Chapter Twenty-Nine

Damien

Like a ninja hiding from the prying eyes of people, I crouched low with my back pressed flat against the fireplace.

The only sound was my quick and shallow breathing. The darkness made me seem even smaller. My hands were clasped tightly around my knees. This reminded me of when I was a boy and would be sent to the naughty corner for eating too much cake or ice cream.

The fireplace was large and slightly weathered on the raised wooden patio of the adjacent building that was part of the main house. Out of desperation, I had to make do with what I had.

The patio had doors leading into the house, and it also seemed like the last place my mom would look for me, especially so early in the morning.

The outdoor clock mounted on the wall ticked loudly, it was six thirty am.

The dreaded rejection ceremony was supposed to start at 7: 30. I glanced at the outdoor bar to my right, noting the glasses and the jug of mojito mix. It was where my bastard stepfather, Clinton, spent most of h