Page 1 of Cruel God

Prologue

HOPE

8 years earlier

Mom wouldn’t be home for another few hours. It was almost sunset, and I wanted to play outside with the other kids before it got too dark.

I passed Colton’s room on my way to the stairs but paused and glanced inside. “Will you come out and play with us?”

“I can’t right now. I’m studying.” He didn’t even look up from his desk.

“But Mom said I’m not allowed to play outside if you’re not watching me. Please. Just for a short while.”

Colton’s glare snapped in my direction. “I said I’m busy, Hope. Go play if you want to play.”

“But Mom—”

“Just go play and leave me alone. Okay? I won’t tell Mom if you don’t.” He turned back in his seat, and I sighed as I watched him go through his textbooks, making notes. My brother was always studying. It was his last year in high school, and I overheard him and Mom talk about scholarships. Without it, he wouldn’t be able to go to college next year.

My bare feet didn’t make a sound as I dashed down the stairs. I slipped on my flip-flops by the front door before going outside, immediately smiling when I saw my best friend crossing the road from her house. Lily and I had been friends since they moved to the neighborhood a few months ago. She was so pretty with her light hair and blue eyes. I always felt plain compared to her—my brown eyes and hair did nothing to let me stand out. Most boys that lived on the street couldn’t even remember my name.

“Hope,” Lily called out. “Come on. Let’s play hopscotch before it gets dark.”

“I’m coming.” I ran toward her, doing a little skip with excitement. The other kids were already standing in line behind the hopscotch grid drawn on the sidewalk.

“I bet you my whole week’s allowance that I won’t throw my stone out of the lines even once.”

Allowance. Colton and I never got an allowance. Mom barely made enough money for food, which was why I had to wear clothes two sizes too small for me.

Lily looked at me as I glanced down to my feet, wiggling my toes. She placed a hand on my shoulder. “If I throw my stone out the lines once, you owe me one very pretty unicorn drawing. But if I miss, I owe you a chocolate milkshake.”

I smiled, excitement bubbling in my stomach. “Deal.”

Lily turned to face the line of kids as we waited for our turn. “Your mom still working?”

“Yes.” I adjusted the shorts that no longer fit comfortably around my tummy.

“Isn’t your brother supposed to look after you when you play outside?”

I shrugged. “He’s studying. He promised not to tell my mom if I won’t.”

“Your brother is so cool. Mine is just a dummy.”

“It’s because he’s four.”

“Still a dummy.”

I giggled and stepped forward when it was Lily’s turn to throw the stone. The pair of shorts she wore were new. I hadn’t seen her wear them before. Her pump shoes, too. I didn’t like being jealous of my best friend. But I couldn’t help it. She had pretty clothes and pretty hair. And her family went on road trips every second weekend. Plus, she had a father. Something I didn’t have.

I tried hard not to be jealous and not to think mean thoughts. But it was just hard sometimes.

Lily looked at me over her shoulder and winked before tossing her stone on the pavement. It landed outside the lines, but she didn’t even look at where she was throwing.

“I guess I owe you a milkshake now.”

I placed my hand on my hip. “You did that on purpose.”

“I did not. I would never lose on purpose.” She picked up the stone and handed it to me, her smile warm and sincere. “Now, it’s your turn.”

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