He tucks the door handle and KY hears him thumping his body against the door trying to force it open. DAMON and L'OREAL wake up. They try to look around in shock and their eyes widen with fear.
And DEBORAH's voice shakes as she tries to comfort them and tell them that all will be well.
KY hastily gets KY's phone out of KY's pocket and dialed speed-dial to KY's mom's cell.
"KYOLINE…?" she slurs.
"Mom! You have to stop XENDER FISH. He's trying to break down the door to the children's room!"
"I'm.sleeping."
"Mom, did you hear me? He's going to hurt us!"
"For fuck's sake, why are you waking me up? Can't I get any goddamn peace from you kids? What about.what I need?" Her words are slurred and disjointed. "You always want something from me."
"Mom, did you hear me?
But the phone goes dead as she hangs up.
"Mom!" KY dials again and hears it ringing in her bedroom. But she doesn't pick up. And then KY hears her yell out. "For God's sake, KY! Leave me the hell alone! I'm sleeping…"
Dread races through KY as the door looks like it's going to give way, so KY haul the dresser in front of it.
The children are crying now, and KY crouches with them, KY's face streaming with tears and praying XENDER FISH doesn't burst through the door. KY simply has to keep us safe…
KYOLINE DIEGO
KY looks at the key in KY's hand. The one-bedroom apartment is dim and features a kitchen that dates at least to sixty years ago. The linoleum is peeling off, cabinet doors are being ripped off their hinges, and the bedroom has some exposed brick from a poor patch job. But it belongs to KY.
The landlord had been too eager to dismiss it when KY told him that KY would pay in cash for the first month and utilities. Nearly all KY's gold dresses sold online, and only four didn't receive any bids, so KY'll just keep those to herself. The money from the dresses will go towards paying the rent, and KY will have money for food for only the next two days, but KY'll cross that bridge later. KY just know that the kids can't live another day in the same house as XENDER FISH. Last night was horrible. KY'm still shaking to my core and in pain from where he punched KY. Praise God that the door lock held and prevented him from coming into the bedroom. KY shudders at what could have happened otherwise. KY tried to speak to KY's mom again this morning, but she was still drunk from last night and still didn't freakin' care. Jesus Christ, why can't a mother not freaking care that her whole creep of a boyfriend was going to coerce her sixteen-year-old daughter? How could a mother not even care that her children had to lock themselves in a bedroom because that was the only way they could be safe? How could she not care that we were all utterly scared?
How could she put down her phone like that, just because she wanted to freaking sleep?
So, this morning, KY fought through KY's tears as KY signed the lease on the initial apartment KY ever visited. Anything has to be better than the kids being around a violent, nasty creep like XENDER FISH. KY's new landlord is dirty as all get-out, but KY'm desperate, and KY know that KY'm not gonna do any better on KY's budget. KY takes one final look around the building before locking up.
KY only have a minute to dash back to KY's mom's place before KY starts KY's shift at MANCHESTER LED. KY'm lightning fast as KY runs up the stairs to our apartment. And no wonder, Mom's sprawled on the couch and out of it.
"I found an apartment."
She looks at KY and nods. "Okay."
KY hates it when she's checked out like this. She's not the only one who lost someone the day KY's dad was killed. She's not the only one who has to live with what happened. "The kids need somewhere to sleep," KY grits out. "So, I'll need the furniture from our bedrooms and some sheets and towels. And we'll need some plates and stuff."
"Sure."
"Here's the address." KY hands her a small piece of paper. Maybe it's not the best idea given what XENDER FISH is like, but somehow it doesn't feel like it's right for her not to even know where the kids are staying.
But she just carelessly flings the paper on the floor.
And KY leaves before KY can begin sobbing.
KY's work shift is a blur.
Later in the afternoon, reality hits KY like a pile of lifeless weights as KY sits in the vacant living room, blankly gazing at walls.
There is a fold-down dining table, a small kitchenette with toaster and microwave, and a sofa-bed which the KY'll be taking so the kids get the one bedroom. The TV has a DVD player sitting underneath it like it's 2000, and aside from those, there isn't a lot of cozy things like pillows and blankets. But it will have to do for now.