Later, in the Garage
The mood at the evening meal reminded Violet of the formal dinner at the military school right before she got kicked out. Sitting across from her father in his finest dress uniform trying to act like nothing happened, ignoring her swollen face and blackened eye, trying not to look at her because he was upset about her getting into a fight and getting thrown out.
It had the same tense feeling. As the real adults tried to act like nothing happened, making a point not to mention Daniel’s swollen nose and cheek. Everyone tried to play along but it like an elephant in the room, it could not be ignored. They all knew it would have to be talked about but it would be just the three of them alone without the kids.
The kids, that was a problem. They could not hide their animosity towards each other nor did they even try. They did not talk to each other, only dirty looks were passed instead of food. Good thing the adults were there to move the food around or some might have gone went hungry.
Daniel finished eating pushing his plate away getting up from table never asking to be excused. He left the kitchen without a word instead gave everyone the nastiest glare he could musty up.
Owen started to get up and call him back but was stopped by Violet’s hand on his arm. Moments later, everyone got up and began cleaning up from dinner.
“There is enough bodies in here. I’m going to take the dogs out to get them out of the way.” Gretchen shooed the dogs out of the kitchen down into the garage.
Daniel heard the sound of the dogs on the stairway and figured the meal must be over. He needed to go back upstairs to get his pad he left on the couch. Hopefully everyone was busy so he could just come back down and ‘not cause problems’.
Daniel came up the stairs into the garage. As he turned to go up the stairs into the kitchen, he felt something slip around his neck and jerk him backwards. His hands flew to his neck. The rope jerked him backwards and upwards until his toes barely reached the ground. He fought to loosen the rope, to no avail. A person came into his dimming vision, it was Gretchen.
“If you ever touch me again, I will hurt you so bad, the beating my brother gave you will look like mercy. You put your ****ing fingers on my crotch again, I will hang you up on this hook and skin you while you’re still breathing.” She punched him in his broken nose, restarting the blood fountain.
The rope released. Daniel fell to the floor, gasping for breath. As his vision returned, he could see Gretchen’s lithe form walking to the stairs, a long thin bare blade in her hand.