Three years ago.
Fifteen year old Evangeline hopped out of the back of the red pickup truck and tapped on it signaling her thanks. She walked the rest of the way up towards the gravel stone driveway and stopped at her front door steps when she heard moaning.
She grabbed onto the tree branch above her head and kicked her feet off the red brick wall. She carefully walked up the branch, balancing herself then clinged onto the white pipe, swinging herself onto the roof then peering in through the kitchen window.
She cringed in disgust and pulled out her phone from her back pocket. Grimacing as she caught the picture of the two.
Just as she hopped down from the tree and turned towards the street ready to call a friend to pick her up, something sparked inside her that made her stop dead in her tracks. She bit her lip and sighed, sliding her phone back into her pocket.
Without a second thought she climbed back up the tree and stopped by another window this time. She carefully climbed inside and tiptoed around the bed, cringing when the floor would creek beneath her feet.
She listened intently at the door and hurried to grab what clothes she could once she heard the moaning continue. She stopped dead in her tracks when she heard a little voice call out her name.
Her eyes softened when she turned to see the two year old rubbing his eyes tiredly. She quickly put her finger to her lips and waved him over and within a second he was by her side.
She pulled on his grey jacket and helped him slip on his shoes then took his tiny hand in hers and smiled reassuringly.
She knew she couldn't take him out the front door or else they'd be spotted for sure and who knows what would happen but there was a bigger risk they could be caught on the roof too and he could get hurt.
She knelt down in front of him and he instantly knew this was a serious talk.
"I need you to be quiet. Can you do that for me?" He was quiet for a moment, the scared look in his pale blue eyes gave away everything.
"Bennett, can you do that for me?" She asked more demanding than before.
Her hazel eyes showed confidence and strength yet, that isn't exactly how she feels right now because his life was in her hands now and it worried her.
He nodded as she gripped his hand tighter but not too tight. She fixed his bed with two pillows and a blanket laying over it so it would look as if he never left then she scurried over to the window.
"Jump." She whispered.
She lifted him up then carefully moved her foot to his dresser and suddenly every hair on her body stood up as she paused. She shushed her younger brother as he asked why she stopped moving.
She looked like a deer caught in headlights.
Her heart beating faster than a racehorse and her breathing came out a little harder and her skin felt cold.
"What's the matter, Ev-?" She clamped a hand over his mouth and listened intently.
Suddenly the bedroom door busted open with a tall dark figure standing there, glass of vodka in his hand and the smell of the substance instantly hit her nose. His voice roaring like a wild fire.
"Run!" Was all she managed to get out before her attempt to climb up the rest of the way to safety with her brother was brought to an abrupt halt.
He grabbed onto her ankle with his large hands tightly and pulled effortlessly as she fell backwards, loosing her grasp on the window.
"Where does your little ass think your going?!" He growled, throwing her across the room by the back of her jeans.
She struggled to stand on her feet and run due to her ankle possibly being fractured or broken. He stood above her with an enraged and intimidating expression. He chugged the rest of his alcohol and picked her up by her throat when she tried to run.
"Eva!" Bennett cried out.
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"Ms. Valentina, you're late." Mrs. Fisher growled, looking at the teenager distastefully.
"Be happy I'm here now." She growled back.
She took her time walking to her desk in the back of the class knowing it would piss her off more and carefully sat down in her seat, careful not to put pressure on her back or her ankle.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked, looking at her oddly.
She ignored her question and went onto her phone. Her thumb danced above the contacts name but she knew deep down, it would never matter. She clicked the button to shut off her phone and sucked in a deep breathe.
"I'm fine, don't worry." She smirked, running a hand through her hair and turning towards the window.
"I have an idea, you in?" She asked, obviously knowing the answer.
After class was over, they snuck into the cafeteria kitchen and stole a bucket of butter. Evangeline later went into Mrs. Fisher's desk and took her most prized possession, leaving a note and waiting for her to spring the devious trap.