Hunted

Things have started getting weird at home. The thought flashes quickly in my mind as I walk through the door to our little 2 bedroom unit. My mum is just sitting on the couch staring. There isn't a tv on or anything in front of her, she just looks so out of it. I start to walk towards her, why didn't she hear me open the door? Doesn't she care I am here?

Just as I reached the dining room, Jason walks in. Ewww. I really don't like this guy. Gives off major creep vibes but who am I to tell my mum what to do? She has been alone since I was born, she deserves to have a relationship and love. Still, creepy.

"Hello Ember, you are home late tonight" he almost growls at me. What's his problem?

"ahh yeah, I stayed at Courtney's for some extra studying after my shift at the pet shop" I reply, not really sure why I have to. He's not my dad and my mum is still just sitting there like a zombie. "Hey mum, I am just going to my room" I call out. As I am opening the door I hear a week "okay baby girl, I will get you dinner" but I don't care, I ate at Courtney's, and I definitely don't want to be eating dinner with Jason. Sometimes he looks like he wants to eat me.

I jump on my bed and reach for my laptop on the nightstand. I love my room; it is my safe place. My walls are a rich purple and my bed is a beautiful oak stained dark. My mattress feels like a cloud, and I don't know why but as soon as I close my door it's like I am safe from the world, like I can breathe. I know my room sounds fancy, and I guess it is for the neighborhood we live in. It's the only luxuries we can really have since mum likes us to look lowkey even though we have my grandpa's trust. She hasn't told me too much about why, but I am not worried, I have my mum, Courtney and everything I could need. Now I just have to finish these last exams tomorrow and I will be moving onwards and upwards! But gosh, final exams on my 18th birthday is such a drag.

Snapping out of my thoughts I login to my laptop and open my university application. I wonder which one I will get into? I think I would like one a distance from here, I don't want to be near Jason anymore. His staring has increased this last week or so. I shouldn't worry though, I have smashed all my exams so far and with this exam tomorrow, I should be Dux of the school and can take my pick of courses. I huff out a breath and close the application, it wont tell me anything until the final results are in anyway. I just needed the reminder I was getting out of here soon.

Instead, I went through my emails and replied to the ones I needed to and finished up for the night. I will just get some sleep ready for this to be all done tomorrow. Yeah, that's what I will do, shower, sleep and get out early so I don't have to deal with Jason