| 68 |

| 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐞 |

I'm here.

I'm actually fucking here.

Dad doesn't meet my eyes as he helps me remove my bags from the car, along with Mom. The whole ride was torturously painful and silent. He still seems mad at me but not furious like he was last night.

The school looms over us like a nightmare with dark walls and a plain exterior. It was an entire two-hour drive. There are no signs of any other building or person for miles. It looks like some asylum for mental patients. Shivers go down my spine the more I stare at it.

I'm gonna be living here...for three months.

God help me.

When the last of my bags are out of the car, Dad stands in front of me looking down at me with hard eyes. I stare up at him, not sure what to say.

For a split second, I think a flicker of softness flashes through his eyes, but he keeps his guard well up. I know he's not mad at me anymore. He doesn't have it in himself to remain mad at anyone for more than a few hours.

I know he's doing this because he thinks he was too soft or wasn't strict enough that I went ahead and got myself into this deep shit.

This morning he made a huge breakfast with all my favorite dishes which tells me that he's not mad anymore. It still hurts though because he's not talking to me or even looking at me for more than two seconds.

It was hard getting into the car and leaving Castle. I slipped back into my room just in time before Dad woke up. When we had breakfast, Castle and I held each other's hands the entire time under the table, eating our food slowly to drag out time.

When I went to bring my bags down, he came up to help me and we had about two seconds to wrap our arms tightly around each other before Dad came up to help me too.

Castle said he didn't want to come along and I'm glad he didn't because I know it would hurt him more to sit beside me the entire car ride and not be able to say anything with Dad there. I don't think I could've kept my hands to myself too if he was there.

Dad clears his throat, swallowing. "Take care of yourself."

I blink up at him. Those are the first words he said to me since he told me to go to my room. Since then, he's been sending Mom as a messenger.

"I will." I give a single nod, then add hesitatingly. "Take care of Castle."

He nods. "I will."

Silence stretches between us.

Dad has his hands in his pockets, looking awkward as if he wants to say something more but he's holding himself back. He's saved when Mom steps forward and pulls me into her arms.

"I want to have a moment with her, Elias," she says.

He nods and steps a few feet away, gazing at the haunted school with a frown.

"He's upset because he thinks he didn't protect you enough." Mom whispers to me.

"I know." I sigh.

"You don't worry about him. He did those kinds of things during our high school days too."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Really?"

She nods, before rolling her eyes. "He was the school troublemaker too. 'Used to beat up people all the time. Misbehaved. Talked so loudly."

My eyebrows point up. "Dad?" I drawl out in disbelief. 

She nods.

My eyebrows crease as I glance at Dad who's gazing at his shoe now, looking under the sole and the sides of it. "He's so...responsible."

"He changed." She shrugs. "After having you."

Another sigh comes out of my mouth. "I...I am sorry for this. I did throw the phone away and stopped threatening people. I didn't mean for this to get me into deep shit." I breathe out through my mouth, giving her a hopeful look. "Would it help if I say I threatened people for good reasons?"

She shakes her head. "I don't understand why you and your father first resort to violence and threatening."

"Must be a hereditary thing." I mumble. My tone turns serious. "Look after Castle, Mom. He doesn't eat well so you'll have to hand-feed him. At night, keep checking in on him and tell Dad to never leave Castle alone. Also, Castle might need more clothes from his house so let Dad get those for him."

A small smile comes on her face. "We'll take good care of him, Holly. You focus on recovering your studies so you can actually graduate from this place within three months."

I mentally groan at that. Studying is not my thing, and this school wants us to do exactly that 24/7.

"It's time to go in now." Dad approaches from behind, pointing at his watch.

I resist a sigh and nod, bending down to pick up two of my bags and begin walking towards the school.

Behind me Mom and Dad pick the rest of my bags, following me.

"Why are these so goddamn heavy?" He quietly huffs out to mom, failing at whispering since I can hear every word.

"Didn't you want her to pack well?" She questions.

"I hope she kept that red fruity shampoo with her. She goes crazy when she doesn't get to shower with that."

I roll my eyes.

"She did. Don't worry." I say out loud.

He immediately clamps his mouth shut, snapping his eyes away from me and looking at the walls around.

I look back ahead, dread falling over me as I stare at the colorless brown and gray walls. At a distance, I spot a few girls my age. They wear dull expressions with pale clothes, just standing in a hallway, looking bored. I look around some more before coming to a conclusion that I most likely won't get along with any of them. I'm going to be all alone and on my own.

Mustering up a little courage, I tell myself that it won't be that bad.

Three months.

Just go through it.

Don't socialize with anyone.

Graduate.

Then get out.

I glance back to see Dad wearing a grim expression as he looks around.

In a few steps we reach the office. A bad feeling settles over me as I stare at the huge old brown door. I reach forward to knock, taking in a steady breath.

After this, there's no escaping.

★・・・・・・★

Here I am rn wearing my baggy sleepwear at 12:30 AM, editing this chapter just for you guys. I'm drinking water because I'm too sensitive to coffee. I can't handle the smell, taste and the effects of coffee. I hate it so much. I literally gag whenever I smell coffee as if some is shoving something thick down my throat. 

Anyways...good day!

Words: 1,100

Date of publishing: 18th August 2023