Bella awoke to the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Confusion muddled her mind. They weren't footsteps she recognized. Renee's step was a stomp in heels. Even on carpet, her mother managed to make her presence known by slapping her feet down with each step she took.
Normally, Bella would take precautions when she heard those steps. Like, hide the book she was reading so Renee wouldn't tear it up or race to find a hiding spot. But these were not those sounds. The lightfooted scuffs didn't instill fear in her mind and kickstart a panic.
"Bells?" That was Charlie's voice but it sounded different. It was higher, panicked. "Bella!"
Bella, brain foggy with pain killers, just wanted to go back to sleep. She didn't think to respond. When the footsteps hurried around the room and he kept saying her name Bella opened the closet door and poked her head out.
The light was blinding but the quickest way to get to go back to bed was to see what the mustachioed man wanted.
"Bella." The word was a whoosh of breath from his chest. Old boots walked into her line of sight before he plopped on the carpet right in front of her. "What are you doing in there?"
"Sleeping." A headache was pounding to life in her temples, her feet felt like they were on fire and her throat was dry. Jesus, why had she even woken up in the first place?
"Here," He had a glass of water in one hand and two white pills in the other. "This will make you feel better."
"Thank you." Bella took the proffered drink and downed the two pills.
"Do you normally sleep in there?" There was something weird about his voice.
Something, if Bella wasn't so hazy from the drugs, should have known to be careful of. But she was only working at fifty percent with her only thought- the only goal being that she wanted to go back to bed. Which made it difficult to remember to be cautious of him and careful of what she said to him.
"It's safer than the bed." Why didn't he know this? He was going to get beat if he didn't figure his shit out.
"Why is it safer?" Oh god, he was going to get hurt if Bella didn't set him straight. Why was he being so stupid? Concern swept through her mind and sent her in a different less go-directly-to-sleep direction. Her new goal was to make sure that Charlie would be safe enough for her to fall back asleep.
"Charlie," Her voice came out sharp and annoyed, like a reprimand. "Don't sleep in the bed. Or under it. It's too out in the open. She'll just yank you out of bed and beat you. You need to be smarter about it or you'll get us both beat."
"I- I'm sorry, Bells."
"S'okay." Bella reached over and patted his hand, she hadn't meant to be so severe. He was new to this, that much was apparent. "It's harder to get dragged out of a closet. She doesn't remember to look in closets."
Bella placed the empty glass on the carpet and blearily watched as it toppled over and rolled just out of reach. She'd go after it later. She was too tired and her feet hurt. Why the fuck did her feet hurt so much?
"C'mon." Bella grabbed his hand and motioned towards the closet. She was positioned in the doorway so she wouldn't have to do much maneuvering around her throbbing feet to get back to bed. "You can hide in here with me."
She crawled to the end of the closet and burrowed under the comforter and clothes. She waited for him to shut the door before she closed her eyes. Her head and feet were hurting less but her mind was more muddled. Charlie… wasn't he… he was... he was new to this. She had to protect him from Renee.
He was new to this and didn't know how scary it was. The thought jarred her and Bella sat up again. Dim light spilled in from under the door and lit the wet tear tracks on Charlie's face.
"It's okay, Charlie." Bella dragged her pillow and blanket with her as she settled in beside him. "I won't let her hurt you." Bella pulled the blanket over both of them and grasped his hand.
She felt… not exactly brave. The thought of her mother was still terrifying but… somehow… somehow now that she wasn't alone. Now that she had someone to protect… it was manageable? A controlled terror. Bella couldn't get her hazy thoughts to order correctly.
The only thought that formed somewhat coherently before she nodded off was that maybe it was all just less terrifying when she wasn't alone.
It a short one I know but bear with me here. More to come soon. Thanks for sticking around this long.