DETACHED

Chapter 9: Broken

The drive back to home was painfully silent.

Chief Marcus kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The warm smile that had earned him admiration at the school had disappeared the moment they stepped into his SUV. Amara sat quietly in the passenger seat, she didn't dare look at him,she knew that silence.

It was never a sign of peace, it was the calm before the storm.

Neither of them spoke until the vehicle rolled through the open compound of the Marcus residence.

The SUV came to a stop in front of the small wooden house at the edge of Eldeheim.The paint had begun to peel from the walls, and the wooden front door bore scratches from years of use. It wasn't the kind of house people expected a man as wealthy as Chief Marcus to live in.But Marcus had never cared about building a home, money came easily to him but he was careless and reckless

Chief Marcus parked the SUV and climbed out without waiting for Amara., she quietly followed him.

He reached the entrance and pushed open the massive mahogany wooden door. It swung inward with a low groan. Amara stepped inside.

The moment the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind them, the respected town leader disappeared.

The mask was gone.

Marcus loosened his tie, tossed his car keys onto a side table and slowly turned to face her.

His eyes were cold.

"Do you know how much money you cost me today?"

Amara lowered her gaze.

"I didn't steal the money." Amara said quietly.

"I know." Marcus shouted in annoyance, Amara flinched.

Marcus let out a dry laugh.

"I know you didn't" Marcus said with a sinister smile hanging on his lips. He took a slow step closer.

"Do you think that's what this is about?" He asked

She remained silent.

"I was in the middle of one of the ground breaking business meetings, it is supposed to change the course of my but" he pause and pinched the bridge of his nose

"my phone kept ringing." He paused again and held waist pinching the bridge of his nose. He was frustrated " what kind of a daughter are you ? " He thought to himself.

"The principal insisted I come immediately."

He pointed at her.

"I left people waiting because of you."

"I..." Amara tried apologizing

"You what?" His voice became sharper.

"You embarrassed me, you made me losey chance, do you how hard I work you miserable bastard," he said as he walked slowly towsrds her, he kicked her, she stumbled abit.

"You dragged my name into a school scandal."

"You made me leave my work because your name was linked to theft."

'I didn't do anything." Amara protested quietly

Before she could finish speaking, his hand struck her across the face.

The force sent her stumbling backward. She barely regained her balance before he grabbed her arm.

"I don't care whether you stole the money."

He shook her violently.

"I care that people were whispering about my daughter."

"I care that they pulled me away from my work."

"I care that my reputation was dragged into nonsense."

Another slap, another shove, Amara fell to the floor. Marcus stood over her.

"Do you know how many opportunities disappear because of one bad rumor?"

"You children never think."

"You only create problems."

He kicked the side of a nearby chair in frustration.

"You've become another distraction."

Amara slowly pushed herself onto her knees.

"I'm sorry..."

Marcus's face hardened.

"Sorry?"

"You think sorry gives me back the business I lost today?"

He pulled off his belt.Amara instinctively closed her eyes. The first strike landed across her back.

She gasped.

The second came harder.

Then another.

And another.

She bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying out. Years of living with Chief Marcus had taught her one lesson.

Crying only made him continue. So she endured it.

The leather belt rose and fell until Marcus finally grew tired. Breathing heavily, he threw it onto the couch.

"What a miserable child." He said as she as he slumped down on the chair.

"You've brought me nothing but trouble." He took a deep breath

He dropped into an armchair and rubbed his temples.

"You've wasted enough of my day."

Amara remained curled on the polished floor.Her entire body trembled, her stomach twisted painfully. She hadn't eaten since yesterday.

Just then...

The wooden front door creaked open. Evelyn staggered inside.One heel was missing.

Her makeup had smeared beneath her eyes, and a half-empty bottle of expensive liquor dangled loosely from her fingers. She hummed to herself as she struggled to keep her balance. She didn't notice Marcus sitting across the room, she certainly didn't notice Amara lying on the floor.Still swaying, Evelyn stumbled forward. Her foot caught Amara's injured arm. She lurched sideways.The bottle slipped from her hand. It smashed against the marble floor. Glass scattered in every direction.

A sharp shard sliced deeply into Amara's lower leg. She cried out despite herself. Fresh blood spread quickly across the white floor. Evelyn blinked lazily.

She stared first at the broken bottle. Then at Amara.

"Oh..."

"My drink."

She sighed in annoyance, Marcus didn't even raise his head.

Neither of them asked whether Amara was hurt. Neither of them moved toward her.

For several long seconds, the only sound in the house was the ticking of the antique wall clock.

Amara looked from one parent to the other.

Neither cared.

Something broke inside her.

She realized something she always known but had never admitted to herself.

Mr and Mrs Marcus Soul didn't and will never love her.

If she stayed here.. Nothing would ever change.

Slowly, she pressed one hand against the floor and forced herself to stand.

Pain shot through her bruised body. Blood trickled down her leg. She limped toward the wooden front door.

No one stopped her.Marcus was already back on his phone, discussing the business meeting he ad abandoned.

Evelyn crouched on the floor, complaining about the wasted bottle of liquor.Amara quietly opened the heavy wooden door and stepped outside.

The late afternoon breeze hit her face. She wrapped her arms around herself and began walking.

One painful step, then another. The streets of Eldeheim seemed longer than ever. Her vision blurred. Her breathing became uneven. Every few metres she stopped to steady herself before continuing. She only had one destination. Grandma Ruth. The old woman's gentle smile filled her thoughts.

"If you ever need somewhere safe, my child, my home is open to you."

Those words became her strength.

"I'm almost there," she whispered.

At last, she saw the little cottage standing quietly at the end of the street. A faint smile touched her lips. She reached the front porch. Raised a trembling hand toward the door.

Before she could knock...

Her strength finally gave out.

The world spun around her.

Everything faded into darkness.

Amara collapsed unconscious on Grandma Ruth's doorstep.