Thalia:

October 2011

Twelve hours till disappearance

My mother scowled at me,face heated."The school called me over at work.Is it true that you had detention ?"She shrieked ,her voice went to a shrill.I cringed at my moms tone.I was on our sidewalk that led to the path.A dog barked at my right and a kid laughed at me.I sent him a glare that made him whimper.He shut up.I neared the pathway at the foot of the stairs as a hose pooled in another house.

"Yes,"I replied ,my voice hoarse.

My mothers eyes widened then she let out a sigh. "Is everything alright ?''She pressed,her tone livid and her face swollen with anger.She realised ,sighed heavily as her lips pursed into a thin line.She then inclined her head ,eyes cloudy with thought.

"Yes,"I lied."I'm fine."Another lie.

Then I climbed the stairs and entered.Much to my mothers annyonce.My eyes landed on the dark hardwood floor as I avoided my moms suddenly calm demeanor.She pressed her crocks together and smoothed her scrubs.She released a sigh, "You can tell me."She said her voice soft.I stared straight ahead ,gripped the straps tight.

No,I couldn't.Would she even believe me ?The dreams ,the drawings and the tricks my mind played on me.

"No,"I said with gritted teeth ,eyes glossy.She sniffed behind me ,hurt about my reply.And she shuffled and sidestepped. "I'm sorry."she replied.I snapped my gaze to her ,lips parted but then she circled the kitchen counter ,sink basin gurgled.Murmurs echoed from the television.

That sorry took me off guard like a slap.What did she mean by sorry?My feet creaked on the foot of the stairs.

"Why did you have detention ?"My mother repeated ,her voice rose.My back tensed,my breath hitched and my lips went slack."Do you know what time it is ?Do you know how long I waited for you?"

She took a deep breath as her footsteps echoed and she was right behind me."Answer me !Did you even hear me?"A lump got stuck on my throat.

"A rumour,"I replied.

"Thalia,why would you do such a thing?"She lectured ,her voice thick with her Ghanaian accent.

"I didn't spread it exactly. I was actually at the counsellor's office when someone spread it ."

"Jesus,Lord Jesus have mercy on my soul."My mother prayed ,eyes cast upwards with her voice still thick with home.She rested her back against the wall and shook her head."What have I done wrong?"My mother asked herself as her gaze went to the light then the cross.Then her eyes widened to a horrified saucers."Wait,"She began,"The consular?"Her voice faltered,soft with emotion.I watched my mother with newfound surprise that her eyes held a flickered of high flashed in her eyes before it extinguished faster than it built .She took a step forward."What did you tell them ?Did they believe you ?How did she react ?Is the evidence still there?"She was bombarded with questions ,all eager and hopeful.She placed her hands on my shoulders.

"Yes,"I croaked,a small smile curled on my lips and eyes glossy with tears."I did tell her everything."I lied.Again.Sorry,mom.I couldn't tell her everything.How he abused us but the bad habits I did.When he assaulted me.

Ten.A deep light misty voice prickled my head.My whole body froze,my eyes glassy as everything muffled and the world drained.I couldn't move as shivers ran through my spine.

What?

Ten.

"I did."I replied in what felt like hours and days before my nerves returned as I recalled how instantly my body shut down.

Her lips held a flicker of a smileThen it fell."How can you be so sure ?"Her questions were a cocoon of spider webs.I was confused by her switches and the sadness and pain she had endured,bottled up and her desertion.

I nodded and a grin spread on my lips.It was quiet apart from the buzz of the light from the kitchen light.Our eyes met and our breaths were in sync and all we could do was smile.

"I'm sorry."My mother apolised.her bottom lip trembled as she spun ,raised her arm to her face to swipe her threatening tears from her glossy eyes.My lips parted in shock as my eyes widened.

"Mom."I echoed ,voice horse as I stepped forward

She sniffed and turned her gaze away as her braids streamed down her back as all I could do was gawk.

"Mom,"I repeated.

She turned her gaze to me ,her eyes wide and glazy as she slowly pressed her pam to her lips."I'm so sorry , baby.That everything would be all right."She cracked a cough."I'm sorry about all the things that might happen to you."

My eyes were as wide as saucers as my brows knitted in confusion.I repeated my moms name multiple times like a child ,a whiney and defenceless child.My feet were glued to the floor with my jaw slack.A cold blanket of air fell over as it left its icy fingers on my skin which concluded me and drowned me in cold sweat as my eyes literally burgled from my eyes.Bloodshot.

