—Mike's POV—

I woke up feeling groggy and hung over, with no recollection of even drinking. What happened? A question I couldn't answer.

I sat up rubbing my eyes and acknowledging the fact I was still dressed and it was pitch black just behind my window. I'd really slept all day? That was where the evidence all pointed to, how bizarre.

I dragged my lethargic ass out of bed, cursing the fact I hadn't changed into something more comfortable. I passed Vic's room on my descent to the land of downstairs and I felt this nagging feeling somewhere in the back of my mind about him, like I'd forgotten a vital piece of information. I shrugged it off and came to the conclusion that I'd remember it later and if I didn't, who cares?

I raided the refrigerator, its contents consisted of bottles of corona, cans of cider and a bottle of wine I remembered being there when I was around thirteen or fourteen. No food in sight, this was definitely a problem. I groaned slamming the fridge in irritation.

Figuring it was probably too late to make a run to McDonalds I decided to just go back to bed and sleep off the nagging growls my tummy was making. Walking down the corridor I heard soft sobbing, it resembled a child's soft cry but I knew it only belonged to one person—Leda.

I wanted to walk on and head upstairs and ignore her presence, proving—more to myself than anybody else—just how mad at her I was. But honestly I didn't have the heart to do that at all.

I didn't speak, I didn't make much noise, I just entered the room, crossed the vast space, knelt down in front of her and pulled her into my arms. At first she stiffened probably afraid I was my dad, but when she realized she relaxed, folding in my arms and letting all of her emotions pour out of her.

I stroked her hair, holding her as tight as I could without hurting her, trying to give her some form of solace.

"Leda..." I didn't want to ruin the moment but I had to ask "Are you..." No I couldn't ask "Are you naked?" I asked anyway. She giggled through her tears, sniffing loudly.

"Ruin the moment much?" She laughed sniffing again. I could barely see her in the darkness of the room, but I managed to lean in and kiss her forehead lightly

"I'll go get you some clothes" I whispered getting up and leaving the room without another word, on the hunt for an ensemble of some sort.

I raided my drawers for some form of clothing for her to wear. I figured my sweatpants would be far too big for her but its better than nothing right? I grabbed them and a black shirt that said: 'Tequila Boom' on it—my best friend got it from a bar when she went to Europe on vacation and decided to randomly give me it.

"Here" I said handing them to her as I crossed the room and reached where she sat. She pulled on the sweatpants—commando! It was very dark so I could only see her silhouette and nothing else.

"Um, Mike?"

"Yeah?"

"I can't put the shirt on..." She sighed

"Why?" I knitted my eyebrows together

"Um" she held up her arms and—probably guessing I couldn't see very well in this light—she shook her arms, rattling the chains.

"Oh" I put the palm of my hand on my forehead "Damn how did I miss that" I mumbled more to myself, she let out a nervous small laugh as if she was thinking: hm what now. Which was exactly what I was thinking too.

"Fuck this I'm going to look for the key" I huffed, sick to death of taking orders from a man who couldn't even admit what he was doing was wrong, who was so delusional he thought this was normal.

"No Mike, come on, you'll get in trouble, please" Leda pleaded but I cut her off

"No, I'm done. I'm tired of seeing you in here like some kind of wild animal being locked up in a cage" I snapped "He hurts you. Fuck I know he hurts you, Leda. And I couldn't stop it. But I'm going to do something about it now because I'm fucking done" before she could say anything else I exited the room.

Was I really going to go on a hunt for the key?—yes.

Something inside me told me enough was enough. And I had to put a stop to this fucking disaster once and for all. I swallowed hard and crept upstairs, praying that somehow—although it never ever was—that luck was on my side tonight. The stairs creaked under my weight and I cursed under my breath at how they echoed off of every single wall, as I reached the top I could hear Vic's soft even breathing as he slept and I decided to close his bedroom door.

My insides twisted as I opened the door to my dads bedroom, I was engulfed by darkness. I would have been okay if I knew this room like the back of my hand—like I do my own room. But I'd rarely ever been in here and so with my new blindness and my shaking legs I took a few steps forward, my stomach felt like it was going to fall out of my ass. I was terrified, if he woke up, I was fucked.

I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until the threat of it bursting through my chest began to ache in me. I let it out slowly, as silently as I could and my whole body shook with nerves. Come on Mike, stop standing here like a pussy and get some shit done.

I decided crawling was the best technique, being tall and lanky wasn't helpful when you couldn't see anything—I'd learned that by bumping into the bedpost four damn times—it felt ridiculous but I got onto my hands and knees and crawled across the floor. His snoring continued, the only sound that reassured me that I was safe.

For now.

I found some jeans (at least that's what they felt like) and raided the pockets. Change, paper, money—no keys. I grunted and threw them back on the floor and searched for more clothing that could potentially have the key hidden away in their nooks and crannies.

I came up empty handed. I wanted to lash out in frustration but I didn't, for the sake of myself and the fact that I wanted to live to see my twenty first birthday.

I closed the door as quietly as I could and as far as I knew he didn't wake. I gave up being quiet after that, walking down the stairs a little louder than necessary just because I was frustrated.

I was about to go into Leda's room (it was fair to call it that because that's where she always resided) when I spotted his jacket hanging on the coat rack by the door. Since when had we had a coat rack? I thought to myself but walked over to it to check its pockets.

The left pocket—empty
The right pocket—empty.

Dammit.

Inside pockets? I thought.

I checked, praying and praying that it was in here because I had no clue where else to look.

And what do you know? It was. A small little silver key that I held in my hand and that held a girls freedom in its hands.

Notes

I was going to stall this until I'd updated A Million Kisses Underwater but I couldn't wait so here you goooooooo.

Give me some feedback, let me know what you think :)

love yaa<3