⚠️*** TRIGGER WARNING***⚠️

This chapter included topics such as abuse, both physical and mental. One of the characters says and does some very cruel things to one of the other characters. None of the children get hurt but the main character does. I just wanted to warn everyone before this chapter. If you feel that any of these topics will upset you, I ask that you skip this chapter.

Hecate heard his thundering steps before he even entered the room and was in the process of putting down her book when Mitch burst into the room in a fit of rage. All the little ones jolted awake and scrambled away from the door. Bella, who was still lying on Hecate’s lap, woke up slowly but once she saw Mitch she jumped away from Hecate. All the children rushed out of the room into the bathroom to get ready for the day before Mitch could yell at them. Mitch was still huffing and puffing in the doorway watching the children rush about away from him with a twisted smirk on his lips. 

Hecate heaved out a sigh and set her book under her pillow. Her sudden movement caused Mitch’s gaze to swing towards her. The floorboards creaked under Mitch’s heavy steps and Hecate rose, hesitant to remain on the floor in front of Mitch. Rising her head slightly, Hecate met Mitch’s murderous gaze. Mitch’s lips twisted into a sneer and he snapped his hand out towards Hecate’s hair quickly. Hecate easily dodged his hand before hearing a sharp inhale behind her. Whipping around, she noticed that Bella hadn’t left as Hecate originally believed.

Hecate felt a sharp tug at the base of her skull and fell to her knees in agony. 

“You stupid bitch.” Mitch tugged Hecate’s hair harder, causing her to fall fully onto the floor. Mitch let go of Hecate’s hair before kicking her in the stomach, hard. 

Hecate coughed some blood on the hardwood before getting up and facing Mitch. She waved her hand behind her quickly, hoping that Bella had left already.

“What? Didn’t get laid last night?” Hecate baited Mitch in the hope that he would leave the other kids alone if he was otherwise occupied. 

Mitch’s face twisted and turned a dark shade of red. Hecate took a hesitant step backward. Mitch’s nostrils flared as he sensed the small sign of weakness from Hecate. 

“You little Bitch,” Mitch screamed, grabbing a chunk of Hecate’s hair again. Using his grip on her hair, he threw her to the ground. Hecate’s knees hit the ground with a sickening thud. She twisted wildly, trying to loosen Mitch’s grip on her hair but he didn’t seem inclined to let go this time. He growled at her continued struggle and tightened his grip on her hair even further. 

“You are a fucking disgrace. You don’t deserve to live. You were a mistake.” With each statement, Mitch kicked Hecate in the stomach.

Looking down at Hecate, Mitch sneered and let go of her hair before whipping his hands in disgust. He quickly kicked her away from him and looked at the blood on his hands. 

“You got your filthy blood on my fucking hands, you bitch.” Mitch kicked her once more in the head, causing her head to crack against the floor. He sneered again and walked out of the room before pausing at the door. “You better clean up this fucking mess.”

Hecate spat out the blood she was holding in her mouth onto the floor. She put a hand to her head and it came away bloody. Pulling herself to her knees and closing her eyes, Hecate tried to calm her emotions before she did something that she would regret. 

 Hecate felt a touch on her shoulder and shuttered. Quickly she turned around and saw that it was Bella behind her. Hecate gave her a smile that felt more like a grimace before turning around fully to face her. Bella silently held something out to her. Looking down, Hecate realized that it was a bandaid. Hecate looked back at Bella and gave her a real smile this time.