Chapter One

Aurora's Pov

I couldn’t breathe. My chest ached with every gasp as Marcus’s hand connected with my cheek again, the slap echoing through the small living room. My knees buckled, and I hit the floor hard, but the pain in my body was nothing compared to the mysery in my heart.

“You ungrateful brat!” Marcus spat, towering over me like a monster in the dim light of the single bulb swinging overhead. “You think you can talk back to me?”

“Leave her alone!” My mother, Lilian, screamed, throwing herself between us. Her voice cracked, desperate and raw. She held Marcus’s arm, trying to stop him, but he shoved her away like she was nothing. She crashed into the corner of the table with a sickening thud and crumpled to the floor.

“Mom!” I crawled toward her, ignoring the sting of my split lip and the blood dripping from my nose. Her fragile frame trembled as she tried to push herself up, her face pale and filled with fear. I touched her arm, but before I could check if she was okay, Marcus’s boot slammed into my ribs, sending me sprawling.

“Stay down where you belong, Aurora,” he growled. “I’ll deal with both of you as I see fit.”

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I struggled to breathe. My entire body felt like it was on fire, but I couldn’t give up. I wouldn’t. Not for this inhuman fellow

“You’re a monster,” I whispered, my voice shaking but defiant.

Marcus froze, his cold eyes narrowing as he crouched down to meet my gaze. “What did you say?”

Before I could answer, the front door slammed open, and Greg, Marcus’s son, my stepbrother strolled in. He’d been gone for years, and I’d prayed he’d never come back. But here he was, looking even more dangerous than I remembered.

“Welcome back son,” was all Greg said as he continued to look at me in utmost disgust

“What’s going on here?” Greg’s voice was smooth, almost amused, as he took in the scene. Marcus straightened, grinning.

“Just disciplining the girl. She needs to learn her place,” Marcus said.

Greg’s eyes flicked to me, then to my mother, who was still crumpled on the floor. His expression darkened, but not with concern. He walked over and grabbed me by the arm, yanking me to my feet.

“Looks like she hasn’t learned yet,” he said with a smirk. Then, without warning, he slapped me across the face so hard I saw stars. “That’s for making my father upset.”

“Greg, stop!” my mother cried, dragging herself toward us. But Greg kicked her away, laughing cruelly.

“Stay out of this, you pathetic excuse for a woman,” he sneered. His grip on my arm tightened, and he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. “If it weren’t for your stench, I might’ve taken advantage of that pretty face of yours already. But don’t worry, Aurora. By tomorrow, you’ll be clean enough for me.”

My stomach churned, and bile rose in my throat. I yanked my arm away, glaring at him with every ounce of hatred I could muster. “You’re disgusting,” I spat.

Greg’s eyes flashed with anger, and he raised his hand to hit me again, but Marcus grabbed his arm.

“Enough for tonight,” Marcus said, his tone calm but commanding. “Let’s not break her completely just yet.”

They both laughed as if it were some sick joke, and Greg finally released me. I collapsed onto the floor, trembling, as they walked away, leaving my mother and me broken and bleeding.

****

The house was eerily silent that night, the kind of silence that felt heavy, oppressive. I lay on the thin mattress in my tiny room, every inch of my body aching. My mother had managed to crawl into the room earlier and clean the blood from my face, but her own injuries were worse. She’d tried to hide her pain, but I could see it in her eyes. The bruises, the cuts, the broken spirit….they were all there.

“Aurora,” she whispered now, her voice trembling as she knelt beside me. Her hands shook as she pressed a wad of cash into my palm. “You need to leave. Tonight.”

My heart sank. “Mom, no. I’m not leaving you here with them. They’ll kill you.”

“They’ll kill you first,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “You don’t understand, Aurora. Greg… he’s dangerous. And Marcus…” Her voice broke, and she clutched my hand tightly. “I can’t protect you anymore. You have to go. Run as far as you can. Don’t look back.”

I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. “I can’t leave you here. I won’t.”

“Aurora,” she said, her tone fierce despite her frailty. “If you stay, they’ll destroy you. You’re stronger than this. You can survive. But only if you leave. Please, for me.”

Her words shattered something inside me. I wanted to argue, to fight, but deep down, I knew she was right. If I stayed, there would be nothing left of me.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’ll go.”

Her relief was palpable, and she kissed my forehead, her tears mixing with mine. “Be safe, my darling. And never forget… I love you.”

“I love you too.”

****

The night air was cold and biting as I slipped out the back door. The cash my mother had given me was tucked into the pocket of my threadbare jacket, and I carried nothing else. The streets were dark, the shadows long and menacing, but I didn’t care. I just needed to get away.

Every step felt like a betrayal, like I was abandoning my mother to those monsters. But I kept going, the echo of her words pushing me forward: “Run. Don’t look back.”

I didn’t stop until the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. By then, I was miles away, my legs trembling and my body screaming for rest. I collapsed onto a bench in a deserted park, wrapping my arms around myself as I tried to block out the memories of the night before.

Tears streamed down my face, and for the first time in years, I let myself cry. I cried for my mother, for the life I’d lost, for the innocence that had been stolen from me. But most of all, I cried because I didn’t know what came next. I was alone, broken, and hopeless.

But as the sun rose higher, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, a small spark ignited within me. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to remind me that I was still alive. And as long as I was alive, I had a chance to fight, to survive, to find something better.

“This isn’t the end,” I told myself, wiping away my tears. “It’s just the beginning.”

And with that thought, I stood up, squared my shoulders, and started walking. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew one thing for certain: I would never go back.