Shaking my head, I stand and pace the room. Levi’s phone call seemed serious. I didn’t overhear it, but, given the recent situation, I could guess.
“Be safe, Levi.”
Dad hurt me a lot growing up. If he hurts Levi, I wouldn’t know how to live with myself.
I’d figure out how to fight.
I’dgo after him.
On my next pass around the room, a figure steps from the shadows.
A figure in the same shape as all my nightmares, sending my mind careening into the past and my body across the room.
He’s lost the orange jumpsuit and looks no different than when I last saw him across a courtroom only days ago. The scent of unwashed horror and childhood trauma permeate the room as a mean grin reveals rotting teeth.
“Well, well, daughter. You’re quite a ways away from home.”
“We don’t share a home.” Of all things to say, it’s probably the least important, but something urges me to defend the fact thathomehasn’t been associated with him in a long time, if ever.
“We’dbe there, but you went and got me arrested after a little misunderstanding.”
“You tried to rape me!” Attempted assault being misconstrued as a ‘misunderstanding’ in his mind is telling.
He scoffs, saliva flying from his mouth. “Ever since your mother left, you’ve been mine. Daughter or not, you have a fuckin’ job.”
More bile fills my throat. He’s trying to break me down, but I won’t let him.
He moves across the room, steps slow and paced, but I’m not waiting around for whatever the hell this is. He willnotundo what I’ve spent all this time fighting. Years of abuse will not be relived.
I run.
I reach the door before he does, flipping the heavy switch open, but his meaty hand thuds against the door, forcing itclosed. He’s always been stronger than me, and he loved lording that fact over me.
A sob builds as his weight presses against me, like that time that led to his downfall. “Fuckin’ bitch. You won’t be going anywhere. We’re gonna have a talk, then you’re gonna pay for thinking you can put me into jail.”
I flatten against the wall, trying to create as much distance between us as possible. “The police are looking for you. They’ll arrest you again.”
“Maybe. But not before I get my revenge on you and your friend. He’d do anything for his little whore, wouldn’t he? Wonder what he’ll think showing up to your dead body.”
Oh, God.He’s threatening to murder me.
With only thoughts of escape, I drop to my knees and shoulder between him and the wall before darting across the room to the side table where my cell is. It’s a gamble for it versus the back door.
Heavy steps pound after me, but he’s so out of shape, I’m half a step faster and just out of reach. Pushing every muscle, every ounce of strength, I yank my phone from the charger and turn for the back door.
Hot summer air greets me, propelling me across the sand. It bends beneath my shoes, exerting muscles already exhausted from riding Levi, but I keep going. There is no other option as Dad’s rage reverberates from behind me.
Messily, I manage to click Levi’s name in my cell, the call being picked up instantly. “Summer?”
“He’s here! He’s after me. I-I…I ran.”
“Fuck. Keep running, darling. I’m coming.”
Click.
My foot touches the wooden plank of victory. A few more steps, and I’ll be up the hill, then into the main part of theresort. It’s late, but surely, some people are still out who’ll see the maniac chasing me.
A hand grips my shirt and yanks me backwards, throwing me down onto the sand. What should otherwise be soft becomes an altar for cruelty as my father comes down on top of me.