Part 4 - Hell is Where I Live

...(3 weeks later)...

"Since my mother's lungs have worsened, it has never been better, and it hurts me that I can't do anything for her. And what a surprise, my father told my mom they're gonna have a party later, and they want to celebrate here? At our house? What a stupid man. He said he offered his place because it was his friend's treat, because of his friend's "promotion", isn't he envious? He can't even give us money for mom's medicines. I hate this man so much, I can't even say that he's my father. And I can't believe he refused to attend my elementary graduation! I bet he'll do that again. Arghhh!!" Scylla says to herself.

Scylla irritatedly threw her pillow to the wall and slammed her bed.

"I'm going crazy... But he's our only source of income. Well, at least he feeds us, but that's all he can do."

Scylla got up and went downstairs to check on her mother who was doing the laundry.

"Ma, where's he?"

"He left after someone called him. He didn't— *coughs* say anything about where he was going."

"Oh, are you okay? You need a rest."

"I'm fine. Besides, this is all I do."

"You can watch the TV. I'll handle that."

"No thanks, dear. *coughs* I told you, I got this."

"Well um, just call me when you're gonna dry those clothes. Anyway, you stopped smoking and drinking, right?"

"Yeah, I did, just like you said."

"Really? That's good then."

"Those cigars you see on the table, that was your father's." *coughs*

"Oh, he should have had these diseases instead of you."

"Don't say that, Scarlet. God will take care of them."

"Wow, this is the first time I heard you say."

"Hmm, maybe because God will take me someday."

"Don't say that!" Scylla walked to her mom and hugged her from behind. "I don't want to be left with that man."

"Your father?"

"Yeah... I'll be forced to live alone if that happens."

"You're still young, Scarlet. You can't live alone yet."

"Yes, I can. Just to be away from him."

"I wouldn't want to leave you either. I know you're not ready."

Scylla hugged her mother tighter. She's not used to it but she knows she needs to hug her mother. Who knows when she will have the chance to do it? Every hug makes her feel like it will be the last time.

...(A few hours later)...

Scylla's mother approached her while she was watching TV.

"Scarlet, *coughs* you can go to your room for now. I think your father is about to come."

Scylla turned off the TV and gave her mother a glance who was sweeping the floor before she went to her room.

She lay down on her bed and grabbed her phone. She noticed that she had a message from her friend. In the meantime, she heard that his father had come home along with his co-workers.

Scylla opened the message she received from her friend, and it said, "I researched the floral scent drug you're talking about because I thought that you might not have the internet to search for it. So, the drug is either cocaine or marijuana, because these two both have a floral scent and can be taken by snorting it. I hope it helps"

"Thank you. My father and his coworkers are having a celebration here at our house." Scylla replied.

"Oh? What's the occasion?"

*coughs* "Promotion, but not for him, for his coworker."

"Maybe they're friends."

Meanwhile, her mother downstairs prepares the table for the guests. Each guest grabbed a seat and a plastic bag full of bottles of beer was placed on the table. The father and his guests chattered as they grabbed a bottle of beer and drank it together.

Scylla decided to go downstairs to check on her mom. But on her way to the kitchen, she can see the stares that the guests give to her.

"Will you be fine here, ma?" Scylla asked her mother.

"Don't worry about me, dear. You stay in your room."

"Okay, ma. These people are staring at me..."

Scylla went upstairs again back to her room. She could feel that the guests were staring at her, and that made her feel uncomfortable.

Scylla stayed in her room for a while, worried that her father might hurt her mother again, now that she knew her father would be drunk again.

Download

Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Download

Bonus

New users downloading the APP can read 10 episodes for free

Receive
NovelToon
Step Into A Different WORLD!
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play