Adriana
I wake slowly for once, not having been yelled at to get out of bed. My TV is still on from where I fell asleep watching it last night, but other than that, everything is quiet. No screaming devil child. No hungover mayor. Not that I'm complaining.
I turn onto my side, staring at my wardrobe. Exams today. Can't be late.
Can't be bothered.
Reluctantly going over to the door, I glance out into the hallway. Emily's door is open a crack; she's probably downstairs with Diana. I'm guessing Edmund is still asleep as his and Diana's door is closed. He won't be waking anytime soon.
Deciding that it's safe to shower without waking anyone, I tiptoe cautiously over to the bathroom to the left of Emily's bedroom, stepping over a couple of scattered ornaments on the way. Presumably, Edmund knocked them off last night trying to get around. I'll pick them up afterwards.
Finally in the bathroom, I take a second to check the blue-black swell on my cheek. I'm gonna need that makeup.
Stepping out of yesterday's clothes, I turn on the shower and let the warm water instantly soothe the tense muscles of my back. Immediately, I feel more relaxed and comfortable, my shoulders drooping as my eyes close. For the first time in a couple of days, stressful thoughts aren't running rampant, my mind in a blissful quiet.
After my shower, I am faced with the dilemma of what to wear. My wardrobe is filled to the brim with colourful, fashionable and expensive clothing, so I spend roughly ten minutes staring intently at the array before settling for my usual jeans, black t-shirt and black Dr Martens, pulling out my black leather jacket for later. Often, I do tell myself that I should dress more colourfully, however I never actually do. I always dress how I feel. And I almost always wear black. It's an incredibly relatable colour.
Eventually, I get round to drying my hair, letting it fall naturally in it's thick brown waves. I've always preferred my hair's natural look; I rarely straighten it. To be honest, I don't normally style it either, letting it hang loose instead.
My stomach growls, the sound resembling a whale, informing me that now would be a good time to eat something. Intently, I listen for for any indication that other people are up, yet I don't hear any. By now Emily should be screeching at Diana, saying she doesn't want to go to school because 'its stupid'. I have to say though, that is the one thing I agree with her on. She only started last month, and from what I hear, she'll end up being the rebel. If only I could be a little more confident like I know she'll end up being. I'll be needing that makeup from Diana soon, but I know if I go into their room and wake Edmund there will be war.
Sighing, I start heading down for breakfast. I should probably find the jelly beans for Emily as I know she won't let it go. She never does. She can have them on the way to school to shut her up.
When I get downstairs, I still don't hear or see anyone else. Maybe they were all asleep still after all. At least I get my breakfast in peace.
Maybe I'll have jelly beans for breakfast too.
That is exactly what I do. I was particularly chuffed with not being caught, however the lack of a screaming child and it's obnoxious parents is starting to baffle me. Looking at my watch, I realise I'm probably going to end up driving Emily to school on my way to college for Edmund, but it doesn't even sound like she's awake.
Heading back upstairs, I walk towards her room, picking up the ornaments from before and placing them on the nearest shelf. There's even a book about a foot away from the bookcase on the left wall. Edmund must've been really drunk this time.
Gently pulling open the white door, I step inside, my foot falling on one of Emily's toys and causing me to clumsily topple backwards with a crash. My head bounces painfully on the floor. If she wasn't awake before, she definitely will be now.
Gathering the remains of my dignity, I push myself up. A gentle pair of hands assists me, startling me until I realise that I had woken Diana. The look on her face is one of shock, but she's not looking at me anymore.
Turning slowly, I take in the view in front of me. The bedsheets are scattered to the left, draped haphazardly over the small corner desk and chair, which were both skewed. Stuffed animals lay half way across the room, ornaments and cracked picture frames dotted about the cream carpet. A crinkled, greyish rag lies in front of me, and upon closer inspection I realise that it reeks of chemicals.
Stepping further into the room, Diana gasps, and I feel my stomach curl in on itself. The bed is empty. I look at the rag in my hand, holding it out to Diana. "It stinks of chemicals."
She took it gingerly, her eyes beginning to dampen as she trembles violently. "My baby..."
"Diana? What is this?"
Upon hearing the raspy voice, we both turn towards the door. Leaning on the pink wall with a confused expression, a still slightly drunken Edmund glances around, swaying slightly as he tries to comprehend his surroundings.
