Returning to Innocence [EDITING]

Chapter Twelve

"I'll see you later maybe?" Alex said, smiling gently at me. I shook my head.

"Probably not until tomorrow." I whispered. He frowned, but then his face lit up.

"Give me your phone" I handed it to him silently and he tapped some numbers into it. "If you wake up in the middle of the night, you can call me. I don't care about the time, but I'll come over or just talk." I was shocked. No one had ever done that for me, not even my parents. Then again I hadn't told them...

"Thankyou." I finally whispered, and gave him a quick hug. He was grinning when I let go, and I couldn't help but smile at his expression. My smile fell when I saw my dad's car pull up. Alex followed my gaze and bit his lip.

"I hope you don't get in too much trouble. And remember I'm just a phonecall away." he bowed dramatically, and I began to walk away. I gave him a wave when I reached the car, before opening the door and slipping in. My dad ignored me completely all through the drive home and when we got back, got out without a word.

"Dad!" I yelled as he approached the door, and he turned

"What" he said stiffly. Tears came to my eyes at the way he spoke to me.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I didn't mean to worry you" I saw him bite his lip, and then look at the ground.

"You're still grounded." he muttered, before smiling at me. He opened the door for me and I followed him inside the house. Well I expected that. I went straight up to my room, giving my mum a quick smile first, and texted Alex.

'I'm still grounded, but we're cool now'

'Good :)' he texted back, and I couldn't help but grin. Still smiling, I sat down at my desk and did all of the homework I had. The rest of the evening was boring. I ate dinner with my parents, but they still didn't realise how little I actually ate, and then I sat there trying to stay awake. I survived until about 11:30, before collapsing onto my bed for a terrifying sleep.

(Flashback)

"Come on." he whined. I shook my head.

"No." I whispered.

"You think you have a choice?" He pulled me up by my hair, but I pursed my lips, not going to give him the satisfaction. He grunted in annoyance, and slapped me, pushing me to the floor. I ground my teeth together. He continued to beat me, and I heard a door open at the other end of the room.

"See this is what happens when you don't behave." I turned my head to see another girl, about 7 years old being thrown in by a man. He was tall and was wearing a dark overcoat and sunglasses which covered his face. The girl looked terrified, and her dress was torn at the hem. Her expression was one of fear and terror, and I suppose she had reason to be scared. Another blow to my head threw me to the floor again. I groaned, and the girl whimpered. "Stop moaning!" I heard a slap and turned to see the girl on the floor. A bruise was already forming on her cheek. I struggled to my feet, the world spinning as I stepped towards the man and the girl.

"Don't hurt her." It was a struggle to speak. The man chuckled.

"Well I suppose you'll do. You don't complain." He approached, leaving the girl crying on the other side of the room. "I always find this quite relaxing..."

(Present)

I bolted upright in a cold sweat. It was 1:00am, but I knew sleep wouldn't come to me again. I eyed my phone, wanting to ring Alex. I ended up sitting in the same position until 6:00am, telling myself that Alex didn't need want me to ring him, and I didn't want to anyway. Eventually I dragged myself of the bed, my eyes heavy from lack of sleep. It was all catching up with me, the nightmares waking me up as early as 1:00 in the morning. I walked to school, dazed and exhausted. As I walked in, Alex frowned and came over to me. Peeta hadn't arrived yet.

"Did you sleep last night?" he murmered, cocking his head to the side. I shook my head and groaned. He tutted. "You do need to sleep." He paused, thinking. "Do you wanna skip school today? I'll cover for you and you can cover for me?" I nodded, and we walked out of the school gates again. I was dying by the time we got to his house, flopping on the sofa and falling asleep instantly. Alex was on the phone.

(Flashback)

He dragged a small bag in and threw it at my feet. It fell with a thump and I looked up at him with wide eyes. "Look after this." he grunted, before stalking out, mumbling to himself. I cautiously crawled over to the bag, unsure of what to expect. Pulling on the coarse rope, the bag fell open and I small girl rolled out. She was unconscious, but she didn't seem to be injured in any way. I picked her up and carried her over to the small corner I like to hide in- behind some crates giving me a little privacy.

Hours later, she slowly opened her chocolate brown eyes, and screamed. My eyes widened, and I realised I must look like hell. She was struggling in my arms, still screaming, when the door that i hated so much slammed open.

"Shut that girl up!" He stormed over to our corner and I pushed her behind me, standing up. "Did you hear me?" he roared, slapping me around the face. The girl had fell silent, and I moved awkwardly sideways so if I fell I wouldn't land on her. He smirked. "Well that worked." A small cry left her lips, and he growled. "I said shut her up!" He punched me in the stomach and I doubled over. "You don't seem to be able to follow simple instructions!" He kicked round the back of my legs and I fell to the ground silently, holding in my cries of pain for after he left. I squeezed my eyes shut waiting for the door to slam shut again. It did, and I slowly uncurled from my ball.

"Oh wow." I whispered, taking a shaky breath in. The little girl crawled over to me, and rested her head on my lap.

"My name's Maddy. I'm five ." she said clumsily, her eyes focused on me. "You're bwave. He hurt you, but you didn't cwy." A gentle smile came to my lips. "I'm scared." she began to cry again, but quieter. I prayed that he wouldn't hear her as I ruffled her hair gently. A burning sensation tore through my scalp, and I was pulled upwards, screaming manically.

"I told you to shut her up." I was flung to the floor as he grabbed Maddy by her skinny little arm.

(Present)

"Scarlett, wake up! It's just a drem! Please wake up!" I shot up, sobbing dramatically and falling into Alex's arms. "It 's okay. It's all okay." He whispered repeatedly, rubbing my back. I sat in his embrace his shirt becoming damper as my tears fell onto it I pulled apart after a while, unnerved by how close he was. "Who's Maddy?" he finally murmured. I looked at him and gulped.

"She was a girl who I... looked after. He sold them on." I whispered, my eyes tearing up at the thought. "She was the only one I dared getting close to, after that, I was terrified." He put an arm around me and pulled me into a hug. "She was like a sister to me, and I don't even know where she is now." He kept cradling me, and I could feel the grin on his face. "You're loving this aren't you?" I murmered, my eyes closing.

"Oh yeah." The smile showed in his voice as I fell back to sleep.

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Song of the day: I don't love you by My Chemical Romance <3

So I think I'm going to put most of my stories on hold. Except this one cos I really like it. I really need to go now so I have only 3 things to say.

COMMENT

VOTE

FAN

<3