Unconditionally Loved

Cece's POV Today is the day that I'm putting my escape plan into motion. I never thought I would finally escape from this place. My life was on the verge of death way too many times. I felt like a cat with nine lives, but I think my numbers exceed that of nine. My first step is cutting my hair. It is too long because my family never lets me cut it. If I had asked, they would have slapped my face. So, I quit asking. It was not worth the pain for a simple request. I'm thinking about a layered crop above my shoulders. I had seen in a fashion magazine once. I found it in a magazine at the convenience store while walking to school. Since no one in my family would ever take me to school. My older brother acted like I never existed unless it was for him to abuse me. The only person in my family who ever treated me kindly was my younger sister, even though she was only ten. That didn't stop her from being there for me. She would sneak food and water whenever she could. If it weren't for her, I don't think I would have made it this far without breaking down and ending it. My second step is buying hair dye. My natural color is blonde. So, I'm thinking about going to Auburn. A drastic change in color will give me an extra boost in hiding. I have green eyes, but I'm leaving those natural. It would match my dyed hair. My third step is getting new identification papers. Getting a passport and ID is crucial for leaving. I'm going to wait until I change my appearance, so my new look will be on them. I had to use the Internet at a local library to track down someone who could do this for me. This is going to be the most expensive part of my plan. Thank goodness, a lot of students needed tutoring. None of it would have been possible if I hadn't worked my butt off in school for my own grades. My family thinks I'm as dumb as a piece of cardboard. They never cared about how I did in school. If it weren't inconvenient for them, they didn't care. I tried staying out of their way, but sometimes I wasn't that lucky. All this abuse started when I was around ten years old. I have no clue why it started. Only after my mom passed away that everything changed. It felt like I became their biggest inconvenience. It started with verbal abuse. From there, it just escalates from verbal to physical abuse. My fourth part of the plan is to buy a plane ticket, so I can leave England. When I get my new identification, off to buy my ticket. The college is on the west coast in California. I wanted to get as far as I could from my family. I don't know if they will come looking for me, but I wanted a college as far as I could get from them. I changed my name to Cecilia Berkeley. I had applied for scholarships; and then I was accepted with a full ride. At least I didn't have to change my grades. That part I didn't have to worry about. My only friend I had in school helped me by faking some of my school records. She worked as an office aide, which gave her access to my records. She was my saving grace in school. I feel grateful for her helping me. Now it is time to leave the house that never felt like home to me. A cold place I call home, but that never felt safe for me. I already said my goodbyes to my little sister Liv. She knows what I'm planning. I know I will miss her as she misses me. But she knows it's for the best. Walking down the stairs, I am about to reach the door, but then I am yanked by my hair. I give out yelp of pain. I turn to see my brother Alex standing there glaring at me. "Where do you think you're going?" "Dad asked me to go to the store for him. He got stuck at work, and he wanted me to get food for dinner tonight." "Why are you lying? Dad never asks you to go to the store, and if he does, he asks me to bring you. Keep my eye on you. We all know how much trouble you like to cause." He growls at me. "I'm telling the truth. You can call and ask him if you would like. Since you are delaying me, he is only going to be angrier than he already is." I know I just made a grave mistake by talking back to my brother. This is going to cost me. I just know it. He yanks me by the shirt and starts dragging me. I am already panicking with fear. I know where he is taking me — to the place they like to call the dungeon. No no no. I can't let him bring me down there. This is my shot to leave this damn place. I dig my heels into the floor trying to slow us down. I grab my phone and call my dad to prove it. My brother sees what I'm doing and tries to get my phone from me, but I'm quicker with my phone. "Dad, please tell Alex that you asked me to go to the store for you. He doesn't believe me. He's trying to bring me down into the dungeon. Thinking I'm trying to lie to him. Please tell him!" "Alex, I asked your sister to go to the store for me. Now leave her before y'all push my dang buttons." He just hangs up before we can get another word out. "Just because he says you're allowed doesn't mean you're not getting punished for the way you spoke to me!" I think his brain short circuited from anger. Before fiinishing that thought. A jab of pain hits me in the stomach. He just punched me two times in my stomach. I double over trying to catch my breath. "That is for trying to get me in trouble and for talking back to me. Now get out of my face before I hit a third time just for being in my space." I take off as fast as I can while trying to take full breaths. I need to get my stuff together, because I will not be returning to this house tonight. I have a bag hidden in the woods behind our house. Now it's time to finish my escape. Luka's POV The new semester is about to start. I have to take Landon and Asher into town to buy what they need to start the year. "Alright, y'all ready to go? We need to get this done before classes start." "Aww, come on, bro, you're treating us like we are in high school. We can take care of this ourselves. Holding our hands will not be in necessary. We aren't little anymore." Landon says. "Yeah, I agree with the nerd. Holding hands isn’t needed. We are big boys now." Asher replies, snickering. "I know y'all can handle this. But I need to go to town as well. That's why we should go together. Now come on, let's go." We make it to town pretty quickly. While they get their supplies needed for class, I go to the clothing section. I need new button-up dress shirt for my classes. I had lost a lot of clothes when our old apartment building caught on fire. Now it's time for a fresh start.