Ground Zero

two

You have trust issues, not to mention
They say they can smell your intentions

"Where were you?" Mat ambushed her as soon as she passed through the doorway.
He grabbed her roughly. "Where were you, Indie?"
"J-just went on a w-walk," Indie lied, hating herself for stuttering.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Just remember not to talk to anyone- anyone- okay?"
"Why not?" Indie asked meekly.
"JUST LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY!" he roared.
Something inside Indie snapped. "Why?" she asked, proud of herself for not stuttering despite the overwhelming fear.
Mat came closer to her, and suddenly she felt a stinging sensation on her cheek. Indie put her hand on her cheek, surprised to see it covered in crimson blood.
"Don't ask questions, you foolish girl," he said menacingly, slapping her again when she didn't answer.
But Indie couldn't stop now. "A-are you a Black Panther?"
She braced herself for the blow, but none came.
Mat crouched on the floor, holding his head.
He screamed in pain and looked up, his eyes blazing red.
"STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!" he screamed louder than he ever had before.
But Indie, drawing from a reservoir of courage she didn't know she had, stood her ground.
"Tell me why!" she demanded.
He shook his head, suddenly deceptively calm.
"Then I'm leaving." she announced.
Indie grabbed knives out of the drawer by the door, shoving them into her boot and pockets, anywhere she could hide them.
"Don't come after me," Indie said, fighting against the stutter.
The door banged shut behind her. She collapsed to the ground, huddling against the wall.
Suddenly she couldn't handle it anymore. Everything she had suffered since she was a baby came out, and Indie cried.
She sobbed and sobbed until there were no more tears left, and then she cried some more. She tried to be as quiet as possible.
The one thing Indie hated in the world was feeling useless.
Of course, she always felt that way.

Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abused