Dilapidated home

Mummy are you there?
The beast has her again, the familiar bitter smell tingles my nose.

I linger over the unmoving shadowy figure which metamorphosis's into my mother.

No need to fear, no need to hide, the beast is a slumber running through mothers veins.

The last drop of the beast teases, dancing menacingly around the base of the upturned glass.

"Mummy?"

Hunger growls in the pit of my stomach, fear twists my insides like a feral animal into knots. I am afraid, afraid to wake the beast. Afraid to ask to eat.

Mummy isn't bad. The beast inside is bad, it makes mummy loud and angry.

Sister... I need you.

Shes gone, escaped the unpredictable prison. When will she be home? I return to my sanctuary, counting the time until I am 'safe'. Just one more day till Nanny comes.

A key turn in the door. Hope wells up inside me like a hot spring from the earth.

Sister.

"Mum are you there?" The echo of my hopeless words bounce off the walls of our dilapidated home.