The Runaway Girl - Eden Maratsa

"Eden, get down here and say hello!" bellowed Mrs Maratsa. Eden huffed and trudged downstairs, she looked at her mum's guests. It was Mr and Mrs Andrews from down the road. With them was their son Oscar who was content with a rattle, which is usually the best toy for children so young.

"How do you do?" Eden asked, mimicking mum's fake accent; used for her important guests.

"Very well thank you Eden," Mrs Andrews said in a high pitched English tone.

"I'm doing great, young Miss Eden," Mr Andrews said in a casual voice. Mr Andrews, or Tony as he liked to be called, was laid back and didn't come from a posh background like his wife. Eden always wondered how they ever found each other with differences like that. Eden nodded to them both and then darted upstairs, why did her mum always do that to her? Eden opened the window and turned on her music, but not loud enough for her mum to hear.Later that evening Mr Maratsa returned, he worked as a cop. It was the perfect job as he was strong built and had square shoulders, he was also a life long gym member. He came and sat down for dinner, eating silently. Eden was always tense around her father, he had a short fuse and eagle eyes, if you did anything wrong you would get punished. His idea of a happy family was the one were the man is in charge and the woman are his 'slaves'. Eden finished her meal and stood up, she walked to her room. It was all going well, a peaceful, calm evening. Until Mr Maratsa found the dishes from his wife's tea party cluttering the coffee table.

"EDEN! GET DOWN HER NOW!" He roared. Upstairs Eden froze, paralyzed by the hostility in her father's voice. She slowly trekked downstairs, trembling, she knew she was not going to fare well. She walked into the front room where her father was, he was red faced and ready to throw any accusation at anyone.

"Now Eden what's all this?" He asked, calmly.

"Um dirty dishes." Eden muttered.

"I KNOW THAT," he erupted, "BUT WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE, DID YOU DECIDE YOU ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO HELP IN THIS HOUSE?!"

She stood there numb, too scared to utter a word.

"ANSWER ME GIRL!" He shouted.

"I didn't know I had to, I thought that mum had taken them to the kitchen," she said.

"You expect your mother..." he spat,"YOU WILL

START HELPING IN THIS HOUSE OR SO HELP ME!"

He left the threat lingering, then he moved towards her.

"Please don't!" Eden begged.

"YOU NEED TO LEARN A LESSON!" He thundered, he raised his hand and slapped her across the check with tremendous force. She fell to the floor tears streaming down her red cheeks. He hauled her up and slapped her again and again, she didn't know how long it would last. He pushed her against the wall and threw a punch to her gut and then one to the side of her head. She had felt the blow squeeze her lungs and leave her sight delirious and foggy. He looked at her then left, proud and defiant. Eden stared after him with poisonous eyes. She slowly crawled upstairs in excruciating pain. She carefully washed the blood from her face and grabbed her old duffel bag. She locked her door and began the short task of packing before she left her father behind - forever . . .