This is just a bit of information on Gérald's past.  This happens 1-2 years before he goes into the House of Horrors and most of this is a common theme in his life. 

"Useless bastard!  You were just a mistake.  I don't know why I even keep you!" Sally yelled.  She slapped him.  "Why can't you be more like your sister?  At least she doesn't waste the money we put into her!  Now go!  You can starve if you don't know how to be useful!"

Gérald hurried up the stairs, better not provoke her.  He knew what she would do if he did.  The memory of the last time he disobeyed resurfaced.  He pushed it down.  Better not think about it.  Forget it.  Yes, that would be best.  He slumped against the door of the closet his room.  Tears welled up in his eyes.  He pushed them away and focused on breathing.  He pulled a rag his blanket from the corner of the room, where he had had it neatly folded up.  He curled up under it.  Even the thin material had some weight and it was comforting.  He finally allowed himself to cry.   That is how he fell asleep.

The next morning he was woken up to a bucket of ice water.  His sister, Adria, was standing there with an empty bucket and a cruel grin.

“Mom wants you downstairs in 5 minutes,” and she was gone.  Gérald sniffed, the water was making him shiver, he used those 5 minutes to dry off as best he could.  He pulled on some dry clothes, patched up t-shirt and too big, worn out jeans.  He hurried downstairs and stood a few steps away from Sally.

“You're 5 seconds late!  And you dripped water on the stairs!” Sally screeched.  “Make breakfast then clean the house one we leave,” she sounded so exasperated.  Gérald just nodded.

---

“I heard he’s part of a gang,”  one girl giggled as Gérald walked down the hallway.

“Sammy!  Don’t talk so loud!  He might hear you!” a green haired girl shushed the one called Sammy.

“But doesn’t it make sense?  He’s always covered in bruises, and he never gets close to anyone,” a black haired girl added.

“See?  Kataline agrees with me, why won’t you Alex?” Sammy huffed.

“I didn’t say I disagreed with you just… lets talk about this somewhere else, okay?” Alex glanced at Gérald.

“Fine,” whined Sammy.

Gérald turned a corner and ran into a body.  He backed off and saw that it was his tormentor, Danien, he sighed and just stood there as they beat him up.  He went to the bathroom to clean up and when he limped out he saw that he had missed English.  He would be beat up back at home then too.  Resentment coursed through his veins but it only lasted a moment before he sighed and moved on with life.

---

“This is Adria, my lovely daughter and this is Gérald, my son,” Sally smiled as she introduced them to yet another person at the party.

“Oh!  What perfect children!  Such luck, Sally!” the lady squealed.  “What’s your secret?  Bribe them?  Shower them with love?” the lady questioned.  Sally just smiled.  Gérald felt sick to his stomach.

Love?  Never.  Hate.  Threats.  Yes.  Well at least toward me, no one can hurt Adria, Sally’s precios angle that could do no wrong.

The rest of the evening passed similarly and when they finally got home Gérald got to eat a piece of bread before he was sent off to his room while the rest of the family enjoyed cakes, chocolates, and other sweets.  He cried himself to sleep that night as well.