Page 4 of Venom
I don’t have many friends and she knows that.
Most kids at school are aware of my family background and the amount of money I come from no thanks to my dad’s family, so I’m instantly put in the snobby box. I sometimes get picked on because of it, while others try to befriend me, hoping to get something out of me.
All I need is Ivy and my parents, not fake people.
I shake my head and admit, “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my fifteenth birthday than to spend it with my best friend, my mama, and my daddy.”
Mama’s eyes soften, and she asks, “How did I get so lucky to have a daughter like you, huh?”
I shrug, “I don’t know,” and she giggles as the doorbell rings, and I grin and say, “That must be Ivy,” and I rush out of my room, Mama’s laughter following.
It’s very rare to find a friend like Ivy, and despite her brother being mean, I’ve clung to her while my heart has clung to him.
Pretty sure I have a problem.
I rush down the stairs and into the foyer, opening the door with excitement, but my smile disappears when I see the Chief of Police and Tom, a firefighter my dad works with, both men looking at me with sorrow, and my heart pounds.
Tom’s covered in soot, and his light brown eyes are watery, and a very bad feeling fills me.
Daddy…
“Mama!” I shout, not looking away from Tom as his tears fall, and I shake my head instantly in denial.
“Marty, Tom?” Mama says with confusion, “What’s happened?”
My body begins to shake as Tom looks down and wipes his nose just as Ivy announces, “I’m here!” and walks around the sorrowful-looking men. She looks at the men, then me, and sees the tension as she narrows her dark green eyes and demands, “What’s going on?”
“Tom?” Mama says again, before Marty chokes, “Chase, he uh, he was called out for a house fire.”
“Yes, I know, he called and promised he’d be back in time for Raya’s birthday dinner…” Mama states firmly, then demands, “He is hurt?”
Tom flinches as he looks up and croaks, “He ran into the fire after realizing a toddler was still trapped inside, and I-I shouted to him to come back, but-but…”
Tom looks down, and I begin to tremble as Ivy quickly grabs my hand with concern.
“Just say it!” Mama demands strongly as she grabs my other hand, and my tears fall as Marty admits, “The house collapsed with both the child and Chase inside, and by the time we found his body, he was-was… I’m so sorry, Grace, he didn’t survive.”
Mama chokes out a sob as she squeezes my hand, and a scream builds up in my throat as I hear, “Ivy Miller!” snapped with anger.
“Daddy,” Ivy sobs as she squeezes my hand tighter, and Tom chokes, “I verified his body for you, I-I don’t think you want to see him that way,” and Glock demands, “What is going on?” as he takes in the scene, and Mama sobs, “My husband is dead…”
“Fuck,” Glock whispers, and I lock eyes with Marty, his hazel ones looking concerned as he murmurs, “Raya, I’m so sorry.”
My tears fall fast and hard, my breathing quickening as the scream that was building pulls out of me, causing Mama and Ivy to grip me harder as my legs collapse and I fall to the ground.
“No!” I scream and sob, my whole body shaking as I try to loosen the grip Mama and Ivy have on me, their sobs just hitting my ears before soft hands cup my cheeks, and Mama’s heartbroken eyes lock with my blurry ones.
It’s not true, it can’t be. He’s not dead, no, he’s on his way home to celebrate my birthday, please…
“He promised!” I scream as I try to push her back, causing slim arms to hold me tightly, my breathing becoming choppy, my chest tightening.
“Raya baby, listen to me, hear my voice, baby,” Mama tries as she grips my cheeks to center me, but I scream louder as I try to fight whoever is holding me and Ivy cries, “Daddy help!” and strong arms quickly take me as I fight harder before Glock whispers, “I’ve got you, sweetheart, just breathe…” but everything goes black, my pain consuming me.
Happy birthday to me, huh?
Chapter 1
Venom – Eleven Months Later
