10
The moment my brother shouted, figures emerged from the other end of the hallway.
I kicked back at him as hard as I could, but Amanda threw herself on top of me, pinning me down. My dad rushed over too, grabbing my arms. Before I could even process what was happening, they had me pinned to the ground–three against one.
“Run? Go ahead, try running again!” my brother hissed, his breath heavy as he glared down at me.
“You don’t want to play nice? Fine. You’ll regret it,” he spat, slapping me twice across the face. “You better make Mr. Randall happy tonight, or I swear you’ll wish you had!”
I thrashed and twisted under their weight, refusing to give up, but it was useless. They were too strong.
A shadow loomed over me, blocking out the light.
I looked up through tear–blurred eyes to see my mom standing there, holding the same
glass of water. Her face was the picture of hesitation, her voice soft and almost apologetic.
“Maybe… maybe let her drink this,” she murmured. “If she keeps screaming, the neighbors might hear…”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t tell if my tears were from despair or heartbreak.
“Good thinking, Mom,” my brother said with a cruel grin.
He reached down, grabbing my jaw as if to force my mouth open.
I clenched my teeth tightly, refusing to give in.
My dad snarled, his hands tightening around my neck. With his free hand, he slapped me hard across the face. “Open your mouth!”
His voice dripped with venom as he leaned down. “Your mom and I raised you, fed you, kept a roof over your head. It’s time you paid us back.”
Another slap.
“You think that $10,000 came for free?” my brother chimed in, smirking. “You owe us, Emily. And don’t you forget it.”
My dad’s voice grew colder, more menacing. You’re part of this family, and that means your life belongs to us. Now stop resisting and open your damn mouth!”
I didn’t think.
I just acted.
Before he could finish his sentence, I lunged forward and sank my teeth into his hand as
hard as I could.
“You little-!”
He screamed in pain, trying to yank his hand back, but I bit down harder, refusing to let
- go.
“Let go!”
Their fists rained down on me–punches to my head, my ribs, my back. I could taste
blood in my mouth, and I wasn’t sure if it was mine or his, but I didn’t care. I held on, determined to fight until the very end.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my brother managed to pry my dad’s hand free.
His palm was a mess of blood and deep teeth marks, the skin broken and raw.
“You little bitch!” he roared, kicking me hard in the stomach.
Pain exploded through my body, but I refused to cry out.
Then, just as my brother was winding up for another kick, a loud bang echoed through
the house.
The front door slammed open, crashing against the wall.
“Stop right there!”
The room froze.
065%
I turned my head just in time to see a group of officers in black uniforms storming inside.
