Chapter 8

I woke up to the sound of someone grunting. I jerked up remembering the events yesterday and Scarlet. I turned and I saw her struggling to get up.

"Scarlet! You shouldn't be moving!"

"I can barely sit up! You wrapped me so much, I can't even move!"

"That is good."

"You got any water?"

"Right! Here."

She drank the whole bottle down in one go. Then she looked at me.

"Food?"

"Yup." popping the 'p'

I passed her some of the snacks. And that is what we ate for breakfast; chips, cookies, apples, and water.

"Thanks."

"Fer what?"

"For protecting me, defending me, and standing up for me. I don't deserve it. Especially after screaming at you..."

"It's okay. That's what frien's is fer!"

"T-Thanks. Oh! I just remembered!"

"What?"

"I got you something!" I said while smiling like an idiot.

"Really? What fer?"

"It is a gift of apology and of thanks."

I reached into the bag and took out the hairbrush. I turned around and gave it to her. Her eyes lit up like fire. Her smile reached her eyes and squeaked like a high-pitched girl. She is anything but a normal one.

She grabbed the hairbrush and stared at it like she just won a million dollars.

"D-Do you like it?"

She looked at me and jumped off the bench and jumped around the park like a girl meeting her celebrity crush. A weird comparison I know. She jumped around as if she didn't just fight until she dropped unconsciousness just yesterday.

"I LOVE IT SO MUCH. OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!! GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW!!!"

I blushed. Of course, she meant like a friend. She wouldn't go for someone like me.

She walked up to me.

"Would you do the honors?"

"Uh...Sure"

She plopped down in front of me and reluctantly gave me the hairbrush.

And no exaggeration, it legit took 40 minutes to get all the knots out.

"There all done."

I gave her my phone to use the screen as the mirror.

Her hair was wavy and it reaches just below her shoulders. It was soft and healthy.

"T-Thank y-you soooo much."

She looked at me. Her face had tears streaming down her dirt filled face.

"Your welcome." I smiled at her.

I hugged her this time.

And this time she cried on my shoulder.

We stayed like that for a long time.

Any problems in this world we had were gone temporarily.

We reached the school gates and separated ways.

Again that day progressed the same.

After a long and quite boring day might I add, I met up with Scarlet again.

We walked down the sidewalk in comfortable silence.

"Scarlet?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I call you by a nickname like you call me Dilliy?"

"Sure. Like what?"

"Red. Maybe?"

"I like dat."

We talked about pointless things until we reached the concrete curb. We said our 'good-byes' departed our separate ways.

I reached my house and froze at the entrance of the house. I was about to open the door when it swung open. There stood father. Blocking the whole door frame.

He grabbed me by the collar and dragged me in the house.

He closed the door behind him and locked it. I started panicking. I know what will happen when he locks the door.

Mother came in the room holding a gag, rope, and some knives.

They gagged my mouth and tied my hands together above me with rope. They tied the other end on a ring hanging from the ceiling. I didn't struggle. I knew there was no use.

Mother and Father took turns beating me from belts to baseball bats. Just when I thought they had enough, mother took out the knives.

She cut me down from the ceiling. Father grabbed my left hand turned it over so the palm faced up. Mother stabbed the knife into my palm. Earning an ear-splitting scream from me. She giggled gleefully. If Smith was sick, then what are my parents?

"THAT IS WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT COMING HOME AT NIGHT!!! BITCH!!"

I was surprised they noticed. I know! They just missed their toy.

They left after that. They grabbed a dozen beers and went into the living room.

Tears were streaming down my face. With my right hand, I pulled out the knife which earned a scream once more. The whole floor was covered in blood. I heard a snap from outside. I turned the window just in time to catch a figure running away.

I crawled to my room and into my shower.

I filled the tub. I stripped and laid inside. The water soon turned red. After an hour of just sitting there, I finally got out and dried myself. I took out the first aid kit I bought and bandaged my hand securely. I pulled on a pair of boxers and collapsed on my bed.

That night, I slept like a log.