Chapter 16

Winter POV I’m dreading going into the house after being so late. My father is going to be pissed dinner’s not on the table, but to my shock the house is pitch black, no lights in the house on at all. Even my brother appears to be missing. I almost shout out hallelujah in my excitement, shuffling along in pain until I reach the kitchen.

Theres signs father has been home most of the day. Tons of beer bottles, most empty, sitting on the old, faded, wooden dining table. I sigh. If he’s gone out its most likely he’s gone to the pub. Which means he won’t be home until late, with luck well after I’ve gone to bed. It’s almost as if the moon goddess decided to give me a helping hand and I can’t help but begin to hum under my breath despite everything.

Then I hear it. The smallest sound but loud enough to cause me to freeze in terror, the creak of the front door as it opens and I turn in hesitation, praying it’s not my father. I haven’t had enough time to start dinner yet and I could feel my body beginning to tremble, my hands shaking as I stand and wait to see who it is.

“Winter” I hear my brother’s shout and my heart begins to beat at a normal pace again. I could handle Damien, but I wondered what he wanted and why he wasn’t out smoking weed with my friends.

“Where are you” he growls.

“In the kitchen” I squeak, feeling timid like a small mouse must feel. I hear his footsteps approaching, loud on the wooden floors of the living room.

He almost barrels inside and then stops, folding his arms and glaring at me. I’m a bit confused. Had I done something to upset him? Or was he just finding any excuse to wind me up?

“You i***t” he snaps, waving his arms around “why didn’t you tell me or ring me?”

I blink. Tell him what? I’m completely puzzled.

“Instead” he says heatedly “I overhear that Jessica b***h bragging about how she’s beaten up my little sister and her cheerleader friends helped her.”

I say nothing, I’m absolutely speechless and confused about why he’s angry with me. Since when did he give a damn about me or what I went through everyday? I feel nothing but emptiness inside of me and rising anger.

“How bad is it?” he says tightly and I still, biting my lip and looking away from him. As if I’m going to answer him.

He’s impatient though and before I can stop him, he’s lifting up my jumper and shirt while I struggle helplessly.

Theres nothing I can do, he’s much stronger than me, and I see his eyes widen as he takes in the bandage as well as the yellowing of old bruises all over my ribcage and stomach. I blush as I realize how far he’s pulled them up and quickly tug them down as his eyes turn black.

I can’t take it anymore. “Why do you care” I spit out, folding my arms and trying not to wince at the pain “since when did you ever give a damn about me, your little sister? You’ve made my life a living hell Damien, you have no right to pretend to care now.” I’m almost shouting by now and my brother, to give him credit, doesn’t interrupt me.

Instead he waits until I’m done before speaking, in a gentle voice instead of an angry one, his hands held out as though begging for forgiveness. “Winter” he says almost pleading with me as I raise my eyebrows “I know what I’ve done to you is wrong and believe me, it’s been bad. I have always hated you for killing our mother…” he trails off and I “I didn’t kill our mother” | almost scream hysterical, tears flowing down my cheeks as I begin to sob. It’s always the same thing with him and father, blaming me for something that was completely out of my control.

“I know” he shouts back frustrated and I gape at him. Had he just said that? After all these years was he finally waking up to the fact that I’d just been an innocent child who couldn’t do anything to help mother? I’m suspicious.

“I’ve spent years listening to father ramble on about it being your fault” he snaps, running a hand through his hair impatiently “and because I was young, and I was angry, I believed him when he turned on you. So help me god let that bastard lie to me and manipulate me. There’s no excuse for what I’ve done to you Winter, I know that and I don’t expect you to forgive me instantly” he says irritably “but at least hear me out.”

Oh I’m hearing him alright but I’m not about to let my guard down. I’ve done it too many times before and been disappointed, but some part of me, a very small part wants to believe him. Wants her big brother to be telling the truth.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately” he exhales and glances at me looking very guilty “and I can’t stand to hurt you anymore. If mum was still alive she’d kick my ass for what father and I have been doing to you. She’d kill me and I’d deserve it. I’ve failed her by failing you” he said urgently and I feel my heart skip a beat. He seemed so genuine, so sincere that a tiny spark of hope lights inside of me.

“I’m not going to expect you to believe me but I’m going to show you just how much I can change” he continues “I want to be a big brother and not a coward who listens to his father instead of thinking for himself.”

I’m starting to wonder if he smoked some weed and mixed it with drugs. This wasn’t anything I would ever have expected in a million years of my brother. It seemed too good to be true. I heave a big sigh. Actions meant more than words and I decided I would wait and see what he’d do next.

We both stiffen as the front door opens and I can’t help myself, my body shaking instinctively as I smell the disgusting odor of our father as he approaches the kitchen, stumbling along, well and truly inebriated. To my astonishment, Damien pushes me behind him and faces father who merely shoots him a glance.

“Out of my way boy” he snaps “I want another beer” he slurs and Damien seems to tense. I’m praying that there isn’t going to be a fight.

Then father starts to stumble and Damien reluctantly catches him as he falls unconscious in his arms, giving me a disgusted look. “Drunk as a skunk like usual” he complains, picking him up and placing him on the couch while watch. “Hope he has one hell of a hangover when he wakes up” he curses. He looks around the kitchen just as his.

stomach growls. I wait for him to demand dinner but instead he surprises me once again. “How about I order us both a pizza for dinner? My treat.”