Page 4 of Little Psycho

I glance at the crack in the window to see the first stars appearing in the darkening sky, a sign that it’s almost time for my plan to come to life.And even though I’m fucking nervous, I’m more than ready to finally see it through.

I carefully wrap the cuts with torn pieces of fabric, knowing that I need to keep them clean and hidden in order to avoid any suspicion.

As the room becomes engulfed in darkness, I listen for any sign of movement from my mother’s room.I can hear heavy footsteps approaching, and I quickly pretend to be asleep in case someone comes barging in.I keep my breathing slow and steady, trying to contain my excitement as I wait for her to finally fall asleep.

“It’s time, Cali.Let’s get out of here!”Addy exclaims, showing the same excitement I feel coursing through me.

Once the house is quiet, I slowly start to ease the chain off my ankle, feeling a surge of adrenaline as it comes loose, and I finally break free.I have to move quickly and quietly, careful not to make a sound as I gather the few belongings I have stashed away.

I take one last look at the dark, oppressive room before I slip out the crack in the window and into the night, ready to leave this nightmare behind me.

Once my feet hit the frozen ground, I pull my beanie over my head to block my ears from the frigid wind.I zip my thin windbreaker up to my chin and walk quickly away from the prison I’ve called my home since I was a little girl.

Just by looking at the elegant mansion with bright lights putting a soft glow around the property, you’d never guess the horror that goes on inside.I shiver, not from the cold but from the daunting memories that haunt my mind on a daily basis.

“Where are we going?”Addy asks, following me as I walk along the desolate sidewalk, keeping my head down to avoid the whipping wind drying out my already chapped lips.

“I don’t know,” I admit, knowing I have no friends I can rely on anymore.

After my thirteenth birthday, I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone, including Dominic, Ash, or Killian.My parents pulled me out of school and homeschooled me—at least, that’s what they told everyone they were doing.I didn’t get an education; instead, I taught myself.I was secluded from society and everyone I knew and loved, and I was sure that after all this time they all forgot about me and moved on with their lives.They were all surely going places, while I was not.My fate had been sealed for me, and I never even got a say in the matter.

For now, all I know is that I need to get as far away from that house as possible.I need to find someone who will help me—a place where I can finally be free from the chains that have held me down—literally.

I keep walking, my eyes scanning the empty streets in search of some sort of sign or direction.I need to find a safe place to rest, to gather my thoughts, and to think about the new life I’m about to begin.

I take a deep breath and remind myself that I’m finally free and that I have the power to turn things around.

Addy walks close beside me and gives me a comforting smile; it’s like her way of assuring me that everything is going to be okay.I hold onto that image, hoping that somewhere out there I can find the people who will help me heal from the horrors of my past.

The city of Boston at night is beautiful, and I find myself fascinated by the flickering, colorful lights that guide my path out of the darkness.I can feel Addy inch closer, taking every step into the scary unknown right along with me.

My hands shake, and my insides tingle from the cold or the lack of medication since I refused to bring it with me.But I ignore it, skipping down the sidewalk while laughing at absolutely nothing, just enjoying how it feels to be free.

Suddenly, a firm hand clasps around my wrist, yanking me backwards.I gasp, squeezing my eyes shut in fear of who I might come face-to-face with.

“Open your eyes, Cali,” a familiar male voice whispers into my ear as he tugs me into a dimly lit alley, pushing my back against the cold, brick wall.

“Go ahead, Cali,” Addy assures me.“It’s only Gunnar,” she whispers, her voice now planted inside my head instead of being right next to me.

I open my eyes and see a smiling Gunnar in front of me, one of the guys who works at my parents’ estate as a security guard.Slowly, I relax my tense body and allow my breathing to return to normal, still feeling a rush of anxiety heavily coursing through my veins.

“Gunnar, what are you doing here?”I ask, confused, keeping my guard up as I closely study the features adorning his handsome face.

“I’ve been looking for you.I knew you’d try to escape,” Gunnar replies sympathetically.“I’m here to help you.”

I listen to his words, letting them sink in as I struggle to wrap my mind around the fact that someone wants to help me—to actually help me.I don’t dare to hope for such a thing, especially not after everything I’ve been through.But this is my chance—my shot at freedom—so I reach out and gratefully take it.

“Thank you,” I say softly.“I need all the help I can get.”

He nods and gently puts his arm around me, leading me out of the alley and towards the blacked-out car parked by the curb, the promise of a new life waiting for me just within my reach.

“Go ahead, slide in.”He smiles, his brown eyes glinting under the bright lights.

Breathing hard and heavy, I anxiously slide in the backseat, noticing the partition up so I can’t see who’s driving.He gets in and sits beside me, keeping a firm grip on my thigh and digging his fingers into my already bruised skin.

Addy is quiet, so I take it as a good sign, even as the car pulls away from the curb and drives away, taking me further into the unknown.Gunnar reaches over and brushes my dirty hair out of my face, swiping his thumb across my bottom lip.His smile is unnerving, but I stay quiet, not knowing what his motives are.

“Where are you bringing me?”I finally ask, growing more anxious the longer we drive.

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