I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 47: Breaking

The image loaded and I felt the blood rush out of my face.

It was Alisha and I getting out of the Escapade earlier that day.

I looked at Alisha but she was out cold.

Let's have a chat about your girlfriend, a text came in.

I swallowed and got off the bed to move over to the couch where any of my furious typing would be less likely to wake her.

Who is this? I asked. I pulled my knees up close to me.

Your father, the next message read.

I let out a breath of relief. I could deal with his bullshit, it wasn't like one of Alisha’s rat problems had found a way to threaten me.

I'm not coming home, I told him.

You will.

There was another text loading then the image came through. 

Another photo of Alisha and I, this time outside one of the business fronts. I was holding the trunk open for Tye loading an unmarked box in. He had actual evidence of us doing illicit activities.

I should wake Alisha and tell her but… she was exhausted as it was and dealing with this would be a lot. Not to mention, my parents were a real threat now. She might do something a bit drastic.

Another image came in, once again of Alisha and I by the Escapade. He’d gotten us in one of those rare moments Alisha let her expression soften while she gave me a tiny smile, only notable by the slightest upturn of her lips. I hadn't even been looking at her, instead preoccupied by something down the street.

My chest hurt, with real physical pain and I realized I had stopped breathing for a few moments and actively took a deep breath and put a couple fingers to my neck to feel my pulse. It was pounding under my skin.

I'll give you a day, my father sent. Be back or else.

I swallowed but the sick feeling didn't budge.

Should I text Tye and ask him what to do with this? He was as exhausted as Alisha was though, and there was a good chance he passed out once he got home. He was also the one Alisha would send, if I had to guess, to take care of my parents. Sophia could get caught in the crossfire too, if she just happened to be home.

My anxiety didn't lessen as every option that didn't involve me going home was quickly shot down. Most resulted in someone dying or in Alisha getting dragged out by the cops.

Which left me with no choices except to go home.

I rubbed my cheek and found tears there, silently sliding down my face. I didn't want this.

But I looked at the photos again. They were very good quality. I could zoom in to see quite a few more details. It wasn't like this wasn't real, even if it felt like a bad dream.

I took a deep breath, finding some resolve. Okay, I considered. I need to go home, at least temporarily. But that was a very long walk. If I left now I'd get there significantly after dark and navigating the unfamiliar route through some of the worse parts of town wasn't ideal.

In that time, Alisha could wake up and find me gone and set out to find me. I didn't imagine it would take her long, especially if I said nothing.

So… I decided to text Sophia.

Do you think you could give me a ride from the grocery store? I asked.

From? she texted back a moment later.

Yeah. To back home?

Is everything alright? she asked. Are you okay?

Yeah. I just need to go home for a bit. I didn't actually know if I was okay. The feelings inside of me were convoluted and terrible, and I was still exhausted. Part of me was tempted to curl up on the bed with Alisha and pass out for a few days and simply let the battle between her and my parents ensue… but it wasn't her battle to fight. It was mine and I needed to put a stop to their nonsense. Even if it meant I had to be away from Alisha.

Well, okay. I get out of class in ten minutes. We could meet at the same one we ran into each other.

I sighed, and looked at Alisha again.

Thank you, I texted Sophia.

Anytime, just let me know if you need something.

I got up and sat on the edge of the bed. I should leave if I didn't want to keep Sophia waiting. I knew the route to that grocery store pretty well. It was off one of the main roads we usually took to get into the city so we passed it frequently.

But before I ran off, I had to do something.

I laid down and pulled Alisha closer, burying my face against the back of her shirt.

“Kippen?” she mumbled sleepily.

I nodded against her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked and started to roll over.

I couldn't say anything, my voice would only crack and give away the pain I felt inside.

Her arm came around to hug me closer. She was still basically asleep, still had her eyes closed and had yet to have her breathing change much.

“Is it your parents?” she asked. Her hand flopped against my face, not exactly a gentle expression of sympathy, but still appreciated.

I nodded again and felt more tears well up behind my eyes.

“I change number in bit,” she sighed.

I nodded again and waited for her to slip back into sleep.

Once she started that very cute snore, I gently pulled myself away and dried my eyes.

She was limp again, and didn't respond as I slid off the bed and took my phone out.

I knew the route but I needed to look up how long it would take me to get there and once I knew that, I put my phone down and then put the brand new credit card next to it. There was no need to bring any evidence of our relationship with me. I got the small vial of makeup out of the bathroom so I could continue to cover up the last remnants of the bruises on my neck and then I stared at the phone I'd been using so much the past several weeks.

She at least deserved to know why, I decided. Even if it was painful, she would understand I was doing it for her. I picked it up and went to the security settings to remove the passcode before setting it down again.

Alisha shifted in her sleep at the noise but didn't wake.

I took one final longing look at her and set off down the stairs. I turned the door lock on my way out, locking myself out as well.

And then it was a long lonely walk down her driveway, and then along those rural back roads. It was actually very pretty scenery. The woods were very green this time of year and had a distinct smell I had come to associate with Alisha’s property out here. It was wild and fresh, plenty of natural leafiness and even some damp must. The sun was starting to sink lower and the air was cooling as I finished the walk and saw the grocery store parking lot.

Sophia’s car was in one of the furthest spots from the door and she got out as I approached, looking me up and down with caution.

“Oh, Kit,” she said and pulled me into a tight hug. “Are you okay?” she asked. Her eyes scrutinized my face. “You look like you haven't slept in days,” she said.

“I'm okay,” I told her.

“You know you can tell me anything. Are you hurt?”

“I'm okay,” I repeated as she made another look-over my body.

“Did you guys break up or…?”

I looked at the ground just for her to pull me into another hug. I didn't know what I could possibly tell her to explain this situation. There were so many details that just shouldn't be disclosed that the best I'd be able to tell anyone would be, ‘I had to leave.’

It was better to let her assume we had broken up then.

“I'll drive you home,” she told me and opened the passenger door for me.

I got in, feeling alien in her car. It smelled like caramel and coffee and I had to kick a few soda bottles out from under my feet to get comfortable. There was also a thin film of dust on her dashboard I stared at for a long moment.

“I know,” she said. “You probably got used to that fancy thing. But my car is safe to drive and that's what matters.”

I nodded, understanding. I might not ever ride in the back of the Escapade again. Or the Mercai. I didn't care so much about the wealth factor but it still sent an unpleasant grief into my chest.

It was also a little bit of a relief as I pulled her glove compartment open just to be sure. It was stuffed full of napkins with no sign of a cardboard box hiding a deadly weapon.

Sophia watched me curiously as I struggled to get it to close until finally I reached my hand in to shove the napkins in deeper and finally slammed it shut.

“Sorry, I would've cleaned my car a bit but I didn't want to keep you waiting,” she said and pulled her seatbelt around her.

I didn't think to do the same until I realized the cars incessant dinging was because of me and hurried to shut it up.

Sophia backed out of the parking space, looking in her mirrors carefully as she did so and set off to bring me “home.”