Inferno

Home Sweet Home

Heya, my name's Maddy and this is my first attempt at a story on wattpad, so I hope you guys enjoy it. This particular story has been one that I thought of a few years ago and I have played with the plot a lot since then. Review and comment below please, I'd love to know what you all think. :) 

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Harlyn and Arlo crept cautiously through the threshold of their home in Miami. In January that year, they had moved there with their father. They carefully crept past the immobile body of him holding a gin bottle clutched in his hand, snoring loudly. If you looked past the fact that he was holding a gin bottle and the several others lying there on the floor surrounding him, you could assume that he was taking a nap during the hottest time in the afternoon, but Harlyn and Arlo knew better. It was them after all that had to drag out the rubbish bags full of bottles and cans and they who had to bear the brunt of their father's constant drunk anger. 5 years ago, their mother had died and their father had taken it hard. He had started to drink and this addiction to smothering his sorrow with drink had got worse and worse up to the point where their father was constantly angry with anything his children did. Back in January, the children had tried to contact the social services, but got discovered by their father and had crossed the Atlantic with a variety of new bruises to match their new clothing.

Now they lived in Miami and not even the bright sunshine could keep away the worrying shadows that gloomed over them. The only escape they had was school and as they walked home again, the shadow stood in the distance, waiting to strike. Now Harlyn squeezed Arlo's hand comfortingly as she started to quietly cook them some baked beans on toast. They froze as they heard the sound on someone moving in the next door room, but then they heard snoring again and Arlo let out a sigh of relief as Harlyn smiled weakly at him. The toast popped up and Arlo grabbed the plates and cutlery ready for her. She poured on the beans and they started going up to their bedroom. It was a small room in the attic of the house. As they ascended, Arlo lifted his school bag to his shoulder and there was a loud ripping noise as all his books fell out of the bottom of the bag with a loud crashing sound as they fell down the stairs. The snoring stopped.

Arlo watched in fear as the huge figure of his father slowly stood up and turned around to look at them. His eyes zeroed in on the anger that buzzed around his father. Then a few seconds passed without a single movement or sound passing between either of them. Then he snapped.

"Why do you have to stomp past me? You are taking the mick out of me! You are meant to be my children, why don't you start acting like it? Where's my dinner, girl?! Didn't you think that there was reason behind me bringing you to America with me? You stupid idiots! What are you doing just standing there! Bring me my dinner." Harlyn gestured for Arlo to go upstairs to escape their father, but he just firmly shook his head and walked quickly down the stairs after her.

In the kitchen, Harlyn leant against the side of the kitchen table and sighed. She looked drawn and pale. This made her dark brown long straight hair frame her small anxious face and her brown eyes were filled with fear. Arlo knew he didn't look much better and was proved right when he caught sight of his reflection in the filthy water at the bottom of the sink. He looked as scared as he felt. Harlyn straightened up and started to heat up some leftover spaghetti from the fridge. When she heard the microwave beep, she rushed over to it and spooned the contents in the bowl onto a plate. She carried the plate out on a tray to her father with a glass of water. With her hands trembling, she gave the tray to him. He glared up at her, took one mouthful and spat it out. "It is warm, not hot. And did I say I wanted a glass of water? Get me a beer, you lazy bonehead!" he shouted.

Arlo muttered, "I don't think you should have another one." His father threw the tray on the floor. He strode over to Arlo and Harlyn protectively stood partially in front of him.

"I am going to teach you a lesson that you won't forget, boy." Said their father quietly. Dangerously. He unbuckled his belt and ran it along his fingers from one end to the other end with the huge buckle on it. Then he brought it down where Arlo was. Harlyn dived in front of the belt and cried out when she felt the sting of the leather and metal sting against the skin of the shoulders. She told Arlo to run and stood up in front of their father. He growled at her and then brought the belt down repeatedly on her back and shoulders, as she turned around to watch Arlo escape up the stairs.

After many hits, Harlyn stayed crouched over in a ball, protecting her head. She was sobbing and the whole of the back of her dress was plastered to her back. She gently lifted herself from the ground and hissed at the movement of the shirt against her wounds. She walked slowly to the stairs and climbed them one by one. She then walked down the corridor to their bedroom. She slowly climbed the ladder to the room and seeing Arlo asleep in bed still fully dressed made her smile. She went into her cupboard and took out some new clothes as she didn't fancy walking around with blood stains all over herself. She also took out some new reels of bandages out of the first aid box. Then she went back downstairs and into the bathroom. She gently eased off her shirt and jeans and sponged away all the dried blood. Then she covered up the wounds with some bandages and put on the clothes.

She went back upstairs and woke up Arlo. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" he muttered half asleep.

"We are leaving now," she said. "What if I am not here next time that happens? Pack your clothes and mine while I get food and supplies from the cupboard down stairs. We can take his boat and sail to some other place. Somewhere where we will be safe. We might even find a new family." With that, she headed back down stairs and Arlo heard the clunk of tins being put into her rucksack. He started to slowly put away all the clothes of his and his sister's. Then he got out a box from underneath his bed. In it was a brooch with a picture of his mother, father, sister and him, all smiling and laughing. He clipped it to the inside layer of his coat to keep it safe and hidden as it was silver and he didn't want it stolen. He then ran downstairs to find his sister.

Harlyn zipped up the rucksack and turned around to look at Arlo. "You ready?" she asked. He waved the rucksack and keys to the boat at her. She winced as she slung her rucksack over her shoulder, but wore a brave face as he glanced at her. They walked over to the door and out, into fresh air at last.

When they reached the boat, Harlyn slung the bags into it and her brother helped her in after he had leapt in. With that they manoeuvred the boat carefully out of the dock, making sure they didn't turn on the engine until they were clear of the house to remain as silent. Once Harlyn judged that the boat was far enough out, she turned on the engine and with the soft purr of it running over the gentle waves of the sea, the children headed towards a brighter  future; where they could find a real home and finally be safe. At least that was the plan...

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Okay, so that's chapter uno finished and what do you all think? Love you guys. Maddy x