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How many scars did we justify just because we loved the person holding the knife?

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-Chapter 34--Confusion and uncertainties-

When I woke up, they were both gone. I sit up and gaze at the window. The brightness from outside is leaking through the white curtains, brightening up the whole bedroom.

Was everything last night a dream?

Or was it real…?

Getting myself quickly off the mattress, I made my way to the bathroom but before that, I made sure I locked my bedroom door.

I make sure both bathroom doors are also locked up, too.

Don't want a repeat of last night's fiasco.

As I started stripping off my clothes, I glanced at the mirror to see how bad my appearance was.

I glanced at my neck. A faint pinkish pigment on my fair skin.

So it wasn't a dream... My stomach turns, nervousness taking over my calm body. As my heart squeezes tightly inside my chest.

Leo can't be like that, he just can't. He can't be that evil and heartless. A little stinging pressure in my chest made tears start running down my warm face at the realization that I really have nobody here.

Not wasting anymore time staring at myself in the mirror, I got into the shower and soothed my body with the lukewarm water that was pouring down on my aching muscles.

My body relaxed a bit. But my mind was on fire with questions popping up in my head non-stop. And all the bad possibilities of what could happen next.

What do they want from me?

If I don't follow up on whatever they order me to do, will they really kill me?

Would they really hurt my father or are they just lying so they can control me? It didn't sound like a lie. It sounded like every word that they let out was like a promise that they would uphold.

Getting out of the shower. And wrapping a big fluffy white towel around my slim body. I quickly got myself out of the bathroom and quickly dressed in big baggy comfortable clothes, then without wasting time, I was downstairs. Ready to bolt out the front door.

But something stops me. A voice as soft as cotton, yet hard and sharp as a blade. "Where are you going so early in the morning?"

It was Ms. Nancy's soft voice. She almost made me believe that everything was normal between us... Like if she gets along with me. It wasn't that hard to figure out when somebody doesn't like you. And there's no doubt in my mind that could tell me otherwise.

Now that I think about it. When have we ever sat down to converse? She hasn't spoken to me since the incident between Kevin and me.

Like if she doesn't want to touch on that touchy subject. What is she so afraid of? That she can't even control her own son.

I turn around, as I put my black hoodie on. "Umm..." far away from here for at least a little while. Until I can clear my mind and think of a way to not get killed by your sons.

"Emma?" A soft frown slowly appears on her face, as she walks closer to me. Her sharp heels clicked against the wooden floor with every step that she took.

No lie, but she looked really elegant dressed like that, even affectionate and kind. But no matter how much she dresses in white and displays that act of kindness.

In her eyes, it revealed the complete opposite of her appearance. She is no angel, even if she portrays that image in front of me.

"To get some fresh air." And to clear up my mind and recollect my thoughts that are scattered all over the damn place.

At this point. She was now in front of me with a soft smile on her face.

"It's still too early to go out alone. Come with me. "She pulled me gently by my arm, to the dining table and sat me down.

She strolls back into the kitchen and places a red apron on, and proceeds to do what she was doing.

I could still see her because the only thing that separates the kitchen from the dining room is the big white island in the middle of it.

My eyes stay on her every move as she motions herself through the kitchen. This silence was deafening. This whole situation was super awkward. I can't trust anyone in this house.

Don't get me wrong, but if Kevin and Leo have a few loose screws in their heads, They must have got it from someone. Not to be rude but... DNA never lies.

What did my father get himself into?

Is he even aware of how messed up these people are? Or is it just me? Doesn't he realize that he put himself in a cage with hungry wolves?

Or is he just brushing it off—all the obvious warning signs that are being thrown at him?

She starts placing the pancakes on the plate and gazes back at me with a warm smile... Yet, her soft wide smile doesn't reach her blue eyes.

And it's freaking creeping me out. I don't know who I am more frightened of… the twins or their mother.

The apple never falls far from the tree, they say... I think that phrase is true.

What the fuck is she planning that she keeps looking at me like that?

