Sexual abuse warning. Not graphic, groping kissing
The next few hours I spend on cleaning father up. Mom had stayed until Sophia tried to come in. She took her to be with Carl so I could finish. I grab the bowl of water before heading out of the tent. I toss it out in the woods before going to grab some more.
"Clover," Shane says catching my eye. I look down. "I want to apologize if I scared you."
"You didn't."
He pauses, the words of admitting the truth linger on my tongue. I grab the rag by his hand before grabbing his hand as well. I glance up seeing a confused look. "You scared mom but not me. Sophia didn't see," I explain.
I quickly clean his knuckles before grabbing a clean rag. I stand up facing away from him. "I'm not upset that you fought him. I'm upset you didn't stop."
"Clover-"
I head back to the tent taking a seat on mine and Sophia's pallet. He had fallen asleep some time ago and I was taking the opportunity to keep to my thoughts. At some point Andrea and Amy return victorious from their fishing expedition but I don't leave then either. I know if he wakes up and no one is here...
I grab moms compact mirror using it assist in cleaning up my face. There's a swollen part on my cheek and lip from where he hit me. My bottom lip is cut from my teeth, which is a decent gash. Right in my hair line is a cut from the rock it hit going down. That one is the most sensitive of all my injuries.
Good news I don't think I have a concussion, at least not a severe one.
However I can't get moms screams out of my head, the petrified look on her face. Didn't she know if Shane had kept going that we would be free? Did she care? Or is she so wrapped up in her fear that father has distorted reality for her?
He had mine that way for awhile. I had thought every parent was that way until I started school. Mom had started fussing over the bruised hand print on my arm, declaring I should wear a jacket. The school turned a blind eye just like everyone else at this camp. As long as my face was clear of all damages in the public, as long as I applied makeup in just the right spots or wore this zip up jacket all the time...
It became apart of who I am. This stupid black jacket I've had since the sixth grade. Everyone knew who it was under the hood, but no one really cared for what was under it. I never got to wear tank tops or blouses or dresses or skirts. It was always jeans, tshirt, and this hoodie.
I remember when we first met Lori and Shane. They were a couple cars behind us as we were stuck in traffic going to atlanta. Lori was clearly startled, a shy little Carl clinging to her leg. Shane however was trying to take charge. Father didn't like that nor did he like mom offering to feed Carl. He grabbed her arm harshly whispering about how we can't trust anyone. I thought it was ironic how the man thought he was the only person we should rely on.
We would be dead by now if it weren't for Shane. Him and Lori saw the bombs dropping, the city going up on smoke. Shane led us to safety, he's the one who took care of us. Father never did. His only concern was himself. How fast we could provide for him and his generosity.
If it weren't for mom and Sophia I would've ran away a long time ago. However, I know that I need to be here when Sophia starts to grow. I remember what it was like go through puberty and your body changing. Mine still is. What she isn't prepared for is how his attention will change. Odd little grabs and comments, enough to make me feel sick. I couldn't leave her to deal with that. If his attention is on me then it's not on her.
Sophia might be a scared little girl but she's so beautifully innocent. Even with the shouts of our father and seeing him hit mom and I, she's still a sweet kid. Seeing her with Carl gives me hope for her. Hope that one day we will be free from father and able to make our own real connections with people. Before this I couldn't have friends, friends ask too many questions, get too attached but now...
I consider Amy my friend. She's a few years older than me but that doesn't get in the way. She taught me how to braid her hair so I could Sophia's. She offers me clothes even though I decline. She even painted my nails saying that just because the world ended we don't have to end caring for ourselves. That embracing our feminine nature in times like this is what we need to do. If Sophia turned out as kind and wholesome as Amy then mom and I did something right.
Then there's Lori. Since night one she had taken Sophia under her care alongside us. She fixed the whack job mom did to my hair and she always seemed to talk in a way that had other meanings. She knew what happened and she was whispering in Shane's ear trying to help us. It's more than the others.
