Page 269 of Remiss

Nardo loomed above her and she shrank back. He kicked her stomach, his bare toes connecting with her midsection. Herphone slapped her hip.

“Send me the fucking video. Tired of watching you fuck that White boy.”

Ryan.

He kicked her again. “Fucking slut.”

Harley didn’t move.

“Stand the fuck up and get the fuck out. You served your fucking purpose this evening.”

Tears slid down her cheeks.

He kicked her a third time. “You want me to kick you with my shoes on?”

Sniffling, she shook her head and forced herself to a sitting position.

“Get dressed and put a smile on your fucking face. Pretend nothing’s wrong if you don’t want me to hurt you worse.”

The order mirrored Pillar of Earth’s. Harley suspected Nardo was her online tormentor, but she didn’t know how to prove it.

“I’m counting to fucking ten.”

He’d hurt her bad already, so she gritted her teeth and rushed to dress. Once she was done, Nardo thumped her in the back and shoved her out of his room. He shoved her again and sent her sprawling into the living room, since the house wasn’t big at all.

Nardo’s father snickered from where he sat carving an apple with a pocketknife. Mrs. Grevenberg turned her head, pretending she didn’t see.

Harley understood. She’d been there one evening when Mr. Grevenberg beat her up.

Harley started to stand.

Mr. Grevenberg pointed the knife at her. “Crawl to the door.” He offered a toothy grin and popped an apple slice in his mouth. “Didn’t hear her scream loud enough, boy.”

“I can take her back to my room.”

Horror washed through Harley. “No, no, no, no,” she chanted, crawling as fast as she could to the front door. She didn’t even stop for her knapsack.

Laughter floated to her. The evening air was cold, but she welcomed it. She had no ride back to the club, but that was okay. It didn’t matter. She was in one piece.

Hands trembling, she dug for her cellphone, glad she’d had the foresight to put it in her jacket pocket once she’d dressed. No one had called or texted her. She wilted.

Nardo walked out onto the porch and held up her knapsack. She saw his intent before he threw it at her head. If she hadn’t jumped back, he would’ve knocked her out.

He laughed, walked back into his house, and slammed the door shut.

It was a thirty-minute drive home. Walking would take hours. She glanced up at the dark purple sky, dotted with stars. Night had fallen and she was all alone.

She just wanted to get to Aunt Zoann’s, take a shower, and wash all the dirtiness away. Pillar of Earth didn’t physically hurt her, but mentally he was destroying her.

Harley stared at her phone again, wondering who she could call. Her first thought was her parents, but Lou had sent her a tearful voice message, saying how much he and Kaleb missed her and that Mommie and Daddy were in an even worse place. If she called them, then it would just reaffirm the danger surrounding them.

Lolly? No. She was traumatized with her own experiences.

Aunt Meggie? No. Then CJ would get wind of it and Nardo swore he’d hurt him.

Aunt Zoann? She probably was preparing for her work week.

Aunt Kendall? Harley wasn’t sure.