Free Indwell (Chasing Natalie's Ghosts) by Nicole Smith

stopped on the side of the road again, not entering my driveway. I still found this odd, but didn’t question him. I was just happy I was home, safe and sound. Hayden held the door for me as I climbed out, for a devil he certainly had good manners, Justin could learn from him, I thought.
    “Thank you again for the ride home Hayden. You really are becoming my private chauffeur,” I joked.
    “You’re welcome Natalie. Anytime you need me I’ll be here,” he said this a little more seriously than I thought was necessary. He glanced up to the top floor of my house and smiled. He looked back to me and kissed my forehead.
    “I’ll see you again soon,” he said as he opened his door. He rolled down his window to wave goodbye. I slowly waved back before I turned toward my house. I knew there was more going on than I was able to comprehend. It was almost as if Hayden knew someone was up there waiting for me. I saw Adam in the window but I didn’t think Hayden would have been able to.
    I quickly walked inside and shut the door. I was so lost in thought I hadn’t noticed the music and voices coming from inside. I was completely stunned when I looked up and saw my father’s angry face right in front of me. I did not want to deal with this now. I knew what was coming. I could tell by the strong smell of liquor on his breath that he had been drinking for a while. The party was in the back room, they wouldn’t be able to hear me scream from here. I guess it didn’t matter if they did. None of his friends would intervene.
    “I’m just going upstairs,” I said, hoping he would walk away. It was like trying to calm a wild dog. I slowly walked toward the stairs without turning my back to him. I knew instantly it wasn’t going to work, as he bellowed.
    “Where the hell have you been? You made your mother worry!” I could see the anger in his beady, squinted eyes. It wasn’t really me he was angry with, but he needed an outlet. I arrived home at the wrong time.
    “Mom knows I went out,” I simply stated. I took my first step up and closed my eyes for a second, wishing this episode to be over. I tried to run up the stairs but he caught my ankle and dragged me down a few steps. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me back up to the landing. I tried not to cry but it hurt. Once we reached the top he held my elbow and briskly walked toward my room.
    “Please leave me alone. It’s not that late,” I begged. I wasn’t feeling very tough as I sobbed. He ignored me. He opened my door and threw me against my dresser. My back hit the corner. I had tears streaming down my cheeks, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. My head was throbbing and now my back ached. I looked up to see if he was still coming for me. He was standing just a foot inside my room looking above me at something. I felt the warm air circulate around me. I knew Adam was in here. I was too sore to turn and look though. The light in my room flickered and the pages in my book that was lying on my dresser flew open. I tried not to smile at the simple things Adam was doing. When my father glanced down at me, I think he was shocked by the look on my face. Through my tears I was smirking.
    Adam grinned as he slammed the door shut then opened it again. I was so shocked when he grabbed a clump of my fathers’ hair, the same way he had grabbed mine and led him out of my room. He slammed the door shut again. I laughed uncontrollably as I heard my father’s footsteps race down the stairs. When I stopped I looked up at Adam. He wasn’t smiling anymore. I tried to stand but before I could Adam already had me in his arms. He carried me to the bed. My head was still throbbing and I winced when I touched it.
    “Damn it!” I said as I moaned. Adam gently placed his warm hands around me. I rested my head on his firm chest. He was so inviting. I twirled a lock of his hair in my finger.
    “You look really tired,” he said, laying me down on the bed. He wrapped