Chapter 3 Pool of Blood

I blinked into consciousness, the soft light filtering in through the kitchen window.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I rubbed my eyes and squinted at the figure bustling around the kitchen.

It was my mom, her back turned to me as she prepared breakfast. The comforting smell of eggs filled the air, but a knot of worry tightened in my stomach.

"Sofia, you slept deeply last night..."

"Mom," I called out, my voice still hoarse. "What juice was that? The one you left on my desk yesterday?"

She paused, turning to face me, confusion etched on her features. "What juice?"

I swallowed hard, feeling a sense of urgency. "The orange juice. I drank it, and then...everything went off."

She shook her head, a dismissive wave of her hand. "I don't know what juice you're talking about."

My heart raced as a thought crossed my mind. "Maybe it was Dad. Maybe he was trying to make me unconscious in case he and you...you know, went insane."

Her expression shifted, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "You're just being dramatic."

I took a deep breath, trying to shift the conversation. "Mom, I passed the Wilston entrance exam in Cassiopeia." I said, hoping to lighten the mood.

Her eyes brightened, and a genuine smile broke through. "I'm so proud of you!"

But my joy was short-lived. "Mom, please come with me. We can get away from here."

She hesitated, her smile fading. "I'm happy here, sweetheart. I'm comfortable."

"But Dad is always hurting you!" I exclaimed, frustration bubbling over. "How can you say that?"

"There's nothing I can do," she replied, her voice steady but tired. "No matter how much we try to change the world, he is still my husband."

"Mom, you should leave him! Get a divorce!" I begged, my voice rising in desperation.

That's when she snapped, her patience fraying. "Stop! I'm sick and tired of your sermons and your requests to leave him!"

Her words stung, the anger in her voice cutting deep. All wanted was for her to see the truth, to free herself from the pain, but she seemed trapped in a cycle I couldn't understand.

With a sudden burst of anger, my mom slammed her fists on the table, the sound reverberating through the kitchen.

"You don't understand!" she shouted. "I will never have the urge to leave man I love, even if he did some things! You don't know what love is!" Her voice trembled with a mix of frustration and pain.

"I promised myself I would never fall for someone like that!" I shot back, feeling the heat of the moment engulf us both.

Feeling defeated, I grabbed my bag, I needed to escape, to get away from the suffocating tension in the house.

I rushed out the door and made my way to school, my mind racing with thoughts of my mom and her unyielding loyalty to a man who hurt her.

When I arrived at school, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the morning's turmoil.

I sat through classes, my mind wandering until my teacher called for everyone's attention.

"Class, I have some exciting news!" she announced, her voice brightening the room. "We've just received the final exam scores and I'm pleased to announce that one of you achieved the highest score!"

A flutter of anticipation filled the air.

My friend sat up straight, my heart pounding. "Who is it?" she whispered to my friend beside me.

"Let's see... with a score of 98 out of 100, it's Sofia Westley!" she declared, a proud smile stretching across her face.

I felt a rush of disbelief and joy. "Really?" I gasped, standing up as she handed me the paper.

The paper felt heavy in my hands, a tangible reminder of my hard work. I could hardly believe it. "Thank you!" I beamed, my heart swelling with pride.

That night, after packing my bags and feeling a mix of excitement and dread about the next chapter of my life, I wandered around the house one last time.

I checked my grades again, confirming that I was ready for Wilston. But then, the atmosphere shifted suddenly.

A piercing scream shattered the quiet night, and my heart dropped. I ran down the stairs, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

As I reached the living room, my worst fears were realized: my dad was beating my mother. Each strike landed with a sickening thud, and my mother's cries echoed in my ears.

"Don't stop him! I love him and he loves me!" she shouted, her voice trembling. The words cut through me like a knife, a cruel reminder of her twisted loyalty.

"Mom, no!" I yelled, rushing forward, desperation fueling my movements. "Stop! Please!"

But before I could reach her, my dad turned, his eyes wild with rage. His fist connected hard with my face, and I stumbled back, pain exploding in my head.

The world spun around me, but I couldn't just stand there.

"Get away from her!" I shouted, feeling the warm blood trickle from my lip.

As I sat there, my heart racing, my dad's rage turned toward me, and before I could react, he lunged forward.

He began to beat me mercilessly, each blow landing with a sickening force. I felt the warm blood trickling down my face, mixing with the fear and desperation that consumed me.

In the midst of the chaos, he yanked the pouch from my grip, his eyes wild with fury. I watched helplessly as he tore it open, scattering my passports and IDs across the floor.

Each piece of identification felt like a lifeline, and seeing them ripped and damaged sent a wave of panic through me.

That was my future...

"You will never leave my house!" he shouted, jabbing a finger in my direction as if to emphasize his control. The menace in his voice sent chills down my spine.

"No! You can't do this!" I cried, my voice hoarse and trembling. I felt both anger and despair clawing at my insides, but it was no use. Each punch sent me reeling, the pain blurring my vision.

He continued to beat me, not stopping until I could barely stand. I felt helpless, trapped in a nightmare I couldn't escape.

"Please, stop!" I begged, tears streaming down my face. "It hurts!" But my words fell on deaf ears, drowned by the storm of violence raging in our home.

All I could do was brace myself against the onslaught, wishing for a way out of this hell.

The world around me blurred as the pain intensified. I could feel the blood pooling, the cold seeping through my clothes.

My mom stood there, nodding along to everything my dad said, her eyes vacant as she repeated.

"Just leave him" I whispered, desperation lacing my voice, but my words seemed to vanish into the air.

"I love him." Each affirmation felt like a dagger in my heart.

In that moment, my dad's rage flared again.

"What did you just say?! Leave me? No! The 2 of you will forever be mine! You guys will never leave me!"

He raised his foot and stomped down hard on my face. The impact felt like a thunderous explosion, and everything went dark.

What happened?

My father and I used to be very close.