Night's Promise (17 page)

Picking up the old-fashioned razor, she carefully removed the dull blade. Concentrating on how easy it would be, how nice it would be, how happy she’d be to see her mother, she placed the edge against the flesh of her wrist, where the blue vein began. Applying a slight pressure, Melissa fought back a cry as it dug into her flesh.

No.
Something inside of her screamed as the first pregnant drop of blood appeared.

Dropping the blade as though it had grown red-hot in her grip, she quickly grabbed her backpack and ran out of the house to the bus stop. All day she avoided looking anyone in the face. Her former best friend, Kate, approached her at lunch, but Melissa couldn’t even look her in the eyes, she refused to speak to the other girl. She was just so tired of hurting. And she would never, ever take the chance of her stepfather approaching Kate. She cared about her friend too much to risk that happening. She’d rather lose the best friend she’d ever had than see pity in her eyes when she looked at her. And pity would be there once Kate learned what was truly happening when Melissa got home from school everyday.

Besides,
she tried to comfort herself.
What could Kate do? She’d just tell her parents, they’d call the cops, and they would all believe Travis.

Maybe Melissa would be able to escape for a short time to a hospital, but more likely she would only become drugged. Then what chance would she have against him? They’d dismiss her fears as irrational since he never acted like anything but a caring guardian around witnesses.

“What proof do you have that he plans to hurt you?” they would ask.

Her only proof was his stares. Stares that told her he did not see her as a child. Stares that told her he was only waiting for the chance to corner her…

“Have you reconsidered?” The question jerked her back to the lunch- room.

“Ben, I don’t…I can’t…I can’t afford them,” she admitted quietly. She might not be able to commit suicide, but perhaps she could kill herself indirectly.

He sat down beside her. “Here, this one’s on me.” He pressed something into her hand, her fist closed automatically around it. “And next time, I’m sure we can work something out.” His hand rested on her knee.

“I don’t understand.”

Ben’s hand moved up her thigh. “You are a beautiful girl, Melissa. If you and I were
together
, I’d make sure you had what you need, anything you wanted.” He leaned in and kissed her lips. Though he was a handsome guy, she felt nothing.

“Think about it,” he told her, pulling back. “You take those, and think about what I said. I’ll make sure I’m in English class all week, if you want to take me up on my offer.”

Waiting until he left the table, Melissa put the drugs into her backpack. She didn’t try to find out what he’d handed her. She didn’t care. She finally had another option, something that would hopefully dull the pain she felt constantly.

The school day passed quickly. When she got home, she was surprised to see her stepfather sitting on the couch waiting for her.

“Sit down, we need to talk.”

Hesitantly, moving against her better judgment, she followed his orders, not wanting to give him a reason to hit her.

“You’ve been spending too much time studying.”

“I-I want to make sure I get into a good college.”

“That’s fine, but it’s been interfering with things that are a little more important right now. You haven’t been sleeping. Don’t think I don’t know this. And don’t think your teachers haven’t called me about the sudden change in attitude from you. They think you’re on drugs. Are you, Melissa? Are you doing drugs?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me.” He lifted his hand as though he were about to slap her. Without thought, Melissa cowered, trying to shield her face.

“No. I haven’t, I swear.”

“Good.” He smirked. She wasn’t sure if he was pleased she wasn’t doing drugs or by her instant cowering. Though she suspected it was the latter.

“Now. Things are going to change around here. This is what’s going to happen. From now on, you have from the time you get home from school until I get home to study. I still expect to come home to a clean house, and supper waiting on the table. I’ll go to the bar, and you can watch TV, or study, after you finish cleaning up. When I get home you
will
be in bed.” His hand moved from its position on the back of the couch, to her thigh. “Do not make me come for you tonight, or you will regret it.”

Fighting back the bile that rose in her throat, she nodded her understanding. She felt an immediate need for a shower to clean away his touch, the taint he had placed on her soul with his suggestion.

“Good girl. I always knew you were smart. I’ll be back in about an hour. When I get back, you better be ready.”

Acknowledging his words once again, Melissa stood, grabbing her backpack from the floor. Tears of horror filled her eyes as he slapped her butt. She practically ran to her bedroom where she put her bag down beside her bed, in its usual spot. Waiting until she heard the front door shut, she opened her closet. She felt around until she found the loose floorboard she used for a hiding place. Ignoring the diary she used to write in, before her life became a giant nightmare she continued searching the secret spot.

Picking up an old wallet of her mothers, she glanced inside. She had been saving up to buy her mother something nice for Christmas. But now, she had a different purpose for it. Melissa tucked the wallet safely in her back pocket.

Finished gathering up the few things she planned to take with her, she headed for the kitchen to fix herself a sandwich. Quickly choking it down she tried to casually walk out of the house. She forced herself to keep her pace slow and easy as she walked down the street and waited for the bus. When it arrived, she got on, like she was only going to run an errand or two, knowing that none of the neighbors would see anything unusual about this. Heck, they thought it was great that she “pitched in” so much to help Travis out.

Instead she went downtown and walked around, as though she didn’t have a care in the world. When she got hungry she walked into a fast food place and bought something to eat. When she grew tired she looked for a place that would hide her from onlookers.

Her money lasted almost a week. When she didn’t have any left she considered going home. Maybe she could go to Kate’s house? Maybe Kate would protect her? No, her parents would send her home insisting that Travis was worried sick. Ben? She didn’t know where or how to find him.

Thinking about it most of the day, she decided she had three options. She could go home—where she knew Travis would be beyond pissed, she could make some money, or she could show up at school and pray she could find Ben before the teachers reported her sudden reappearance.

