Broken

Chapter 3 Maria's POV: Burnt Out Sunshine

As soon as Alex heads to the bathroom, I hastily write him a note and make my way towards the front door. I try to quietly shut the door, but instead it's like God is against me because the door slams. I take off in a sprint knowing that Alex would have heard me. One thing I forgot to mention is that I am an amazing runner. As soon as Alex's house was out of view, I slowed down to a jog to get home faster. When I finally arrive at the hell hole I sadly have to call home, I see my father's car in the driveway. I silently curse to myself because he wasn't supposed to be home yet.

When I open the door I am greeted with a fist and my hair is yanked into the house.

"Look who decided to come home. My little b***h of a daughter. Welcome home darling." He says in a s******c voice.

"Would you like some dinner sir?" I ask trying not to get an awful beating today.

"I suppose I wasn't serious enough when I told you that if you want to live here you have to do what I tell you." He says viciously. In my peripheral vision I saw his hand raising and in seconds his hand had come down and connected with my cheek.

"Go and make me dinner now!"

I rushed to the kitchen knowing that I needed to get the food done soon or the consequences would be very bad on my part. I whip up some tomato soup and grilled cheese, that way is done quickly without a lot of effort. When I am finished I bring it out to my father but as soon as he sees it, he scrunches up his nose in disgust. Within seconds I was on the ground with my father on top of me. Punch after punch was slammed making my body scream in pain. The plate that was once in his hands is now thrown onto me with the steaming tomato soup.

"Ahhhhhhhhh" I scream as I feel a burning sensation all over my body except my face. I knew right then that my father had targeted the places where you couldn't see the burns at. When he is finally done I look at him expecting worse, but instead he walks into the kitchen leaving me to take care of my injuries.

I slowly get up even though my muscles are screaming at me to stop moving and when I finally do, I see my father walking out of the kitchen. On his face is the most s******c smile I have ever seen and as he makes his way towards me I try to turn and run to my room with the surge of adrenaline that my body was given. I was too late though because my father grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to the kitchen where he grabbed my hands and zip tied them together while tying them to a chain in the wall.. I am confused because I don't understand what he is going to do until I see him grab a pot of boiling water off the stove he had started.

"No, no please don't do this. I can make you anything you want please!" I plead trying to get myself off the chain.

"You see.... I can't do that because what would be the fun in that?" He says sadistically.

"But I do have some duct tape. You probably don't like that answer but I don't really care." He says. He sets the pot on the stove quickly while grabbing the duct tape out of his back pocket. As fast as he can, he cuts off a long piece of duct tape and covers my mouth as I struggle to try and get away from him. At that moment he slams his face in my stomach and I stop moving.

"There. That wasn't so bad now was it." he exclaims while walking to the stove and grabbing the pot of burning water.

"I really didn't think it would come down to this, but you know some things just happen."

As soon as he says this he dumps some of the water on my legs and I scream in pain feeling blisters starting to form. He then proceeds to grab my hands and put them in the pot of water as the tears stream down my face and I continue to try and scream so someone will hear me. Finally he removes my hands from the water and sets it on the table behind him.

"I am going out for a drink, so don't try anything stupid and good luck getting out of those." he explains while heading towards the door.

I am too tired to try and scream out for help when all of a sudden I remember something. My bobby pin! I can use that to get the zip ties of my arm.

✿

Finally after about 15 minutes I finally free myself. I get up slowly, trying not to cause myself more pain than I already have and then I make my way to my room. When I get to my room I walk towards the bathroom to get my first aid kit so I can take care of all my injuries. I pull out the gauze and hydrocortisone cream, to begin applying it to the burns on my hands and legs. When I finally finish I head straight to bed without a second thought, knowing that I can't give up because I only have a few more months left and then I can get out of this hell hole with no troubles. In seconds I fall into a deep slumber.

✿

I am awoken by the sound of someone puking. I jump out of bed knowing it is my father and start getting ready for school. Once I am dressed and ready, I rush down the stairs and start making breakfast for the bastard. I plate the food I made and run out the door with no problems. When I arrive at the school I jog inside to my locker and head to class when the five minute bell rings.

As I enter my first hour I notice Alex sitting in the seat next to mine which surprises me because I didn't know he was in this class till today. It looks like I am not as observant as I usually am because I haven't noticed Alex in any of my classes. I walk to my seat and sit down while covering my hands with my sweatshirt sleeves so I don't get asked what happens. As I sit down, I avoid eye contact with Alex and the teacher at the front of the classroom.

"What happened to your hands?" Alex asks as soon as I sit down. s**t, he wasn't supposed to see my hands.

"Nothing." I say simply. I turn to the front of the class and start taking notes on what the teacher is writing on the board so Alex can't try to talk to me again.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me." Alex says knowing that I am avoiding conversation with him. He tries to grab my hand and I abruptly stand up while leaving the classroom as the teacher's voice fades away.

✿

"Hey, why did you up and leave like that?" Alex asks in a monotone voice.

"Because you tried to grab my hand." I state in irritation.

When he doesn't answer I continue walking when I hear footsteps approaching me. I look to my side and see Alex walking next to me casually with his hands in his pockets.

"Why are you following me?" I ask him.

"Because I know you are hiding something from everyone, I just don't know what." He responds. I freeze in my steps and slowly turn towards Alex with wide eyes. All I feel is fear and I begin to panic thinking he is going to figure out what is going on at home.

"No, there is nothing I am hiding. Now would you please leave me alone." I say desperately. Finally he walks back to the class but not before saying something.

"I know you are hiding something and I will figure it out."

When he is out of my sight I rush towards the nurse's office so I can talk to Mrs. Lepolt.

"Hey Mrs. Lepolt." I say softly. When she sees me, she rushes over to me when she sees my hands wrapped up.

"What did he do to you this time Maria?" She asks me sadly.

"He poured a pan of boiling water on my legs and then he grabbed my hands that were zip tied and held them in the water for 3 minutes. When he was done he left me there to go and get drunk at the bar." I explain. I feel a tear run down my face and Mrs. Lepolt wipes it away.

"I know why you don't tell anyone but you could use this against him and none of his connections should work because you have proof of the abuse." She says softly.

"It is only a few more months and then I will get out of that hell hole. Then you can come with me because I know you are only staying here because of me." I explain to her.

"Couldn't you come live with me until you graduate high school instead of staying with your father?" She reasons with me.

"No, because then he will try to find me and you could get hurt in the process," I say, "I will be fine until graduation. I can't have you getting hurt because of my father."

"Okay, but just be careful. It is still two months away and a lot can happen. I will blame myself if something happens to you because I knew what was going on in your home life." She explains while tearing up.

"I know, I know," I start, "If anything major happens I will run straight to your house so you won't have to worry."

When she is done looking me over and redoing my bandages, I head to my first hour class after she gives me a pass.