He had shoved all he had into his little black suitcase, as it struggled to close. He ran over to his bed and lifted the mattress to reveal his hidden stash of money. He retrieved it and walked back over to his suitcase.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He was unrecognizable. His eyes were bloodshot and his face looked dull. He shut the door as quickly as he could. His footsteps made the old wood creak underneath him as he tried to remain quiet. He went left and opened the door handle attached to the pink door. Stella laid there clutching her toy elephant, tears streaking her cheeks.
Bradley went over to his younger sister and helped her up. "Hey stell, we got to go now." He whispered to her. She glanced up and his heart broke. His sister was all he had left now and to see her like this broke him. She sat up and hugged him. Bradley gave her a quick hug but knew he had to rush things. He grabbed what he thought she'd need and gathered her things.
A sound of broken glass echoed within the house and caused Stella to flinch. Bradley glanced back but heard no other sound of movement. Once they had finished, Bradley helped take everything downstairs while Stella waited until it was clear.
He noticed the beer bottles stacked around the kitchen counters and the one that had fallen and shattered on the floor. Bradley scribbled something onto a piece of paper and left it underneath a bottle. He reached for his keys and made his way back upstairs.
"Bradley, I'm s-scared" Stella whispered as her eyes glanced around the dark house.
"It's okay Stell, everything going to be okay." Bradley picked her up because he knew she wouldn't be able to handle the stairs quietly and made his descent.
They made their way out the front door and into Bradley's worn down truck. As he pulled away from the horrid house, he took in the fact that this was his new reality. That now it was just him and Stella.
YOU ARE READING
the ACE
Teen Fiction"in a time where he thought he had exhausted everything he had, he met his ace."
