The City of the Unexpected

Chapter 3

“You are late,” Mom said, glaring at both of us. It was at that moment that we realised that no amount of screaming or fighting would help us, instead it will only make things worse.

“We are sorry, Ma’am,” Rose and I said in unison. 

“And what about me? Your father? Do I not exist now?” And there it is. The breaking point. We said something wrong and now we are being punished. 

It is like this everyday, if we come home late, we get into trouble and whenever we say something wrong in their eyes, it gets worse and now the punishments are just racking up, and today is going to be one of the worst. Which means, no more school until we are healed and no more breakfast and dinner. We are going to be cleaning the house everyday, otherwise we are going to get punished and have to stay home longer.

As I come out of deep thought thinking about what they are going to do to us today, I hear a loud slap resonate and only then do I realise that my cheek is burning and my head is turned to the side. My mom slapped me. Let the games begin.

“How dare you ignore your parents like that! Have you no respect! Look at us and speak! Have you learnt nothing in your 17 years of existence?!” My mom screams at me, and only then do I realise that her breath is laced with cheap alcohol which adds to my idea of how bad tonight is going to be.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am and Sir, I didn't mean to. I am stupid and ungrateful,” now that is something they beat into us. Whenever we do something wrong, we have to apologise and insult ourselves because that is how they see us. If we don't do it, then things get worse.

“GO TO YOUR ROOMS, BOTH OF YOU!” Dad shouts at us. We both run up the stairs and go to our rooms, well, room. It’s a small, singular room that we separated in half with boxes. We don’t have mattresses so we lay down on the ground with a sleeping bag and our arms as pillows. 

I hear a small noise coming from my sister's side of the room, it sounds as if she is crying. So I go over to her side of the room and sit next to her.

“It’s okay Rose, everything will be okay. Soon we will be able to leave this place and never look back,” I say, hugging her. I hear her sniffles calm down and feel her body stop shaking. Rose turns to look at me, her eyes swollen and red.

“Why not tonight? They aren’t going to come up here until they think we are asleep, so let’s go. We packed our bags and everything already just in case things get worse, so let's go. There is nothing stopping us. Please can we go Faith? Please. I do not want to get beaten again. I’m too scared that this time they will break something.

I was quiet for a while, thinking. Now is the best time, they are drunk so they will struggle to get up the stairs or to chase us when we run out. However, if they are sitting by the bottom of the stairs then it would be a difficult feat. So, I sat and devised a plan. We are getting out of here. I will not let my sister and I suffer anymore and I need to protect Rose at all costs and what better way than to be able to stay with her 24/7. Okay, let’s do this.

“Okay, we will leave. I am going out to check whether or not they are sitting by the bottom of the stairs. While I’m checking, get our bags out and what little money we have, along with the rope just in case. Are you ready?”

“Yes, let’s do this,” Rose said, standing up and going to the closet. Now it is time to get moving.