The Enchanted Forest

chapter 1

I'm running, running like my life depended on it. There's something chasing me. Sounds like a bear, but stands straight up like a human. I try to hide, but it finds me.

I jerk up from my bed, hot and sweaty. I've had this dream since last year. Ever since my dad died. My mom isn't covering with it either. I've done my best to tell her it wasn't me, but kenzie has convinced the town that it was. She followed me and my dad into the forest and she came just in time to see him dead and me standing over him. Dad was the mayor of this town. Everyone loved him. Including this family. They still do, but it's as if I'm not in this family. My mom hates me. She calls me a mistake, a disgrace to this family, someone that shouldn't belong in this town. I would have just told her that I could move out, but I have no money. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to afford a house. The real problem is that no one will hear me out.

"Tessa!" I could hear mom's voice yelling through the door as I try to sink back into bed. "Tessa get your ass up! You have to take kenzie to school and you have SATs! I'm not letting you stay in this house when you graduate!" I groan and slowly get out of bed. When I get up I walk to the door and unlock it. Mom slowly opens the door. At first I thought I saw worry on her face for a quick second, but as soon as that second ticked by it was gone. "Hurry up and get dressed." she said coldly and left me alone.

As soon as I got down stairs kenzie was done eating and I wouldn't be able to eat. "Come on Tessa. It's time to go." she said her face all red like a tomato. I can tell by the way it looks that mom hit her. Everytime  kenzie doesn't do something that my mom said to do, she would hit her. Mom isn't only mean to me she's also abusive to Kenzie. She stopped doing it to me because I would hit back. I guess she's taken a liking to doing it to Kenzie because Kenzie doesn't do anything. "I'll just get food at the vending machine. Go get in the car." I said. Even though Kenzie told the whole town that I killed dad I still feel a little bit bad for her. Mom always puts everything on her. Not to mention the stress she must be going through about dad. So I at least try to be nice to her. "Okay" she said softly with a few sniffles between the letters. I can tell she's been crying. Her face is red. Her eyes are red and puffy. There is dried tears on the side of her face. She sniffles every 10 seconds. Mom is going through cabinets looking for something. As soon as she slams the cabinet closed Kenzie scurries out slamming the door behind her. Mom turns around looking at me. She looks mad. That same scolding look she gives me whens she's angry with me. "Do you know were the scissors are? I was trying to find them so I could cut Kenzie's hair. She had them yesterday. Now I have no idea where she put them." she said her face softening as she finishes the sentence. "No. I haven't seen them, but I'll keep a look out. If I see them I'll tell you." I said. Worried she's going to slap me. "That is fine." She said her voice weary.

As I started the car I turned to kenzie sitting in the passenger seat next to me. I looked at her until she noticed I wasn't driving. "What?" she said. "Tell me the truth. Did you hide the scissors from mom?" I asked knowingly that she isn't going to tell me the truth. "Maybe." she says. I know by the look on her face that she's not telling me the truth. "You know I could just tell mom that-"
"Wait" I smiled "fine. I did. Plz don't tell her." She said.
"I won't, but when she finds out. You know that she's going to hit you?" I said wiping the smile off my face. "Yeah. Hopefully she won't." As she said this I backed out of the driveway and if only I knew what would happen at  school.