Chapter Text
Tally Craven huddled in the corner of her bedroom clutching her knees to her chest. Her parents were once again screaming at each other downstairs. Countless times she had sat in that very corner waiting to see how far it would go. Something shattered downstairs followed by a shriek from her mother and the sound of footsteps. Tally flinched as she hugged her knees tighter. If she could get to the phone downstairs she could call for help but she was currently paralyzed in fear.
That was until she heard her mother’s shouts turn to screaming, the sound of her begging her father to stop, her exact words unintelligible.
It sounded like it was coming from their bedroom.
Tally was on her feet, running for the door and down the stairs to the kitchen as quickly and quietly as she could. Her father's fist banging on their bathroom door rattled the walls.
With trembling hands Tally grabbed the phone off the hook, dialing the familiar number... not for the first time.
“911 what’s your emergency?” The operator asked, her voice startlingly calm against the chaos and rage that thundered in the background.
“Please send someone to 306 Sycamore Street, Flintwood. My parents, I think he is going to hurt her.” Tally pleaded quietly into the line, her voice shaking.
“We are sending someone right now.” The operator promised when Tally heard the sound of splintering wood and another loud scream from her mother.
“Hurry, I think he just got through the door,” Tally whispered frantically, as her mother began pleading anew.
But something about it was different. An edge to her mother’s cries she hadn’t heard before.
“Do you know if he is armed with any weapons?” The operator asked.
“I-”
A loud bang sounded, flowed by another, and another. The blasts rang through the house… through her very soul.
Tally couldn’t hear her mothers pleading anymore.
“Was that a shot? Sweetie, I need you to get somewhere safe.” The operator said insistently. Her voice still calm in the face of such horror.
“I-” Tally started but her body and mind seemed frozen, unable to fully process what had transpired. She heard her father's footsteps moving down the hall. He’s going to kill me too, she had thought to herself, the realization settling in the pit of her stomach like a heavy brick.
“They will be there soon but you need to find somewhere to hide if you can.” Tally stood frozen, the footsteps growing closer and closer. Suddenly, the neighbor's back porch light flipped on catching Tally’s attention. It was like something switched on in Tally and she bolted through the kitchen door.
“You!” Her father yelled after her before he gave chase. “Get back here!” Tally registered the sound of the shot before her shoulder exploded in pain. She fell to the ground, hard, the force of it sending more pain through her. Before she had a chance to right herself he was there on top of her, his hands around her throat. She kicked and clawed at his hand but she was no match for him. This was the end, she knew it. She hazily registered movement behind her father followed by a loud thwack of metal against bone. Her father slumped over to the side, loosening his grip. Tally gasped for air and clenched her shoulder with her good arm. Smaller hands gripped her under the armpits and dragged her back before hoisting her up. The movement causing Tally to groan in pain.
“Tally, we have to hurry, he's getting back up.” Tally, still gasping for air, let herself be dragged away. Flashing lights filled the street and the two ran. She could hear her father curse behind her before his footsteps moved away back into the house.
“Come on, let’s get inside.” Sarah, it was Sarah, Tally thought as she let her friend pull her up the porch. Sarah’s dad had just reached the door, her mother right behind him tying the strings of her robe. They pulled both girls inside and shut the door. Tally was still gasping, trying to catch her breath and she was faintly aware of something warm spreading across her chest and down her arm. The man scooped her up and carried her through the house, setting her gently on a couch.
“I’ll grab some towels.” Helen Alder said, darting back to the kitchen. “What happened, Sarah?”
“I thought I heard a shot and when I went out… I couldn’t watch him kill her.” Sarah replied, her voice shaking violently. Tally couldn’t seem to control her breathing. “Tally, look at me,” Sarah said softly, cupping Tally’s face in her hands. “Breathe with me. I’ve got you.” More pain shot through Tally as Helen pressed something to her shoulder.
More gunshots sounded from her house next door followed by a hush as they all seemed to hold their breaths… no more sound came from next door.
A small broken rasping sob cleaved the silence in two.