Ribs

Ribs: Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"Cause I love the way you say good morning...And you take me the way I am." - "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson

Going home that day was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do. But you know what? I laughed in his car. I smelt his skin. I kissed him, not even caring who kissed him first because I get to kiss him last.

"I'll see you later." Corey says, kissing me on the nose. I nod, and he smiles. I feel my entire body go hot, and my mouth feels like it's swollen. I unbuckle my seat belt, and reluctantly get out of his car. It was strange, being so serious with him days before, laughing with him days before, and now leaving him. I watched him drive away, praying that when I got inside not all would be lost.

The wooden porch sighs as I step onto it, and then unlock the door. The house is silent, in an almost eerie way.

"Dad?" I call out, unsure. There's no response. I close the door, the sound of it making the whole house seem to rattle. "Dad!" I call again. I peer out of the white curtains, seeing his car in the driveway. He has to be here.

I drop my keys on the coffee table and flip off my shoes. I turn on the TV, just to get some sound flowing through the house. It's a commercial. About Coca-Cola. I immediately change the channel, before going over to the phone and checking messages. There's one message from the electric company, meaning dad forgot to pay the bills again.

I sigh, heading into the kitchen and grabbing the bills off the top of the fridge. I feel dust against my fingertips. This place needs cleaned. Why had I not noticed before?

Slowly, I head up the stairs and toward dad's bedroom. I can hear the buzz of the TV, which relaxes me some. He's probably just sleeping.

But then I freeze as I hear muffled voices. I hear a woman's scream and then silence. My heart speeds up in my chest. Who's in there with my father? What's happening?

I tiptoe to my room and grab my old metal baseball bat. My phone vibrates in my pocket as I grab it, making me jump. I wonder for a moment if it's Corey, but it's not. Riley is calling me. I hit ignore and then walk into the hallway. Is someone hurting dad? The thought makes me cringe. As much as I hate my father sometimes, it's not enough to...

A man's yell. My father's, I'm sure. My phone buzzes again. I ignore it this time, and open my father's bedroom. A women with mussed red curls is unconscious in the corner of my father's room. She's not wearing a shirt. My dad is holding his bleeding hand as he turns to see me.

A slow grin rises on his face. "Why don't you come here, Dawn? Come help Daddy?" I hold the bat up higher.

"I'm not five." I whisper, almost annoyed. I stare at the women in the corner. One of her closed eyes is black. Her head is bleeding, and her hands are tied together, along with her ankles.

Dad comes closer. "Dawn?" He calls, almost questioning, reaching out for the bat. I stare at him, aghast. This...this is too much. How do I know he didn't kill mom? Maybe he's the one that hang her from a pole.

- Italic -"Where's mom?" I ask my dad, his face freshly shaven and he smells like clovers. He shrugs, and I swear I see him smile just a bit.

"Probably still sleeping." He pauses and looks up from his newspaper. "Will you come get donuts with me? You know your mother doesn't do well without her coffee."

I smile, knowing the way mom does get without her coffee. I agree to go with him, and we get into the car. I lock the front door, to make sure no one gets in and attack mom or whatever.

"Can I drive?" I ask. Dad smiles and tosses the keys to me. The engine roars to life, and I follow dad's careful instructions. "Let's go somewhere new." He told me.

"Here," He says. "Onto this highway."

And I see her. Oh God, do I see her. Right in front of my freaking face. Her hair is bloodied, her eyes still open. Her neck is bent strangely, in a way you know it's not supposed to be. I brake in the middle of the highway.

Stupid, right? But what am I supposed to do? My mother is hanging right there. - Italic End -

"Oh God." I sob, the bat lowering just a little. "Was it you?" Dad gives me a strangled smile.

"Dawn, I don't have a clue what you're talking about. Just give me the bat, okay?" He gives me an empty grin, his eyes not wanting to give anything away. I hold the bat away from him and my eyes slide to the women in the corner, who seems to be waking up.

"No." I say, trying to sound strong but it comes out as a yelp.

"Dawn," He warns, coming closer. "Just give me the freaking bat." He's annoyed, I can see it right there. Wow, I never knew my heart could beat this fast. My cell phone vibrates again, and I don't know what to do other than answer it.

"Hello?" My voice shakes, and dad stares at me with narrowing eyes, waiting to see what I'll say on the phone.

"I have been trying to get ahold of you for an hour." Riley scorns. "I need to talk to you."

"Riley," I back up from my father, "I really can't talk right now. I'm sort of busy."

She breaks down. "Am I that horrible, Dawn?" She starts to cry, right there as I'm trying to make sure my dad doesn't get the back. The woman in the corner is awake now, realizing her situtation. She starts screaming.

"Dammit! Riley I've got to go!" I slam the phone down on the ground just as my father lunges for me, trying to wrangle the bat out of my hands. The woman won't stop screaming, which isn't helping at all.

My father gets a good hold on it, and I plunge my teeth into his hand. He curses, letting go of the bat. "What is with women and BITING?" He yelps. I hold the bat up, cursing wildly internally, and slam it right down on his head.

He makes an odd, strangled noise and falls to the ground. My phone vibrates again. I angrily answer it.

"Riley, I told you-"

"This is the State Police, and I need to talk to you about your father."