Every choice would involve some man using her body. Looking around, she knew she’d prefer to sell her body than her soul. And going to either Travis or Ben she’d lose both.

Taking a deep breath, she walked through the streets, trying to gather enough courage to follow her plan through. If she couldn’t follow her plan that night, she’d go for plan b—Ben.

“Excuse me,” a handsome brown-haired man said when she bumped into him.

Remembering every movie or television show she’d ever seen, she smiled up at him. “Looking for a good time?” She pasted what she hoped was a sexy smile, a sexy look on her face.

The man’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t be more than… Where’s your family?”

“Never mind,” Melissa said, feeling completely incompetent. To her embarrassment, her stomach growled as she turned to walk away.

Reaching out, the man stopped her. “How about you and I go get something to eat?”

“No thanks.” Looking at him, she decided she couldn’t chance him taking her to the police.

“Come on. There’s a little place right down the street. My treat.” Her stomach began to rumble again, tightening as she felt the effects of going without food since the previous day. “I know you’re hungry.” She still just stood, staring at him. “Come on, if you were willing to ‘show me a good time’, surely you’re willing to sit across from me and have a simple conversation.”

Reluctantly she agreed, unsure when she would be able to eat next.

They walked to the diner in silence. When they sat down, the man sat across from her. He ordered bottled water and nothing else. With a smile he said, “Order whatever you like.”

She ordered a hamburger and onion rings.

“So, what’s your name?”

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate this, but why are you being nice to me. You want me to go with you after I eat? I’m fine with that,” she quickly added.

“Nope, just want to talk. It’s been a while since I got to sit down over a meal and have a decent conversation.”

She watched him suspiciously, but didn’t move. When the food was put in front of her, it took all her willpower not to simply shove the food down her throat.

“How long have you been on the street?”

“A week,” she told him between large bites. When Melissa looked up, she saw him nod thoughtfully.

“My name is Gareth.” He held his hand out. She wiped her hand on a napkin then shook it.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Melissa.”

“Melissa, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” He was quiet as she continued to eat her food. After a short while he asked, “Where’s your family, Melissa?”

“Thank you for the food. I should probably let you get back to your life. I’ve taken enough of your time.”

“You haven’t had dessert yet.” He motioned for the waitress and ordered the biggest slice of apple pie they had.

Looking into his eyes, not understanding what she was searching for, she asked, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because, Melissa, no one should ever feel like they don’t have anywhere to turn. Especially not someone so young. You’re far too young to be forced to depend on yourself for everything you need.”

Tears filled her eyes and she quickly rubbed them away, trying to maintain the tough-girl persona she’d had to adopt since she ran away. As the pie was set in front of her, she was able to eat at a slower pace, thankful that her stomach was no longer in knots.

“What happened?”

“I ran away from home. Things are…I don’t belong there.”

“Home is the one place we all do belong. Whatever happened, I’m sure things will blow over. Would you really prefer to make your home on the street?” His voice was hypnotic. It allowed her to finally admit to herself that she was scared. “Would you like me to walk with you?”

She nodded. If she could get home, and make it to Kate or Ben’s, she wouldn’t be alone. She just didn’t want to be left alone in the dark anymore, where boxes had glowing eyes and squeaked. Or visions of her stepfather jumped out at her from every shadow. Even there in the dark, in the middle of the city where he couldn’t find her, she had nightmares about the things that could happen to a single girl in the dark.

As they walked, Gareth continued to ask her questions in his calming voice. While she didn’t volunteer any information, it did become easier to talk to him. She told him her mother had died not long ago and that it was just her and her stepfather at home. She told him about school, how much she studied and her dreams to go to a college far away from there.

All too soon they were standing in front of her house. The white paint was chipping and sorely in need of attention. Melissa felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as Gareth looked at the house. She began to walk up the path to the front door and was relieved when she heard him follow her. If Travis was there, at least he wouldn’t make a scene in front of the kind stranger.

Opening the door, Melissa felt a wave of revulsion sweep over her as she looked at the filth thrown around the room. Dirty clothes were scattered everywhere. She could smell the trash can they kept in the kitchen from the door and there were fast food wrappers, cans, and beer bottles everywhere there was space. The place looked as though she’d been gone for a month not a mere week.

When she saw the expression on her stepfather’s face, her fear rose, paralyzing her.
He won’t hit me in front of a witness. He won’t hit me in front of a witness. He won’t hit me in front of a witness.
Over and over she repeated the litany, trying to convince herself it was true.

To her shock he pulled his hand back and slapped her, full force across the face. Freed from her terror, her body fell to the floor.

“How dare you leave me? Look at this mess. How can you expect me to live like this? This dump isn’t fit for a pig to live in. I expect this house to be spotless before I get home tomorrow.”

Curling into a ball she looked up at him, her hand covering her throbbing cheek, trying to protect the sensitive flesh from another blow.

Gareth made a low sound in his throat that got Travis’s attention. He stepped closer to where her body had landed and snarled. “How dare you whore yourself out to the first man you meet. Your mama was a whore, too. I shouldn’t be surprised you followed in her footsteps.”

She wanted to scream. She wanted to defend her mother but past experience told her that would only be rewarded with more, much harder smacks. Instead she hid her face, trying to protect her head from the worst of the blows. Tears ran down her cheeks as she kept her mouth shut, too afraid of the pain to defend the mother she had loved so much. She felt like a coward, like she didn’t deserve to have even the memory of her mother, but she wasn’t sure she would survive another full beating from Travis.