prologue
I just stood there, frozen, watching as time passed by without a care in the world, while every second of every minute I felt my heart slowly shattering; just staring ahead feeling my entire life, my world being ripped apart. my parents lay peacefully in each other’s embraces, cold and lifeless.
I felt my knees give out as I collapsed on the floor tears streaming endlessly down my flushed checks with no intent of stopping.
The room fell dead silent for what felt like an eternity no sound except for that of my shaking breaths. My limbs went numb, my voice lost and my mind blank. my ears perked up as from the long creek coming from the door behind me revelling my younger siblings.
I turned my head just in time to see their cheerful expressions fade from their young faces and morph to a terrified confused look grazing their features.
A loud ear-piercing scream came from my sister shocking me out of my shocked state and probably alerting everyone from a 1mile radius. I had to do something, I had to react fast to stop them from having to see another second of this brutality.
My motherly instincts kicked in and I was overwhelmed with the need to shield their innocent minds. ‘Don’t think just act’ was my mind set now as I scrambled up of the floor, practically flying towards them and pushing them and slamming the door shut behind me within a matter of seconds.
“MOMMY?!...DADDY?!” coral sobbed into my chest “wha - what’s go - going on El” she muttered shakily and sobbed helplessly burring her face in the crook of my neck gripping a fist full of my loose shirt for comfort next to her little brother who was also falling apart in my arms.
I held them close trying hard to be strong if not for myself then at least for them. I didn’t answer the question. I couldn’t even if I wanted to because I myself was as lost as they were. my mind went from blank to overflowing with all sorts of questions in a matter of seconds, trying desperately to make sense of what was going on.
We sat on the floor sobbing together, mourning our parents who lay in the room behind us dead in each other’s once warm embrace now bloody and dead; Actively trying to piece together the facts. the fact that we have lost both of our parents in the same day.
The fact that the murder still lurks in the shadows plotting who know what else against our family, what is left of it at least. we are orphans now with no one to turn to for guidance. Their gone. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend their loss.
I felt guilty for their death. Somehow, I had managed to convince myself in a span of 10 minutes that I was to blame for their murder. That if I had just stayed home today... if I had just been here the maybe just maybe I could have protected them. Me a girl who can’t even protect herself against a bunch of petty high school bullies.
When they finally calmed down, they were exhausted. I picked them up and brought them towards the living room away from my parents’ room. I gently lay them together on the couch, so they can sleep and made my way toward the kitchen where I left my phone to call the police.
I noticed the bag of food I had bought for us to enjoy for family movie night and it brought me back to tears. I allowed myself a silent cry releasing some of my emotions along with the tears I had manage to suppress for so long. By the time they arrived I had packed our 2 suitcases full of necessities and some other things knowing full well that they were not going to let us continue to live in an active crime scene.
They arrived ten minutes later while I was packing. As they were securing the crime scene, I held Ethan’s in my on my lap as he fell asleep and Coral leaned against me drowsy and tired. We were in a police car being transported to a hospital and then to a foster home for the night.
We left the hospital at around 9 pm and the kids were already asleep. I on the other hand, my mind was still buzzing with un answered questions. I couldn’t help but think how such a normal day would end up becoming a nightmare
Flash back to Elaine’s Day~~~
Beep, beep, beep
Mmmhhh ... 5 more minutes mommy I groaned tossing around in my bed
Beep, beep, beep
5 more seconds… I moaned groggily
Beep, beep be-
OH, FOR FUCK SAKE!!.... I’m up, I’m up I yelled turning around in frustration and shutting down the annoying sound from my phone and pulling of them delightfully warm blanket from my body. I let out a harsh sigh and stretched my body before slinging my legs to the side of the bed.
I reached for my phone and played some music to wash away the rest of the sleep from my eyes. I began my morning routine: you know checking social media, 1 or 2 YouTube videos depending on my mood the playing my song as I get ready to start my school day, I won’t bore you with the details.
I got myself up and ready at 6:30 am every morning ever since I was ten years old but then I got siblings and now I must wake up an hour earlier to make sure there ready too because my parents both had night shift jobs and were usually too tired to do anything.
My mother worked as a heart surgeon and my father worked in tempt jobs, but his main job was as a bartender down town.
You might think that we are a rich or at least well-off family so why can’t we afford a nanny. Well to you people I would like to enlighten you on the Cuban culture. We do not trust anyone with our kids and even if my parents were to hire a nanny, we aren’t rich or well-off because of all the depts.
My family has managed to rack up in the past few years and a lot of them are too powerful and dangerous people.
Not to mention the medical bills for Coral. We can barely keep up, although it helps that I’m not one of those teens who are always asking for things in order to keep up with trends. Anything I want I must pay for myself with my own money. which is why I also work in the weekends sometimes.
