“I can make you enjoy what I do to you, sissy.” He licks my ear, and a rush of bile rises. I swallow hard to keep it down.
“I’m sorry Donnie. I know you can. Please, I meant nothing by what I said, I swear to you.”
My lower lip is trembling, and my body is quaking inside. He releases me, and I trip, landing on my knees. The force of the jolt makes my back hurt even worse. My wounds from Friday night are burning. I had almost forgotten about them.
Donnie holds my hair, forcing me to look at him as he snarls at me. “You make me fucking crazy. If you didn’t have school, well, you know full well what would be happening.” He yanks my head back and spits in my face. “Go put some makeup on your ugly face and cover that damn scar and bruise. I don’t want questions circulating about you getting abused. Because you aren’t. You're just an ungrateful brat who needs to learn her place.”
“Yes, Donnie,” I agree only to make him happy and run into the bathroom. I shower and put makeup on. If Donnie is still up, I’ll have to get his permission to leave. He loves to make me beg to go to school or anywhere else that’s not within the confines of this house.
When I get downstairs, Donnie is standing at the bottom of the stairs. I stop and move toward the right side of the wall. I don’t want to accidentally hit him or rub up against him when I pass. He gazes at me, giving me a once over. I feel disgusting as he inspects me from head to toe. He adjusts his crotch, and I want to throw up.
“Yeah, that’s better. Get out of here.” He dismisses me with a wave of his hand. I rush to get out of this house. The hate I feel for them boils over, but as I shut the front door, I see Drew. Everything just melts away when I get into his truck.
It smells of Old Spice and his favorite cinnamon drink.
“Hey, Short Stack.” His smile warms me. He’s the only light I have in my life on a constant basis, and I get ten minutes and twenty-seven seconds with him. I plan to make the most of it this morning.
“Hey, Drew. Thanks for taking me to school.”
* * *
I forgotto tell Drew that I was getting out at noon today. Since I don’t ride the bus, I decide to walk to my house. I’ll be able to gather my things and pick up the films for my birthday movie night in two days. To say I’m excited is an understatement.
Me:Heading home.
Before I can hit the send button a car rolls beside me, and I hear the window going down. Great, another moment for someone to make fun of me.
“Yo, skank.” I turn to see my best friend idling beside me in his old clunker. He graduated high school a year early, so I’m left alone with these hellions all by myself.
“What’s up, Knave?”
“Get your ass in here. I’ll take you home. I was going to pick up Imogene, but she’s riding the bus home.”
I smile. “Thanks. Keeps me from having to walk to my house.”
“Yeah, you better pay up.
I laugh as he peels out of the parking lot. “Maddie, I have to ask …”
“No. Don’t ask. You know it’s me. You know why. Leave it at that. I’m going to be at Drew’s house this week since my father and brother are out of town. I want to think about how amazing it’s going to be not having to live here.”
Josh Knavelton, my one and only friend, is the only one who knows my secret. I’ve put a lot of pressure and stress on him by keeping him in the loop. But he was there for me when my life changed, and he’s here for me now.
“You know I don’t care that you’re The Mad Hatter. I just wonder when it’s going to stop.”
I pull out my red book and look at him as he pulls into my driveway. “As soon as the last person on this list is marked off.”
He sighs and looks at the list. “You’ve only got seven more names.”
“Yup. And once it’s done, it’s done. I won’t ever have to feel helpless again. Nor will I ever have to wait for the system to get justice for me. I'm taking care of it myself.”
Knave doesn’t say another word as he gets out of the car and walks me to the front door. “How are you going to continue doing this while under the same roof as Drew?”
He knows I’ve had a crush on Drew since I was a young kid. I blush, thinking about him catching me killing. “I don’t know if I’ll kill anyone this week. But we shall see.”
That’s the thing about Knave, he takes it in stride. He knows my plan. Let’s hope he doesn’t spill the beans before I’m done. He helps me pack a week's worth of clothing and makeup for my stay.
“You have to tell me all the details when this week is over. Don’t forget to give Drew my number. He may need it.” He kisses my cheek as he leaves the house.
