Bound To A Bully

Raven's Pov

I came back from school feeling pissed and exhausted. My uniform was stuck to my skin with sweat and my backpack felt heavier than usual, all I wanted to do was throw myself on my bed and sleep but the second I stepped into the house, I knew something was wrong.

My mother was packing and panic licked her entire face and I've never felt so confused because I left her in a good condition where she complained about not eating enough breakfast.

Now she wasn't just packing, she was in a frenzy, stuffing clothes into suitcases as if we were being chased out.

My stomach dropped in dread as my heart rammed in my ribcage. "Mom? What the hell is going on?"

She didn't stop nor did she even look at me. "We're leaving." She blurted out rasping and avoided my gaze like a plaque.

My heart pounded as the first thought hit me like a freight train. "Is it Dad? Is he out of jail?"

Her hands froze for a second before she shook her head. "No, Raven. This isn't about him. We just have to leave baby, get your things now!"

I felt a little relief, but not much. My father was the worst thing that had ever happened to us. He used to beat my mom senselessly and locked her in the closet while I sat outside and listened to her cries. He was finally arrested for drugs, and the day the cops took him away, he had looked me dead in the eyes and said, I'll be back for you. I had nightmares about that moment for years.

"So why are we leaving?" I asked her, watching her throw my clothes into a suitcase now.

Mom took a deep breath and faced me. "I got married, baby."

Silence.

It was too quiet except for the beat of my heart before I blinked at her because maybe I had misheard or misunderstood her. "What?"

"I got married, Raven. My husband, your new stepfather, is waiting for us in Velmora and we can't waste a second."

My stomach twisted and I laughed. "You're joking."

"I'm not." She zipped up a bag. "And we don't have much time. The chauffeur will be here soon."

Rage bubbled up inside me. "You're seriously making me leave my life here? My friends? My boyfriend? And for what? Some guy you barely know?" I yelled at her walking around the room like a maniac to stop her from going anywhere but to talk to me.

Mom sighed and rubbed her temples. "I do know him and this is the best decision for us."

"For you, maybe." I scoffed hard. "What about me mum? Did you even ask if I wanted this!"I yelled in anger, biting back the salty taste in my tongue and the burning tears at the corner of my eyes.

She looked at me there and I knew there was something tired in her eyes, something desperate. "I need you to trust me honey, please."

I clenched my fists as my whole body trembled with frustration. But before I could yell back, the sound of tires screeching outside made me pause.

A sleek black car-no, not just a car. A beast of a vehicle, probably more expensive than our entire house, sat in our driveway. A man who was dressed in a black suit stepped out, opened the trunk, and without a word, started loading our luggage.

Mom grabbed my hand. "Come on Raven, we don't have to."

I felt like I was in a nightmare. A horrible, twisted nightmare as my feet moved but my mind screamed at me to stop. I was leaving my home, my city and my life.