The doorbell chimed,long and loud.Moms eyes widened as she snapped her eyes to it.Our gazes met as tight as wire.My expression just as similar as my mothers.Her head snapped to mine .lips pursed and eyes wide.The tension pressed in us like a palm ,pressing my face to my neck.It was as if the ceiling pressed on us ,thick and tight and sucked the air out of my lungs.

Run.

Father was home.

Her eyes screamed ,I bit my lip and slowly darted my eyes to the stairs.My feet flew up the stairs as I eyed the door asca black bar of shadow fell on the door and my mother slowly rotated and stared at the door burt all I recalled was the horror written on her slim face and her glossy eyes as she mouthed.

I am sorry.

My mind churned on her flip of her behaviour.She was a woman who hid herself in a block of glass but crumbled and thawed under my dads intense glaze and smiled at me with sunlight and stroked me with grace.I was so confused that the lights flickered and buzzed.My breathe clouded ad my heart hammered.

All the weird events popped in and out like fireworks.The door slammed shut ,the darkness which writhed recoiled from the safety of my room filled with life.Whichever demon or monster lurked inside was a coward.I released a much needed sigh ,pressed my palm to my chest.My eyesight swirled with blurriness or potential tears as the darkness writhed and danced.I flicked on the lights on ,slipped off my shoes and dropped my bag with a crunch.After a few minutes ,I was shirts and shorts.The curtains flapped in the wind.It was quiet and there was no sound.All I heard was my breathe ,my chest which rose and fell and my heart which hammered in my chest as I took in a sharp intake of breathe.A car streaked by as the headlights pierced the darkening street searching. Cold air bit on my exposed body as I unplugged my cell from my nightstand.

It was six thirty.

I climbed onto my bed ,the comforter crunched as I tried to make myself comfortable and crossed my legs. But the eeriness of the dark house and the quiet neighbourhood couldn't stop the hammering bird in my chest ,the tight knot in the pit of my stomach and the feeling of the roof pressed on my back.I finally felt the monster who worked in this house and the dark ,wet blanket dressed on the warped mind of this place.My home ,my very creepy home.A shudder ran through my spine.

A smile formed on my lips.Nate was active on Messenger as my eyes landed on thick ,noise cancelling headphones draped on my desk.

Hi.I texted.

Nate's reply was instant :Hello,hello ,hello.

A warm bubbly feeling flushed all over me as I resisted the urge to giggle.

Cut it out !

My back tensed as I clenched my cell tight.I swivelled my head and looked over my shoulder as I could feel adrenaline course through my veins.

What if my father went through my phone ?

With pursed lips and quick fingers, I typed :I think we should be more discreet.You know ...who?

He started typing ,quickly erased then replied :Oh ,ok.Why?

I responded quickly: Daddy Dearest,who else ?

My phone chipped a little too loudly,glowed bright white which caused me to jump as I slowly clamped my weak,trembling fingers on my lips.

Shit,oh no.

It was quick :Oh right.A trail of thumbs up and angry emojis followed.

My father was back yet which caused a shiver down my spine and the thick silence pressed down on my back about to snap.A stab of panic flowed through me.

The door slammed shut.It was loud and reverberated throughout the house and caused the house to shake.My breathe quickened.Loud footsteps as my father strutted in ,heavy and loud like boulders.I clenched my cell tight as my lungs were choked with cotton balls.My cell vibrated and the whole world stopped as wind blew into my room with cold air and the curtains danced.It was quiet again.You could hear a pin drop.

"Thalia,"My fathers voice boomed ,his voice rose to an octave and the walls shook as I sank into the comfort of my bed.A shiver ran through my body and my heart lurched and clenched my cell hard."Thalia."He repeated again ,it pounded closer this time.Then he stopped.Angry footsteps echoed from below.The stomps caused thunder."Where are you ,you stupid girl!"My mothers voice was in the background ,muffled and drowned as she tired to calm him down.Their fights were constant and predictable that I learned and understood the pain and sorrow which followed.

They threw words and yelled at each other , something smacked loud ,something slammed and shattered then full on words were exchanged.All were degrading ,mean and hateful.A grunt escaped my his lips and footsteps ringed below ,all loud and shrill echoed from the foot of the stairs.The footsteps receded then returned back into the living room where it faded away as I let out a breathe that I had zero recollection of.Their raised voices pierced from the thin wallpaper and loose floorboards.Doors slammed and my moms barrier broke ,little by little.

"Don't go up there !"Mom raised her voice.

"Shut up ,woman.''Dad spat ,haterd and poison seeped into his voice.