My father Richard Evermore used to work for some gang I can’t remember the name of when I was younger before my sister was born and because of that I’m no stranger to the shadier parts of the world. My mom eventually convinced him to give up that life and leave it behind him after we were attacked back in our New York home.
At the time my mom was eight months pregnant with my little sister and during the attacked she was shot causing her to have an emergency C-section. Luckily the both came out alive in the whole ordeal, but the scare was enough to make my dad quit.
Sadly, coral was a premature baby and because of that she developed a weak immune system meaning that she could get very sick very easily.
Although her condition has gotten better over time, we still must be careful to not get sick or her life would be in danger. For the first half of her life coral was home-schooled until the doctors gave her the all clear.
All things considered you would think that my sister would be a very sheltered person but unlike me she is the completed opposite. She happens to be a social butterfly and the opposite of me.
Where she has many friends, I only have one, she has been involved romantically with 2 boys in her class whereas I have no idea how to even begin to talk to a member of the opposite gender. Hell, I even considered becoming a lesbian but if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t even think I can handle the double periods. Come to think of it... It’s very embarrassing that my sister has a boyfriend at her age when I am over here, just straight up the dictionary definition of lonely.
Speaking of relationships, not only is my sister in one she also asked me to hide it from mom and dad and me being the amazing older sister I am kept it a secret. This is because I know for a fact that my parents have a strict no tolerance for dating and I love my little sister too much to let her die at the hands of my mother. Not to mention the fact that papi would straight up murder her boyfriend on sight mercilessly. yea his one of those fathers who claims that their daughters are too precious and innocent and shouldn’t be involved with men at all.
You can understand why a dad would be protective of his daughters and straight up forbid them from having anything to do with a boy my dad more so because he is trying to protect us from what he and mom and to go through. If you are wondering what I’m referring to my parents were teen parents when they had me. My mom was 16y and my dad was 17 and let’s just say their parent weren’t exactly jumping for joy at the chance to be young grandparents at the ages of 40, so apparently their solution to that was to disown them and throw them out before I was even born.
At the time my father was steal dealing with gangs, so he asked the ‘mafia boss/ gang leader’ to relocate us to New York in exchange my father would work for him until his dept, was paid off since he didn’t have the money to pay him back. But when mama was attacked the plan slightly changed and my father left the gang but agreed to make monthly payments. something must have gone wrong because I noticed that lately he has been on the edge and even more protective of us if that was even possible.
I wore some casual black jeans, a plain white oversized t-shirt, a huge grey Jodie that covers me all the way down to just above my knees and it had the word crazy spread out around it in different sizes and fonts, and some brown ankle boots.
I never wore anything that was revelling or uncomfortable. I never saw the point of dressing up like most girls for school. Not to mention the fact that that most of the men...no boys in my school were horny pigs so I wasn’t interested In showing of to them not that there was anything to show.
After I was done inspecting myself in the mirror, I made my way to my siblings’ rooms to wake them up. My sister is currently 10 years old which means she is old enough to get herself ready for school so the only one I needed to be concerned about is Ethan since he is 6.
I got him ready he stayed downstairs watching some TV while I got the breakfast ready. And yes, before you ask, I’m basically like an amazing cook.... of frozen foods but don’t judge me because it’s not my fault I have no talent for the art of cooking.
Plus, my parents would like to come home to a house still intact so I ain’t gonna learn any time soon. I guess I was just destined to be a horrible cook.
Oh well it not like I need to cook anyway when we have taken out. thank the lord I don’t live in the middle ages, As I was about to sit down and enjoy my breakfast my mom walks in through the door still wearing her lab coat and holding her stethoscope in her teeth. She held a long golden hair in a messy bun allowing her beautiful dark brown eyes to show. She had her arms wrapped around my very drunk father who I presume spent the night at the bar again.
Honey come help me with you papi she called through clenched teeth closing the door with her left foot and dropping her bag.
I got up and rushed to her aid helping my drunken father to the couch. His breath and clothes reeked of alcohol and he stumbled groaning half awake. We lay him gently on the couch and covered him since he wasn’t going to be moving from there any time soon.
Thank you honey my mom breathed placing her hand on her hips so where is Coral? She asked after she caught her breath.
Papi is one heavy muscular man. emphasis on the heavy. She is upstairs getting ready for school mommy I replied siting back down on the dining table to eat. And yes, I still call my mum mommy and I call my dad daddy.
Don’t judge me because I know for a fact ya’ll do some weird shit too. She hummed going towards my brother who was too wrapped up in his TV show to notice her and gave him a kiss on his head before making her way to sit next to me.