I lose track of the time but when mom and Sophia come in I perk up. "Why don't you come outside with everybody?"
"Hell with them people. Wouldn't piss on them if their heads were on f*re."
Sophia grimaces and I motion for her to go. He grabs onto her. "Hey! Why don't you stay here? Keep your daddy company."
"Daddy, she wants to join in. I'll stay with you."
He lets her go, mom leading her out. I ignore as the group laughs, that bitterness rising in me. His face is swollen, a lot worse than mine. A sick sort of happiness rushes through me knowing that for once he too is in pain. "Come here."
I moved towards him forcing myself not to flinch. He lets out a soft sigh. He grabs my arm tightly pulling me closer. A chilling look on his face. "Sometimes I forget how grown you are," he mutters.
My stomach twists and knots as he stares at me. It's not just his busted up face making me sick, it's the look in his eyes. He had it once with mom, I didn't wait to see how it turned out taking Sophia to my room and putting blankets around us to dampen the noise. Later that night we went to a woman's shelter, mom had hand prints on her neck. I don't like this look. "You look a lot like how Carol did at your age. Much more womanly, a better shape on your body."
Yeah, I really don't like how this conversation is going. However I'm rooted to my spot, fear running cold in my veins despite the hot and humid Georgia heat. He pulls me closer, bile bubbles in my stomach rising to my throat as his lips touch mine. With his good hand he unzips my jacket. His hand goes to my hips before harshly grabbing my butt.
I can't seem how to remember to move, or to breath for that matter. I just know it's taking everything in my not to throw up. Luckily his stomach grumbles and he pulls back. "Go get some food."
I dart out of the tent pausing to look back. My heart hammers against my chest and the only thing I can hear is the blood in my ears. I can't go back in there. None of us can go in there. His pride is wounded and he won't stop until he feels like we are completely under his control. I can't let him hurt Sophia or mom again. So when there's a groan I seem to snap out of it. A Walker tumbles out, I take a step back hoping it doesn't see me.
"Back already?" He calls out opening the tent. Instead of me, the Walker tumbled into the tent clawing at him. His eyes widen as they find me, the Walker tearing into his neck.
Tears spring to my eyes, leaking down my face. A laugh bubbles out of me. I should feel guilty instead I feel free. I need to go tell someone a Walker has encased camp now. I was too slow, yes I'll tell them I couldn't save him. They'll all understand. No one will truly be sad. Sure mom and Sophia will for a time but it can't last. Not for him. Not for that monster.
Before I even turn to the group there is a cry of pain. I snap my head to the Rv finding a different Walker chowing down on Amy. Everyone instantly runs for cover. I see Sophia and Mom shoved into the Rv. I take off past the tent and walkers climbing into the tree. One grabs my foot trying to pull me down. My arms scream in pain as I struggle against it.
I hear people screaming but I catch sight of Shane. "Shane!" I cry out trying to kick the Walker only for another to limber by.
His gaze catches mine but we both know he's too far away and he has to protect the others. I let out a panicked scream once I'm yanked down. One falls on me in which I struggle to hold it back. Of course the moment I'm free from him I am faced with death. My arms seem to give as the Walker falls forward with his teeth bared.
I let out another scream expecting it to be the last. However the Walker is pulled back by the hair before a gun goes off. The other falls too. "C'mon. Trefoil," Jessie says yanking me to my feet.
He stays in front of me shooting a couple more. Others shoot as well and it seems in no time the rest of the walkers are dead. "Were you bit?" Jessie asks turning to me.
Instead of answering I laugh. I put a hand to my chest looking towards the tent. "The fucker!"
"Were you bit?" He asks a bit harsher.
I shake my head turning towards where my mother should be. She's currently consulting a scared Sophia. I head over to them pulling Sophia into a hug and ignoring my mother badgering me about my father. I whisper to her that we are okay and everything is going to be alright. I know it's a lie and so does she but it's one we both believe in. But the one thing I say that is true, the monster is dead.