I could weirdly picture it.His lips pulled into a snarl with those sharp points and eyes a deep bronze.Mom took a sharp intake of breath and shook her head back and staggered way.A weird image wavered on my mind but was replaced like a ripple then I saw this.His tall imposing shadow on her , his breathe hot with alcohol and wide bloodshot eyes.Mom reeled back with a squirm and averted her horrified gaze from him.

It was a game of tag of war.As it always was. Dad reigned supreme and remained the victor.She tugged and tugged to her direction but he yanked her back into his thorny clutches.It was pure power play.I despised it deep in my bones.I cursed at Mom for being weak and I cursed my father for being this way and I finally cursed myself for not doing shit.I sat there with fear in my wide eyes , body petrified of movement and I lost the will to breathe or think.

Unknown to me ,I wandered back into the agruement.Mom screamed my name and dissolved into a loud ,hacking sob.The fridge door opened ,loud curses then it slammed again.

"W—Where were you ?''Mom demanded ,her voice to a shrill and dripping with pure accusation.He sucked in a sharp intake of breath ,chuckled and paced around the island much to my mothers displeasure.

With my fathers shrivelling look ,he slammed his palm on the counter with wild eyes and veins ,thickly webbed on his large neck.''None of your business,"he retorted , large muscular arms flexed on the counter.

Moms face was hot with wild bottled anger and growing confidence."Oh really,"she scoffed ,eyes levelled to him with wrists clenched.She whirled away and pointed away."Do you know what time is it ?Now tell me again.Where the hell were you ?"Anger was hot and unfurled past the floorboards.Her Ghanaian accent thick like the smoke they shared.

"Woman?''He repeated ,shock written on his harsh features with raised brows and slack jaw.Finally ,my mother sprouted wings and didn't back down.Sadly ,I knew how it ended.How it always ended.

She kissed her teeth.Something flashed in his eyes.The disrespect.She placed her hands on her hips ,eyes mimicked her husbands."So you want to play this game ?Why the hell were you?"

His lips pulled into a sneer ,"Since when did you become like this."He paused."Since when did you become my keeper ?"My mother gaped at her.He used her religion against her.Her eyes darted to the cross as she counted to ten over and over.Then she did.She did the cross and kissed her fingers.

"May God punish you."

The TV switched to something —the News or a Rugby game.

"Don't you dare."He repeated.A stagger and a loud yelp as the floorboards creaked.She screamed in pain as I pictured him ,a fistfull of braids twisted and grasped in his hands as he yanked her hair as she groaned in pain.

The hairs of my neck stood erect as the need to run out and scream for help but it was fruitless.Invisible chains wrapped around me and my breath was sucked out of my lungs.

He released her as a loud thud echoed on the floor as my mother spat ,blew her braids and released a sigh.Her back pressed to the counter as she eyed him through her curtain of braids.

He threw his eyes towards the ceiling."Now ,where's that good for nothing maggot!"My blood froze in my veins ,my back alert.

Why wasn't I not doing anything ?

They returned to their screaming match.My nerves shot to the max.They always argue.Everything tipped them off and they exploded.It got louder and more volatile.About Dad drinking ,his lazy ass ,where he went and me and me and me.About my detention and the insults he threw at his wife and I.

Shit.

Did he even love us ?He was drunk.Intoxicated ,unpredictable and angry which equaled violence.

Yes ,the answer was evident.If I didn't do it.I'll snap ,cry and panic.It was clear as day.I needed a distraction as my heart cramped tight and mouth filled with cement.It was wrong and I didnt want this.If Nate was on the line and I thanked God he wasn't ,he would hear everything but this was via text.I realised a sigh because I was thankful that Nate wont relive any trauma.He d talk and talk and exclude me.It was just what I needed.I wasnt much of a talker though.Something yanked my foot.The world shifted and vibrated.Something loud rang and echoed in my ears The agruements below blended into the background the I lurched again.

With a swift close of eyes ,wind howled in my ears and the cold bit my ears with a silver of snow and a familar white sky ,I returned when I opened my eyes.Again I returned to the white strench I narrowly avoided for how long.I lurched again.The bed felt chucnky—cold even with snow which swallowed my thighs with the ever constant howls of snow.Icy and biting.I fell into it as wind swirled around me.Frost climbed on my fingers ,black and goosebumps formed on my flesh.A scream locked in my throat .I crawled through the deep snow and squeezed my eyes closed ,the heat climbed on my face.