"Edmund..." She can't even get the words out. Sobbing loudly, she runs towards him, burying her head in his shoulder. Taking pity on the woman, I decide to speak up, but can't meet his eyes.
"Emily's gone."
I lift my face and watch as he surveys the room quickly for the last time before meeting my gaze with a murderous glare. His arm leaves his wife's shoulder, and he pushes off the wall, stalking towards me as if I'm his prey. I back up, only to be trapped by Emily's wardrobe. He keeps coming, getting so close I can smell his slightly alcoholic morning breath. He puts his hand on the wardrobe, trapping me in. "You did this, you little bitch," he growled, taking a fist-full of my hair and seizing my head back, making me whimper. "Where is she." It wasn't a question. He really is blaming me for this.
"I d-don't know."
"LIAR!" He slams my head back, causing a throbbing sensation to shoot down my neck. White specs cloud my vision for a second, before disappearing. I am then presented with a livid man, his sobbing wife cowering in the corner. Before I even have a chance to comprehend what's happening, Edmund yanks my hair roughly, dragging me out of the room. He pulls me through the hallway, his nails digging into my scalp, causing the burning sensation from the strain on my hair to intensify. Reaching the stairs, he takes them two steps at a time. I stagger and trip, giving him an opportunity to snap his arm upwards. I didn't even realise we had reached the bottom until I fall in front of Edmund. He grabs my arm and drags me to the front door, digging his fingers into my skin in a bruising grip. Once it's open, he shoves me through the door, onto the ground. My face scrapes on the rough surface, and I hear a bloodcurdling crack which I can only assume resulted in the pain radiating from my nose. As I take a ragged breath, Edmund kneels down next to me, his mouth next to my ear. "I warned you. Now get off my property."
The last thing I heard was the slam of a door.
*****
Groggily, I wipe my eyes, sitting up. I somehow ended up being in a not very comfortable bed. My back protests every movement as if I had just slept on a rock.
Everything aches. My scalp tingles, and my nose feels like it might drop off. My cheek is a little more swollen, and there are scrapes and long cuts all up my arms and legs, accompanied by the occasional bruise. I glance at the finger marks on my upper arm and almost immediately remember what happened. Edmund literally threw me out.
Upon remembering this, it suddenly dawns on me. I am wearing a cream night dress.
My heart thrums in my throat and my stomach churns unpleasantly. I don't even know where I am.
I start to shift on the bed, attempting to get off with little luck since I am stiff all over. Taking a look around, I realise that the room is pretty small and bare, save for a small bedside table and a set of drawers. This must be a guest room.
My clothes from before are folded neatly on top of the drawers, my boots laying on the grey carpet below. My phone, previously in my jeans pocket, is now on the bedside table, sporting a huge spiralling crack straight down the middle. Picking it up, I notice that it has been charged while I have been here, which would be a while since it's now about 7:30 PM. I also realise that not one person from college has texted or called. Glad to know I'm missed.
Next to where my phone was, there is a glass of water with a slip of paper underneath. Taking the water, I down the whole thing, trying to rid the horrible sandpaper feel of my throat. Then, I pick up the paper. It reads:
"Ria,
Won't be back till 9. Soup by the microwave. Muffin in fridge. Will bring painkillers.
Becca."
Thank God.
Becca is one of my neighbors. She is 16, a couple of years younger than me, and in her last year of highschool. She or her older brother must have spotted me in my predicament before they left this morning.
Slowly, I attempt to get over to the door and can almost hear my body protesting. Upon opening the door, I thank my lucky stars that the guest room is on the first floor. I make my way to the kitchen with baby steps, remembering the way from when I used to come here when we were all younger. It was never a particularly large kitchen, but I find it quite cozy and everything has it's place. There is a row of cupboards underneath the countertop that goes from the top left corner, following the wall to the middle of the right wall just before the fridge. The microwave sits in the top left next to where the oven sits between two cupboards. I see the can of soup and a bowl, but my appetite is unusually vacant, probably due to the constant ache.
I decide to refill my glass of water and eat the muffin. Becca bakes exceptionally with her mum, and if anything will bring back my appetite, it will be that muffin. I take it along with the water to the living room, finding the remote and turning on the TV in the left corner. The couch is much comfier than the bed I was previously on. The ache easing, I begin to doze off, the whole time picturing exactly what I will do to Emily's captors when I get my hands on them. I sleep more peacefully than I have in a while, welcoming the many dreams of that day.