Less than Perfect, S. J. Evans [classic literature books txt] 📗

I’ll call you soon. Goodnight Skye,” He kissed her on the cheek only as a simple gesture; but to Skye it meant so much more. A strong tingly feeling shot down her spine the moment his lips made contact with her cheek.
“Goodnight, Jules.” She said the moment he backed away and started towards his bike. She couldn’t believe what she had just done. If by some unbelievable way Bryan found out about Jules he would do something much worse than he had even done before. Bryan would be furious, unstoppable. In one side of her mind she wished that she hadn’t spent any time with Jules at all, figuring that it would have been better to have stuck with fleeing from him, whatever the cost; but in the other side she was enthralled with her decision and she couldn’t have seen it any other way. Maybe she should have thought about it a little better though.
She walked on the sidewalk home, avoiding the dark streets and shadows as best as she could. She passed through a little shadowed area where the trees were bending over the sidewalk and her heartbeat quickened dimly. She was almost home when she heard a rustle in the bushes to the side of her. Suddenly fear had gripped itself around her again and she wondered hazily if she had heard something the entire time. Vaguely, she got the feeling that she had heard something behind her, and it made chills spring up her arms.
Skye started to quicken her pace a little, the heat in the air suddenly irrelevant. The fear within her made the hair stand up on her arms and she grasped the reality. Someone was behind her, and not only someone, but Johnny.
“Who’s the friend?” He asked chillingly, his tone cold and dark.
She turned around and messed with her fingers. “Nobody you need to worry about.” She said dryly; she didn’t want this, she was getting drained already.
“Oh but I do, Princess. I can’t have you telling anyone else about our little secrets. Now, Leah isn’t home yet, and you still owe me.” He grinned and stepped completely out of the shadows.
Skye backed away and shook her head. “No, not now Johnny, please not now. I can’t—” She cried, her voice catching.
“Oh yes Princess, now is the perfect time.” He went for her and she instantly ran in a sprint for the house. I can make it if I try hard enough, fast enough

. She told herself desperately as she raced towards the house.
Skye made it all the way up the steps and to the door before she glanced back. Johnny was only a short distance away. She let out a gasp and yanked the door open, her breathing rasping. She slammed the door and tried to lock the door but Johnny was already pushing hard against it from the other side. Her mind throwing options at her, she quickly ducked into the living room as Johnny bombarded through the front door. She tried to muffle her loud and harsh breathing from the sudden running she had done but it wasn’t good enough.
“Princess, why are you running away?” Johnny said jumping out from the archway. Skye let out a scream as she jolted back in fear. She gave out her best shot and tried to run but he caught her wrist and yanked her against him. “No!” She cried out, cold creeping up throughout her entire body.
Johnny looked down at her and grinned revoltingly. She could feel his heart pounding and from the unyielding grip he had on her wrist she could tell that he was fuming. “You’re coming with me now, Princess.” He said venomously as he twisted his grip all the way to her upper arm. He dragged her, as she hopelessly fought him, over to the basement and forcibly opened the door and laughed threateningly. “Want another visit to the hospital, Princess?” He said as he picked her up under both of her arms and threw her against the wall, pinning her neck under his hand. “I can arrange it.” He whispered with edge.
Skye fought his tight hold and wondered if this was it, her last beating, and her last moments. In a choked attempt she begged for another day before the beating; but Johnny only laughed abruptly and yanked her violently into him. She was trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her when he pulled her hair violently. She yelped in agony and fumbled to push him away.
This really is it. He’s going to be done with me, I can’t survive this staircase; he’s finally getting his way. If only I had accepted the offer home maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I only get so far pushing away people, I guess now I finally see that.

She thought helplessly. Closing her eyes she tried to picture herself without Johnny, safe and secure with Jules or Leah, but the reality was tugging too harshly on her. She opened her eyes and realized that he had moved her in front of him, his grip still violently on her hair. I can’t believe he is getting his way again.

