Shatter. {A.B}

1

Addie's POV

I lay there on the floor in the patch of moonlight from the window, battered and bruised. Dad was drunk again, and abusive as ever. My left arm felt bruised, and my ribs ached from where he had kicked me.

I slowly sat up, wincing in pain. He was gone now, probably passed out on the couch. I managed to stand up steadily and walked to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I only saw a shadow of my former self. My mess of curly black hair surrounded my pale face, and my eyes looked glassy and vacant. Ever since Andy left, it was getting worse. The shadows under my eyes were almost black, since I was constantly having nightmares. I was scared of everything, Doctors, Clowns, Darkness, Small spaces, Being alone, Loud noises, Bright lights. Andy was the only one who protected me from Dad, but he left me, looking for a better life in the music world.

"I will come back for you" he said, stroking my tearstained face.

"You won't!" I yelled "You're gonna forget all about me!"

He sighed. "I promise you, I'm not going to leave you, I will come back for you when I have a stable career."

He still hasn't come back. I was only six then. Now I'm fifteen, and in that time, I haven't had any contact with my brother. He must be almost twenty seven. I wonder if he ever found his fame, his fortune. Did he get his better life?
***
My mom was out of the picture minutes after I was born. My Dad blamed this on me, and verbally abused me. As a child I learned to fear him, and soon I feared everything else too. Andy was the one who stood up for me, and took hits for me when I turned about four and Dad started getting physical. When he left, I was alone.

I dropped out of school when I was ten. The 'big' school was further away, so I couldn't walk there, and there were no friends to speak of to drive me. My escape was guitar. An old acoustic I brought from the thrift store for a dollar one day. I practised as much as I could.
***
I strip, grimacing at the four purple bruises across my chest. I was disgusting, with my sharp elbows and hollow ribs. Dad never got groceries, so it was up to me to get them. I turn the shower on to the red side, and step in while it was still freezing.

The water slowly began to grow hotter as I quickly scrub my hair with some shampoo and conditioner. I use some body wash, and watch the blood and dirt go down the drain. I climb out and shut the water off, wrapping myself in a ratty old towel.

The mirror is all steamed up, to I wipe it away with a shaky hand. I look at my reflection again. Whatever.

I got dressed and walked to my bedroom. It is dark out, so it must be about 10 or 11. I sigh loudly, and climb into bed.
***
Andy's POV

My head swam as I stumbled out of the bar, drunk as hell. I giggled, slinging my arm around one of my band-mates.

"Come on Andy, let's get you home" CC sighed.

In that moment, high on alcohol, I thought back. I had left Ohio when I turned 18, hoping to find fame and fortune out here in LA. I had left my baby sister back in Ohio, when she was only six. Our Father was abusive, and blamed Addie for our Mother leaving us, when I was twelve and she was only an infant. Dad blew up, and immediately found someone other than himself to blame. She was two when he started verbally abusing her, and four when he started physically abusing her. It began with a slap and a few harsh words, but quickly escalated to regular beatings. Whenever I was home, I always took the beatings for her, but I was away more often than not. I said that I would go back for her, and I didn't. She would be fifteen now, all grown up. I was just too much of a coward to go back to that bastard.
***
Addie's POV

I awoke to the sun's fingertips brushing my face. I opened my eyes, and yawned. I had slept terribly last night, the nightmares still haunted me. I got up, and quickly put on black jeans, a black shirt, and some socks. I yanked a brush through my crazy hair, and went into the dirty kitchen. I made some scrambled eggs, and put them on a plate for Dad when he woke up. I then promptly left, knowing if I stayed much longer, I would have to face Dad in his 'hangover' mode. And that was never pretty.
***
Andy's POV

My head felt like someone was beating me with a hammer. I had had way too much to drink last night. I rolled over, only to come face-to-face with a snoring Ashley. I groaned, and sat up. I was back in our apartment, and it appeared that the whole band had decided to crash in my bed. I got out of bed, and put some pants on.

Walking into the kitchen, I saw CC sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"Hey Andy" he muttered, looking into the depths of his cup. I looked at him, bleary eyed, and proceeded to get a coffee and two advils. I sat down, and then answered.

"Hello" I grumbled. He laughed, then frowned slightly.

"I had something to ask you" he stated. I looked up. That didn't sound too good.

"So, last night you were very drunk, right?" He asked. I nodded. "After we left that bar, you kept going on about your sister, and how she needed help. Do you even have a sister?" Uh oh.

***
I'm exhausted.

For fallenangelxoxoxo