She took a bite of my pancake and hissed my cheek. Hey mum that’s my food I whined pulling my plate closer to my chest protectively.
Así cociné al bebé de alimento por lo que técnicamente es el mío” she chuckled.
Well if you cooked it doesn’t mean it isn’t mine, you cooked it for me I argued stuffing my face.
She just laughed even more at my pettiness. Alright, alright Ill not touch your food she replied sarcastically rolling her eyes.
“Is that really what you’re going to school mija” she asked looking for at me up and down.
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” I asked crudely knowing exactly why she didn’t approve. Me and my mum didn’t have a lot in common and we disagreed on a lot of things: how I dress, what I eat, how she baby’s me etc.
“Come on mija why you do this to me...all I want is for my daughter to be confident, you know show off her gorgeous body-“ i cut her off mid-sentence
“Mum you are not normal...most mothers would be glad their daughters don’t dress like a slur” I snickered.
“Baby you know that’s not what I want its just I don’t want you to be ashamed of the way you look” she pleaded.
“Mommy I’m not ashamed of my body” I argued getting up from my chair and walking away towards the living room.
“Well it doesn’t seem that way when you dress...like...like you do all covered up like that” she whined following me to the couch.
“Mum leave it, I like how I look, and I don’t need validation from others to feel good about myself” She lifted her arms up in submission knowing full well I wasn’t going to change my mind. I heard her mutter something under her breath along the lines of ‘Dios nunca podré ganar con esta chica’
I sighed accepting that I was never going to stop having stupid agreements like these with her. “Come on mum I can tell your tired go to bed” she yawned as if on cue.
Alright fine baby but this conversation isn’t over she gave me a kiss on my forehead and turned toward the hall.
“I love you mommy” I called out. She replied with an ‘i love you too’ before I heard her bedroom door slam shut. Dad had already passed out in the other couch clutching the black fluffy blanket close for warmth. I smiled to myself and mouthed the words ‘I love you’ before kissing his check.
After we hall had out breakfast i dropped the kids off at school at the usual time and made my way to hell.... oops I mean high school.
If you can’t already tell me I don’t like having to wake up so fucking early to go to this torcher house parents send children to suffer for a couple of hours while they get on with their lives. I know I’m over reacting but then again who hasn’t thought the same thing at least once in their lives.
Lately it’s become kind off a routine for me to be late, but no one really cares since I’m practically invisible to everyone in school, but I don’t really mind because less drama for me. I like to think of high school as a long telenovela where I’m the viewer just sitting back and watching the petty, stereotypical high school scandals that no one will remember in like 5 years. You know ′ omg Veronica and cheated on Kyle’ or ‘I think Mr Summers has a thing for Emma’ that type of shit.
But being invisible isn’t all that bad. you always know what is going on in school. who’s cheating on who, who has a crush on who, what happened to who. Before you start feeling bad for me, I do have one best friend to get me through school. Her name is Taylor Dinorah. We have known each other since we were toddlers and she also happen to be the opposite of me. Bold, friendly, ratchet, sexy, basically the complete package. She’s got it all which I guess is why she hasn’t been single for more than a week since we were 10.
And even after all the countless men she has dated she still managed to come out of the whole ordeal with her virtue intact claiming that she hasn’t found ‘the one’. Taylor is very.... adamant when it comes to her belief in ‘love before fuck’ and I’m not in the position to judge and this is my opinion so don’t go getting yourself offended.
I just think that it’s kind of stupid to spend most of your life searching for the love of your life when you could instead be using that time to... oh I don’t know figure out what you want to do in your life and actually work toward it. So, if you can’t already tell I’ve been single all my 16 years of life in this earth.
I don’t mind though, I’m fine just the way I am, and I’d rather just focus on my studies, career, family and most importantly myself because I’m a fucking disaster, mentally and emotionally I mean. I’m not ready to commit to a relationship. Despite my constant attempts to convince my best friend that, every day this woman finds new and inventive ways to harass me about the subject claiming that I’ll never know if I don’t even try.
I walked in the completely empty halls towards my locker to get my books for first period. Huh I guess today I’m a little late than usual because I missed homeroom. I opened my locker looking through it trying to find my books in the chaos that is my locker when someone cleared their throat.
Shitty fuck. I slowly turned in the direction of the sound lowering my head so that my long dark hair can fall in front of my face to act as a make shift shield against Mr Haze’s harsh gaze.
“do you have a reason for being out of class Miss Evermore” he asked in the same stern but calm tone laced with spitefulness he always seemed to use when I when I was around.
“no sir I’m sorry sir” I spoke barely above a whisper.
I could feel him stare… no glare daggers at my somewhat small shaky form before dismissing me and walking away.
I know what your thinking ‘why are you so scared of a teacher?’. Well I’m not, I act like I am because it’s a survival tactic.
