"Get up."
"..."
"I won't tell you again. Out of bed, or I'm pulling you out."
The cold man's voice was stern. No emotion in his deadpan eyes as he looked down at Irina. He glanced at his watch momentarily before looking back to her.
"Motherfu- let go of me!!" Irina yelled as she was suddenly yanked from her bed - by her hair. "You're hurting me! Stop!"
Withou a word, he released her, causing her to crumple to the floor, curled up and clutching her head, cursing.
"Get dressed, you're going to school today", he said matter-of-factly as he walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
'Fuck you, David, you Prick.'
Her thoughts yelled those words as loud as they could as she flipped the shut door off, her eyes watery and glistening from the pain.
"Are you standing outside the door, David?"
"What do you think?"
"I think you're a piece of shit who should rot in hell," she murmured as she stood and glanced about her room.
"What was that, you ungrateful little bitch?"
"Nothing, I'm just looking for my panties."
"Uh huh."
"But I'm not going to school, David. Not today, at least."
"What did you just say?" The clear sound of David shifting his position could be made when he spoke.
"I said I'm not going-"
Irina's door suddenly flew open, slamming against the wall. David quickly stormed up to Irina and grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking it back so that she looked up at him. Though he appeared calm, his eyes burned with anger and malice.
"Listen here, bitch, I don't give a rat's ass what happens to you when you're not here. But as long as you live here, under MY roof, you WILL do EXACTLY as you are told. You will not jeopardize my income just because you don't want to see some little boy who 'broke your heart' or whatever! Do I make myself clear?"
David's face was only an inch from hers, his hot breath tickled her cheeks, but the feeling was eroded by his breath, which smelled of onions as it drifted up her nostrils. His face had gone red from his barely contained anger.
"You're hurting me..." she whimpered, her eyes shut tight as tears slid under her lashes while she struggled to stand in the awkward position she had been forced into.
Once again, without a word he released her, making her tumble back onto her back and collapse.
"Breakfast is on the table."
He left without another word.
For a bit Irina just lay there, staring into space, her eyes devoid of life. 'Why can't I just end it all now?'
Twenty minutes later, Irina came walking down the stares, wearing black form-fitting jeans, a baggy hood over her body with the hood pulled up over her head. In her right hand was her backpack, and in her left was her cellphone. She tossed the backpack onto the sofa as she made her way into the kitchen, where four others were seated and eating.
"You're late, that means you get to eat what's left", one of the boys said gloatingly. Irina didn't respond, she just took her place and waited for her food. A few moments later, a bowl of oatmeal was placed before her. She stared at it, frowning.
"Eat, then leave. If you're late to school or I find out you skipped, you know what'll happen", David said walking off into another part of the house, leaving the five teens alone.
"I'm going to murder him one day", Ezekiah murmured, gripping his fork so tight that his fingers began to turn white. He was a year younger than Irina. He was thin, as though he hadn't had a decent meal in a very long time. His dirty blonde hair fell to his shoulders while his hazel eyes burned with fury. He wasn't a tall boy, which made him an easy target for bullying, especially from bully's like Zero.
"Oh please! You can't even kill a fly. How will you kill David? Think before speaking shit stain", the portly boy named Zero said. Zero looked at Irina and lucked his lips, like a predator ready to strike at its prey.
"Had another nightmare last night? Y'know, I could... Uh... HELP you, if you know what I mean... hehehe..."
Irina didn't respond as she took a few bites of the oatmeal before abruptly standing and slamming her spoon on the table, startling the others.
"I'm leaving," she said, turning and walking to the front room.
Ellesin watched her from the corner of her eyes. Her short brown hair falling around her face, hiding it fron view. Her bangs hid most of her glasses, only the lower half was visible, if only partially.
She silently waved to the girl walking away, knowing full well that she wouldn't be seen.
"Irina's right, we should get going too."
A slender boy stood up, pushing his chair back in the process. He also wore glasses, but those were slightly tinted.
"Who voted you leader, Eris?" Zero scoffed as he followed suit, his belly slightly jiggling as he moved.
"I've told you, it's pronounced Erith!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Same shit."
____________________
Irina walked silently, looking down at the concrete ahead of her. Her hands where tucked inside her hoody pocket, one gripping her phone while the other was balled into a fist to combat the cold air. A thin cable ran from her hood to the pocket. This was her earphones. They were a bright pink wire that split and let to each ear. They had been a gift from her sister a while back. Then, they had been a constant source of comfort and thoughtfulness. Now, it was a daily reminder of what was taken from her.
The music was blaring as she begrudgingly trudged along, ignoring the people who would stare at her and talk. Some would even point, then cover their mouths to say something, as if that action could somehow hide what they were saying to one another.
'I wish I was the one who died, too', she thought, her shoulders drooping a bit more. No matter what she did, how many pills she popped, no matter how blackout drunk she got, no matter how many drugs she tried, she could vividly recall the accident. The same accident that stole her sister, her brother, her mother and father. The same accident that took her friends away. The same accident that made her friends family's look st her in disgust and hatred. 'I know!!! I know, I know, I know!'
"Fuck this shitty day."