Chapter 11

                                    

                                          
Hehe, sorry for disappearing. I started this story about 2 years ago and having just reread everything, i've realised how crap my writing is/was. i've been practicing loads and i think i've improved a bit but yh reading that back was embarrassing honestly. 
I was going to abandon this story and never finish it. i was soooo tempted. buuuuut rereading it and the comments made me realise like i owe it to anyone who has bared with my irregular updates and crappy writing to actually finish this. 
This ending (in the next few chapters) may not be the most satisfying or how i originally envisioned it going. however this is the first story i'll ever have finished, so i haven't had much practice with endings. 
thank you for making it this far! i hope i don't disappoint with these next couple chapters. 
                          
anyways, here it is, chapter 11...
                          
i hope you enjoy! xx

                          
Kota seemed to shut down, his brain working increasingly hard to try figure out why I didn't go to school. I had been pondering that question for the past ten years, but who knows, maybe he has the outside perspective needed to find the answer. 
                          
I left quickly after our small conversation, feeling very awkward as he slipped into his mind. I made my escape quietly and quickly, I'm not even sure if he noticed. He was pretty deep in thought. 
                          
When I got home Sang and Marie were in their rooms. I quickly made dinner and then hid in my own, curling into a ball and escaping into a book. 
                          
The ever present promise of Sang's punishment for the pool party the other day lingered over my head, invading my thoughts as I read. I couldn't help but feel a small spark of indignation. Why could she have friends and not me? Why do I have to be lonely?
                          
The book I was currently reading, I hadn't read before. I was about a girl in a similar situation to mine. I don't think father picked it out on purpose, he probably chose it at random. Either way it began to confuse me. 
                          
While reading, I began to internally wish that the girl would trust the other female protagonist, her friend from school whom I'm sure would help her. I kept telling the character that she should take the chance, that she should ask for help, that she should save herself from that place which isn't home. 
                          
Then I began to think. Am I the girl? Should I take my own advise?
                          
My internal battle commenced. 
                          
One part of me told me to talk to my new friends, it told me I could trust them, that they could help me. But they are also Sangs friends, what if they trust her word over mine. What if they side with her and hurt me too. It's too risky. 
                          
But isn't freedom worth a risk? 
                          
By this point I had read the same sentence countless times, no longer able to absorb the words off the page. I was tangled up in my own story now, I had to figure out my next move. Because if I don't make one, I will be stuck here forever. I don't doubt that for a second. 
                          
~~~
                          
I slept restlessly last night, thoughts of revealing my unsatisfactory home life plagued my dreams. My internal battle raged on as I completed my morning chores and made breakfast. Every move which caused my injuries to twinge, stroked the bitter flames growing in my chest. My longing for mother's approval was slowly being encompassed by the fire of my anger, my pure unadulterated rage at the way I had been treated. 
                          
I glared at them as they ate. My stomach growling and churning, my stomach acid bubbling with need for food. My eyes narrowed as they greedily inhaled the meal I meticulously made. The flames grew hotter. 
                          
I grit my teeth as I washed the plates. There were no scraps. Most people would take this as a compliment, however it just added to my anger. My muscles seemed to grow stronger as I furiously scrubbed the dishes, as if my vexation was enough to fuel my body. 
                          
~~~
                          
When I finished the dishes I decided to slip outside. My inner battle was dwindling now, the side protesting me revealing my pain quietening. All I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears as I stalked towards the trees. Needing the brief euphoric sense of freedom the branches gave me. The sensation of the leaves surrounding me almost felt like a hug. Comfort from the one thing I truly could rely on, nature. 
                          
As my hand gripped onto a branch and my bicep tensed in anticipation of hoisting my body weight up the tree, when a voice from behind me stalled my actions. 
                          
"Climbing trees again?" The voice said curiously, "I would have thought you would be put off, after last time." 
                          
Iris turned around to face Nathan. The fire in the chest seemed to flicker slightly, now the opportunity to say something arises, it isn't as easy as she thought it would have been. 
                          
"I-I need t-to tell y-you s-something." She said nervously, her eyes darted about, subconscious searching for Sang to jump out and stop her from getting help. 
                          
Nathan's brow furrowed in concern, "Do you want to talk somewhere else? We could go to Kota's?" Iris looked up hopefully, maybe increasing the number of people who she told would increase the likelihood of her getting help. 
                          
"Y-yes p-please." She replied quickly, shuffling her always-bare feet in the dirt. 
                          
Nathan led Iris towards Kota's house, they were both silent. Iris tried to plan out what she would say in her head, think of ways to reveal what was going on. 
                          
"Iris," Nathan startled her out of her thoughts "we're here." Iris nodded and followed him into Kota's house, towards his room. 
                          
"I-it's a-about, erm, a-about my h-home l-life." She said to Nathan as they approached Kota's door, her voice quiet with anticipation. She opened her mouth as they stepped into the room, to elaborate on her last sentence, however what she saw made her words die on her tongue. 
                          
Sang.