Chapter 6

HARLEY

I wake up, a sudden jolt of fear running through my body. The image of the man from last night is seared into my mind, and I can't shake the feeling of dread that has settled over me.

I'm scared to leave my room, but I know I have to get up and face the day. As I sit up, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

I know I have to face Juliet, and I'm terrified of what she'll say.

As I open the door, I'm met with Juliet's furious glare. She's glaring at me, her face red with anger.

"What were you doing in the basement?" she demands, her voice icy. "You know you're not allowed down there. I told you to stay out."

I try to speak, but the words get caught in my throat. I don't know what to say. I know I'm in trouble, and I'm afraid of what she'll do.

"I'm sorry," I finally manage to say, my voice trembling. "I didn't mean to go down there. It was an accident."

But Juliet isn't having it.

"An accident?" she scoffs.

"Who was that man?" Juliet asks, her eyes narrowing. "And why did he have those marks on his arms and whole body?"

My stomach twists into knots. I know I have to answer, but I don't know what to say.

"I-I don't know," I stammer, my voice breaking. "I just met him last night. He said he was hurt and needed a place to stay. I didn't know about the marks, I swear."

Juliet crosses her arms, a smirk on her face.

"Last night you said he was a friend," Juliet says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And now you're saying you don't know him? Which is it?"

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I feel like I'm trapped, like there's no way out.

"I-I don't know," I say, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, I don't know what to say."

“Maybe father and mother would know what to say.” Juliet snapped and I retorted immediately.

“You wouldn’t dare.” I glared hard. “I thought we agreed to a deal last night.”

"You thought we made a deal?" Juliet says, her voice incredulous. "You thought I would be okay with you breaking the rules and bringing a stranger into our house? You really think I would be okay with that?"

"You said you wouldn't tell," I say, my voice pleading. "You said if I helped you out with your chores, you wouldn't say anything. I thought we had a deal."

Juliet rolls her eyes.

"You're so naïve," she says. "Do you really think I'm going to honor that? I never had any intention of keeping my word."

"Do you have any idea what could have happened?" Juliet asks, her voice rising. "You could have put all of us in danger! What if that man was dangerous? What if he hurt us? You put us all at risk!"

"I didn't mean to," I say, my voice cracking. "I was just trying to help. I thought I was doing the right thing."

Juliet gives a derisive laugh.

"You thought bringing a complete stranger into our home was the right thing?" she asks. "You're so stupid, I can't believe it.”

I can feel the anger bubbling up inside me, hot and fierce. I can't believe how selfish and thoughtless she's being.

"You have some nerve," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "You're the one who betrayed me. You slept with my boyfriend, and you think I'm stupid? You're the one who's messed up here, not me."

Juliet just laughs, a bitter, cruel sound.

"You're such a child," she says, her eyes flashing. "You really think your little boyfriend was only interested in you? Please. He was just using you.”

"You're wrong," I say, my voice shaking with rage. "He cared about me. He loved me. You're the one who doesn't understand anything. You're so selfish and self-centered, you can't see past your own needs."

Juliet shakes her head, a look of disgust on her face.

"I can't believe I'm even having this conversation with you," she says. "You're so delusional. You're clearly not thinking straight. You're pathetic."

Just then, the front door swings open, and our parents walk in.

They take in the scene - Juliet and I, standing a few feet apart, our faces red with anger and our eyes blazing. The room is tense and silent, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall.

"What's going on?" my mother asks, her voice cautious.

No one says anything. Juliet and I just stand there, our breaths coming in short, sharp gasps.

My father looks at me and then at Juliet, his eyes full of concern.

"What's going on here?" he asks, his voice full of worry. "Why are you both so upset?"

"It's nothing," I say, my voice tight. "Just a stupid argument. We'll work it out."

But Juliet cuts in, her tone scathing.

"There's nothing to work out," she says. "You don't understand what's going on here."

"If you don't tell me what's happening, I can't help you," my father says, his voice firm. "I want to understand, but I need you to talk to me."

"Why do you even care?" I yell, my voice cracking. "You never cared before. Why start now?"

"That's enough!" my stepmother says, her voice harsh. Without warning, she slaps me across the face. I reel back in shock, tears spilling from my eyes.

Juliet stands there, a look of satisfaction on her face. She seems pleased that I've been punished, and it makes me even angrier.

"You will never speak to your father like that again," my stepmother says, her voice full of venom. "You need to learn to show some respect. Your behavior is completely unacceptable."

"I hate all of you!" I scream, my voice raw with emotion. "I don't want to be here anymore. I'm going to my room."

I turn and storm out of the room, slamming the door behind me. I'm breathing hard, my head spinning. I feel like I'm going to explode. I don't know what to do.

I'm sitting on the floor, my head in my hands, when I hear a voice behind me. "Should I go and kill them all?" it asks, a strange, distorted tone to it.

I look up, my heart racing. There, in the corner of my room, is the man from the woods. I'm frozen in terror, my mouth dry. "What are you doing here?" I manage to croak out. "How did you get in?"

The man just smiles, his eyes glittering. "I can go anywhere I want," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "