In The Arms of You

Chapter 1: Moving Day | EDITED

It’s been two months since that horrible event. Two months of abuse and pain. It’s been twenty-four hours since my father told Mack and me that we were moving. I was a bit shocked because all our family lived in Stormy Brooks. He didn’t tell us where we were moving to, all he said was to pack our bags.

I do not want to move. Some kids may be excited to go and live in a new place but to me it’s terrifying. I’m leaving all my friends and family. All the places I could escape to get away from my father and Mack, are gone. I’ve got nowhere to hide now and none to trust.

Most people believe that an older sibling would stick up for the younger ones and help them out, but that’s not the case in my house. Ever since I’ve been hit by my father, it seems that it gave permission for Mack to hit and torture me as well. The universe hasn’t been in my favor since the day of the accident. Since she was gone forever…

Rain trickled down the window of our car as my father drove down the highway. Thunder rumbled in the clouded sky while lightening lite it up like a Christmas tree. When we pulled off the highway we passed a sign ten minutes later that said ‘Welcome to West Fields’.

So, this is where we are moving. I thought to myself not daring to speak aloud where Mack or our father could hear me. After a few more minutes of driving, dad stopped the car in front of a two-story house. It was a grey house with black roofing. The windows had curtains hanging in front of them, so I couldn’t get a glance at what it looked like indoors.

There was a small porch that leads to the front door. On either side of the steps was a flowerbed that looked like it’s expiration date had passed a long time ago. My father turned and looked at me in the back seat. He and Mack occupied the front two seats.

“You are to take all of the boxes and bags into the house within the next thirty minutes or you will be punished do you understand Lena?” My father growled a bit at me. A small smile appeared on his face when he mentioned punishing me. I shiver at the thought but knew I couldn’t escape it, not anymore.

“Yes, sir,” I said stoically. Showing no emotions helped to contain my fear from him and Mack so that’s why I try to do. I learned a while ago that if I talk back then the punishment will be worse, much worse.

Mack and our father shared a look before exiting the car and heading up to our new house. I sighed and got out of the car. I didn’t have an umbrella so within a few minutes of standing outside I was soaked to the bone as it was raining cats and dogs outside. I popped the trunk and began to take the bags inside the house. I grab multiple at a time, so I wouldn’t have to stay outside long. I only had a thirty-minute time limit anyway.

After all the bags were inside I began to work on the boxes. Some contained kitchen supplied while others had bedroom or bathroom accessories. Looking up I saw that rain wasn’t going to stop any time soon and it looked like it was going to get worse. All of a sudden something covered my head preventing the rain from hitting me. An umbrella.

I spun around and came face to face with an unknown girl. She looked about my age. The girl had dark brown hair that reached down to her mid-back. Her eyes were forest green and it popped with the make-up she was wearing. Her complexion was a nice olive tone.

“Hi,” She said breaking the silence between us.

“Hi?” I said but it came out more like a question. Who is this girl?

“I’m Izabella but you can call me Iza, all of my friends do.” She said holding out her hand for me to shake. I put the box down I was currently holding and took her hand in mine.

“Nice to meet you Iza my name is Lena. May I ask what you are doing out here in the rain?” I asked her.

A small laugh escaped her mouth as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Well Lena I don’t live that far, and I decided to take a walk. I’ve always loved the rain and so when it storms like it is I like to go and take a walk.” She answered. “What about you? Why are you unpacking a car in the middle of a thunderstorm without an umbrella?”

I shivered as the wind blew harder which smacked some rain in my face. “My family and I just moved here so I was helping get the boxes and bags out of the car. If we have an umbrella I haven’t seen it yet.” I said. This got a laugh out of Iza.

“Do you need any help?” Iza asked.

I shook my head. “No, it’s fine, I’ve got it,” I told her hoping she would go on her merry way. I had about ten minutes to get everything in before my father comes out here and this girl was a bit distracting.

“At least take my umbrella.” She offered to me her hand reaching out.

“No that’s okay,” I told her and picked up the box I had sat down before I had met her. “It’s only a few more boxes, the rain doesn’t bother me.”

She raised her eyebrow not quite believing me. “Really? Because it looks like you are soaked to the bone and on the verge of catching pneumonia.”

I sighed and looked at her. “Yes, I’m fine Iza. You can go and finish you walk if you’d like. It was nice to meet you, but I’ve got to get these boxes in before the storm gets worse.” I told her.

“Okay I understand, I’ll see you around I guess,” Iza said with a disappointed expression before waving and leaving back down the sidewalk. The rain covered me once more.

I sighed. “I can’t ever let anyone in because they will see the horror of my life and I’d rather no drag them into it or they could get hurt themselves,” I whispered to the wind. I then headed inside the house and set the boxes down.

Two more trips later I had gotten everything out of the car and into the house. I walked until I found the completely furnished living room where Mack and my father were watching a ball game. I saw each of them had a beer in their hands. I had no idea where they had gotten it from, but I didn’t want to question it either.

My father’s head whipped back looking at me. “Did you get everything inside?” My father’s voice echoed through the living room.

“Yes, sir,” I said trembling because of my wet and cold clothes. My father didn’t smile like most people would expect him to. He hasn’t smiled a true smile since mom died. He was frowning at me and tapped his watch which I hadn’t noticed when I came in a had gone off emitting a beeping noise.

“The time was up five minutes ago.” He growled at me. My face paled with fear. “Go upstairs and bring your stuff with you. I don’t want to see you for the rest of the night.”

I nodded my head. “Also, you and Mack will be starting West Fields High tomorrow.” He said. He then pointed at me and glared. “You will be good or else things won’t be so good for you when you get home, understand!” He yelled a bit. I nodded my head.

He didn’t say another word after that. I took that as my cue to grab my stuff and go upstairs. I searched through the boxes until I found the one with my name on it. Picking it up and walked up the stairs and found the most far back bedroom in the house, I’ll do anything to stay away from them.

Opening the door, I noticed the room had a nice sized bed with windows on either side of the bed frame. A small desk was against the left wall. On the other side of the room was a door that I assumed led into a closet. I’ll decorate later. I thought and placed the box on the dark brown desk.

I didn’t bother to put in new clothes as I went over to my new bed and fell onto it exhausted. As I laid there I finally took the chance to collect my thoughts.

I was now in a town without people I know. Without friends, I know. Without places, I can hide away. It took us about two and a half hours to get here, that’s too far for me to walk back to Stormy Brooks if I wanted to. Back in Stormy Brooks, I could hide away from Mack and my father but now there’s no one I can trust without them asking questions.

I am a princess on my own without a knight to protect me from the storm. A never-ending storm.

Thunder shook the house, but I didn’t mind it. To me, this storm was my mood and it had all my emotions wrapped up into one to cause destruction.

I slipped off my shoes and got under the covers of my bed. Even though it was uncomfortable in wet clothes I didn’t bother to change. This could cause me to get sick, but I didn’t care, I’d rather be dying than getting tortured every day of my life.

Playing tough is going to be hard. Starting a new school with new people is scary but I’ll have to manage if I’m going to survive this storm.

How will I survive this?