Johnny let go of her and shoved her forward. Skye tumbled down the steps, her body crashing halfway down as she grabbed the rails for help. She couldn’t scream, she couldn’t make a sound, and her vision blurred as the world was disappearing around her. She tried to look up at Johnny but she could hardly move. Vaguely she heard the click of a lock in her buzzing ears.
“Now we’re all alone, and we have something to work out, remember?” Johnny whispered as he descended the stairs towards her. He bent down right next to her and tucked her hair behind her ears; she had a cut on her forehead and blood was dripping down the sides. “It’s such a shame too, you’re so beautiful.” He smiled and wiped her tears away gently.
Skye whimpered and closed her eyes, wishing she was stronger.

New Playmates

Johnny yanked Skye in his arms and dragged her down the steps, her body lifelessly slung in his hands. Skye moaned and cried fragilely as he propped her on the couch. “Quiet, Princess, everything’s alright.” He hushed her.
Yeah right. What horrible thing are you going to do now to ruin my life even more? I’m already dying inside and my life is crashing down, are you going to take me out of the picture for good now?

She thought dizzily as she tried fluttering her eyes open.
“You’re still going to keep our little secret, right?” He asked roughly, squeezing his hand through hers. Of course, ‘cause it’s just so

little. “What’s that, Princess?” He said through clenched teeth.
No, he heard me. I really said that out loud?

She thought worriedly. “Nothing, please, I didn’t mean to—” she was cut off by Johnny’s strong hand slapping her hard across her cheek. Skye couldn’t do anything, she let herself fall under exhaustion and fall into his violence. She tried to cry out but nothing came out, she just lay there desperately trying to stay awake. Water cascaded down her cheeks and she vaguely could see Johnny through her half-closed eyes. He was utterly infuriated and his usually bright blue eyes were darker than she would think possible. In the pit of her stomach there was a sour feeling of remorse and sorrow; she wished she had strength to save Leah.
“You are so disrespectful, and I’m tired of it.” He put his weight on her and punched her in the stomach, knocking her breath away. Skye whimpered and looked into the eyes of the man she could feel nothing but hate for. She tried to let her feelings fall away, let her feelings drop into what it all ideally should be; but there wasn’t a chance. Johnny isn’t going to change and she knows that.
“I—I’m sorry.” She stuttered, using every last painful breath. Closing her eyes she gave in; gave in to the beating, to the menacing voice echoing in the distance above her, and to the idea that everything isn’t going to get better. I’m screwed, this is how it’s always going to be.

She drifted off into sleep, Johnny continually beating on her numb body.
***

[Three days later]

“Mom, what happened with you two?” Skye asked as she took the mug from Leah’s small hand.
Leah sighed heavily and sat down next to her daughter; regarding the young and fragile beauty with loss. “Well, there’s really nothing to tell you.”
Skye took a sip of the hot tea and looked into Leah’s weary eyes, feeling a strong desire to know more about her past. “I think there is, Mom. You haven’t told me anything about him besides the fact that he left you—left us. Why would he do something like that?” Skye had longed so much for the answers behind her life story, the entire past of Leah’s she wanted so much to dig into and unravel. Leah hadn’t told her very much about anything that happened before Skye, and it always played a secret in the backdrop of her heart.
“Sweetie, why are you suddenly this interested in what happened years ago?” Leah said uncomfortably.
Skye looked at her mom suddenly quite irritated. “Suddenly? Mom, I have wanted to know for years, but I have tried to mask that and let you live without having to tell me everything. I know that it may not be the easiest thing to talk about, but I think that it’s about time I know what happened. He was—is—my father.” She spoke calmly but with force, hoping that her mom would finally get the picture and open up. “Please, Mom.” She looked deeply into Leah’s eyes, pleading and searching for a spark of something, of an answer.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, I know how much you really desire to know this. It’s just, it’s not only that it’s hard to talk about him; it’s more that I need to know that you can handle it. You may not be happy with the truth.” Leah sighed mournfully. She dropped her head and shook it. She didn’t want to look at her daughter when she told her just how she was brought into the world.
Skye set the mug down and touched Leah’s shoulder gently. “I’m ready. I can live with the truth.” No matter how hard it is. I’ve been doing it for a while.

She tried to smile at Leah but it came out