"Come over here." She mutters still with a small smile on her face. The sound of sizzling oil fills my ears. Is she making eggs?

Gradually standing up from my seat, I made my way to her.

The closer I got, the more paranoid I became. My mind was working on overdrive, conjuring up all the possible outcomes that could occur when I reached my destination.

Where is Dad, right now?

Is he still sleeping or did he take off to work already?

Multiple heavy footsteps came down the flight of stairs, echoing throughout the room, making me turn my whole body around when I heard their footsteps.

A breath that I don't know that I was holding in, releases as I slightly feel relieved to hear that more people are coming here. I just hope my dad is in the bunch.

Why was I relaxed? If they are in front of each other, I highly assume that they will not hurt me.

But anything is possible with these crazy people.

When I was about to get to my destination. Ms. Nancy decides to tell me to sit back down. My face only displayed confusion at her sudden change in character.

I don't question her and sit back down. The two twins came into the dining room, conversing with each other. They stop chatting with each other when they see me.

" Looks like someone is excited to go to school today," Leo says as he gets near me and pecks my right cheek, my body tensing up at his action. My heart and mind are confused with this situation.

Why is he acting as nothing happened? His cheerful self was back, and it was creeping me out. He doesn't have that cold look that he was sporting last night.

"What's wrong, Emma? You look kinda freaked out." Kevin's mocking tone doesn't go unnoticed by me. Is he freaking kidding me?

Why do I look afraid? I was held at gunpoint last night by a drunk guy who could have shot me yesterday if I took a wrong move. I even got molested in the freaking process.

"Emma... Is there something wrong?" Leo gazes at me as he tilts his head to the side as he scootes his chair closer to mine like every morning.

"Last night..."My gaze is on him now, waiting for him to say something about last night. Or at least show some regret in those dark eyes… but nothing.

"What about last night?" Is he kidding me? Doesn't he remember at all? He must be joking… right now.

"You... came into my bedroom last night. "When those soft words came out of my mouth. He gazed at me with complete confusion. His brows creased together, as if he was trying to recall anything from last night.

"Did I?" He gazes at Kevin, questioning him with his eyes. Kevin shrugs his shoulders and smiles as he sits down on one of the chairs in front of us...

"What did I do last night, Emma? I don't remember much when I'm drunk." His gaze was now on me, worry-filled his dark brown eyes. They looked so sincere that I was starting to fall for them like a complete idiot, again.

I quickly glance at Kevin and his smile widens as he gazes at his lit-up phone screen.

It was all him, wasn't it? He planned it out.

"Nothing..."I can see Kevin's small smile drop as he looks up from his phone. We lock eyes for a few seconds. The fury in his eyes amplifies more when a frown softly appears on my face.

"Are you sure? Cause, I do a lot of pretty stupid stuff when I'm drunk… "I cut my questioning gaze from Kevin and looked back at Leo's gentle ones.

"Yeah, I'm sure. "I will just pretend like it never happened. This doesn't mean that I'm going to let my guard down again with this guy. Yesterday was a wake-up call for me to not let my barrier down again.

"I don't believe you, Emma. You're blushing. " He voiced out. His dark brown eyes searched mine for a minute, seeing if my eyes could tell him what I was not. "Did I strip in front of you last night? ... Oh God, I did, didn't I? "

"What… No... Believe me. It is true. You did nothing... weird last night. " I look down, just trying to make him stop questioning me, already.

And it's better to not get him upset, again. So he won't come back, lashing out at me with a freaking gun when he's drunk.

"Good. The last thing I want is you getting all shy around me." I peeked up a little when he said that. A soft smile graces his lips as he leans back in his chair, happy that I didn't see him make a fool of himself last night. If only he knew he did much worse than that I think he would wish that he stripped off his clothes instead.

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Please ignore any bad grammar, for now, I'll fix that in the future.

Please leave a comment, I would love to know what you guys think of this chapter. It would keep me more motivated and make me laugh a little.

🎃