Chapter 3 Flashing Lights

Present Day~

SMACK!

I hold my stinging cheek as my aunt steals my purse and rummages around until she finds exactly what she wants. She steals my wages from working at the Wild Blooms flower shop. I want to cuss the old witch out but I bite my tongue and try to massage the heat from my cheek. If she was so worried about money, she could always go out and get her own job... But the thing is, she's not. She just wants me to suffer.

"It's about time you got home! I've been waiting for ages," she grumbles as she opens my wallet and grabs all the bills I have. "Were you dragging your feet today?"

It's been this way since I got the job. I got the job to so I could save up, but with her taking everything in my purse, how the hell am I supposed to leave? And trust me, I want to leave. I honestly have no idea how many thousands of dollars she has stolen from me... And even more from my parents.

"Like you actually give a damn, Beth!" I snarl. "Even if I got run over by a car, you'd still dig through my clothes for my spare cash!"

It's not like I make a ton of money in the first place, but Aunt Beth says I owe her for being 'such a burden' on her. Its not like I chose to come here! Why the hell did my parents make her our guardian in the first place? Was there no other person on the whole planet my parents could leave us with? Dad's side had lots of uncles and aunts... And they all liked us!

HA! I'm not the burden, I'm the only one working around here! Aunt Beth doesn't do a damn thing except steal my money. Uncle Jay doesn't know she does it, and she's threatened me never to tell him. He probably wouldn't do anything about it anyway. He'd just say she's earned it or some BS like that. Aunt Beth doesn't deserve a damn thing!

She goes and spends my money on herself... She goes out and gets manicures and new jewelry... Even fancy evening gowns. And what do I get? I get my clothes from the local thrift store... So does Charlie and Liv with their 'allowance' that came from my parents savings. It was set aside especially for us, and yet Beth controls all our assets. I'm not allowed to control it until I'm 25! What the hell were my parents thinking?

"Don't you dare speak to me like that you little slut!" Aunt Beth growls, throwing my purse back at me, now that there is nothing of value in it anymore. "You need to learn respect! I'm in charge of you and your stupid siblings! Learn to be grateful!"

But little does she now I only bring home half the money. I keep the other half in a lock box at the flower shop. I've told Hailey what Aunt Beth does, and she was so angry. She wanted to help me in any way she could. She suggested not bringing any money home and just keeping it in the shop.

"You know she can't steal what she doesn't have!" Hailey huffed in indignation. She wanted to call the police and report it, but I know that would go over like a lead balloon. My aunt and uncle are rich... Well, at least they are now.

"Thanks, Hailey, but you know that would make things even worse for us," I sighed. I wish there was a way she could help me get out, but I'm not going to put her family in danger.

"I know, dear. I just wish there was something else I could do for you," she'd said, patting my shoulder like a loving grandmother.

The problem with not bringing any money home is Aunt Beth would get suspicious. She knows I don't work for free and she is expecting to have money every single day I walk through the damn door. She would know I did something with it, and she would punish my sisters until I got it for her.

See, I'm trying to make enough money to get the hell out of here. I'm 21 years old today, but I'm not leaving my sisters to deal with Aunt Beth and her abuse. If she keeps stealing my money then I'll never have enough to break away from her... And I'm wondering if that was her idea. She just wants to use me as her freaking slave. I doubt she even remembers it's my birthday. I don't need to stay here! I could leave at any time... But I can't ditch my sisters.

I sigh as I watch my evil Aunt counts out what she's pillaged. None of which ever belonged to her. She smirks as she pockets my cash. "See? You know I deserve this money so much more than you. I use it for important things. What the hell would you use it on? Gas?" She smirks.

I'm vibrating with my hands clenched at my sides in an attempt not to punch the bitch. There have been so many times I wish I could show her exactly what I think of her 'generosity' and her 'care and the roof over our head' which we wouldn't even need if I could keep my own money in my wallet! Or if she would have actually handed over our families inheritance! But of course she pocketed it too!

It was exactly 5 years ago today when I lost my parents. They were coming home from the dance studio and they got into an accident.

I remember the lights flashing and a knocking on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I was shocked when I unlocked the door and there were two police officers with flashing lights behind them.

"Miss Josie Turner?" One of the officers asks.

"Yes. That's me. Am I in trouble?" I almost freaked out. I'd never been in trouble! What had I done that would have the police show up at my door with their lights flashing?

"No, sweetheart," the older officer eased my fears. "We are here to inform you that your parents were in an accident."

My head spun and I grabbed the door jam just to stay standing.

"Are they okay? ARe they in the hospital? Can I go see them?" I rushed out.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but they didn't make it," the younger officer said with a sympathetic smile.