"October Renee Johnson, you get your ass down here-NOW!"

The yelling coming from downstairs only meant one thing-my father was home. He used to be my dad, in every sense of the word-but that all changed when my mother died. Now I know you are sitting there saying, 'That makes no sense. You can't be a father and not be a dad…they're the same thing.' Well, they aren't. There is a big difference. In one day he went from someone I could go to-someone I could trust, to the man who got my mother pregnant. He now saw me as a reminder of my mother and blamed me for her death. He didn't even come see me while I was in the hospital after the accident. As soon as I was released I became a human punching bag. I guess today wasn't going to be any different.

I walked down the stairs and I could already smell the stench of alcohol radiating from him. Perfect, he was drunk. It's always worse when he's drunk. Before I could even say anything I was being thrown onto the stairs.

"Where's my dinner? I thought I told you to have my dinner ready by 6:00"

"But daddy, it's only 5:15" I said as I stood up.

The only sound that was heard in the house was a sickening smack as he backhanded me sending me back to floor.

"NEVER back talk me again, EVER." He sneered as he kicked me in the ribs. "Now get up, fix my dinner, and then you're going to your new job" he continued. When I didn't get up he grabbed my arm and forced me up.

"What job?" SMACK. I really need to learn when to shut up.

"I got you a job so you can start pulling your weight around here. Especially since I got laid off today" Oh…so THAT is why he's extra angry tonight.

"But daddy, I'm meeting with Brynna's to record my demo" And I was immediately sent back to the stairs. Tonight's beating is going to leave a mark.

"What have I told you about that? You belong to me. I will not have you make a fool out of yourself because you THINK you have talent. You are useless as anything but something to look at. Besides, who would want their kids looking up to a murderer" he smirked. He gave me one last kick to the ribs for good measure. Yep, it's definitely going to leave a mark.
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I knew as soon as I saw the address what this new job was and I did NOT want to have any part in it. I also know that my father's friend owns the place, so he would know if I didn't go. I stepped out of my dad's car and when I walked through the door I was immediately met with the sight of half-naked women swinging around on poles. Any hope I had of my father ever becoming my dad again was gone. No dad would get their daughter a job as a stripper.

I began to feel sick to my stomach as my father's friend spotted me and started walking in my direction.

"Your costume is in the back. Go get changed and be ready to go onstage in 30 minutes. I'm only going to have you do one tonight since you're new." Barry said.

30 minutes? You have got to be kidding me. I just nodded my head in fear of being hit again and slowly walked backstage. I looked at the outfit in front of me and felt the bile rising up in my throat. My cell phone began to vibrate and I looked down to see my best friend's face looking up at me.

"Hello?" I whispered

"Where are you? I thought we were recording your demo tonight." Brynna said.

"Listen, I don't have time to explain. I just need you to come pick me up at 134 Ave A, preferably quickly. They're expecting me to go onstage in 30 minutes and I have to be gone before then."

"Why are you at the strip club?"

"I promise I'll explain everything, just please come get me."

"I'm already on my way Tober"

"Thanks B"

I knew that waiting outside on the corner beside a strip club in the shady part of town was not the best idea, but I couldn't risk staying inside. When Brynna finally pulled up, I looked at my watch to see that I had 10 minutes before they expected me onstage-meaning probably 5 before Barry realized I was gone.

"Explain. Now."

"B, drive…then I'll explain. And by drive, I mean drive FAST." I had to come up with how to tell my best friend that I was being used as my father's punching bag.
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"Tober, why didn't you tell me that he was doing that to you? I could have gotten you out sooner." Brynna said as we dug into the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream from her freezer.

"B, you couldn't have. He won't let me leave. I've tried to numerous times but it only made the beatings worse so I stopped trying."

"I don't understand why your father blames you for your mom's death, though. It was a car accident."

"I was driving, B"

"That makes no difference, and you know it. The drunk driver still would have hit you if your mom was driving. It is NOT your fault."

I just sat there and stared. I started to feel the familiar prickling sensation in my eyes and Brynna wrapped her arms around me. That's when I noticed the pain in my ribs. Brynna lifted up my shirt to reveal several bruises on my stomach and sides.

"You aren't going back there, October. I won't allow it. He can't keep you from leaving; you're 19 years old for crying out loud."

"It will only get worse if I don't go back. It's already going to be bad because I didn't strip tonight."

"Well, stay here tonight and we'll finish up your ticket out of your hell-hole."

"What are you talking about, Brynna?"

"Your demo, of course. We just have to record one more song and we can send it off. THAT is your ticket out of here."

"You really think I'll get signed somewhere?"

"No, October, I don't. I KNOW you will."