That way they don’t pay attention to me and lessens the chances of me getting in trouble and or getting hit with a flying shoe.
I scurried off down the empty corridor where I found that class had already started. What was I expecting, the bell rang 10 minutes ago.
Everyone diverted their attention from Mrs McGregor to me which made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I held my books close to my chest my eyes glued to the floor yet again letting my hair act as a shield from the unwanted attention.
“I’m sorry I’m late Mrs McGregor” I squeaked keeping my eyes on the most intriguing floor to ever exist.
“It’s okay miss evermore please have a seat” she replied with a genuine smile pointing to the only empty seat at the back behind Taylor. Mrs McGregor is the hottest and nicest teacher in this school.
Literally her skin is perfect, she got curves in all the right places, pleasant facial features, and a gold heart. I kind of want to hate her but it’s impossible. Lucky Mr McGregor
I kept my head down as an attempt to shrink myself as I walked fast to the other side of the classroom, cheeks red as a tomato when I tripped on a foot that came out of nowhere and landed flat on my face.
I was so close yet so fucking far. Not a second later a chorus of laughter erupted from the rest of the class. While they were doing that, I was saying hello to my old friend the cold yet interesting floor.
A loud voice came front the front of the classroom instantly silencing everyone in the class. “MICHEAL BLACK TO THE OFFICE NOW!” Mrs McGregor yelled at him. She maybe a sweet woman but lord help you if you get on her bad side.
Taylor the only human being I approve of in this hell hole got up from her seat next to martin her current boyfriend and helped me collect myself and my things which were scattered all over the floor.
“you alright El” she asked concerned after finishing her glaring session on the prick who was getting up from is chair looking down at us with a smug expression. I chuckled bitterly “Nice way to start the week huh?” she chuckled along with me and helped me up.
When class finished Tay and I walked to the next class together since today we had most of our classes together except last period which is kind of a bummer. Other than the mishap today my day was pretty much a good enough day.
At lunch we sat together as usual with the exception martin and his friends. They were having their own conversation and we were planning our weekend.
When the last bell of the day rang, I’m always the first to leave the building and today was no different. I sprinted to my beautiful black motorbike that I love more than anything on this world.
Before you ask yes, I have a motorbike and a licence, yes it was expensive I have an afterschool job and two loving parents. It was an early birthday gift.
Why didn’t I ask for a car instead like most sixteen-year olds? Because that’s so basic and unoriginal in my opinion and I am more of a bike girl anyway.
It was hard to convince my mom to let me have it but never underestimate the power of moths of ass kissing and grovelling at her feet. And that was just from my dad.
I didn’t want to be late picking up the kids from school or else they would make the rest of my day a living hell…more so than usual. My brother and sister are impatient and petty not that I can even judge because I was the same, still am. It’s a family trait. We get the impatient from daddy dearest and the pettiness from mommy dearest.
When I finally got there it was almost deserted and I was late yet aging because of the rush hour traffic. Lord save me from these demon’s wrath.
“hi….” I trailed off nervously facing my siblings.
They walked up to me Ethan, pouting and crossing his arms trying to mimic his older sisters much more threatening glare.
“Estoy tan lo siento chicos, por favour no seas loco” I pleaded. They continued to glare at me. “bien, si me perdonas, te conseguiré algo de comida en el camino a casa desde cualquier lugar que quieras” I compromised with the bribe of food. If that doesn’t work, I want to be cremated after they kill me.
“cualquier cosa?” they asked in unison
“sí, solo si estoy perdonado” he jumped into my arms and thank God for that because I was already thinking of where to spread my ashes.
“tu perdonado” coral said coldly before joining in the hug with a wide smile. I released a breath I had no idea I was holding in. I love them so much.
I put Ethan in front of me and coral held onto me from the back and I sped away to our favourite Mexican restaurant to grab a quick take away knowing my mum would either not be home or too tired to cook for us and I’m tired of eating dad’s burnt food.
Then we had to stop at the Conner shop near our house to get Ethan some ice cream. When we finally got home, I opened the door and they busted in not a second later running into the kitchen eager to start to eat.
I smiled to myself and headed upstairs to change out of my school clothes into something a little more comfortable when a nauseating metallic scent assaulted my nose causing me to gag.
Nots formed in my stomach as I started to imagine the worst. Realisation hit me like a wrecking ball…my parents. I shot up the stairs like hell was behind me, bursting through my parent’s bedroom door like a maniac.
The image burnt into my brain. My mum and dad lay lifeless on their blood-stained sheets my father’s muscular arm around my mother holding her close. Bullet holes on both of their heads, thick dried blood running down onto the puddle on the bed. My whole body went numb.
