Page 64 of Thunder

Sammie mumbles and I look down at the sweet nearly two-year-old who holds his arms up for me and murmurs, “Mom-mom,” and I quickly bend down and pick him up before taking him inside.

“I’ve got you, baby,” I whisper as I shut the door and lock it. My sweetheart lays his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes as if he feels safe with me when all he does with my sister is cry and I try to take deep breaths to control my anger.

Rachel shouldn’t be a mama.

I gasp as my chest tightens and I blink, then blink again, but my tears fall seeing I’m still stuck in the slot. I smack the door several times, the panic that I can’t breathe now taking hold because I know sleep won’t stay any longer.

I’m sweaty, breathless, and I can feel the dead body next to me making me shiver.

“H-help,” I croak and bang on the door, but no one answers back, and I sob my heart out and cry, “Bradley…”

I never thought I would fall in love, that I would want to leave everything I’ve worked so hard for, but Bradley, he wormed his way into my heart, and now, we’ll never get to be that family with Sammie that I always wanted...

Rachel gets her wish.

“I hope you suffer a cold, suffocating death,” Rachel sneers before spitting in my face, and I choke on a sob before I cry out when her hand connects with my cheek and I fall onto the floor, my homecoming dress ripping with the movement.

It’s the first dress Mama had bought me and as I opened my door, Rachel took a look at it and got mad.

She tore the straps before attacking me, and not once did Mama or Dad come and see what the commotion was about and even now, they are nowhere to be seen.

“Enjoy homecoming, little sister,” she spits, her eyes full of jealousy and rage, and she turns around and walks back into her room, and my tears fall.

What did I ever do to deserve this?

My breathing is labored as the memory hits me right in the chest, and I squeeze my eyes tight at the dizziness taking hold along with the need to vomit.

“You never even gave me a chance to explain!” Kavan snaps as he corners me against the door and I look away from him.

Two weeks, that is all I have left to live at home before I move into a dorm. Two weeks, before I can finally cut ties with my family who have all told me to be happy for my sister, not one seeing the hurt she’s caused by wanting something that never should had been hers.

“Sapphire, please let me explain,” Kavan pleads, trying to soften his tone, and I look his way. His eyes soften, but they soon widen when I bring my knee up and shove it hard between his legs. He grunts as he stumbles back, then falls to his knees as he cups between his legs.

I sneer, “There is nothing to explain, you screwed my sister behind my back after taking my virginity. Then you continued to screw her and me and knocked her up, so stay the hell away from me!”

“Kavan, baby?” I hear my sister, and I curl my lip before I open the front door and run out towards my car that I know I’ll probably sleep in again tonight.

Anything is better than under the same roof as my sister who hurt me in ways no sister should. Not to mention, a family who stood by her and watched me fall apart without remorse while welcoming Kavan into the family.

“Please,” I croak, “an-anyone, p-p-please…” I turn my head without meaning to, and I just make out the dead person, and I wallow, “Bradley!”

“Treasure, I love you, so fucking much, and I want forever with you…”

“Scottie!” I hear shouting, and I tremble, recognizing the voice.

Shadow…

“Treasure?!” Bradley shouts and hope builds.

“Bradley,” I breathe, but it comes out hoarse just as a door bangs open and hope builds.

“Fuck, where is she?!” I hear Bradley roar, and I rasp, “Bradley…” Before trying to bang on the door again.

“Did you hear that?” I hear someone say.

“Hear what?!” Shadow demands, and I bang on the door again and croak, “Bradley,” as black dots dance between my eyes and I hear, “Fuck, he put her in a body storage rack!” just as the lock on the door unlatches and the door is flung open, light spilling in and I inhale deep breaths as my tears fall.

He found me.