Chapter One

“Maribell, get the fuck up!” Yelled a shrill voice, causing her to jump in surprise. 

Maribell couldn’t imagine what it was that she could have done to aggravate her mother now but then again she knew that her very existence seemed to put her off. Maribell sighed and went down the stairs nervous to see what she needed. She softly tiptoed down the stairs and followed the sound of noise coming from the kitchen. 

Maribell sighed when she saw  the mess that was the once spotless kitchen. She stood there wide eyed as she took in her mother’s skinny form. Her face had flour smeared here and there as she stood there at the kitchen counter. She had a mixing bowl in front of her and was vigorously mixing the ingredients together. Maribell sighed hopelessly when she saw her mother’s face. 

“Who the hell do you think you are sleeping in like that?” She shrieked. 

“I wasn’t sleeping in…” Maribell protested weekly. “I told you yesterday that I had to work a double at the diner.”

“I don’t want to hear it! Because of you and your laziness I’m covered in flour!” She yelled. 

“I wasn’t being lazy… I was just-”

“Save it! I don’t know why I let you live here! I should have kicked your lazy ass out years ago! Why couldn’t you be more like your sister?” She yelled. 

Maribell stood there looking down at the ground. She didn’t know what to say or why she even bothered trying to defend herself. She knew that her mother hated her but it still stung when she said it. Her mother was always comparing her and Marrisa. Maribell could be doing exactly as she was told and her mother would still tell her that Marrisa could do better even though she had never even so much as touched a broom. 

“Are you even listening to me? Get over here and finish breakfast! I don’t have time to do this!” She shrieked at her. 

Maribell sighed and stifled a yawn. She was exhausted but knew that this was a normal routine for them. She would get up early to make breakfast for the family while her mom and Marrisa slept in or did god knows what. Maribell honestly had no idea what  the two of them did all day and refused to even think about it. It would just frustrate her that she lived such a different life. 

Maribell took over making breakfast while her mom went and did whatever it was that she did in the mornings. She had been surprised  to even see her up at this time. She quickly whipped up some pancakes with a blueberry reduction , scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. She made some fresh coffee and set the table. Everyone was coming down to eat breakfast while she was busy cleaning up the mess her mother had made.

“I see the whore finally came home.” Marrisa sneered as she sipped her coffee. 

“She claims that she worked a double but you can’t trust the words that come out of her mouth.” Her mother chirped as her stepdad laughed.

Maribell ignored them as they threw their barbed comments at her back. Instead she cleaned the kitchen and then went upstairs to finish changing out of her uniform. Her back ached and her feet hurt from waitressing all night at  the diner. She wanted nothing more than to fall into her bed and sleep before she had to go back to work but she still had a lot to do and knew that her mom, sister, and her new stepdad would take the opportunity to scream at her and hit her. 

Maribell sighed and stripped out of her uniform. She went to the little bathroom cubicle that she had in her room and turned on the water. Her teeth chattered as she stepped into the cold shower. She quickly showered and dressed and ran back down the stairs. 

Maribell glanced at the table and sighed tiredly. They had made a mess of the table.There was food and trash all over it. There was no food left over from breakfast so she would have to go hungry for the morning. She grabbed the trash can, sighing when she saw the leftover food laying on it, a rag, and some cleaner. While she was busy stacking the plates Marissa skipped down the stairs smirking when she saw her sister cleaning up the mess they had left behind. 

“You missed a spot.” She said, standing behind her. 

“What?” Maribell asked seconds before her head was slammed face first into the dishes causing them to break. 

“Now look at what you did!” Her stepdad yelled, coming down the stairs. 

Maribell groaned and tried to push herself up from the table. Before she could move her stepdad was standing behind her. He grabbed a handful of her wet blonde hair and turned her to face him. He glared down at her for a second before his fist connected with her cheek. 

Maribell’s jaw slammed together and she could feel one of her teeth crack from the force. She groaned and blinked up at the angry man in front of her. Her legs trembled as her hands grasped at the table for something to hold on to. In her time living with this man she had learned a few things the hard way. You don’t talk. You don’t try to protect yourself and when he comes to see you at night you don’t deny him. Maribell had nearly perfected complying to the rules. 

“Clean this shit up and then go get new dishware to replace what you broke!” He yelled, slamming his fist into her stomach twice before letting her fall to the ground. 

Maribell’s empty stomach rolled as she laid there trying to catch her breath on the cold sticky tile floor. 

“Marribell?” Matthew whispered, coming into the dinning room.

Maribell groaned and tried to sit up but her stomach rolled again. She took a few deep breaths trying to steady herself but her mouth began to fill with saliva as she felt the bile rising up in her throat. She grabbed the trash can and dry heaved into it. When she was done she noticed her youngest brother was standing beside her holding back her hair. 

“Are you okay?” He asked, looking her over frowning as he noticed the blood trickling down her face and her cheek swelling. 

“Yeah. You should go before you get in trouble.” She groaned. 

“I tried to save you some food…” He whispered. “You’re getting too skinny. Why haven’t you left yet?” 

“I can’t leave yet…” She whispered, looking at the young boy with sad eyes. 

“Yes you can! They don’t treat us the way they do you.” He whispered. “Why won’t you leave?” He asked with tears in his eyes. 

“I promise. I’m fine. We should get you to school.” She said, struggling to sit up.