I was lurched back into reality that my brethae come out in pants.I was back in the thick ,saffcting darkness but the chill and cold still lurked in the air and my skin.It hung a mist its pressence still there.The light glowed on my face ,sharpened the stuff in my room from my cell.

I was back.

It vibarted in my numb fingers.Mutliple times and exchoed thriughout my room.My blood thick with ice turned solid in my viens.

The hell ?

Fears of my dad would thunder up the stairs and snatch the cell of my arms swarmed mu mind from below as my heart hammerd in my rib cage.

Hello !Hello!Hello :Multiple concerned repiles exploded on my cell asmy fingers clenched around it.

How long was I out ?

Youre next.

An icy ,hoarse voice prickled into the depths of my mind asI shuddered and my body froze.

My eyes darted to my cell,eyes burgled out of the sockets as I gawked frozen tomy postion.

Nate texted instantly and bombareded me with concerned texts :Are you ok ?Hello?Anyone there ?

Yes,I was there.I wanted to scream.So I texted him emojis.I sent emojis because I was too petrified to text or compose words correctly.The door salmmed and echoed throughout the house.My body jerked then I texted him an angry face ,a thumbs up , a door and a fist.Then Nate responded me with aqtrail of weapons and an angry face.

A smile formed on my face as luaghter bubbled insude me soon the agreumemt blurred into the backgrund and my odd hallucination faded out and all I felt was me and Nate lost in a digitail conversion.The phone vibrated as Nate attemted to call nut reality would trumatise him further and i didnt want that so as soon as the phone profile appered.I tapped the red dot.

Sorry ,Nate.I wanted to say as I released a sigh.

Then we proceded to talk about my dentention ,life at his home and the rumours ,alive and well which circlated around the school.Nate was curious about what I would do or dress as for Holloween.He asked if i noticed the decor nd I repiled with a smile but I shattered his heart about a Trick or Treat hangout and twisted the dagger harder about not celebrating holloween.

Wait, I began and typed quickly on the phone,you dont own a phone ?

Nate repiled with a smirk ,and a smile with a tongue out :Its my moms,no biggie.

Then he quickly added :Ur sure u are ok ?

Another salm.A chrous of loud slams.And luaghter.Loud slurred laughter."Where is that waste of space ?"He bellowed ,hoarse and shaky."I paid your fees in dollars .Dollars!"

My heart hammered and my breathe hitched wih my phone clemched.More screams and sobs spread throughout the house as my father spat inuslts about his wife and daughter.I could picture it:My mother on the floor as my fsther drunk with bloodhsot eyes as he kicked her to a pulp.Her cries that begged of mercy and she clung to fickle hope that he would register something or on her feet and she sheilded her face before he shoved her into the cold,hard floor.And beat and kicked her with his eyes ,wild and feral until she was a mass on the floor.

An odd quietness desecended in the house and from beyound my window a cat screeched ,an alarm balared and lights from the windows slowly blinked.One by one ,a dog barked and a door unclocked as a person walked out drssed in robes.

My mother cradled herself ,cried and sniffed."Get up!"He yelled ,voice urgrent."I said get up."

"My baby ,my baby."She moaned but at the time,at I had no idea why she acted the way she did like an unspiken secret was shared between them.

It yanked me back to the times when I caught them in the middle of their agtruements ,but then they hushed themselves or asked me to return to my room in a sickly sweet voice but then exploded into it when they sworn I had left.I never left.My name was sprinkled in it about caring,about concern and abut my dad if he truly cared or dangerous.I never unstood them and I kept my ears sharp and eyes peeled and hid at the corners or by the stairs thne vanished with light footsteps when they got up.My moms face wet with tears and eyes bloodshot.

The knob twisted ,footsteps echoed as I choked a sob and clenched my cell.When my parents stepped into my room ,an appereant frown on my dads hard face and the awkward tilt of his head.Words like it would be best ,it has the happen and nothing can prevent it.

The Test.

Our neighbours dog waded forward ,froze and snapped its head.Then its eyes widened ,streanched and it whimpered as he hardened its gaze at it.The dogs lips streanched into a snarl and a growl but my dad did something and it whimpered then it skitered.

"Hey,"the neighbour yelled ,stood in front of the door,"whats the ruckus ?"The lady cried.Dad simply cleared his throat."Its nothing."The lady gasped ,spun on her slippers then wandered away dazed as if she was in a dream.The door slammed.

Note>Ciao ,ciao.sorry my internet vanished and my dad as still and as unmovable as  mountain did not buy but I prevailed.I finally completed this son of a bitch.

Enjoy.For now.

Evil laughter.Mwah.Ha ha.