School was already over.
As usual, the house was empty. Dad only came home late at night, and Lyra... she was probably out with her friends again.
Friends, huh?
I wonder when I'll ever have one of my own. The others like me—the ones who get picked on at school—we're not really friends. Just fellow survivors. We don't hang out. We don't talk unless it's about homework or hiding bruises.
I want that kind of friend too. The kind you walk to the convenience store with, buy snacks with, laugh with over the dumbest things… someone who makes life feel less like a prison sentence.
*Knock knock*
I froze.
Who the hell knocks at this hour?
No one ever comes.
I dragged myself to the door and peeked through the peephole. Just the delivery guy. Right—I ordered food earlier. I signed, thanked him quietly, and turned to close the door—
But then—
"Why didn't you come to school today, Danny?"
My whole body stiffened.
That voice.
That goddamn voice.
No. Not here. Not at my house.
I tried to shut the door.
Too slow.
*SLAM*
The door flew open, knocking me off my feet.
I hit the floor hard, my breath knocked out of me.
"Missed you at lunch today," he said casually.
No.
Not now. Not again.
"Wait—PLEASE—"
*CRACK*
His fist drove straight into my gut.
I curled up, gasping.
"It hurts!" I cried. "Please, Venny, not today. I'm sick. I did everything you told me to. Just—please!"
He scoffed.
"Begging? That's your idea of begging?"
*Thud*
A kick landed in my ribs.
"Get on your knees. Show me how bad you want me to stop."
I did it.
I dropped to my knees, trembling, teeth clenched, eyes blurring.
Pride? That died two years ago.
"Please, Venny… I'm begging you. Just leave me alone. Please."
He smirked.
"Who said anything about me stopping? I was just teaching you how to beg properly."
He picked up the food I ordered. Opened the packet slowly, dramatically.
"Is this yours?" he asked, though we both knew he didn't care.
In one swift motion, he hurled the hot curry right into my face.
"AAAH!"
It burned.
It f***ing burned.
But worse than the pain… was knowing this was just the beginning.