ESTELLE
"Get here, you little wench!" Lightning streaked across the sky as my father's terrifying voice rang from my doorstep. I didn't need anyone to tell me how deeply I was in trouble tonight.
I felt the blood drain from my face, my throat suddenly dry as I hid under the bed while fists banged against my door furiously, matching the banging thud my heart made in my chest.
"Estelle! Open this fucking door right now or I'll kill you," my father thundered, fist tirelessly banging on the door still.
My heart sank at his words, as usual whenever he spoke out of anger which happened most times. And tonight was one of them.
Frankly, he had every right to be. I'd crashed his car into the garage. Adam, my foster brother, had done it but who else would take the blame, if not me, the unlucky adopted child who wore ill luck like a second skin?
Soon, it became silent. The banging had stopped, the only sound being my heart pounding against my chest.
Had he decided to let me be? That was unlikely. He's probably biding his time for me to come out so he'd get me.
The silence never eased my mind, instead it added mystery to his next move.
After a few minutes that felt like forever, I crawled out slowly, grunting from the dull ache that coursed through my entire muscles. I sat on my bed, my face buried in my palms as I breathed heavily.
Honestly, my father wasn't the problem. If only I hadn't given into Adam's mischievous words, I could've avoided this whole mess. Staring at my bloodied palms, tears streamed down my face. God, I hated my life so much. I just wanted to die. Maybe then, I would escape the terrible fate of being unlucky.
The window made a creaking noise and before I could react, a figure hopped into my room, pinning me down with his arms while I tried to free myself from his grip.
I couldn't make out his face but I knew who it was. That heavy cologne and hints of tobacco made my heart sink nervously.
Adam. I felt powerless under his crushing weight.
"What to do now, Estelle? You ruined Dad's car." His hot breath on my face made me want to shrink so bad, terror slowly creeping into his piercing eyes. Even in the dark, I could see the contempt in his eyes.
"I…I didn't," I tried to say but his palm shut me up as it struck my face. For a moment, my vision became blurry, I couldn't see a thing—nothing but darkness. But even that was shortlived.
"You ruined Dad's car, Estelle, didn't you?" My cheek stung as Adam hit me once more, tears slowly welling in my eyes as I nodded frantically under him, affirming what he'd said. "Use your mouth, you unlucky bitch! You ruined Dad's car!"
Tears rolled down from the corners of my eyes as I screamed in response, "Yes!" I screamed repeatedly. "Yes! I ruined Dad's car!"
Satisfied, Adam's weight on me slowly lifted off as I lay there hopelessly, my eyes plastered on the ceiling as I felt nothing. Why me? Billions of people in the world and I had to be the unfortunate one, was my existence so cursed that I couldn't even experience love from one person?
A smug smile danced on his thin lips, disdain flashing in his eyes as lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating my room—and Adam's face—for a split second before everything became pitch black.
"Such a mess." He tsked and leapt out of my room through the window.
Hurriedly, I dashed to the window and locked it to ensure Adam didn't come back again. My knees felt wobbly, causing me to crash to my feet without a warning. I hated my life.
Coldness enveloped my room, the hairs on my skin suddenly rising. I stared at my door, wondering if Adam had left it open but I knew too well what it was. The devil.
"Poor, poor Estelle." came his deep voice. I couldn't see him, but a faint darkness inched closer to me. "Your tenth foster home, and it seems like you've overstayed your welcome. Where do you go now?"
I wouldn't speak. As far as I know, I was the only one who couldn't see him, hear him. I was termed the devil's spawn because of him. I only needed to be quiet.
Darkness enveloped me with a chill that sent shivers down my spine and I flinched. "What do you want from me? Aren't you done ruining my life?"
"What do I want from you?" His voice sounded deep, with a following growl that made me shudder. "Your life! Your life and everything—"
His words were cut off by a shriek I never knew I could produce as hurled my alarm clock in his direction. "Get the fuck away from me!"
The clock hit my father as he moved closer to me. The door was open, and demolished than it could possibly be. Did I do that?
Terror and panic seized me instantly as his eyes darkened while walking towards me. His presence alone made me want to bury myself and die.
I was definitely leaving and the realization of that sent me into panic mode. I was hated here but at least I was fed and clothed, with a room all to myself. I didn't have any of that liberty in Loveday Home. I didn't want to return to that wretched system.
"So the rumors are true," my foster father's voice or the darkness: I wasn't sure which was more terrifying. "Ever since you got here, it's been from one disaster to another. If the cups don't break, it's the furniture. The neighbors avoid us like plague. And I've done nothing but put up with you, yet you destroy my car and my house. The roof I gave you when you would've rotted in that orphanage home!"
I crawled to his side, gripping his leg firmly with fear as tears streamed down my face. "It was a mistake, I'm sorry, it would never happen again. Please, Dad!"
"I'm not your father!" He jerked his leg away from me, kicking me away from him with disgust as his grip tightened against my hair. I yelled out in pain as he pulled me out of the house.
"This. Ends. Now!" He thundered as he pulled me out of the house into the rain, my nose broken and bloodied while my body ached as I hit my body against the doorframes.
"Please Dad," my voice came out, barely in a wheezy tone as I pleaded, the murky water filling my mouth with earth and bitterness.
His legs found my stomach as he kicked me nonstop until the familiar coldness enveloped me. He was here. I bet he was enjoying it.
"Go back to where you belong!" My father yelled, lightning streaking across the sky as his voice blended with the thunderclaps. "Hell!"
Darkness claimed me as I felt air leave my lungs.
I was dying. Finally, an escape from this nightmare. No, it felt like I was pushed off the edge of a mountain, falling and feeling empty. That was what it felt like.
"Earth to Rosa!" came an unfamiliar voice. It seemed crisp.
I felt alive once again as air rushed into my lungs. Suddenly, I could feel again. I sat in a car with a man glaring at me. I felt…different. This wasn't Mr. Laughlin, nor his car. Where the hell was I?
"You seemed to have zoned out for a second."
His glare melted into a warm smile as he stretched his arm out. I flinched at his touch as he adjusted my collar.
I was in a uniform. Crimson. Neat. Well-fitted, like it was made for me.
Not given enough time to figure things out or what the fuck I was doing here, the door opened from my side and a man appeared with a beaming smile as he said:
"Welcome to Crestpine Academy, Miss. Rosabelle Ashgrave."