Run

Chapter 1: Holding on

Fifteen...

Taking in a sharp breath she forced herself to focus on the task, not daring to glance his way. "Did you have the dinner I made?" She whispered, seeing the containers in the fridge untouched. 

Her Dad waved his hand as he sniffed, "of course! Was some good shit".  Pausing for a little too long, he gasped before covering his mouth. 

"Shhh, can't swear in front of my kid now can I", he said with a wink. She forced a fake smile before swallowing the lump in her throat. It was a lie, the food she made had gone to waste. Turning on the light switch she closed the fridge door. 

twenty-seven.

 She could feel the tears surface. 

Not tonight, she didn't have the energy to cry. 

Her Dad, who was now squinting, found his way to the couch that faced the TV. He didn't bother turning it on anymore, he enjoyed watching the back screen and letting his mind explore nothing. He would sit there for hours before he fell asleep, it was a simple nightly routine. 

Katie let out a quiet sigh and turned off the kitchen light. Her Dad gave her hearty thanks with a lift of his beer. Turning on phone's flashlight, she walked to her room and closed the door behind her. 

Holding a breath, she slumped against the door and slid down. A tear sneakily escaping as she pulled her knees to her chest. 

Exhaustion took its nasty hold and engulfed her whole. 

It wasn't aways lie this. She still remembers the faint gleam of sunlight through the house they used to live, the way her mother looked like an angel as she came in to pick her up. She remembered what her Dad's laugh was like when he was sober. The warmth that she felt when we present in the moment. What it was like to look into brown eyes that were safe, and stable. 

It was all gone. She knew deep down, her life would never feel that way again. 

"DIMITRI" 

Her breath caught. Katie hoped it was a trick, that her brain was tricking her. She hoped it was a cruel nightmare. 

With a bang she heard a chair thrown against her door. Her body going cold.

Not tonight, please, Dad.

"I SWEAR YOU'LL FUCKING PAY" 

Katie curred to her feet, turning the look on her door and shoving the foldable chair under the doorknob. He handn't pushed through yet, she hoped tonight would be the same.

Another loud thud and a glass crashed against a wall. Harry's heavy footsteps echoed, his palms slapped on furniture to keep him balanced.  His gaze wondered furiously around the room, looking for his enemy with determination. 

"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH HER. I SWEAR ON GOD YOU'LL DIR FOR THIS" He roared, swinging his metal bat around aimlessly. His breaths were shallow, but Katie could hear them behind the door. He paused, his body slanting as his gaze locked on Katies door. 

"Found you fucker..."

Katie stumbled back to her bed. Wrapped her arms around her and she brazed for what was next. 

Every. goddamn. night. 

She shook as she watched the doorknob jolt once. 

"You can't hide forever" He taunted, pressing his forehead against the door with a clumsy tap. 

"D-dad, it's me. Please Dad, please, it's just me Katie"

The door rattled uncontrollably, door shaking against the hinges.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN TRICK ME AGAIN !"

It was a terrible game of roullete. Would the hinges give in to her fathers demands. 

"YOU THINK YOU CAN USE HER AGAINST ME LIKE LAST TIME"

Would it be the chair this time?

"DAD! Please, it's me!"

Perhaps it would be the force of the bat against the steel part of the door. 

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT UP!"

Maybe each would hold, and she'll be okay.

"I"LL FUCKING GET YOU!"

Losing the fight against her tears, Katie wrapped the blanket around her chattering bones and pressed her back against the wall farthest from her door. With a shaky breath, she waited through each push. Crying as the one man who was supposed to keep her safe, the same man who installed her door, thrashed tirelessly against it. 

Watching the clock, she whispered;

one, two..

_________________________________________

Hi... 

Hope this one isn't scaring you off. I'm personally still tense after writing this one. My goodness have you a got a good story to uncover, who is Dimitri? What doe he mean by "use her again". OOOO peoples, you got some exciting answers ahead! 

Please vote/comment if you enjoyed. Hope to see you all in the next chapter!