KYRA
The door slammed shut with a heavy thud and I sprang out of bed with a gasp. I cracked open my door and tiptoed out into the hallway, turning on the lights.
I heard someone mumbling from their room. I inched closer. It sounded like angry sobbing.
"Dad?" I said softly and waded into the room. I groaned as the room reaked of alcohol- whiskey maybe. I was deep inside the room with no signs of anyone. I closed my eyes and sighed and turned to leave.
Crack.
I howled like a wolf and fell to the ground like a deck of cards. "What're you doing here?" I stared up into his eyes, his voice sending shivers through my spine. "Answer me!"
I flinched. "Da…dad…" "I'm. Not. Your father!", he roared and yanked me up by my arms and threw me into the bed. "No please. Don't hurt me. Daddy please".
He inched closer to me and I retreated to the edge of the bed. This man before me wasn't my adoptive father. No. He was a monster.
"Don't be scared bunny. This will only hurt a little".
"Nooooo!!!!!!"
****
My body was on fire. It burned so badly that it was the only thing I could feel. Dani gurgled from his cot and I took labored steps toward him. I picked him up and cuddled him in my arms, sobbing.
I froze. He was coming down the stairs. I quickly put Dani down and limped into the kitchen.
" Hey Dani, you good?" I heard him say. He sounded so cheery and unconcerned. " I've gotta head on out to the store now, be good".
I heard the front door open and shut. I sighed and crumpled onto the kitchen floor, sobbing.
Guess my Sunday's off to a shitty start.
****
His cold hand gripped my wrist as I reached to feed Dani. "You've been so distant. Is everything okay bunny?"
I nodded stiffly, that nickname chilling my blood.
"Dani will be coming to work with me from tommorow. So you don't have to worry about school tomorrow. Okay?"
I nodded.
He glanced at his watch. " It's already late and you've got school in the morning. Good night bunny. I'll take it from here".
I nodded and rose. "Goodnight dah".
****
"Kyra Ledger?" Mrs. Arkham squinted down at the roll sheet, lips pursed. "Who's Kyra? Ledger?"
I sank an inch lower in my seat by the window, hoping the sunlight could just... melt me into the glass.
"Ledger?" she repeated, scanning the class now, eyes sharp like she was sniffing out a lie.
I raised my hand slowly, heart pounding against my ribs.
She blinked at me. "Are you in my class, Miss Ledger?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said quietly.
She tilted her head. "Funny. I don't remember ever seeing you."
I felt heat crawl up my neck. I'd been in this school for a long time. But it was easy to be invisible when you never spoke, never volunteered, and never smiled.
Before I could say anything else, the bell rang.
"Perfect timing," Mrs. Arkham said, dropping her roll sheet onto her desk with a smack. "The rest of you—out for lunch."
The class erupted in cheers and shuffling. Chairs scraped back. Backpacks zipped. Someone tossed a paper ball at someone else. Normal chaos.
"Not you, Miss Ledger," she added without looking up. "You're going to take a test."
I sat frozen while everyone else filed out, a few kids throwing me side glances like I was some sort of zoo exhibit. I kept my head down and chewed on the inside of my cheek.
****
I walked home slowly after school, kicking a stone along the sidewalk.
Behind me, I could hear them again—two girls from my old elementary school, giggling like they were sharing a dirty secret.
"She just sits there like a ghost," one of them whispered. Loud enough for me to hear.
"Ghost bunny," the other snickered.
I stopped. I wanted to turn and scream, That name isn't funny. That name isn't yours. But my throat closed up.
Dad used to call me Bunny.
Back when I still liked hearing my name.
Now it felt like a curse.
I clutched my backpack straps tighter and walked faster, ignoring their laughter.
Home wasn't better.
But it was quieter.
And I was getting good at pretending quiet meant safe.