~ALISON'S POV
I sat up from my bed. My lids were heavy but I got up regardless. I needed to get to the kitchen and find something to eat before my step mother woke up.
I threw the sheets over and dragged my feet towards the door, reached for the knob and turned. I walked down the hallway and took a turn into the kitchen.
It was 5am. Rachel wasn't going to be up until it was around seven in the morning. Now was my chance. I walked over to the refrigerator and pulled the door. It didn't budge.
That was strange.
I tilted my head and checked the side, there was a lock installed on the door. My brows furrowed deeply in a frown.
Two hours later, I was dressed and seated in the dining room waiting for my step mom and sister as well as father—if he would be joining us—to come.
Some minutes later, Clover dragged her feet and came to sit down across from me. My father took the seat at the head of the table while Rachel, my stepmother remained in the kitchen getting it all ready.
She came out after ten minutes and served scrambled eggs with toast and veggies to everyone, leaving my plate empty. I inhaled silently. Frustration was slowly building up within me.
Then she drew back the chair, its leg scraping against the tiles.
"Alright everyone," She said in her usual chirpy voice which always got under my skin. "Let's have breakfast."
They all picked up their forks and began digging in.
I turned to her, my brows creased in a deep frown. "Why's my plate empty?"
She looked at me with one brow raised like I wasn't speaking to her and then returned her attention to the food in front of her without replying.
I balled my palms to fist and then closed my eyes, trying so hard for my anger to simmer down. "Why is my plate empty, Rachel?" I asked her once again through gritted teeth.
She slammed her fork on the table. "You insolent rude brat." She cursed.
I have never called her mother since she entered our lives and I wasn't about to start now.
"You expect me to feed a freak like you when I have a family to cater for?" She asked and then scoffed, "if you want food then ask your mother, I'm sure she'll have something nice for you wherever she may be."
Then she shrugged and returned to eating her food.
That was the height of it. A lump formed in my throat and I could feel my nails dig into my skin, leaving a painful red mark in its place. The corners of my eyes stung.
"Don't talk about my mother like that." I muttered under my breath, my tone hard and steely.
"Stop whining." Clover scoffed in a haughty manner.
Gosh! I wanted to...arhhh
I packed a fistful of the table cloth and pulled it dragging all the plates alone with it and then letting them all clatter to the ground in a crash.
They all stood up and moved back to avoid the crash, a shocked gasp escaping their lips. Their eyes were wide with anger. It felt like a relief, they finally felt what I was feeling.
Rachel crossed the room and stomped over to where I was, lifted her hand in the air and let it land on my cheek.
The pain seared me and my hand flew to the spot which had already turned a bright red immediately.
"How dare you?" She seethed. "Do you know how much making that costs? Do you?" She yelled.
"Alison." My father's deep, cold and manly voice came. It had been so long since I heard him say my name. "You pack this sh*t up and then go to school. Your presence is infuriating as it is."
My heart sank. The tears were coming down faster. I needed to leave.
I sniffed and tilted my chin defiantly. "I'm leaving."
"Come back here, now." Rachel yelled after me as I walked away, got out the house and slammed the door shut.
Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea afterall to babysit a grown up, Daven. Were the first thoughts I had upon seeing him after the bell rang which signalled the end of classes.
Daven got up from his seat and Brittany packed her bags and went along with him.
"So there's a party that'll be happening at the frat house. I am one of the organizers and I was thinking of making you my plus one." Brittany said and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and leaned into Daven even as she walked.
Gosh! That was so cringe. But Daven didn't react.
"I'll think about it." He replied with a stiff smile.
I scoffed. The arrogance.
Brittany stopped walking and so did the rest. She closed her eyes and looked up at the ceiling before looking back down and spinning on her heels, turning to me, glaring.
"Why are you following us, creep?"
That was when Daven looked back for the first time.
My eyes darted from him to Brittany whose glare threatened to burn a hole in my face.
He sighed and then opened his mouth to speak. "She's my..."
"Homework partner." I yelled and interrupted him.
Was he about to say I was his nanny? Was he even thinking straight?
Brittany raised her brow and crossed her hand over her chest. "Homework? We weren't given any homeworks." She countered.
Daven quickly crossed over and came to stand next to me. "Yeah, homework."
Brittany narrowed her eyes at the both of us before stretching and drawing Daven over to her side. She flicked her hair and stated "Just remember what I had told you earlier." Referring to Daven.
Then she turned to me and let her eyes glide over me with a snobbish look dancing on her face. "And make sure to ward off any bad luck before coming."
I scoffed, my jaw dropping open. She was shamelessly talking to me.
Daven flashed her a smooth smile, which dissolved into a smirk. "Of course, beautiful."
"I can't believe I'm stuck with you." I muttered as we walked ahead to the exit.
"Don't worry you're in for a treat." He said and chuckled lightly walking ahead of me.
I was obviously stuck with him for a while.
Why didn't I like what he said?
In a matter of minutes we were at the house. His mother, Madeline, was waiting at the door. As soon as we arrived, she walked down the stairs with elegance.
"Welcome." She said and wrapped her arms around me warmly. It was something that should feel familiar but didn't.
My mother was dead and Rachel was very mean. Since the day my father brought her into our house. Not like he cared for me at all.
She got to the dining room and pulled out a seat for me. My mouth dropped open and even my legs felt stiff. The weight of it all saddled on my shoulders and I felt overwhelmed at once.
A variety of foods lined the table. From Chicken, to oysters, to drinks and many more. I sat down, my jaw dropped in awe. The smell wafted and filled my nose. It felt like I was in heaven at that point.
She took the seat at the head of the table. "Please, eat." She urged with a sweet warm smile on her face.
I took a bite and let my teeth dig into it. The crunchy and oily taste filled my mouth. The flavour basically exploded in my mouth. I had never tasted anything so delicious in my life to the point my eyes grew wide in awe.
I turned to her. "You're such a wonderful cook!"
Madeline smiled at me. "Just go to the kitchen whenever you're hungry."
Daven just scoffed arrogantly.
Later that night, I was wrapped up in soft sheets. Just me and the fluffy pillow and the cotton sheets which felt like I was wrapped in heaven.
I closed my eyes but it felt like sleep evaded me. My eyes were wide open and I kept turning in the bed.
My stomach grumbled. I knew my father or Rachel didn't care where I was so I made sure to relax like Madeline had told me.
I sat up and threw the sheets over my body and walked out of the room they had given me. A large room bigger than my room and Clover's joined together.
I walked past the bedroom to see that the door to Daven's room was slightly open. I peered through it to see that the sheets were moving.
I sighed and pushed open the door, walking into the large space and over to his bed.
Beads of sweat had formed over his head and were trailing down his body. I walked in with heavy feet.
I got to the edge of the bed. He was moving his head from side to side, his pillows soaked and his hair matted to his head. I tried to touch him, leaning softly and trying to poke him.
"Daven." I called his name and poked his chest.
He was whimpering, his body convulsing like someone who had epilepsy.
"Daven." I called once again.
His hand wrapped around my wrist and he held me tightly. So much so that it hurt. I tried to pull away but it didn't budge.
"Daven." I called again. That was when he sat up abruptly, his eyes closed and his body still.
My heart was hammering violently in my chest. I leaned into him, my face inches from his. "Daven?" I called again.
He opened his eyes and my body ran cold. Those blue eyes had turned to something more cynical, more deadly...more familiar. Red, big and vicious.
Then I heard something whisper in my ears, cold and chilling, the word—KILL.