Chapter 2

Now 

My brother and I sat in the back of our step-brothers people ford fiesta, silently, we both had one headphone in our ears as our step-brother, Connor drove us to our new home. Krystal our step-sister sat in the front passenger seat next to him. A warm tear dripped down my cheek, it had been a year since our father had passed away, my mother had just sold his house and we were moving away from the safety of the place that we used to call our home. My dog, Rolo laid across us both with his head in my lap, he was a fairly big three-year-old German Shephard. My step-father was driving our mothers car with my mother next to him, we were starting from scratch, they had bought a four bedroom house in a small town near California. It wasn't long before we saw signs for East Silverstone , the surrounding area was mostly woods. We pulled up into a small street of around ten houses, ours was number six. I pressed a finger to my lips signalling my brother to stay silent as we unbuckled our seatbelts, my brother and I only had a back pack each with seven days worth of clothes and two pairs of pyjamas each.

My stepbrother got out the car first, he opened the door for us and we all piled out onto the driveway. Krystal threw a suitcase at me from the carboot, somehow expecting me to catch it. She threw a couple backpacks at my brother who tried to juggle them as I struggled to drag her suitcase into the house. Rolo stood close to me, following my every step. "Remind me again why we had to bring the mutt with us?" My step-fathers voice sounded from the car next to us.

My mother laughed, "Because her father bought it for her and my son." Her words stung, I had grown up thinking she was my mother until around two years ago, when she started having an affair with this man while my father was away. I caught her cheating, I told her I was telling my father which was probably the most stupid thing I could have said in that situation, because next thing I knew she was watching as he beat me to a bloodypulp infront of her. When he was done he stormed off and she knelt down beside me, telling me I was never her daughter. Her laughter pulled me back out of my thoughts, I carried Krystals stuff to her designated room. I couldn't help but notice there weren't enough rooms for everyone, Krystal had her own room, Connor had his, my brother Matthew had the smallest room which could barely fit a bed and set of draws, and my parents had their room. I didn't have a room. 

"Skylar!" Hearing his voice had my heart racing with fear, I walked down the stairs to meet him in the hallway. There was a door under the stairs, probably to the basement which is where they made me sleep last time. My step-father stood there with the door open. Suddenly he shoved me and I slipped, falling down each step. Rolo barked and growled at him, earning a kick for himself before he too got locked in the basement with me. I swear I heard him lock it with a key. There were three lights down here, they were fairly dim, the floor had been carpeted thankfully, a single mattress lay in one corner of the room no bedframe, a dog bed next to it with the dogs food and water bowls not to far away. There was another door down here, at least I had my own bathroom, a small shower I could barely move in, a toilet and a sink. There was a small bedside table next to my matress the only furniture I had. A single duvet was folded on the matress with one pillow. Sitting on the matress I rested my head on the wall letting out a slight wimper from the pain of the fall. I had fallen down a full flight of twelve stairs. I sat there for around twenty minutes just stroking Rolo as he lay beside me. 

"I wish dad was here." I whispered softly. There was a small window that looked as though it opened out into the back garden. If I pushed my drawers just under it I might be able to escape, to perhapse sneek out on a night. There was a forrest just behind our house, I knew the beach wasn't too far passed that. I love the ocean, it feels so calming and safe, I like sitting on the sand and painting or sketching the boats, surfers or ocean in general. I took everything out of my bag ecept for my diary, pens, pencils and sketch pad, neatly putting my clothes into the small draws, luckily they fit. Once I was done I sat back down on the bed, looking at the various bruises on my arms and wrists I pulled my sleeves down. I only had short sleeved pyjamas but I wore a hoodie most of the time. If my stepdad saw my brusies he would beat me more. 

The sound of the door unlocking had me rising to my feet, Connor stood at the top of the stairs. "Come on S. Were going shopping, its a new place so I'll take you the first time. Matt can go with you after that but we need to get everyones school supplies so I'll help." My brain was screaming its a trap but I walked towards him anyway ignoring all the redflags and sirens going off in my brain. He smiled at me taking my hand and yanking me through the door. I headed for the back passenger seat but as I reached the door he stopped me. "You can sit in the front you know Sky." He smiled, it was a fake creepy smile, the type that sends shivers down your spine. I nodded and climbed into the front seat. It was a fifteen minute drive to the shops, the walk would be at least an hour. Connor parked up next to a large pickup truck, I jumped out of the car. I kept my head slightly down as I pushed the trolly into the shop. "Here's the list." Connor said handing me the slip of paper. I took it but didn't speak. "You can talk to me you know?" He sounded slightly angry.

"About what?" I asked innocently. 

"I've told you, I can help you." He said his tone becoming softer. "It wouldn't be so bad if you just do what I said." 

I look at him with an emotionless face, I've been getting better at hiding my emotions. "What are we making for dinner?" I ask changing the topic.

He gulps, "Dad said pizza." We piled all of the food shopping into the trolley, as I pushed it into the stationary aisle which was empty of customers, he shoved me into a shelf harshly. "Look, will you just stop with the silent treatment you bitch." He raised his fist and my eyes went wide, none of them would ever hit me in public. Suddenly he was shoved to the floor. My eyes darted to my saviour and then back to the floor. "What the hell?" My step-brother moved to his feet and launched himself at the boy who had just knocked him down.

"Both of you stop." I raised my voice praying that no one else could hear the commotion. To my suprise they both listened, both stood staring at each other. When I was sure they weren't going to attack each other again, I started picking up various notepads and pens for the four of us. I noticed the boys eyes had drifted to my arm, my step-brother was now stairing at his phone. I looked down at my arm realising that I had a bruise showing on my wrist, the boy made a noise which almost sounded like a growl as I tugged my sleeve down.  

Connor payed for everything and we wheeled the trolly back to the car, the boy had already gone. Connor helped me to pack everything into the car. "Don't you ever raise your voice at me again." He hissed in my ear. 

"Sorry." I nodded, quietly. 

When we got home I was locked in the basement for the rest of the night, not having tea was my punishment for whatever happened in the shop, my brother Matt had to make the Pizza's for the rest of the family. I took that as my opportunity to get some sleep.