Page 85 of Silent Desires

Me:Do you think I’m funny?

Mina:Your face is hilarious.

That one pulls a laugh from me and a few students turn to give me strange expressions. Ignoring them, I continue texting with Mina.

Me:You wound me sugar!

Mina:I don’t think I could.

Me:Oh sugar, that’s where you’re wrong. You have the ability to crush me.

Mina:Don’t say that.

Me:It’s true.

Mina:That makes me sad.

Me:I didn’t mean it to make you sad. I meant that I…

Me:I care for you. And when something bad happens to you, it hurts me. I’m so glad you are ok Sugar. Please don’t get hurt again, I don’t think I could take it.

Mina:I’ll try, cowboy.

Me:Thank you and take care of yourself tonight. I’ll be there in the morning, as I can’t go any longer without seeing you with my own eyes.

Mina:I’ll see you then…

Mina:I miss you.

Me:Miss you too Sugar. Give TJ a kiss for me.

I sigh as I put my phone away.She misses me?Fuck, I can’t wait for this case to be over. Now we just need to solve this murder and claim Mina for ourselves.

Chapter fifty-five

Ihate having to go back to my house after spending the last few hours with several of my new… friends. They provide me with such a strong sense of safety and security. I almost told them everything, about my mother, about the marks on my back, about Simon. But they were all trying so hard to make me smile and keep things positive that I didn’t want to bring down the atmosphere.

But I’m starting to think it’s time to tell them. I still worry about their reactions to what I’ve been through, but after seeing how they reacted to Brad attacking me today, I don’t think they would blame me for what’s happened. I had thought Brad attacking me was my fault, but they didn’t seem to think so.

Would they actually be able to protect me from Simon? From my mother and Jeff? They are constantly telling me they will help me with anything and I’m starting to believe them. As I see my driveway up ahead and worry fills me I make a decision, tomorrow, at lunch, when I’m at their house with all seven of them, I’m going to tell them the truth, even if they hate me for it. It’s time I get out of this house and away from the people who only cause my harm.

Before I enter my house, I make sure I’m not wearing the hoodie and my braids are intact. Check and check. I open the door and step in, taking my shoes off quietly and hoping I can get to the basement unheard. I don’t want dinner, and want nothing more than to just have a quiet night, maybe texting my friends for a while before I fall asleep.

The kitchen is clear, so I let out a breath of relief and head down the basement stairs. The second both my feet reach the bottom, I feel the sting of a slap across my cheek. It’s enough to knock me off my feet. Placing my palm against my cheek to try to soothe the pain, I look up in surprise at my mother’s angry face.

“You stupid little whore! You fucking useless brat!” She kicks me in my bruised side, making me groan. She kicks out again, making me whimper as I curl up into a ball, trying to protect myself as best as I can. She is furious and drunk, a bad combination.

“Did you think if you whore yourself out to some boy, he would take you away from here? That he will save you?” What is she talking about?

“The principal called and told me what happened.”Oh no.“That you tried to seduce a boy and when you were caught, you turned the blame on him.”What?That’s what the principal told her? Didn’t she see the police report?

She grabs my hair and yanks my head back, spitting in my face as she speaks. “I told you what would happen if you didn’t keep your head down and your mouth shut.” she slams my head into the cement floor, causing a sharp pain to go through my head and my vision blurs. I try to crawl away, but she grabs my ankle and pulls me back. I watch her pull something out of her back pocket and my breath hitches with fear.

It’s a knife. It’s small, about two inches long, but that doesn’t stop me from shaking with worry. There is a crazy gleam in her eyes. I’ve never seen her this angry before. She takes a step towards me and I know if I don’t get out of here, she might kill me this time.

I try to crawl away backwards but she jumps on top of me, screaming. “Whore! You’ve ruined everything!” I grab her knife hand with both of mine to keep it away from my face. Her other hand goes around my throat and she squeezes. I don’t want to let go of her knife hand, but I can’t breathe. As my vision darkens, I watch a cruel smile grow on her face.

She lets go of my throat and punches me across the face. I cough up blood to the side. Then the knife is plunged into my shoulder and I hiss in pain, trying to push her away with no luck. I watch her pull the knife out, and she moves her arm so quickly, I can’t even track her movement. But I feel it. She’s stabbed me in the side, making me scream in my head and wishing I could scream out loud. I try to roll her off of me, but I’m dizzy, weak and she has at least sixty pounds on me. She slashes across the top of my chest, then back again.

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