Chapter 1 Getting rid of Madison
“Where’s that stupid brat”
On hearing his voice, Madison sat up, alert.
He was coming for her.
And she knew better not to run because he would always find her.
The door handle rattled impatiently as he struggled to let himself in. She braced herself for what was coming, sucking in her breath.
“It has gotten to the point where I call and you don’t answer?” He roared, eyeing her in disgust.
Madison clamped her mouth shut, not apologizing to him for she knew it was only going to anger him more. So instead, she greeted.
“Welcome home, Father.” Her voice faltered at the ‘father’ part. It felt hard to call such a person her father as she believed the word father held a deep, emotional meaning.
“I am not your father! I can never father a cursed child.” Mr Joseph Turner screamed, his breath and body reeked of alcohol, poisoning the air.
He was drunk. Again.
This didn’t faze Madison as she was already used to him coming back drunk, and just like she anticipated, he gripped her by her hair, hard
Madison winced, biting her lips to stifle the groan that threatened to slip out. As each pull got stronger and more painful, she failed woefully to muffle the groan
“Argh”
“Why can’t you just die, you bloody sinner!” He released her hair, pushing her to the ground roughly. Her elbow scraped the ground, her skin tearing open. Shortly after, blood began to gush out.
Madison wondered where she went wrong as she cried silently. Ever since her mother left, everything turned sour. Her whole existence irked her father. He made it his sole purpose to hit her day and night like that was what was going to bring food to their table or elevate their condition.
Then her mother’s sister, Linda, came into the picture and she thought that was going to better her situation but instead, it worsened. Linda hated her guts so much - something about she looking just like her mother. She hated her mother so much.
“I hope you feel my pain! I can’t even look at you anymore. You disgust me.” He growled, kicking her hard - directly on her chest.
Madison coughed, tears slipping down her cheeks as she held her chest, tight.
“Then you fucking went blind and became more useless!” His attack on her rib cage increased, his leg continuously marching same spot.
Over and over again.
“Stop. Please!” She begged, raising her hand up as if that was going to stop him.
He was a beast whenever he drank.
“I should’ve never allowed her have you. Now I lost her. She left because of you. You pursued my wife.” He screamed. “It’s all you. I hate you so much, Madison.”
Madison broke down more hearing those words. They weren’t new but they never got old. They sliced through her skin whenever he repeated it to her.
At times she had considered taking her life but she didn’t have the mind to.
“When I get the contact of the human traffickers, I’m giving you out. At least I’d get paid from it.” Mr Turner said, finality in his tone.
“Orrr you give her out to Draco” Linda chimed in, closing the door behind her. Madison’s ear perked up.
They were both not serious right? She thought
Human traffickers? Draco? Who were those persons.
She dared not look at them. She had to protect her secret at all cost. She buried her face to the ground, holding her bruised rib cage.
They burned. Badly.
“You know you’re in debt and we’d lose this house if you don’t pay, Joe. This is the only option.” Linda spoke, trying to convince Joseph. She couldn’t understand why she had to put in so much words before he would make up his mind
Didn’t he hate Madison enough to give her out as settlement for debt?
She suspected it was probably because he still saw her sister in Madison or it was because she was an offshoot of both of them.
Another reason she wanted to really get rid of Madison.
“Get the fuck out of my sight, twat.” Joseph ignored Linda, staggering his way up the stairs.
Madison felt a bit relieved that he didn’t buy into Linda’s idea. But she knew it wouldn’t be long until he agreed and before then, she was going to find a way to run.
By all means.
“The only good you can do is to go with Draco.” Linda advised Madison. “Don’t you want to be free from all these?”
Madison scoffed softly, in a way that it wouldn’t affect her injury. Since when did Linda care about her freedom. If anything, she knew Draco was another bad plan of hers. One set out to destroy her.
“Nrghh!” Madison having had enough of laying on the cold ground, crying tirelessly, she struggled to stand up, regretting it immediately when the pain pierced deep.
She felt like she was going to die.
Well, she felt like that almost everyday
She needed to come up with a plan to escape this house and whatever they had planned. As soon as possible.
“Madison.” Linda called, making Madison pause, her hand hanging in the air. “Help your father keep this house. Help protect your mother’s memory of -“
“Don’t.” Madison cut her off, her voice firm. “Don’t bring my mother into this.”
“Oh please! You still call a woman who left you alone since you were 10, probably sucking some rich man’s dick, your mother? Someone who abandoned you without a trace?” Linda chuckled darkly. “I won’t be surprised if it’s all the hit from your father that’s affecting your head.”
She pushed Madison by her head. Madison frowned, clenching her fist, staring into space as she repressed the urge to claw at her face.
She would never think bad of her mother. Though she was mad at her for leaving without a word or even goodbye but that was just it.
Watching as Madison tapped the wall, trying to navigate her way up the stairs, without paying much more attention to her anymore, she yelled.
“I’d stop at nothing until you are finally out of our lives!”
Madison mentally rolled her eyes. She was also targeting her too.
“Even if it means drugging you to death. I hope you didn’t eat the food I kept.” Linda said, mischief evident in her voice.
Madison paused, her chest heaving up and down in panic. She had eaten it.
Her heartbeat slowed down, her legs giving up on her. She could barely hold herself up. Her visions were fading
“You…”