Chapter 2
Rocky cornered me at the mouth of the alley.
He didn't care that I was covered in dust and blood, just stuffed me straight into the back seat of his fancy car.
"I'm taking you home," he said, making it clear I didn't have a say in the matter.
Yvette sat in the passenger seat, her face twisted in disgust, as she'd just been forced to swallow something awful.
I huddled in the furthest corner of the back seat.
Head down, I didn't dare look up at the rearview mirror. I felt like a skittish animal, too scared to even glance at them.
Yvette shot me a look in the rearview mirror, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Yvette said, fanning herself like she was about to suffocate, "Rocky, open the window.
"What's that smell on you, Wendy? It's all sour and nasty, like you've been left out in the rain for days. Don't stink up the whole car."
I froze, my hand instantly reaching for the door handle.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr. Summers," I stammered, my voice trembling.
I fumbled with the door, desperate to get out, tears welling up in my eyes.
"I'm all dirty. I don't deserve to be in a car like this. Please, let me out. I'll walk," I said, my voice shaking.
The car was speeding, and my sudden move made Rocky hit the brakes hard.
The tires screeched against the pavement.
Rocky whipped his head around and snapped at Yvette, "Just shut up."
Yvette's eyes widened in disbelief, her eyes quickly welling up with tears as she started crying, looking utterly hurt and wronged.
"Rocky, are you seriously yelling at me? For her, a killer?" Yvette said.
Rocky didn't even bother with her. He just stared at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes so complicated I couldn't tell what he was thinking at all.
The car finally pulled up in a slum full of condemned buildings, all about to be demolished.
Sewage ran through the streets, garbage littered the ground, and the air reeked of decay.
Rocky stepped out, his brows knitted in a deep frown as he took in the rundown scene.
"Five years, you've really been living here?" Rocky asked, his voice rough and full of disbelief.
I stood by the pile of trash, my head down, managing a bitter smile.
"Having a roof over my head is more than I could ask for," I said quietly.
I looked up, my gaze hollow.
"Prison was even colder than this," I said.
Those words felt like a dull knife twisting in Rocky's chest, cutting deep and leaving him breathless.
Rocky stared at me, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
Yvette, refusing to be ignored, tottered after us in her high heels, her steps uneven and unsteady.
"Since we're here, let's go up and take a look," Yvette said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
She looped her arm through Rocky's, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.
"I want to see just how amazing your life has been these past few years," Yvette said.
I kept quiet and walked ahead, leading the way without a word.
The stairwell was pitch black, not a single light, and the walls were mottled with mold.
I pushed open the rickety, creaking door.
Inside, the place was stripped bare, just a lopsided table missing a leg and a rough wooden bed. That was home.
On the table sat a chipped bowl.
Inside was a watery soup, so thin it was almost clear, and beside it, half a cold bun.
Yvette strutted in, scrunching up her nose in disgust, looking like she was about to gag.
"Seriously? Who could live in a dump like this? Even a pigsty is cleaner," Yvette said.
I didn't bother arguing.
"Mr. Summers, Mrs. Summers, please, have a seat," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
I nervously wiped my hands on my clothes.
"All I've got is plain water, and not even enough cups. Sorry, I can't really offer you much. The soup's still edible, I just can't waste it," I said.
As I spoke, I picked up the bowl and brought it to my lips, about to eat.
With a smack, Rocky swatted the bowl out of my hands.
His eyes were blazing red, his chest heaving as he stared at me like he was about to snap.
"Wendy. Who are you really trying to hurt here?" Rocky shouted, his voice raw with fury.
The sound of the bowl shattering echoed through the cramped little room.
It was like something inside me just snapped.
"Ah," I screamed, clutching my head as I dropped to my knees, shaking uncontrollably.