Page 61 of Cut Me Down

“Ash, you don’t need to go in there alone.” She takes my hand in hers, and squeezes for reassurance. Though, I’m not sure any can be found at this place.

“I'm serious, Ser. Stay here.” I stare intensely at her, almost begging her, and she reluctantly nods. I trudge forward, and the unmistakable screech from the gate opening gives me away immediately, so I quickly walk up to the front door and walk in. Loud, hateful voices reach the front door, and I already hear the arguing pouring out of the living room.

“I’ve told you Mark! Two hundred or you’re not getting shit!” The harsh voice booms from the living room.

“Alright J! Let me figure it out!” I speed walk past them and head for the stairs. The creaky, ready to cave-in stairs give my position away, and when the yelling stops, I know my dad noticed. “Where the fuck have you been!?” Crap. I walk up the stairs as quickly as I can, but I hear heavy steps following behind me. Trudging toward me with the force of a raging bull. I walk into my room and quickly grab the half-ripped duffle bag out of my closet. Desperate to grab what I need and leave. “And just where do you think you're going? Back to your new family? You think the Andersons give two fucks about you?” He spits at me.

“It’s just a slumber party.” I say quietly, trying not to make him even angrier. “Do you need to me to clean before I go?” I offer, hoping that will alleviate some of his rage.

“A slumber party? You mean those sorry for shit parties where teen girls get railed all fucking night? I figured you'd be whoring around already, just like your mother.” I haven’t had sex, not even thinking of it. Boys my age are idiots. Except Cooper, he’s really nice to me, but having sex is not something I'm worried about doing right now.

“Did you need something from me, Dad?” I turn to him and try to say as accommodating as I can.

“How much money you got? I know your new daddy likes to give you some. Shit, you're probably fucking him to.” I cringe at his accusation. Ewe. What the hell?

“He stopped giving me money after you took it the last time.” That’s a lie. Mr. Anderson always gives me money in case I need food or something. I try like hell not to spend it, or even have it on me for that matter. Just in case of situations like this. I normally give it to Ser and ask her to hold on to it for me.

“Bullshit! Where is it!” He lunges towards me and starts checking my pants pockets, shoving his hands into each one just to be sure. Then he pulls the front of my jeans, and I instantly push him away. The slight force somehow causes him to stumble. He’s clearly drunk, the smell of the whiskey lessens the further away he gets.

“I told you, Dad! I don’t have anything!” Screw the pajamas and screw him. Nothing is worth dealing with him anymore. I walk right past him and start walking down the stairs again, only to feel his large hand grab my upper right arm. I spin around, almost smacking him with my hair as I turn to face him.

“Who the fuck said you could go anywhere!” He yells.

“Since when do you care!” I snap my head to the sound of heavy boots back towards the bottom of the stairs. J.P. is stalking up to us with a fire in his gaze that I can’t quite place. He’s just as revolting now as he’s ever been. His face has all sorts of sores, his teeth are yellow and rotting, and he’s so skinny he looks like his arm would snap at the smallest inconvenience.

“Damn girl, I always forget how fucking pretty you are.” He’s always given me the creeps. For years now, if I knew he was coming over, I’d hide before he got here. If I didn’t know? I’d run out onto the roof outside of my window. I can’t escape the feeling of dread when I’m near him, and that certainly isn’t going away now.

“That so?” I hear my dad say, almost as if he sung it. “Care to make any other payment options then?” I snap my head towards him. A shot of icy fear shooting down my back. He wouldn’t…

“Dad…” My nerves begin to get the better of me, and I can’t help but start to shake. Before I can even think of running away, his grip on me tightens.

“Two hours for two rocks.” My dad offers, and I look back at J.P. to see a dangerous, evil grin spread on his face. My breath stalls, and my body runs cold to the realization that not only is he considering this horrific trade…he’s going to take it… I have to run. I’d rather they kill me.

“That’ll work.” He growls demonically. I rip my arm from my dad, shove my way past J.P. and sprint through the front door. My heart is beating so fast I might have a heart attack, and the sight of Ser standing outside of the fence is so shaky I can’t tell where she’s standing. My heels dig into the walkway as I quite literally run for my life.

I feel a large weight fall on my back, which sends me falling to the ground. The concrete of our sidewalk scrapes and scuffs at my skin on impact, and a pain radiates through my hips and knees.

“Ash!?” She yells at me. The tone in her voice clearly concerned, and all I can do is pray that she doesn’t try to help me.

“Get that little bitch too! Show her daddy that even her clean ruffles can be feathered!” I hear my dad yell, and another wave of frozen fear runs into me.

“RUN SER!” I watch as she frantically takes off down the street. Pumping her frail arms and legs as fast as she can. She’ll go get her dad…he’ll save me…

In the corner of my vision, I see J.P.s boot stomp against the grass, and I instinctively reach out for it, causing him to fall to the ground. Hard. I can’t let him get to her. She’s all I have…

“You fucking bitch!” He kicks out, and it lands on the side of my head. Setting off whatever hidden bomb was in my head and activating the ringing after effect.

Everything is fuzzy, and I can’t help but hold my hand to my head before I feel two hands grab my ankles and J.P. grabs my wrists. They lift me off of the ground and carry me back into the house. I try and struggle as best as I can, but I can’t get free. No matter how hard I thrash.

As I feel the tight hold on my limbs retreat, a soft brush of air runs over my body, and then a hard slap of the wooden floors cracks on my back.

“Your two hours starts now.” I then feel a large weight on top of me, and I look up to see J.P.s disgusting, wrinkled face smirking at me. I reach out and try to claw at his face, anything to get him off of me, but even as I scratch and scream, it doesn’t stop him. He starts by ripping the front of my shirt off of me.

“Daddy! Daddy, please! Don’t do this!”

“Cooper! Cooper, please! I'm sorry! Don’t do this!” My pleas mean nothing. He’s already started his latest torture and cut my clothes off of me with my shears. Me begging never does anything to him, I'm not sure why I even try anymore. But this time is different. I’ve never seen him this angry. Every other beating or every time he forced me to have sex will be nothing compared to this…I know it…

“You think that little bitch can help you now?! If you insist on keeping her around, maybe we should bring her into our fun! Don’t you think?!” He screams, and his spit splatters across my face.

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