Chapter 10

"Thanks Kim," I said quickly. My leg was shaking and my heart was beating frantically, I was panicking. I ran a hand through my hair as Kim unlocked the car door. I opened the door quickly, unbuckling at the same time.

"Wait," Kim said, as I got out of the car. I turned around in annoyance. She was digging through her bag slowly, or slowly in my mind. I tapped my foot, chewing on my lip. It is almost seven o'clock. Kim and I kind of took our time getting home, and it was already late as is. My mother or father could be home any minute.

Kim pulled out a piece of paper and wrote some numbers down on it. She looked up and smiled as she handed me the piece of paper. I looked down to see it was a phone number. I looked at her confused.

"It's mine. Just so if you need anything, or wanna hang out, or even just talk. You have a phone, right?"

"A landline, yes," I said, smiling smalley. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye!" Kim called as I closed her car door. I practically ran up my driveway and into my house. I was about to take off to my room when I froze.

The house was a disaster. Beer bottles from my mom laid across the coffee table, the newspaper wa on the floor as if my father had tossed it over his shoulder as he left for work, breakfast plates and glasses were still on the dining table, the dishes were piling up, and the rope and belt from last night was by the stairs.

I gulped, knowing the house must be clean before my parents got home. I got to work instantly, grabbing the beer bottles and throwing them in the recycling bin outside, gathering the scattered newspaper, putting the dishes in the dishwasher, sweeping the floors, and wiping down the counters. I cleaned faster than I ever had before. When the house looked almost spotless I went to the post.

I grabbed the belt and threw it in the dirty clothes and put the rope on the hook in the laundry room. I clenched my teeth at the sight of such tools, looking away from them. My throat seemed to close up and I knew I was having another anxiety attack. My body shook as I grasped the side of the washing machine.

Pull yourself together.

Today was a good day, don't ruin it.

Calm down, Marlene.

You're being stupid, nothing bad is happening.

I took deep breaths, shaking mercilessly. I focused on my breathing, keeping it steady and even. My shaking seemed to lessen, but my heart still pounded away. I shook my head, hugging myself slightly as I walked back to the kitchen. I wet down a hand towel and walked over to the post in the living room.

I looked down at the floor, the dark red dried liquid seemed to stare back at me. Blood. The very same blood that poured out of my back last night. I clenched my teeth, pushing away tears.

Not worth it, Marlene.

I lowered myself to my hands and knees, scrubbing harshly at the blood. I had done this for years, it has always been hard to get the blood out. But I would be in serious trouble if I didn't. 'Guests could see' as my mother said.

How could they do this to me? I have never understood. I must have been a terrible child-

"Ahem."

I gasped, spinning my head around quickly to see my mother standing behind me, arms folded across her chest. Her green eyes blazed with terrifying emotions, emotions that usually left me bleeding on the floor. How did she get in the house without me hearing her?

She sighed and made a tsk noise, waving her index finger back and forth. She walked towards me, still in her work clothes. She was very close to me when she stopped and smirked.

Her foot shot out and slammed against my rib cage. A shout of sheer pain escaped me as I slammed into the post behind me, hurting my otherside. I lost all breath and inhaled loudly and painfully, trying to breathe in the slightest. It felt as if she had kicked my ribs into my spine.

"Up," she commanded harshly.

I wheezed, astonished by the word. How the actual fuck am I supposed to get up?!

She then had ahold of my hair, pulling me up painfully. My entire body wanted to protest against it, the pain in my sides far too great, but I knew I'd be getting up anyways. Might as well take the help.

"It's such a shame that I came home from work to such a mess," she commented, sighing dramatically. She let go of my hair and I reached out, grasping the pole to catch myself.

"Mess?" I coughed out. The pain that radiated through me sent unwanted tears to my eyes.

"Bags on the couch, dust on the table, blood on the floor. It's sickening, don't you agree?"

I clenched my teeth, looking straight ahead as she circled me like a hawk. Don't do it, Marlene. Seriously.

"Yes, I agree. The fact that your daughter's blood lays on the floor from your doing is sickening," I snapped back, breathlessly. Suddenly, my hair was being yanked back again and my mother's face was very close to mine. I hissed in pain at the stretching of my torso as she glared at me.

"Do not talk back to me, child. You are not my daughter. You haven't been for a long time. You are just an it. A worthless rat that needs to be exterminated," she whispered menacingly into my ear. I bit my lip, trying to hold in the cries of pain as she reached down and dug her hand into my sides.

"T-Then why not exterminate me, mother, if I'm so worthless?"

"Because, child, does the cat not like to play with the rat before slaughtering it?"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed!