by Sadie Rose
"Ok see these pipes here?" Yes. "They get really hot so don't let them touch you. See this pipe here?" Yes. "Don't put your feet there. Your feet go here ok?" I nod. "I'll get on then u get on after me. make sure you hold on tight. Got it?" I grin and give him a thumbs-up sign. He starts putting a helmet on me adjusting it and fastening it. "There are speakers in the helmet so you will be able to hear me." He swings his leg over and puts his helmet on. Then he helps me on. It's a little awkward getting on but once I'm seated Mason turns to me
"Remember to hold on tight and if you get scared or sick tap me and I'll stop ok" I smile brightly and grab fistfuls of his shirt at his waist. He presses a button on his bike and the garage doors open. Mason starts the bike and I'm surprised how loud it is. I whimper a little. It's SO loud! I hear Mason's voice inside the helmet "You ok? It's loud but it's safe. You still wanna do this?" He turns to look at me. I nod my head. My body is pressed against his. We haven't ever been this close before. My legs are pressed against his, my front pressed against his back. I like it but I also don't like it, it feels too close. But I don't want to stop. I'm so tired of being scared. I want to be normal. If everyone else can ride a freaking motorcycle, then I can to. The bike jerks forward, and I lose my grip for a second. Mason takes my hands and wraps them around his waist. My heart is racing so fast he has to be able to feel it pounding against his back. Before I can second guess myself again it's too late. We are flying out of the garage and down the driveway. I'm so scared that I don't really notice anything other than the fear pounding in my head.
My eyes are squeezed shut, my breaths coming in rapid pants. The bike stops and my eyes fly open but before I can even focus my eyes, we are going again. We speed through the black metal gate and now we are on the street in front of our house. My heart is starting to slow down. I hear Mason's voice in the helmet
"You're doing great Ava. This is fun, isn't it? It's like flying!" His voice relaxes me. I take a deep breath and release it slowly. I feel the wind whipping my hair, Mason's body is warm and solid in front of me, the rumble of the bike beneath me. I throw my head back laughing at the sheer joy of being here in the sunshine with him. When was the last time I left those gates? I can't even remember. I feel brave and powerful. My heart is pounding, I'm terrified and exhilarated at the same time. I hear him laughing in my ear. I can't remember when I felt SO happy, SO free! Mason rides us up and down the street for a few minutes before turning back toward the gate. I'm disappointed that the ride is over. I don't want it to end. We are still laughing when the bike comes to a stop inside the garage. Mason helps me off and then gets off himself. Grinning, he takes our helmets off.
"Was I right? You loved it! Admit it!" I'm nodding and bouncing up and down when Anson rushes towards us. It takes me longer than it should to realize something is wrong. Anson is yelling at Mason.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?! Are you fucking insane! Or just stupid!" He grabs a fistful of Mason's shirt in one hand and before Mason can even say anything Anson throws his arm back and punches Mason right in the face. Blood spurts everywhere and Mason and Anson are yelling and punching. I start screaming. Mom and Andrew and people are running everywhere. I can't stop screaming. I feel myself falling away. Falling down, the room is red with blood and I can't stop screaming.
Chapter 16
Mason
What the fuck is going on here? One-minute Ava and I are laughing, everything is great, and the next Anson is fucking flipping out! What the fuck is his problem? He's got the wrong fucking guy if he thinks I'm just gonna stand there like some little bitch and take his shit! Fucking ass, pretty, rich boy he doesn't know who he's messing with. He may have started this fight, but I guarantee I'm gonna mother fucking end it!
I've got him on the floor pounding the shit out of him when I feel hands yanking me off.
"Jesus! Stop! Mason Stop! What the hell is going on here?" Dad is holding me, and Frank has Anson. Anson is struggling like some fucking psycho trying to break away from him. Then I hear this screaming. I freeze and look over at Ava. She on the floor her back against the wall. Her knees are pulled up and her face is buried against them she has her hands over her ears and she’s just fucking screaming. Her mom is kneeling beside her but every time she tries to touch her, she screams louder and jerks away. The twins are standing in here with their hands over their ears. They look fucking terrified. I look over at Erica, she’s standing with her hands covering her mouth tears streaming down her face.
"This is your fucking fault, you asshole!" Anson shouts at me. My fault? Is that fucker serious? HE fucking attacked ME.
"Fuck you man! You don't know what you're talking about" I lunge for the asshole, I'm gonna fucking kill him.
"Stop it! Stop! You're making it worse" Kate yells at us. Anson breaks free and runs to Ava. He kneels in front of her but when he touches her leg and tries to pull them down, she starts kicking him. Seriously, fucking kicking hard. Kate is crying.
"Is she hurt? Did she get hit? What happened?" Ava is really losing her shit, kicking her legs out and screaming. I can't see her face, but I've never heard screaming like this before, loud and panicked broken up by horrible sobbing. I'm not sure what’s worse the screams or the sobs. I want to go to her, but I'm worried I'll make the situation worse.
"Stop Anson! Stop it! You're making it worse! You know better than to touch her when she's like this" Kate yanks him away. He scoots back staring at her.
"Then call the fucking doctor!" He yells. The twins have added their cries to Ava's and at this point, I don't which is louder. Dad yells at Erica
"Jesus! Erica stop crying take the boys upstairs!" No one moves. "Go! Now!" Erica grabs the boys and starts dragging them from the room. The place is in pandemonium. I look around people are everywhere, in the doorways, standing around, May is sobbing loudly, with another woman's arms wrapped around her.
Fucking hell. I've never seen anything like this, and I hate how scared and fucking helpless I feel.
"He's already on his way Anson. We just gotta let her be until he gets here." Kate is sitting beside Ava crying. At least she's stopped kicking but holy fuck she's still screaming. I want to cover my damn ears like Jack and Oliver did. But I just stand there with my dad at some point he handed me a wet towel and I'm holding it to my nose and lip. It's several long fucking agonizing minutes before the screaming stops but what follows is almost worse. Deep loud sobbing. Like I've never heard before. The cries before was bad but this sobbing sends chills done my spine. It's almost inhuman sounding.
Finally, the doctor gets there and gives Ava a shot. Within minutes she’s passed out. Anson sweeps her up and starts carrying her out. Kate and the doctor leading the way. I go to follow him, but Dad grabs me.
"No! You stay here!"
"Dad! I just want to be sure she's ok!" I yell.
"What happened Mason?" Dad asks. "What set her off?" I just shake my head. How the fuck do I even start? I honestly have no clue why she freaked out like that.
"I don't know Dad I swear! Everything was fucking fine! Anson was pissed about something as soon as I walked in. He jumped me! Go ask him what happened!"
"Why would he just jump you, Mason?" My dad yells. " That doesn't make any fucking sense! Were you and Ava fighting?" Fuck why is this my damn fault? I can't believe I'm being blamed for this shit.
"No! Fucking hell!" I yell at him "Did you try something with her? Kiss her or something?" He asks. Oh my God. I can't fucking believe this right now.
"NO! Fuck NO!" I yell at him. "Fuck this shit." I stomp off because seriously if I don't get away from him, I'm gonna fucking punch HIM in the face. I'm so mad I can’t hardly breath, none of this is my fault plus I'm terrified for Ava.
My foot hits the bottom stair just as Anson comes flying down them. He's literally leaping down the stairs. His face is red, his eyes are crazed, he looks like a fucking crazy person! Kate is running after him. Ok, I guess round two is on! Before he reaches me though my dad is there
between us. He pushes Anson back with one hand and me back with the other.
"ENOUGH! ENOUGH! Both of you in my office right FUCKING NOW!" I've never seen my dad like this. He looks like he's gonna explode. Anson shakes himself off and opens his mouth and says the stupidest fucking words he could say in this situation.
"Fuck you! You’re NOT my dad, don't fucking try bossing me around" His mom breaks in.
"Now Anson!" He turns on her "This is just as much your fault as his!" He turns to Dad,
"You need to take your fucking kids and get out! She hasn't had a fit this bad in almost three years!" He yanks on his hair and tears run down his face, a loud sob escaping before he pulls his shit together. I almost feel bad for the mother fucker.
"Go!" Kate yells. The four of us stomp off to Dad's study.
I can feel the rage coming off Anson, he's barely holding his shit together. Kate is crying and Dad is shaking with anger.
"What the hell is going on here?!" My dad demands as soon as we are inside. No one speaks.
"Anson answer us!" Kate yells.
"Fucking ask him!" Anson flings his arm towards me. I'm so close to losing my shit right now I know if I even open my mouth, I'm gonna lose it.
"I did!" My dad yells "He said you jumped him! For no reason! So now I'm fucking asking YOU! What happened?" Anson sneers over at me.
"No reason! Did he tell you he left with Ava? Did he tell you that? That he took her on his motorcycle and left the fucking house?" Anson is getting worked up again, stomping back and forth and shooting daggers at me with his eyes. Kate gasps and looks at me and I do lose my shit. I straighten up.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now!" I yell at him. "THAT'S why you're pissed! Because we went on a ten-minute bike ride! That she wanted to go on!" I yank my hand through my hair.
"He doesn't even fucking deny it!" Anson screams. Kate is still staring at me with wide terrified eyes. What the fuck is wrong with these people?
"Mason, you left the house with Ava?" My dad asks quietly.
That right there was the moment I felt like there was something more going on then I knew.
"Ya, but she wanted to. I didn't force her, and we only went right outside the gate, we went up and down the street a couple times and came back. That's it I swear" Kate has her hand covering her gaping mouth. She's staring at me like I just admitted to a disgusting crime. I sink down into a chair suddenly exhausted. No one says anything for a long minute. Finally, I can't take it.
"What's the big deal?" I ask.
"She can't just leave Mason" Kate whispers.
"Why? I don't get this!?"
"Why? Why! Are you serious? Look what fucking happened!" Anson yells. "She hasn't left the house in almost five YEARS, you asshole! You didn't even tell anyone!" Dad breaks in.
"Fuck Mason! What if she had panicked on the back of that bike? Jesus son!" I can't believe this!
"No! she was fine when we got back. She loved the motorcycle! She was laughing and HAPPY! You did this not ME!" I yell at Anson.
"Are you sure? " Kate asks quietly. "How do you know that she liked the ride? How do you even know she wanted to go?" I let a huge breath out. Fuck my life right now.
"Look, she told me she wanted to. And she told me she liked it. Plus, I have fucking eyes in my head. When we got off, she was all bouncy and happy. She was fucking clapping her hands! Trust me she liked the ride. It wasn't the ride that upset her. It was this jackass starting a fight!" I wave my hand at Anson.
"What do you mean she told you? She talked to you?" Kate asks hopefully.
Well, fuck. "No, not exactly," I say slowly. I don’t know if I should rat her out about the texting now. I mean I'm pretty shaken up by this whole thing and it seems like a way bigger deal then it did before. But I promised Ava I'd to keep it a secret.
"What exactly then Son?" My dad presses. "Dammit, Mason! Talk to us! What the hell is going on?" Maybe I should tell them? Maybe it's important. I heave another sigh. I'm so fucking tired. My nerves are raw. I'd fucking kill for a joint right now. I remember her screams and sobs. I'm not sure how to handle this. I obviously made a mistake taking her for the ride. I thought that was no big deal and look what happened.
"Look I asked her, and she nodded ok?" I lie. I can't do it. I'll talk to her later and tell her she needs to tell them about the texting, but I can't break my promise to Ava. Right now, that feels more important.
Chapter 17
Ava
The room is dark, it's cold. I'm alone. I've been alone for a long time. I hear mice and rats on the floor. I don't know where I am. I want my Mommy! I want my Daddy! I'm crying. Why don't they come to get me? Why don't they take me home? I'm so hungry and thirsty. my head hurts. Where is my Mommy? Why did she leave me here? I start crying for her, but she doesn't come.
I'm sitting on my mat with my arms around my legs watching the man carry a little girl in. He drops her off on a mat across the room. I think she's dead. Her long hair is covered in blood her body is limp. She looks scary. I close my eyes and bury my face in my knees. He doesn't even look at me before he turns and leaves. I hear the door lock. After a long time, I hear crying. I look up and see the little girl isn't dead. She's sitting up looking around.
"Where’s my Mommy? I want my Mommy!" She cries. She gets up and runs to the door and starts banging on it. "Let me out!! Let me out! I want my MOMMY!" I've never seen another girl in here. I've always been alone. The woman walks in the room. She looks between me and the other girl. I shrink away from her. "Please not me. Please, not me." I think. She goes to the other girl
"Look how dirty you are angel! Time for your bath" The girl starts wailing.
"No!! Leave me alone! Leave me alone! I want my mom!" Relief and shame wash over me as I hear the door click shut. it doesn't last long though. I know it'll be my turn eventually.
I'm hungry. Hungrier than I've ever been before. There are three of us in the room right now. I've never been here with more than three other girls and sometimes its only me. The newest girl is named Anna she's fourteen. She won't last long the oldest ones never do. The other girl is Sharissa she's only six. She's been here a while now, but I don't know how long. No one has brought us food for a long time. The hunger is constant. There is no way to know what day or time it is. Has it been days or weeks since the man brought us food? He's never given us more than a day or two of food before. And it’s never enough to fill us up. Only enough to make the gnawing hunger subside a little. We never know when we will be given more or how much we will be given so we are always afraid to eat. But now the food is all gone and still, no one has brought us more. Sharissa cries all the time she won't stop. We all just sleep. I think we are dying.
I'm naked and scared. Hot water fills the tub. It burns my skin. I hear singing but it sounds far away. The cloth is rough it's scrubbing my skin. It HURTS! Nails scrape and scratch me. I close my eyes. I block out the water, I block out the burn, I block out the singing until I'm just floating away.
The room is red. Blood covers the floor. It seeps from under the girl. It's splattered on the walls. It fills the bucket. Every time I dunk the rag in it comes out even redder. Blood covers my hands and up my arms. My feet and legs are red with it. I smell it in my nose. I taste it in my mouth. It's coppery and metal and sticky. It drips from my hair; it runs down my face. It surrounds me. It drowns me.
Chapter 18
Mason
I haven't seen Ava since Saturday, not since the motorcycle ride and fight. School started yesterday and Dad insisted I go. it was the longest fucking day of my life. If anyone asked me about it, I couldn't have told them so much as the color of the walls. I passed from room to room in a daze. I can't go back there today. I can't sit through another day of classes and teachers talking and kids laughing and not know that Ava is ok. Several people talked to me, honestly, I'm not even sure if I even answered them. Anson has it as bad as I do. He constantly paces back and forth he's a volatile fuck, blowing up at every word
or look. He's full of rage and fire, whereas I'm numb inside.
After I left Dads office I came up to my room and dug out my stash of weed. My fingers shook so badly I could barely roll the joint. I was halfway through the second one before they quit trembling. I lay in bed all night smoking joint after joint trying to figure out what to do. Three days later and I still have no fucking clue. And I'm out of weed. What I do know is that Ava is upstairs in bed. Asleep maybe? Or in a sleep-like state?
I'm starting to think there's some other shit going on here. Maybe Ava's being drugged? Is she as sick as they say she is? Or are they giving her something to keep her here, in this house, dependent on them? Kate said that Ava hasn't left the house since the first year she came home. That she can't leave but we left, and she loved it. She was fine. I'm beginning to imagine sinister plots and hidden agendas. Maybe Kate has that sickness that Moms get where they poison their kids? That's a real thing isn't it? I'm pretty sure I've heard something like that before. I'm picturing Ava in a bed, tied down begging to be set free, while doctors inject her with strange drugs. The trouble is I really can't imagine Kate doing anything like that and it seems pretty obvious Anson is going out of his fucking mind worrying about her. Seriously, I think they need to look into getting him some help or therapy or drugs or something because he's about to just fucking snap. But anytime you see a psycho that kills their whole family and keeps their body parts in jars in their refrigerator what do the neighbors, friends, and family always say? They say Oh I just can't believe it, they seemed so nice, so normal. So, who knows? Maybe Kate is some psycho, Maybe Anson, my dad fuck, maybe even the twins are all in on it. I know I'm being ridiculous and paranoid but fuck I'm getting desperate here.
