My father had cleaned up the mess by morning and mother was gone for good. Jane came down the stairs, looked around and then made her way to the kitchen. Our murderous father was now cooking breakfast and mother was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is mom? She usually makes breakfast.” he gives a small chuckle even though nothing funny was said.

“I’m sorry sweetie, but your mother isn’t going to be around anymore.” she looked over at me with wide eyes as she noticed that I'd never changed out of my blood stained pajamas. I sat silently and tried to make myself smaller.

“Why is mom “not going to be around anymore”? What happened?” she asked as she slid into a chair at the table. She was testing him, trying to push the limits and see how far he was willing to go.

“I found out that your mother was having an affair. We argued and in the end she ran off with the other guy, leaving us behind.” she stayed quiet after that. We stared at each other for a moment before she decided to grab my arm and lead me back upstairs. We stayed home for a few days, until our schools sent home letters about or absences piling up.

Every night after that I never checked under the bed or in the closet for any monster, I just watched my bedroom door. I had decided that even a wink of sleep could give him the advantage to come after me next. I stopped speaking completely and learned sign language to communicate. I could no longer bring myself to speak. What if I said something he didn’t like, would I become the next target? What would he do to me? What lie would he tell Jane this time? Would he hurt Jane?