Benni and Sky chapter six

***Confrontation at the door*** The door creaked open, revealing not Sky, but her mother, Dove. Her eyes were bloodshot and heavy, her hair a tangled mess, and her clothes looked like she had slept in them. The smell of stale alcohol and cigarettes hit Benni, a gut-wrenching odor that sent a shiver down his spine. It was a smell he'd known his entire childhood, a smell that meant chaos and uncertainty. "Can I help you?" Dove slurred, leaning against the doorframe for support. The defensive tone in her voice, even in her intoxicated state, was impossible to miss. "Hi, I'm Benni," he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. "I'm a friend of Sky's. She was supposed to meet me, and I haven't been able to get ahold of her. Is everything okay?" Dove's face twisted into a sneer, a flash of her resentment for the outside world coming through the haze of her intoxication. "She's fine," she said dismissively. "She's not home. Went somewhere with her sister." She made a move to close the door, the finality of it an invisible wall. But Benni saw something in the brief moment the door was open, something that made his blood run cold: a small, colorful book peeking out from under a pile of clothes on the floor. It was Velvet’s favorite, the one with the vibrant illustrations Sky had described. His intuition, honed by years of living with uncertainty, screamed that Dove was lying. He put his hand on the door, pushing it open just enough to keep it from closing completely. "I don't think she's gone," he said, his voice firming with a confidence that surprised even him. "I think she's inside. And I'm worried about her. Please, just let me see her." Dove's eyes narrowed with anger, and she leaned in closer, the stench of alcohol even stronger now. "Listen, you little punk," she spat. "You have no right to come here. Sky's fine. Now get out of my sight before I call the police." But Benni stood his ground, a deep-seated resolve taking over his fear. He wasn’t going to let this woman bully him or endanger the person he loved. He had to be her protector, the unwavering presence she needed, just as she had been for her sister. "I'm not leaving until I know for sure that Sky and Velvet are safe," he stated, looking past Dove and into the darkened house. "You don't have to like me, but you have to let me know they're safe. Or I'll call the police myself." Dove looked at him, surprised by his audacity. The anger on her face faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of fear. She knew this boy wasn't backing down. He was different from the people she'd pushed away for years. He wasn’t afraid of her. He was afraid for Sky. With a heavy, resigned sigh, she stumbled back, leaving the doorway open. "Fine," she grumbled, her voice defeated. "See for yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you." Benni stepped inside, his heart pounding. The house was a mess, a testament to Dove's chaotic and neglectful existence. He saw Sky huddled with Velvet in a small room at the back of the house, a blanket wrapped around them both. Velvet was asleep, but Sky's eyes were wide with fear, a silent plea for help. She saw Benni and her entire body sagged with relief. In her eyes, Benni wasn't just a boy; he was a lifeline. He walked over to them, his heart aching at the sight. He put a hand on Sky's shoulder, and she leaned into his touch, the strength of his presence a stark contrast to the weakness surrounding them. He looked at her, and with a silent nod, she knew he understood everything. He wasn't there to judge, or to fix, but to simply be there. He would not leave her alone in this storm.