Page 71 of Science Project

After shutting off my car, I grabbed my purse and backpack from the passenger seat and walked up the front walkway in the rain to the front door to get a few more moments of peace to myself for the night.

I didn’t know what Dad had in store with his buddies tonight, but if I got to see Akio tomorrow and the next day and the day after that, if he responded to my messages with anything, all this pain would be worth it.

Because I would be leaving soon.

Hopefully.

When I made it inside, I dropped my backpack by the door. “Dad, I’m home.”

A bottle shattered in the kitchen, and I glanced over at the walkway to the kitchen, where Dad emerged, dressed in an alcohol-stained white wife beater with a brown bottle of beer in his hand.

He snarled at me, “Where were you last night?”

I opened and closed my mouth a handful of times and shook my head. “I … I was …”

Come on, Nicole. Come up with something believable!

Yesterday, I had told him that I would be home in a few hours. But once I got to the Overlook, I didn’t want to leave. I’d thought Dad wouldn’t notice. I’d thought he’d be conked out on his recliner in the front room.

“At home,” I whispered, mouth drying. “In my bed.”

“Bullshit!” he growled, taking the side table and throwing it across the room. It hit the door and clattered against the floor. He stalked closer to me, his lips in a snarl. “You were out with Yui’s son at the Overlook.”

“Only for a little bit,” I whispered, shuffling back. “I p-promise that I was only?—”

“You promised me that you’d be back, but instead, I got a call from the station that your car was parked at the Overlook and you were sleeping on that boy’s chest.” He stalked even closer. “You’re not getting out of this.”

“I’m not trying to get out of anything,” I said, my heels hitting the door. “I swear, I?—”

Dad seized my throat. “By the end of the night, you’re going to know who owns you.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

NICOLE

Before he could start squeezing my throat, I pushed Dad away.

He reached for Hannah’s necklace on my chest, but I stupidly covered it with my hands. I didn’t even realize what I had done; I just didn’t want to lose it again. It was the only piece of her that I had left, and I had just gotten it back.

After Dad shoved me hard, I reached behind me to catch myself, and Dad took the chance to snap the necklace right off my neck. The chain broke, and the pendant fell off it and at his feet.

“You don’t deserve this.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “Please, give it back. I didn’t mean it. I should’ve come?—”

Instead of listening to my pleas, he stomped on the pendant. The sound of metal snapping echoed through the quiet house, followed by one of my sobs. He ground it into the floorboards with the toe of his boot.

“Please!” I cried, grabbing his wrist. Tears stung my eyes, but I couldn’t lose her. I couldn’t lose my sister. “I’m sorry! Don’t break it anymore. Please don’t break it. It’s the only piece of Hannah that I have left!”

“Fucking pieces of shit,” he growled. “Both of you.”

I yanked at his wrist. “Stop it!”

Once I finally moved him away from the pendant, I grabbed the broken pieces from the floor and desperately tried to piece them back together. This can’t be happening. I need Hannah. I fucking need her!

“She’s dead!” Dad roared, dropping his bottle and hurling himself toward me.

---