JADE
She was running down the hallway of her house, arms out for balance, her socks providing no traction to the waxed hardwood floor.
It was dark. So, so dark. The power had gone out a day ago because her father had not paid the electricity bill yet, choosing to spend all the money that she had earned on overpriced beer.
The entire apartment smelt of alcohol, the foul smell clinging to every bit of her. Jade wanted to tear her skin off her body just to escape the sharp smell of liquor.
It wasn't the only thing she needed to outrun, though. Her father, fuelled by his hatred and was overly intoxicated, was chasing after her.
"Please," she said, voice thick with unshed tears, "don't."
She just needed to get to the storage room first; just needed to be one step faster than—
A hand closed down on her shoulder and she was yanked backwards, thrown to the ground like a worthless rag doll, her skull hitting the floor with a nasty thunk.
Jade had been too slow.
Instinctively, she curled up, trying to protect her head and stomach from anything that could–no, would–come.
"Please." she knew her whimpers would fall on deaf ears, like it always had since she was a child.
Still, she tried, because what else could she do?