Compensation

Prologue

I ran to my room. My legs moving so fast they almost left the rest of my body in the living room.
"Come back, you little brat!"
His voice cut through me. Panic exploded in my body. I ducked beneath my bed as he entered my room
Thud. Thud.
I looked at his black boots moving in front of my eyes. My lip quivered while my heart pounded in my ears.
"Baby, I won't hurt you."
He slammed his belt into his other hand. The sound rang clear in the room. I shuffled away from the edge into darkness.
"Please go. Please go. Please go."
My heart skipped a beat. He was on his knees. Four fingers curled around the edge of the cover and pulled it away.
"There you are."
The smell of alcohol blew over me and I gagged. I moved even further away, my butt in the open on the other side of the bed. He reached for me.
"Daddy, no!"
He yanked me forward and threw me on the bed. He lifted his belt and it licked across my belly. I screamed. He struck again.
"Daddy, PLEASE!"
Another blow followed and then another until I could no longer see through my teary eyes or feel the blows anymore. When he was finally satisfied he bowed over me.
"You know this is the best way, Baby."
He kissed me on my bruised cheek and left the room.
I rolled onto my side and clutched my belly. Tears rolled down my cheeks but couldn't express the pain I felt.
In the room next to mine I heard my mother scream.
The beating started again.