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library campus was surprisingly empty at three thirty in the afternoon. We decided to study outside since it was so cool, and you could smell rain in the air. I loved that scent; it meant the temperature would drop. I just hoped it held out for Martha’s Halloween party.
    “All right. I guess these past four days have been interesting, considering the guy hasn’t taken more than a day off work since he started at the station. He’s visiting his mom today.”
    She grinned. “You set that one up too?”
    “No, this one was all him. Guess there have been some problems with Jack again.”
    “Oh.” She set her book down and gave me her full attention. “Anything you’re worried about?”
    “Not yet, but I guess I’ll find out tonight.” Erin fiddled with the corner of her book. I could see she was thinking about something. “Out with it, E.”
    She shrugged, then looked over my shoulder. “How are you dealing with…you know, the whole thing? It’s been a year since Jimmy Lasko messed with your life.”
    “Honestly…” I looked around. We were pretty much alone. “I don’t know.”
     
    ***
     
    Avery
     
    I sat in my normal spot, on the edge of their bed, on his side. I turned the central air down and made it abnormally cool. I liked it that way; I could think better. I hated the heat, and I only came back here because of him. I really preferred Chicago. The winters were great, and the food was decent, but it didn’t have what I needed—what I needed was here.
    I removed my sneakers and leaned back on the pillows. Emily’s shampoo smell was all over the place. I turned on the TV and watched a few shows, not really paying attention, just going through the motions one would if they lived here.
    My eyes fell on a new picture on the dresser. It was of Seth’s family. Everyone was there but his father. I closed my eyes and tried to remember the last time I ever saw my family’s picture. No, I couldn’t even imagine it. I didn’t think we ever did one, but there wasn’t really much time.
     
    “Zooommm.” I ran around the living room with a sheet tied my around my neck. I pretended to be a superhero. My arms were stuck out straight, and I imagined myself flying above the clouds at lightning speed. “I see you,” I shouted to the bad guy below, stealing a motorbike. I dived to the ground, rolled under a chair, and dodged the laser beams that just missed my arm. I jumped up and grabbed the bad guy, which was actually my teddy bear Digger, and tackled him to the ground. I held him in a super death grip that no one could escape from.
    “Shut up, boy!” My father chucked the TV remote at me, and it smacked me in the cheek. The impact split the skin, but I didn’t say anything. I was not even allowed to cry–that only made him angrier. I quickly stood up and held Digger as a shield between us and handed the remote back to him. “You wanna see my belt again?” he screamed in my face. Spit striking my cheek felt like acid, but I didn’t dare wipe it off.
    “No, Father,” I whispered while I lowered my head.
    “Get the fuck outside. I don’t want to see your face until tomorrow.”
    “Okay.” I hurried to the back, pulled open the patio door, stepped out onto the cold cement slab, and wished I had grabbed my shoes. I took two steps at a time as I made my way up to the treehouse tucked away out of sight of the house. It was the only place where my father couldn’t hurt me. I pushed the trap door up and lifted myself onto the floor.
    It was nothing like other kids’ treehouses, but it was mine and Jims’s. We kept what we needed up there for times like this. I covered my shivering body with a blanket, then I tucked Digger in and made sure he was warm. I opened the plastic container where we kept our emergency supply of food. Crackers and peanut butter got old, but it was better than being down there with him. I peeked through a crack in the branches where I could see the lights flicker from the TV