***"And I've been meaning to tell you***
***I think your house is haunted***
***Your dad is always mad and that must be why***
***And I think you should come to live with me***
***And we can be pirates***
***Then you won't have to cry***
***Or hide in the closet***
***And just like a folk song***
***Our love will be passed on." - Taylor Swift***
*Flashback - Part 2*
Denver Young kept his eyes on me, making me uncomfortable. I didn’t know him. Holden rarely talked about his parents. I always saw him alone, so I concluded he was one of those kids raised by nannies his whole life.
It made sense that he was lonely—I was too. I guess we liked that about each other.
“So, a girlfriend, huh?” he asked, breaking the silence, though he didn’t seem to want an answer. I remained quiet, pulling my sleeves down over my arms, wishing I could disappear.
“Do your parents work around here? Maybe I know them,” he asked.
I shook my head, keeping silent. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, clenched his jaw, and narrowed his eyes. I gave him my address, but he barely seemed to listen.
“You can drop me off here, sir,” I said softly, my voice barely audible. He glanced at the corner, confused, as there was nothing there but a few empty houses in this part of town. “They wouldn’t like to know I was with a boy,” I finally admitted, ashamed.
Despite being terrible parents, they were devout Christians. Yeah, I know—the hypocrisy sickened me.
Denver looked at me incredulously and let out a mocking laugh. “Maybe they’re right. That’s no behavior for a girl your age.” He didn’t stop until we were close enough to the entrance of my house. My body went cold at the thought—my parents would kill me if they found out about this. I prayed they weren’t awake.
“It’s not a good idea to take advantage of a rich boy, don’t you think?” Denver spat the venom at me.
The blood boiled in my veins hearing him say that. Holden was the one who kept chasing me, not the other way around. And the last thing I wanted from him was money.
“You’re mistaken,” I said, hatred evident in my eyes. I grabbed the car handle, but it was locked.
“Let me out of here!” I screamed, and he let out a dry, sadistic laugh.
“You’re not going to see Holden again, understand?” Denver raised his voice as if he weren’t talking to a fifteen-year-old girl. “Stay away from him, you little gold-digging tramp. Don’t you dare ruin what Blake and I are building? Our son has a future—unlike you.”
My rage was so overwhelming that I couldn’t speak. My throat tightened, my tears spilling uncontrollably.
“I want to leave,” I said emotionlessly, just wishing to get out of there. This man was cruel.
“Say you understand, Alissa.” Denver grabbed my arm, and I felt the marks burning. He glanced at the bruises and pulled back my jacket sleeve, exposing the injuries I had tried to hide.
“Now it all makes sense. Who did this to you? Your daddy or your mommy? Or both?” he sneered.
I ignored him, pulling my arm back. I wanted to disappear at that moment, seeing the amusement in his eyes. It was the first time I saw evil in someone’s eyes.
“What will they do if they find out you were alone with Holden like some little prostitute, huh?” He grabbed the books and iPod from my bag.
“If you didn’t steal this—considering your state…” He smirked, holding up my belongings. “But I’ll let you off the hook. Consider it a second chance.”
He brushed his hand against my face, and I felt disgusted by his touch.
“Go home and think about what I said. Remember, Alissa—it can get much worse than this.”
When the car doors unlocked, I ran as if my life depended on it. I slipped through the back door, seeing my dad asleep with the TV still on. My mom was in the shower, and I silently thanked God for that.
I ran to my bed and cried all night. I stayed locked in my room until the next day, unable to face life anymore.
Holden was the only person who saved me from this hell, but now, I had nothing left.
When he approached me at school the next time, I ignored him. He persisted, but I told him I needed to be alone. That’s how it went for a few days until his parents showed up at school unexpectedly.
They arrived just as he was trying to hand me a music tape. He didn’t understand why, but I ran away from him as if I were fleeing. Denver’s gaze—Holden’s father—was petrifying.
That night, I heard a car pulling up in front of the house. It was a vehicle I didn’t recognize, and a well-dressed man stepped out, carrying a briefcase. I peeked through my bedroom window and saw him being greeted by Denver and my parents.
My heart raced. Something was wrong.
Carefully, I opened my bedroom door and crept toward the living room, hiding behind the wall to listen.
“Thank you for accommodating my request,” Denver’s voice was low but carried authority. “I really think we can resolve this before it becomes a bigger issue.”
“Of course, Mr. Young,” the man replied, his voice smooth and professional. “I’ve dealt with similar cases before. Troubled youth, difficult ones… but nothing that a disciplined environment can’t correct.”
My breath caught in my throat. Discipline?
“That’s exactly what she needs,” my mother said with a bitter laugh. “We tried, but this girl never gave us another choice. And the money you offered… well, it will help compensate for what she’s cost us.”
“We’ll do our best to ensure she’s treated properly,” the man continued, pulling out a folder. “With the evidence Mr. Young provided and her history, it will be easy to justify the transfer.”
“You’re guaranteeing this won’t affect us?” Denver asked, his voice firmer now.
“Absolutely,” the man replied confidently. “It will be swift and efficient. She’ll be removed by tomorrow morning.”
My blood ran cold. Removed? To where?
I tried to back away, but the sound of something falling gave me away. I heard the chair scrape against the floor in the living room, and soon my mother appeared in the hallway, her expression a mix of anger and disdain.
“Come here, you ungrateful brat. This man is going to teach you a lesson!” she yelled, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the living room.
I fought to free myself, but it was useless. When I entered, I saw Denver sitting on the couch, looking at me like I was a problem he needed to eliminate. The man in the suit was next to him, examining items I recognized: my books, the iPod, and everything Holden had given me.
“It’s a misunderstanding!” I cried desperately, trying to explain. “These things weren’t stolen—they were gifts!”
“Sure they were,” Denver replied with a cynical smile. “But who’s going to believe you? A girl with a history like yours?”
“What history?” I shouted, feeling tears of anger burning my face. “I’ve never done anything!”
“Never?” My mother interrupted, her voice dripping with resentment. “What about all those times you brought trouble here? All the groceries you stole? Or do you think we forgot?”
“I stole food because you wouldn’t let me eat lunch!” I retorted, my voice nearly a scream.
“Keep your voice down, girl!” my father grumbled, finally waking up on the couch. “Don’t embarrass us in front of the guests.”
“Embarrass you?” I laughed bitterly. “You’re selling me like a piece of meat!”
My mother stepped toward me, pointing a finger in my face.
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that, Alissa? If you’re in this situation, it’s because you caused it.”
The man in the suit raised a hand, signaling for silence.
“There’s no need for conflict here,” he said, his voice so calm it was almost cruel. “Tomorrow she will be taken to the reformatory. They have strict rules and an excellent rehabilitation program. It will be best for everyone.”
“Reformatory?” I whispered in disbelief. “You can’t do this to me.”
“Oh, but we can,” Denver said, standing and walking toward me. He grabbed my face roughly, forcing me to look at him.
“Consider this a favor. Maybe they’ll teach you what your parents failed to do: discipline.”
“You’re a monster,” I spat, my voice trembling.
“And you’re a leech,” he replied coldly. “But that ends tomorrow.”
Tears streamed down my face, but I knew there was no one there who would help me. Their minds were made up.
The next day, when I was taken away, there were no goodbyes, no explanations. Just silence and the sound of car doors closing behind me.
And through Holden’s love, I discovered what cruelty was truly capable of.