The Sheep in Absentia, chapter 1

Instructions

~Chapter 1~ ---------------------------------------- My knuckles burned as I threw another hit to the punching bag. They were going to be red for a while. Sweat drenched my clothes and kept my hair stuck to the back of my neck. Spring down here is always hot, even inside. A few more fast blows and I'm done for the day. And low and behold, when I take my hand wraps off, my knuckles are a bright red. 'Lovely' I think to myself as I grab my bag and head out of the gym. To breath in fresh air after 3 hours surrounded by sweaty adults feels amazing. What doesn't feel amazing is going home. Or the walk that comes with heading home. Fortunately, it's only a couple blocks. The sun is setting when I finally reach my doorstep. 'Hopefully I can make it through the house without being caught.' The thought speaks as I quietly turn the door handle. The carpet in the hall does well to muffle my footsteps but the kitchen floor is made of wood. And if I plan on eating today, I'm going to have to take the long route to my room. Mom is in the dining room, reading and Dad is somewhere else, cursing into his phone. And the kitchen is empty. All except for Tyler, my little brother, who is also trying to fine something to eat. He turns around as he closes the cabinet and freezes when he sees me. "Ash... I thought you were... it's almost 8:30" he whispers. Usually if I'm not home by 8, it can be assumed that I'm staying with a friend. But here I am. At home at 8:27 on a Saturday night. "I know, but everyone's busy today and I need to feed Mow." I whisper back, snatching two apples off the kitchen island. I toss one to Tyler and slide the other into my duffle bag as I continue through the house. My room isn't far now. And then I'm there. My door swings open without a sound and shuts just as quietly. Mow, my 3 mouth old Maine Coon picks his head up from the chair in the corner of my room and purrs at me. He hops over to his food dish as I dump a can of cat food in for him. After collapsing onto my bed, I pull out my phone and connect my headphones. The atmosphere of the house shifted as the vibration of my father's footsteps began to shake the house. Then the sound shifts. There is shouting and yelling and I can hear the fridge door slam shut just before the music playing into my ears reach full volume. Mow jumps onto my bed and lays beside me, his head on my stomach. I sigh, gently stroking his fur as I watch the celling fan spin slowly. 'Maybe I should have gone to Morgan's place.' That is my last thought before I'm asleep....