I turned off the shower and strained my ears to listen. And that’s when I heard it again.

Someone’s footsteps. It became heavier as they moved closer.

Quickly wrapping myself in a towel with trembling fingers, I checked if the bathroom door was tightly locked.

It was.

Thank goodness. I thought to myself but my worries were far from over.

Suddenly my room door paused open and the footsteps came to a pause.

“Ellaaaaa…?” Jack called out with a drawl.

A moment passed and the footsteps resumed, advancing towards the bathroom door. I felt my pulse quicken and my legs start to quiver.

“I know… you are here…Ella.” The shadow outside the door paused and my breath caught in my throat. ““Open the… the… door.” he said, his words slurred.

I clamped my hands over my mouth steadying my breathing.

“Open the door!” He banged the door with a force that sent cold shivers down my spine and my eyes shot open. “I said, open the fucking door right now, Ella!”